Browne

There is one daughter not mention with the family, she was in a Nunnery when the family left China for Victoria, BC, Canada. She was killed or died when the Japanese took over China. Twelve children born to this family but only 7 surived.

Name: Francis George Browne

Gender: Male

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862

Birth Place: Bishop Castal England

Age: 60 Date of Arrival: Dec 1922

Port of arrival: Victoria, British Columbia

Ship Name: Empress of Canada

　

Obit for George Francis Browne

BROWNE---In this city (San Francisco), Nov. 16, 1949.

George Francis Browne, beloved husband of Gertrude Browne; born in Bishop's Castle, England; aged 87 years. He was in British Government Service assigned to the Maritime Customs in China for 30 years. Internment private.



MEMOIRS Of Bert Browne

After reading your letter over again, after I had answered it a few days ago, before destroying it I particulary noticed the postscript at the bottom and from it I gathered you are indeed anxious, and quite determined to get the history of my fammily tree, or perhaps my background, and so, further to my letter which you no doubt have received, by the time you get this one, I shall try and do what I can to oblige you, and I sincerely hope it will not shock you too much.

To begin with, before I get going I will leave you my present convict number 702-715-293, less I should forget it!

I am sorry for having kept you waiting ever so long, before I get around to it, and though I might add, it's not that I am ashamed of it, because I am what I am, and there isn't much I can do about it, more so now at my age. However, I shall endeavour to do my best.

I can't go much farther back than my grandparents on both sides of my life, and that , as you will no doubt find, amounts to very little, as we were never told very much, nor even remember having seen any one of them, that I can recall.

I will start with my father's side of the family, and this I got from documents I obtained form Somerset House in Londen, when I visited there back in 1976, as you recall, for the purpose of trying to find out some record about my Father and Mother's marriage certificate, as also my Dad's baptism certificate, after a long and tedious search, and we finally found in the misceilaneous section. I have these records here before me as I am writing, and the dates, and other information are being taken from them.

Dad was born in Bishop's Castle in Salop (Shropshire) in the year 1862, November 19th. Incidentally, I might add, he died on the day of his 87th birthday, in San Francisco, U.S.A., 1949. He was baptized on the 30th November 1862, and given the name of George. His father was born in Londonderry, Ireland, and later moved to Shropshire where he was taken on as a police constable. His mother's name was Ann Skillings, and she was born in Shropshire. They were married in the year 1859. My dad has five brothers and two sisters. Going back a few years, I did have the opportunity to meet two of my uncles and one aunt, when I was overseas in 1942 when on leave, the others were dead.

As for my Dad's earlier days, he was educated in England, but left home, and went to sea when he had reached 17. According to what he had told me, in my younger days, he was at sea for about three and a half years, and he quit ship when they arrived in Singapore, China. He worked in a rubber plantation for about two years, then he got the wanderlust again went back to sea, and eventually landed in Hong Kong, applied and was taken on in the police force there. He did not like it too well and however did not remain in the force, quit and joined the British Maritine Customs, and was sent to Canton, China. As was the custom in order to stay in the Customs those who contemplated marriage, according to condiions, where taken on, that person had to marry a native or a, as we nowadays classify them as 'Eurasians' meaning half white and half Chinese. On failing or refusing to do so, they were automaticailly discharged. Anyway, while he was doing his duty as customs officer in Canton, on one of his jaunts he entered a certain jewellery store there, to have his watch repaired. It was here he met my mother, who was in reality a 'Eurasian", as you will later find out. Shortly after this, he applied for permission from the Customs Authorities and they were married, August 7, 1894.

As for my mother's side of the family I am afraid I have very little information to give, because I wasn't given too much. My Grandfather (Chinese) who I have never met, was a jeweller in Canton, and from what I was given to understand, according to the marriage certificate, was a white missionary, by name of Mary Newton, also working in China at the time, though, according to information given in certificate no date was given. She married this jeweller by name of Ah Sing. Hence, the Eurasian part on my mother came about, as she was one of two girls from this union.

