POON Gam Cyun "Aching"

Identifying Information:

• Name(s): POON Gam Cyun; Aching ALLUM; Joseph Robert Aching ALLUM

• Birth:  ABT. 1858 in China 

• Death: 13 DEC 1925 in 8 Broome Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad 

• Burial: Lapeyrouse Cemetery, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

• Spouse(s): MAK; Unknown

• Additional Information: Ancestry.com

• University of Florida Digital Collection Clippings: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13_bwav7O9tGRLOVM9XfU5E9aIMwIJAhj?usp=share_link

Chinese Characters

Pictures

Obituary

MR. ACHING ALLUM

Mr. Aching Allum, proprietor, of the residence No. 6 and 8 Brome Street, St. Clair, on Sunday morning after a lingering illness of nearly four months. Mr. Allum was born in Canton, China, 67 years ago and came to Trinidad at the age of 36. After being successful at Williamsville, where he commenced his career as a shopkeeper, he opened a large grocery at Charlotte Street which is well known as "Kwong Hing General Grocery" and also the Restaurant "Kwong Tung." Mr. Allum took a lively interest in other affairs and rendered valuable assistance to the Chinese National Association, of which he was President for many years. His health began to fail within the past few years, but he still continued to attend to his duties until four months ago, when he was confined to his home, and in spite of adequate medical attention in addition to the constant care of his family, he expired shortly before 9.30 a.m. on Sunday. Mr. Allum is survived by his wife, four sons, three of whom are in Trinidad and one daughter.

The Funeral

The funeral took place yesterday afternoon to All Saints' Church, where a solemn choral service was conducted by the Rev. C. R. Rooks, with Mr. H. L. Burnett at the organ. After the procession had entered the Church Psalm 29, "I said I will take heed to my ways" was sung followed by the rendering of an appropriate lesson. The usual ceremony was then read and the congregation joined in singing "Rock of ages cleft for me" in which closed the service. The gateway to Belmont and continued to Lapeyrouse Cemetery, where the graveside ceremony was performed and the body interred in the family allotment.

The bearers were Messrs. William, John Thomas and Norman Allum (sons), G. A. Lee Lum, G. Marfoe and C. Tang Yuk.

The principal mourners were Mrs. A. Allum (wife), Mr. Eric Allum (son), Miss Kaime Allum (daughter), Messrs. Albert, Charles and Frank Allum (brothers), Miss Eliza Allum, Miss Maud Allum (sisters), Mrs. Frank Allum (sister-in-law) and Mrs. Norman Allum (daughter-in-law).

Other followers included Messrs. Poon Tai, Thomas Awai, Cyril Poon Why, Poon Kwong, Poon Qwing, Poon Yam, Poon Why, J. A. Poon, Poon Kui Chow, E. Poon Kit, Poon Kit, Lai, Lee Man, Poon Tip, Poon Chow, Poon Chan, Poon Quan, Leung Yen, Wong Yook, Poon Quing, Poon Yo Quan, Poon Hoo, Johnson Assing, J. Poon Wah, Poon Sing, L. R. Lum Yan, Poon Yit, E Lee Lum, Wong Woy, Poon Taek, Hoi Him, Lee Choy, William Kong, Chow Quan, K. P. Lee Lum, Tom Quan, Ton Mas, O.H. Lee Lum, Lum Fong, Lee Hun Kin, Sue Ping, Koo Sin Ming, Poon Quan, Poon Fue, Lee Soon, Chan Ming Chin, Charles Howard, Poon Kin, Chan Kai, Quan Chuek, Chuy Pat, Lee Kan, G. W. Aleong, John Attong, Lee Ying, Leung Chung, Leung Hop, See Hoe Pack, James Tang, E. Appoy, George Affang, Ham Chin Hock, M. Apoo, James Leung, Lee Ayoung, James Ayoung, Man Yok Man, Chan Fai, Yee Chow, Lee Sue, Look Yon, George Kong, Henry Akong, Lee Aying, A. Sankar, Charles Lee, Lee Kow, V. Lee Ayen, George Ulric Lee Lum, H. A., Joaquim, A. A. Scott, J. J. Assing, A. E. Crose, A. Stephens, C. Thomas, H. Austin, J. W. Blanc, N. P. Moore, R. Thomas, Chuff, A. Wai, Lai Fook, P. and C. Henry, Wong Tang, A. H. Joseph, Alfred Acham, I. Chan, Chan Tung, L. Fung, A. Fung, V. Fung, Poon Quoi, J. Chung Qui, Yow, J. Vieira, E. Charles, J. D. Lee, A. Lucien, J. Acham, F. Mathieu, P. Hutchinson, J. Boyd, Hamel P. Wells.

Mrs. John Lee Lum, Mrs. L. Attin, Miss May Ache, Mrs. S. Hofford, Miss Enda Wong, Mrs. Johnson, Miss E. Appoy, Miss L. Appoy, Miss Rita and Miss Thelma Attin, Miss Ivy Kong, Miss B. Young, Mrs. George A. Lee Lum, Miss V. Aleong, Mrs. Carmen, Miss N. Thomas, Mrs. P. Scott, Mrs. S. K. Li, Mrs. Critchlow, Miss E. Peters, Mrs. A. Phillip, Miss C. Ng Wai, Mrs. Lai Fook, Miss Rivas, Miss E. Lai, Mrs. Hing King, Miss J. Francis, Miss S. Lee, Miss Quai Yow, Mrs. Issac and Mrs. A. Lucien and Nurse de Freitas.

Floral tributes were sent by Mrs. Aching Allum and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Allum and family, Mr. and Mrs. N. Allum, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Allum, Mr. and Mrs. Mrs. John Allum and family, Mr. and Mrs. E. Lee Lum, the Chinese Club, Mr. and Mrs. John Allan Chan and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Kong and family, Poon Yam, A. Acham, Thomas Why, Mrs. John Attin and family, Poon Quing Poon Awai, Lee Kam, Poon Kin, Poon Kong, Mrs. H. Johnston, Poon Hoi and Poon Yin, Poon Tip, Poon Wah and Poon Tip, Staff of the Canton Trading Co., Poon Why and Poon Foon, Messrs. Geo. F. Huggins & Co., the Kwong Tung Staff, Mrs. M. Critchlow, Mr. and Mrs. G. Aldric Lee Lum, Messrs. J. J. Ribeiro Ltd., Poon Kin Chow, Messrs. Salvatori, Scott & Co., the Canton Trading Co., Poon Kit, Mrs. Lee Lum and family, R. Whan Tong, Mrs. F. Thomas and family, Mr. and Mrs. Tang Yuk, L. R. Lum Yak, the Chinese National Association, Messrs. Glendinning & Co., Mr. and Mrs. James Leung and family and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lucien.

Death Certificate

Passenger Manifests

The following manifest documents Allum, Joseph, (age 58), traveling from Port of Spain, Trinidad, B.W.I.,  to New York in transit to China in August of 1920.  We can be certain that it is him since it lists his son, John T. Allum, as his nearest relative in Trinidad. 

Note that the age listed for "Joseph", 58, if correct, would mean that he was born in 1862, not 1858, as implied by his reported age at the time of his death, or 1848, as inscribed on his tombstone.  His listed height, 5 ' 7", would make him relatively tall for our family.  

The following manifest documents Allum, Achang J.R. ; his second wife, (unnamed, age 23); and infant daughter, Kai Mei, (age 2 months), traveling from Hong Kong to Trinidad by way of Canada and the United States.  

Note that the age listed for "Achang", 61, if correct, would once again be consistent with a birth year of 1862.  Lastly, note the inclusion of "J.R.".  Per his Certificate of Naturalization as reported in the Trinidad Royal Gazette on 12 Sep 1918, these initials stood for "Joseph Robert", his full name appearing as Joseph Robert Aching Allum.