Embedded Files
Identifying Information:
Identifying Information:
Name(s): POON, Man Syun; Norman ALLUM
Birth: 24 SEP 1886 in Hoiping, Kwangtung Province, China (開平市 廣東省, which is transliterated today as Kaiping, Guangdong)
Death: 29 NOV 1931 in Williamsville, Trinidad
Burial: Lapeyrouse Cemetery, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Spouse(s): 1. Unknown (China); 2. Nellie Agnes CHIN (Trinidad)
Additional Information: Ancestry.com
University of Florida Digital Collection Clippings: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qe9mvozocEYmXQI1nacfU3f2V1VstsG1?usp=share_link
Chinese Characters
Chinese Characters
Pictures
Pictures
IN LOVING MEMORY OF NORMAN ALLUM24 SEPT. 1886 - 29 NOV. 1931
潘公文選之墓
"Tomb of Honorable Poon Man Syun" in ChineseFlorence Yeo, (AKA: Akin Allum), daughter by first wife in China. Note that the picture behind her appears to be of her three younger step-sisters. With husband Gim Yeo and son Ray.
Family Residence: One Stone Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Receipt with Signature
Receipt with Signature
N Allum Poon Hardbargain Village.pdfCourtesy of Stephen Allum Poon
Ancestral Village
Ancestral Village
The tombstone inscriptions of Norman's brothers, John and Eric, also include the "選" character, suggesting that it was the character assigned to their generation, (Generation Name).
IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOHN THOMAS ALLUM POON
11th SEPT. 1888 26th Sept. 1949
"Tomb of Honorable Poon Co Syun" in Chinese
11th SEPT. 1888 26th Sept. 1949
潘公初選之墓
"Tomb of Honorable Poon Co Syun" in Chinese
Left: 潘公耀選之墓夫人葉熙碧之墓, 享寿六十七歳 , "Tomb of Honorable Poon Jiu Syun's wife Jip Hei Bik , enjoyed life to the age of 67 years" in Chinese ,HAYBIG ALLUM POON, BORN 18TH NOVEMBER 1918, DIED 6TH JULY 1983
Right: 廣東開平橋頭 村, 潘公耀選之墓, 享寿六十四歳 , "Kwangtung Hoiping Kiu Tau Village, Tombstone of Honorable Poon Jiu Syun, enjoyed life to the age of 64 years" in Chinese, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ERIC ALLUM POON, BORN 20th Oct 1897, Died 23 May 1961
Right: 廣東開平橋頭 村, 潘公耀選之墓, 享寿六十四歳 , "Kwangtung Hoiping Kiu Tau Village, Tombstone of Honorable Poon Jiu Syun, enjoyed life to the age of 64 years" in Chinese, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ERIC ALLUM POON, BORN 20th Oct 1897, Died 23 May 1961
(Names transliterated based on Cantonese pronunciation)
However, Eric's tombstone differs in that it includes a place name on the right side that probably refers to the Poon family's ancestral village, 廣東 開平 橋頭 村, which today is written as 广东 开平 桥头 村 in Simplified Chinese characters, and transliterated without tones as "Guangdong Kaiping Qiaotou Cun"per the Mandarin based Hanyu Pinyin Romanization System.
The question is how might this have been pronounced by our ancestors in their Taishanese dialect, since its transliteration would likely differ from the Mandarin or Cantonese based transliterations.
According to the The Tiger's Mouth Blog, this village's name is alternatively transliterated as "Kiu Tau", (Taking my own advice: finding home villages using Chinese student records), but this appears to be based on the Cantonese pronunciation.
Between Stephen Li's Taishanese Language Home, (which only recognized simplified characters), and Wiktionary, I found that the "Qiao Tou Cun" portion might be pronounced in Taishanese and transliterated something like the following:
橋: kiau3 / Wiktionary
頭: heu3 / Wiktionary
村: tun1 / Wiktionary
In any case, thanks to Google Maps, which allows searches to be performed using Traditional Chinese characters, we can know that its coordinates are as follows: 22°29'57.6"N 112°44'23.5"E
I have subsequently discovered that Google Map's satellite view of locations in China suffers from what is known as the China GPS Shift Problem. A more accurate view of map data overlaid on a satellite image of Qiaotou can be found here on maps.baidu.com.