According to my dad and mother's marriage certificate, the date of marriage was given as 1894. Dad's age then was 36 and mother's was given as 30. And as the certificate certifies, they were married in Hankow, China, 1894. Hankow is situated up the Whampoo River about two and a half days boat trip from Shanghai. As you must have noticed, Dad had, previous to the marriage, been transferred to Hankow, and was also promoted to Assistant Inspector of Maritime Cusstoms there, when they were married. Shortly aftr they were married, dad was transferred to Shanghai, this is where Maude, and Beattie (nun) your aunts, were born. He was then moved back to Canton, and your aunts Mable and Fanny were born there. In 1903, Dad was again transferred back to Hankow, and in 1905 I was born, 1907 your aunt Norah was born, and in the year 1912 my brother (now dead) came into the world. So you see we all spent quite a few years in Hankow. However, coming back to 1912, when Bob was but six weeks old, the Boxer Rebellion broke out, pretty close to Hankow, and all foreigners (us included) were ordered to evacuate to Shanghai. It was rather thrilling for us, because we were on a passenger boat, escorted by two British gun boats, the HMS Bee and the HMS Cricket, all the way to Shanghai. There we stayed till the rebellion was over and we in fact got most of our education there. We were there until Dad's retirement. In 1918, when the worldwide flu epidemic was on, my mother died of it on the 24th November 1918. It was a very sad Christmas for us.

A couple of years after mother's death, and he, being retired, decided to return to Hong Kong. We were there for about eight or nine months, he became restless and lonesome without Mom, and not having anything to do, he decided to return to Shanghai, there he found a nice home, with a bit of land and a couple of greenhouses, and he busied himself in that way, while we went back to school. There he met up with some friends he had met in his travels, and one day, out of the clear blue sky, he called all together and said that he was goin to see about going to America, or perhaps Canada. As you might imagine how excited we all were, after all we were taught and learnt about the outside world, you might say, in school, and now we will have the chance to actually see and perhaps live in those places, we too became restless and anxious.

Back in those days, 1920-1921, immigrants to America were rather limited and because of the size of our family at the time, Dad and six of us, our application was turned down, so Dad went and see and finally arranged to come to Canada. He sold out, and once again we went back to Hong Kong and whilst there he made arragements for passage on the New Empress of Canada (which was the one that was sunk or blown up by the Japs in the Second World War). She was then making her maiden voyage to the Far East, after sailing from England and was delivered to the CPR in Victoria, to ply between Canada and the Orient. She arrived in Shanghai, stayed a few days, then steamed down to Hong Kong, where she was dry docked and had a good checking over which took close to a month. Then when she was reported fit and ready to carry on, she was refloated, took on supplies and passengers, us included, and we went back to Shanghai, to pick up more passengers, there two days, where we stayed aboard, though we had or could have had shore leave. We then moved on, this time to Japan to pick up a supply of Jap oranges for the Christmas trade here. We were in a place called Shimizoo, or something like that, not too far from where the World's Fair is about to open next year. We spent three and a half days in Jampan, and though we always slept on board, by day we were allowed off the ship for sightseeing, shopping and the like, but had to be back on board by midnight in case they decided to set off unexpectedly. We had a grand time there, and saw ever so many places and it was simply grand, as you well know, Ron, having made the trip there yourself. About a day and a half out of Japan we hit a typhoon, we call it hurricane here, and as big as the boat was, 22,000 tons it bounced around like a cork and this caused a lot of seasickness on board, as it lasted almost two days. We were supposed to have called in at Honolulu, but because we were slowed down owing to the storm, but after we left the storm area the rest of the trip was grand and very calm and very enjoyable. All told, we were sixteen days on board and arrievd in Victoria B.C. on the 3rd December 1922 around 6:30 pm. On arrival, what a thrill it was for us to see about six inches of snow on the ground, something we never did see over in China, and though we did have snow, it never snowed enough to settle on the ground, because it was always wet snow and soon melted. Owing to the late hour of arrival in Victoria, we had to stay on board that night. The next day we all had to go through to customs, immigration, medicals and what not. We left the ship around 3 pm on the 4th, got rooms in the Strathcoma Hotel and stayed there for almost two weeks, before Dad found a house for rent at 1314 Yates Street. We stayed there for about six weeks, when Dad bought a small farm out at Royal Oak. While there, I attended Victoria High School, five miles each way by bike. Remained there for about one and a half years, got tired of it and got myself a job at Spencer's, now Eatons on Douglas. Worked there for about 8 1/3 years, got fed up and joined the Princess Pats at Work Point Barracks. Served out my time (three years) then quit and joined the Esquimalt Railway and worked in Duncan, Parksville and Courtney and some time in Victoria itself. Quit that in 1930 (the hungry 30's), in fact I was laid off owing to the depression, but I was fortunate to get work at Shawnigan Lake Lumber, at Robertson and Hackett's mill, stayed there until last October (after 38 years) when I had to retire owing to my state of health. Now that I am off work, I feel quite lost, especially these days, now that winter is coming on, and its wet or cold out and I have to remain indoors. However, I do still have the car and I do go out in it now and again for a change, especially now that Joy is married and lives out at Ladner about twenty miles from here, quite a nice drive there and back, and I do that once perhaps twice a week to see them, especially Tammy, I sure miss not having her here with me, especially now that she is on her feet and as expected in all sorts of mischief. She's just as cute as ever, red headed just like Joyce. Incidentally, Joyce just turned 21 on the 3rd December, a couple of days ago. My how time flies, no wonder I am almost white headed, must be old age creeping on. Imagine thirteen grandchildren, or have I got no. 14 coming? Tee hee Mary? And how are you keeping these days, love, quite well I hope? Ron tells me you are keeping yourself quite busy, that's nice. And the children, I guess they are just coming along splendedly. Wee Christopher will be pretty well grown up before I get to meet him, if I don't make a move before long, perhaps next year, the Good Lord Providing, or are you folks planning on giving me a surprise?

