Leong Ho

Generation born in England

Charles Powell Hodges was born in 1832 in either China or Glouchester, England and was the son of John Powell Hodges and Sarah Prosser. Charles full Chinese name was Leong Ho and he was decorated with the Mandarin Orders of the 'Orange Blossom' and the 'Crystal Button' by the Chinese emperor in 1890. Charles arrived in Australia in 1853 and married Marion Dick in 1856.

"During his time in Australia he played an important role as an interlocutory between the Chinese and broader community in his role as an interpreter. He worked on many cases as a police interpreter in country Victoria, particularly in the goldfields area. In 1880 he was asked by the government to report to the Legislative Council on the Chinese in Victoria and was also called upon to give evidence on his views of the Chinese in the furniture making industry before the1895 Factories Act Inquiry Board".

He died on 04 Apr 1905 in Carlton, Victoria and an obituary in the Age newspaper states that he was born in China, learning Chinese from infancy.

Marion Dick was born 12 Feb 1836 in Glasgow, Lanark and died 04 Apr 1905 in Carlton, Victoria, Australia.

• • Lanark served as an important market town since medieval times, and King David I made it a Royal Burgh in 1140, giving it certain mercantile privileges relating to government and taxation. King David I, sought greater prosperity by encouraging trade and created a chain of new towns across Scotland. These were Norman centres in a largely Celtic country, and were established so as to encourage development of trade within the area and the new towns were known as Burghs and were also established in France and called Bastides

Children of Charles Powell Hodges and Marion Dick:

• 1. Charles John Powell Hodges was born Abt. 1856 in Castlemaine, Victoria, died 21 Jul 1946 in Auburn, Victoria, Australia, married Jessie Hunter Macgibbon 1885 in Victoria.

  2. Peter Dick Powell Hodges was born 1859 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. died 20 Jul 1945 in Essendon, Victoria, Australia.

  3. Walter James Powell Hodges was born 1861 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia.

  4. Frederick Alfred Powell Hodges was born 1864 in Fore, Victoria, Australia.

  5. David Dick Hodges was born 1866 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia, died 17 Jul 1956 in Malvern, Victoria, Australia, married Catherine Fairlie McIndoe 12 Feb 1890 in North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

  6. Sarah Powell Hodges was born 1868 in The Lodden, Victoria, Australia, died 1887 in Boxhill, Victoria, Australia.

  7. William Dick Hodges was born 1870 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia.

  8. Thomas Dick Hodges was born 1875 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia married Elizabeth Ann Collier 1903 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia..