MONG CHING SEE HOWE

Description

Biographical informationMong Ching See Howe (aka Cheong Hing, aka Mon Key) (文?) was born in October 1867 in Canton, China. He migrated to Victoria, Australia and moved to Western Australia in 1895. He was five feet four and a quarter inches in height.

He travelled overseas between April 1901 and March 1902.

He was the husband of Mary See Howe and they married on 26 April 1906 at the East Fremantle Presbyterian Church. He was the father of Edward Jet Far (born 21 March 1907) and Rosie (born 1909 in Perth, BDM 101128/1909). He had another son, Si Tao Tung, by a previous wife in China.

Between 1906 and 1913, the family lived in at least 7 different premises in Perth including Brisbane St, Queen St, Melbourne Rd, Murray St and William St.

He was a partner in Sun Tong Cheong & Co., 348 William Street, Perth, and the lease holder of a market garden at Lion's Mill when he applied for a CEDT in July 1898. Sun Tong Cheong & Co. sold a vast range of products (see document below) but went bankrupt in the later half of 1898. Three trustees: Chin Kit, Ah Wee and Kow Kee were appointed in December 1898 (Daily News, 3 December 1898, p. 4).

In 1912 he was recorded as a merchant and owned and managed Cheong Hing & Co., 353 Murray Street, Perth. He also had a fruit and vegetable shop in Brisbane Street, Perth (this may date from 1906?). In 1914, Mong Ching described himself as a pork butcher and that his shop was a Chinese Cook Shop that also sold Chinese medicine and general goods.

He travelled overseas in July 1912 with his son Edward. In divorce proceedings his wife Mary claimed that Edward was taken to China without her consent. Mong Ching returned in February 1913 but Edward did not return on the same journey.

Mong Ching petitioned for divorce on the basis of adultery but this was later withdrawn. Mary petitioned for divorce in November 1913. She stated that her husband, 'treated her with great cruelty and has repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her life'. She also stated that her husband took her infant son, Edward, to China 'and left him there'. She petitioned for the dissolution of her marriage, custody of the children and relief. The request for relief implied that Mon Ching had left her destitute. In April 1914 a decree nisi was declared and Mary was awarded custody of the children. A decree absolute was declared in November 1914. Their divorce file contains a great deal of details about business costs and income as the basis to determine that Mary should be awarded £100 per annum alimony. (SRO, S35, Cons 3404, 1913/0080)

He also had a market garden in Balcatta that he had purchased for £1,300. He owned a horse and cart for his market garden.

In August 1917 he was charged with smuggling goods but the case was dismissed. In 1919 he moved his business to 130 James Street, Perth.

Mong Ching travelled again between January 1921 to March 1924. His son from his first marriage, Si Tao Tung came to Western Australia to assist with the businesses in his absence. Although it was the intention of Mong Ching See Howe to remain in China while his son, Si Tao Tung managed the shop and market garden on a permanent basis, an extension was not granted to Si Tao Tung.

Mong Ching See Howe therefore returned to Western Australia in March 1924 to resume the business interests and Si Tao Tung returned to China in May 1924. Si Tao Tung re-applied to enter Western Australia in March 1925 but after considerable investigation by Federal officers, the application was refused on the grounds that "if he is admitted the probability is that applications for extensions will be submitted indefinitely."

[Refer to Si Tao Tung's naturalisation file that has been digitised by the National Archives of Australia (NAA: A1, 1925/11274).Other nameMong Ching See Howe (differentiated name)CHEONG HING (also known as)MON KEY (also known as)MOON KEY (also known as)MONCHING (also known as)文？Edward See HowDate of birthOctober 1867

Document

AAC-Box-007-8-0087

AAC-Box-007-9-0081

Box-007-Sorb-Box-0048

Box-007-Sorb-Box-0384

Sun Tong Cheong - sale notice, 1898

Person

AH SHIUE

HOWE Mary (female)

HOWE Rose (female)

JET FAR Edward

SI TAO TUNG

Organisation

Cheong Hing & Co., Perth

Sun Tong Cheong & Co., Perth

Mong Ching pictured around the age of 52 in 1920. He intended to retire to China but returned to WA when his son was unable to secure permission to remain in WA (source: National Archives, K1145, 1920/198).

Family

SpouseHOWE Mary (female)ChildSI TAO TUNGJET FAR EdwardHOWE Rose (female)

Connections

Subject (person)CHIN KIT JamesKOW KEESubject (organisation)Cheong Hing & Co., PerthSun Tong Cheong & Co., PerthSubject (place)348 William Street, Perth353 Murray Street, PerthLion's MillBrisbane Street, Perth130 James Street, PerthSubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaBankruptcyShop keeperMarket gardeningSmugglingRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionRelated linkNAA CEDT File 1901NAA CEDT File 1912NAA CEDT File 1920NAA CEDT File 1924 extension

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationAsian immigrants to Western Australia, 1829-1901 (Atkinson, 1988)

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlaceCantonDate1867

Significant place

RelationImmigrated toPlaceAustraliaDate 1895 from Victoria (WA)

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceLion MillDate[date unknown]

UWA Collected

MONG CHING SEE HOWE

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA