Today, the 25th day of March, is the birthday of my great grandfather. With just a small family tree, it means a lot to be able to know even the names of my great grandparents.
My greatgrandfather was born a Hakka in 1861, probably somewhere in Guandong or Fujian. It was the year Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the President of the United States. Almost 150 years ago.
1861 was also the time of the Boer War in South Africa, the Boxer Rebellion in China and the Larut Uprising in Malaysia.
My greatgrandfather was probably married when he migrated to Malaysia, as it was known that my grandfather was born in China.
Life must have been hard in China for people to transplant themselves to the undeveloped tropics. The discovery of tin in the Kinta Valley in Malaysia must have also played a part. It is believed that the Chung family moved to the Pusing and Batu Gajah area in the state of Perak.
But life must have been hard in tropical Malaysia because greatgrandfather's life was over by the time he was 38, leaving behind a widow, two young sons and a daughter. My great grandmother, Wu Kee Chow died young as well, born on the 16th day of the third moon, 1871; departed on the 28th day of the third moon, 1904.
Their lives were tragically short, but they beget descendants who now live in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, United States, England, and New Zealand.
The family tree is well and growing.
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