Henry Levy Chin Timeline

In 1866, William, aka Chin Den Len (
陳登能; Dēng Néng) was born to a peasant family in the village of Niu Fu in southern China. His father’s name was Chin Yuk Gow. William was the youngest of 5 sons.

In 1894, William left China for Jamaica via the British port city of Hong Kong. Unable to pay for his passage to Jamaica, he contracted to work for 7 years as an indentured laborer.

In 1901, William completed his contractual obligation as an indentured worker. William then began selling bread from a handcart to the same workers he previously labored alongside. Eventually, he saved enough money to establish a small shop to sell provisions and goods to the residents of Falmouth. Over the years, this retail operation evolved into Chin See Bros.
Helen Chin See’s article, A Chinese in Jamaica, described the struggles William endured in those early years.
The publication, 
Chinese in the Caribbean (1941) included 
an article on William, Percy, Henry Levy Chin and Chin See Bros. on page 136.

Den Luen & son HLC return to Niu Fu when Den Luen’s mother passed away. A year later, Den Luen traveled to Singapore & died of stress and poverty. Henry Levy Chin as a young teen had to step up to be the man in the family for his widowed mom. He worked and scratched for a year to pay for his father’s burial, then returned home to Niu Fu. Sadness followed for HLC mother died soon after their return. He was left with his eldest step brother and domineering wife who was most cruel to HLC and denied him schooling. Then he heard of uncle William Chin See (WCS) doing well in Jamaica. At the encouragement of his three kinder aunts and invitation of WCS, he decided to go to Jamaica.

WCS forbade HLC to marry Albertha. HLC had 3 children with Albertha and purchased a house for them on Crooked St., Falmouth.
Children: Veronica (1920), 
Cosmore (1922-2016), 
Maysie (1924-2017.)

At age 58, William retired from the family business and passes control of Chin See Bros. to Percy and Henry Levy Chin. William returned to China to enjoy his retirement. The publication, Chinese in the Caribbean (1941) included 
an article on William, Percy, Henry Levy Chin and Chin See Bros. on page 136.

Marian Wong arrived in Jamaica in 1926 and married Henry Levy Chin in 1927. Sometime in that year Henry Levy Chin purchased #4 for his home. The adjoining property at #5 was given to HLC earlier by William Chin See as payment for his services. Circa 1930, Henry Levy Chin purchased #3 Water Square in Falmouth from the Anglican church to own the whole block, #3 to #5 Water Square.

Children: Reginald (1927-1927), 
Leslie (1928), 
May (1929-2011), Mabel (1931), Maud (1932), Hector (1934-1998), Harold (1935), Harry (1936-1987.)

On June 25, 1937, HLC sailed from Jamaica to Hong Kong via New York and Vancouver on the SS Toloa along with his wife Marian and 4 children, Maud, Hector, Harold and Harry.

page 1 of ship’s manifest
page 2 of ship’s manifest

HLC asked eldest son Leslie to leave Munro College without graduating to work in the family business for its survival. Leslie willingly accepts without question. Later, sisters May, Mabel, and Maud did the same as they became of age. All these siblings sacrificed for the good of the family over personal desires.

HLC’s son Hector started weekly trucking trips to Kingston to get supplies for the HLC Family Business. Later, he did trucking for both the family business & the Chen family of Duncans.
HLC opened a wholesale business in his middle building, #4 Water Square.

Edith “Miss Mae” Chin retired from the Sweeties business and transferred ownership to Leslie and Hector. A year later, she moved to Kingston to be with Hector’s children while they attended school.

Henry Levy Chin passed away on January 7, 1987 at the age of 92 in Miami, Florida.