Left: Depiction of Google Map's China GPS Shift Problem as applicable for Qiaotou.
Obituary
Obituary
MR. NORMAN ALLUM BURIED IN LAPEYROUSE
SUDDEN DEATH OF PROMINENT CHINESE BUSINESSMAN
After a short illness of only eight hours' duration, Mr. Norman Allum, a popular Chinese businessman, aged 45, died at his country residence in Williamsville on Sunday, November 29.
He was buried yesterday afternoon in the Lapeyrouse Cemetery.
Beautiful wreaths, a long line of flower-laden motor cars, filled with sorrowing relatives and friends were in the funeral. The family mourners included Mrs. Nellie Allum (widow), Miss Cynthia Allum, Miss Roma Allum and Miss Joyce Allum (daughters), Mr. Roy Allum and Mr. Carlton Allum (sons) and Mrs. Anna Chin (mother-in-law).
Other bereaved relatives were: Miss Akin Allum, daughter (China), Mr. William Allum, Mr. John Thomas Allum and Mr. Eric Allum, brothers (China), Mrs. William Allum, Mrs. J.T. Allum, sisters-in-law (China).
At 4:30 the cortege, headed by two motor cars, laden with beautiful wreaths left the house of mourning and proceeded to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where an impressive service was held by Rev. J. Caddy, a newly ordained Deacon.
The procession then left for the Lapeyrouse Cemetery, where the body was interred in the family allotment.
The bearers were: - Mr. Edwin Lee Lum, Mr. L.R. Lum Yan, Mr. D. Lee Wah, Mr. James Leung, Mr. Poon Kwong, Mr. O.H. Lee Lum.
Names of Followers
Among those who sent floral tributes were:- His widow and children, Dr. and Mrs. Arnold McLean, Mr. and Mrs. Egbert Leiba and family, Mr. and Mrs. John Allum and family, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver H. Lee Lum and family, Mr. Eric Allum, Fernandes & Co., Mr. A.L. Ashing, Pte. Gourde Quarrying and Transport Co., Ltd., H. Govia Ltd., Mrs. L. Francis Lau and family, Mr. and Mrs. E. Lee Lum and family, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Hing King, and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Watson, Mr. and Mrs. George Marfoe, Dr. and Mrs. M.A. Chu Cheong, Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Chin, Mr. David Lee Wah, Mr. L.R. Lum Yan, General Transport Ltd., Leon Mathieu & Co., Ltd., Dr. and Mrs. J. Tsoi-a-Sue, Mr. Anvil Chin, Mr. Poon Quing, Mr. Poon Kwong, Mr. and Mrs. E.P. Hutchinson, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Awai and family, M. and Mrs. P. Moore and family, Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Fung and family, Mrs. L. Attin and family, Mrs. James Ramsay Allum and family, Mr. Poon Quan, Mr. Lee Kee, Mr. and Mrs. James Lee Kee and family, Mr. John Attai, Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Lee Lum and family, Mr. and Mrs. A. Lucien and family, Mr. Henry Atti, Mr. William Allum and family, Kwong Tung Restaurant, Staff of J. Glendenning & Co., Alfred and Joe Acham, Mr. G. Hamilton Poon Yam, Mr. and Mrs. Poon Tip and family, Mr. James Aquing, George F. Huggins & Co., Mr. and Mrs. S. Achong, Mr. and Mrs. J. Assing and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Kong and family, the Chinese Association, Mr. and Mrs. G. Francis Lau, Mr. and Mrs. James Lee Kee, Mr. and Mrs. James Leung and family, the Honorable Fred Grant, Mr. Henry Austin and family, Mr. and Mrs. S. Hofford and family, Mr. J.J. Ribeiro, Salvatori Scott & Co., Ltd., John and Henry Attai, Mr. and Mrs. A. Johnson and family, Fernandes & Co.