Well my dears, I guess I have written, or should I have scrawled just about enough. Anyway, I don't mind, sitting alone here night after night before bedtime and noone to talk to, outside of Chi-Chi th little dog, but get no answer, so, once I get started on a letter, I go on and on and believe it or not, it helps, and in fact I am talking to some one, and even though as I write I don't get an answer, I fee relieved, or am I actually going balmy? (nuts to you). Anyway, I am gland I've gotten around to it, and by the way I am also forwarding to you a few photographs for you to see, but please mail them back to me, because they actually don't belong to me and I have to return them, but please don't rush. I simply must sign off now as I am getting to the bottom of the page. So, please continue writing, always glad to, either one of you and I will answer, and that's a promise.

My fondest love and kisses to one and all and a big kiss and hug to each of the boys for me and may God Bless.

Love, Dad.

PS - I forgot to mention that my mother's name was Sai Moy, which when translated to our language was Frances Seymour (Browne) which happened to be her mother's maiden name, but for some reason or other had it changed to Mary Newton, when she became a missionary. I know Dad always called mother Fanny, hence one of my sisters Fanny the nun, was named after her.


MEMOIRS: Mabel Louise (Browne) Frehlich

According to what I remember about our Dad, is that he left home when he was quite young in England, and worked on a ship as a cook, that was going to Hong Kong, and joined the customs. From there he was transfered to Canton, as a tides-surveyor. He worked quite a bit on the waterfront, that was where he met mother. She was living on a houseboat with her family. They were married at the British Consulate. From there he was transfered to Hankow, and that was where we were all born, twelve of us - but only seven lived. This was where we all grew up. When we were old enough, six years old, he sent us by boat, in care of the Captain to Shanghai to a boarding school, named the Holy Family. We only went home for the summer holidays, that was two months, the rest of the ten months, we had to stay in school. Later on, I'm not sure how long, he was stationed in Hankow, then he was transferred to Shanghai. Even so, when he and mother were in Shanghai, we still were boarded at the school, only we could see mom and dad a little more, like every other Sunday. Mother had all of us delivered by a Chinese midwife, only our youngest brother Bobby, was delivered by a doctor. Mother died when she was only 49 years of age, in 1919. Dad retired two years after that, after being in the service for 35 years. In 1922, he decided to come to Canada. We left Shanghi, in November 1922. We came on the Empress of Canada, it was her maiden voyage. Dad had all of us registered in the Strathcome Hotel, till he rented a house on Yates Street in Victoria, We were there for about a month, and he found a house, a two story home on five acres of land, for seven thousand dollars. We all lived there. Dad had loganberries, rasberries and all kinds of vegetables. He also specialized in Gladiolas. He had a stall in the public market. It opens only on Wednesdays. In 1924 , he decided to get married again, and one after another, all of us left home. Dad and his new wife, stayed there for five years, then they decided to go to California. That is where he died on November 14, 1949.

Dad was born in England of Irish-English parents, on November 14, 1862. Dad was 87 years old when he died.

Mother was born in Canton on March 9, 1871. Mother died at the age of 49, in the year 1919.

This is all I can remember.