Followers
Among the followers were:- Mr. Poon Quan, Mr. Poon Quing, Mr. Poon Kee, Mr. Poon Fat, Mr. Poon Wai, Mr. Poon Tai, Mr. Poon Wan, Mr. Poon Yam, Mr. Poon Pan, Mr. Poon Quan, Mr. Poon Wah, Mr. Poon Tip, Mr. Poon Cheue, Mr. Chow Kee, Mr. Thomas Awai, Mr. J.A. Poon, Mr. D. Poon How, Mr. J. Lee Lum, Mrs. Lee Lum, Mrs. Attin, Mr. homas Young, Mr. Jacob Jurawan, Mr. Paul Supersaud, Mr. William Kong, Mrs. Willim Kong, Miss Ivy Young, Miss Inez Young, Mr. Percy Young, Mrs. Percy Young, Miss G. Lee Lum, Miss E. Aleong, Miss V. Aleong, Miss Ursula Attong, Mr. Andrew Attong, Mr. Frank Allum, Mrs. Frank Allum, Miss Fanny Young, Miss Millicent Henry, Mr. James Young, Mr. Lee Sing, Miss J. Chen Chung, Mr. John Attin, Mr. George Attin, Mrs. N. Joseph, Mr. Henry Alook, Miss Leon Attin, Mr. Albert J. Allum, Miss Maudie Allum, Mr. E.C. Fung, Mr. and Mrs. Kerrera, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Mrs. B. Young, the Misses M. and E. Leung, Mr. B.P. Poon, Mr. J.J. Assing, Mr. F.C. FUng, Mr. and Mrs. Lai Kiow, Miss Hilde Henry, Miss C. Lee Loy, Mr. and Mrs. William Henry, Mr. P. Henry, Mr. George Marfoe, Mr. Chow Len On, Mrs. N. Ferreira, Miss N. Farrier, Mr. Chung Wong, Mr. Lee Sing, Mr. Lee Yee, Mr. Lou Hing, Mr. Chong Cuck Why, Mr. and Mrs. George Francis Lau, Miss T. Higgins, Mr. Wong Yee Nang, Mr. Joseph Sanker, Mr. Jonhson Assing, Miss M. Assing, Mr. John Attong, Mrs. S.E. Ammong, Dr. and Mrs. C.H. George, Dr. Wong Fo Sue, Mr. Ferreira, Mr. Charlie Ahin, Mrs. William George, Mrs. E. Ho Choy, Miss C. Watson, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kong, Miss Anna Kong, Nurse Oliver de Gannes, Mr. Oliver Chy Pow, Mr. Leon Mathieu, Mr. E. Rique, Mr. A. D. Lee, Mr. Tam Kwong, Mr. C. Ahow, Mr. John Hockin, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. William Chin, Mr. Chin Leung, Mr. A. Shand, Mr. Leung Fue, Mr. Poon Chuck, Mr. Poon Young, Mr. D. F. Acham, Mr. Leung Yick, Mr. Lee Soon, Miss Lee, Mrs. R. Akow, Mrs. J. Aleong, Mrs. J. Kwong, Miss E. Aman, Mr. M. Apow, Mr. R. Apow, Mr. S. W. Hofford, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Lee Lum, Mr. J. Aleong, Mr. J. Achow, Mr. B. Kong, Miss P. Oliver, Miss D. Gonzales, Dr. Petit, Mr. E. Leiba, Mrs. Leiba, Mr. Hosang, Mrs. D. Allum, Mr. J. Allum, Miss Eugene, Mr. J. C. Chong Look, Miss Weston, Mr. Sylvester, Mr. Poon Foo, Mr. Poon Hing, Mr. Egbert Lau, Mr. Lee Pot, Miss Dora Austin, Miss S. Austins, Miss T. Chan, Mr. Lai Cheung Kai, Mr. Ng Wai, Mr. Huggins, Mr. Charles Newall, Mr. Max Lennard, Miss E. Appoi, Miss I. Chan, Miss B. Chan, Mr. Egbert Appoi, Mrs. H. Lee, Mr. F. Guzman, Mrs. N. Tian Yuh, Mrs. J. Achee, Miss K. Belmontes, Miss L. Romero, Miss I. Kwong Sing, Miss H. Kwong Sing, Mr. M. F. Camacho, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Lai Fook, Mr. Joe Acham, Mr. A. Acham, Miss Ashe, Mrs. Lee Wah, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Hing King, Mr. Kyte, Mr. H. P. Urich, the Hon'ble Fred Grant, Mr. Poon Kwong, Fon, Mr. H. Gouvia, Mrs. Kwong, Mr. Cheu Lung, Mr. Mary Yat Yue, Mr. A. S. Jardine, Mr. E. P. Hutchinson, Mrs. Young, the Misses D. and M. Young, Mr. Charles Lewis, Mr. Appoi, Mrs. A. S. Asom, Miss E. Wong, Mrs. C. P. Chin, Mr. L. Akow, Mr. A. Johnston Chan, Dr. A. McLean, Miss C. Lee, Mrs. Lai, Mr. George Afong, Mrs. A. K. Lai, Mrs. L. R. Lai, Miss Lee, Mr. and Mrs. George Affong, Miss A. Hing King, Mrs. J. S. Assing, Mr. John Aqui, Mr. A. N. Jenvey, Mr. Arthur Hing King, Mr. N. P. Moore, Mr. Lee Tai, Mrs. Mr. N. P. Moore, Mr. Lee Tai, Mr. and Mrs. R. Nathaniel, Miss I. Ahue, Mr. S. J. Murrray Cheong, Mr. A. Lucien, Mrs. R. Rawlins, Mr. Hamel Wells, K.C., Mr. A. B. Joseph, Mr. C. Chang Pong, Mr. E. Blair and Mr. Mrs. Egbert Leiba and Miss P. Johnson Chan.
(Insert)
Mr. Norman Allum was the son of the late Mr. Aching Allum, a well known cocoa planter and shop proprietor of Williamsville, Trinidad.
He was born in the Hong Ping (sic) District of Canton, China. He came to Trinidad a boy at the age of 13, and completed his education in this Colony.
After leaving school he assisted in his father's business.
His business acumen was soon recognized and he filled many good positions.
Up to the time of his death, he represented the various interests of the firm known as Allum Brothers Limited and was also Managing-Director at the popular Chinese Grocery and Restaurant of Kwong Hing & Co., Ltd., in Charlotte Street, and the General Transport Ltd.
Mr. Allum returned to Hong Kong on many occasions, and had a wide and varied knowledge of business both in Trinidad and other countries.
He retired to bed as usual on Saturday night and awoke Sunday morning complaining of a slight pain. He received treatment, after which he appeared a bit relieved.
He later grew worse and died quietly at 4:30 in the afternoon. He leaves a widow and six children to mourn his death.
Trinidad Guardian - Tuesday, 1 December 1931
Additional account published the same day in the Port of Spain Gazette (not transcribed here). Note that in this account his father's surname is incorrectly reported as "Lee Lum" rather than "Allum".
Death Certificate
Death Certificate
Passenger Manifests
Passenger Manifests
The following documents a POON Man, accompanied by POON Kwong and POON Nui , all born in Hoi Ping (Kaiping), China, travelling from Hong Kong to Trinidad by way of Canada and the United States. The age listed for this individual, 24, is much less than what would be expected for this date based on the date of birth inscribed on our ancestor's tombstone, (40), so it might be a different individual. Note however that column 19 on the second page identifies "Kwong Hing" in common for all three individuals, which, per obituary above, our ancestor would later lead as the Managing Director. Note also that a "Mr. Poon Kwong" is identified as one of the bearers in Norman ALLUM's obituary above.
Contrary to what I wrote here previously, I believe that the POON Man listed here is in fact a different individual and just one of many POON clansman who immigrated to Trinidad with the assistance of the ALLUM POONS. By this time, POON Man Syun had traveled at least twice as "Norman ALLUM", in 1916 on his way to China, and in 1920 on his way to Trinidad, and had also been naturalized under that name in 1923. Moreover, his being away from Trinidad during this time also seems unlikely given the birthdate, (25 Sep 1926), of his fourth child, Joyce.
Source:
Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954 Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 9 November 2020. Citing NARA microfilm publications M1461, M1463, M1464, and M1465. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
Source:
Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954 Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 9 November 2020. Citing NARA microfilm publications M1461, M1463, M1464, and M1465. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
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