William Chin See Timeline

1866

William’s Birth (China.)

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.

1883

William marries Martha (China.)

In 1883, William married Martha, aka Hew Po (邱氏; Qiū Shì) (b. 1869) at the age of 17.

1884

Chin Dai’s birth (China.)

In 1884, Martha gave birth to daughter Chin Dai in China. Chin Dai (Tai Goo Poe) was mother to Margurite Ho Gui Tai (桂娣) and Ho Chun Tai (春娣).

1885

William leaves for Brazil as an indentured laborer.

First 7 year contract. In 1885, William left China for Brazil via the Portuguese port city of Macao. Unable to pay for his passage to Brazil, he contracted to work for 7 years as an indentured laborer.

1892

William returns to China.

Upon completion of 7 years of indentureship in Brazil, William returned to China.

1893

Lan Tai’s Birth (China.)

Martha gave birth to second daughter, Lan Tai in China. In Helen Chin See’s article, A Chinese in Jamaica, the 2 sisters, Chin Dai and Lan Tai were noted to be 8 or 9 years apart.

1894

William leaves for Jamaica as an indentured laborer.

Second 7 year contract. 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.

1901

William completes 7 year contract and founds Chin See Bros. in Falmouth, Jamaica.


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.

1903

William sends for Martha.

Martha joined William in Jamaica. she resided there for approx. 5 years and gave birth to 3 children, Percy, Ida Louisa and Rupert while in Jamaica.

1904

Percy’s birth ( Jamaica.)

Percy Chin See, aka Chen Ying Loy.

Percy’s birth record.

1905

Ida Louisa’s birth (Jamaica.)

Ida Louisa was the mother of Emma, Lucy, Peter and Simone Chang.

Ida Louisa’s birth record.

1906

Rupert’s birth. (Jamaica.)

Rupert Bancroft Chin See, aka Chen Ying Ho.

Rupert’s birth record.

c. 1908

Martha leaves Jamaica with Percy, Ida Louisa and Rupert for China.

1912

Henry Levy Chin joins William in Jamaica in managing Chin See Bros.

In 1912, at age 18, Henry Levy Chin immigrated from Indo China (modern day Vietnam) to Falmouth, Jamaica. Henry Levy Chin (Chin Fah Hing, 陳 華興) was William Chinsee’s nephew and the son of his older brother, Chin Den Luen (陳 登纶).  Under William’s mentorship, both men built Chin See Bros. into one of the most successful and influential businesses in the town of Falmouth.

1921

Percy marries Ida Chue in China.

In 1921, William’s firstborn son Percy married Ida Chue (b. 1903) at age 17. Within a few months, he left China for Jamaica. His wife Ida remained in China. It was not until 1926 that Ida joined Percy in Jamaica.
On March 15, 1921, Percy sailed as Chan Ying Loy on the SS Anyo Maru from Hong Kong to Jamaica via the Panama canal. He listed his father’s name as “Dang Nang” on the ship’s manifest. William was known as Chin Den Len (陳登能; Dēng Néng.)

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

1921

Ida gives birth to daughter Yuk Zhen in China.

Ida gave birth to daughter Yuk Zhen (b. 1921) in China. She was Percy and Ida’s first born. In 1935, Percy met his daughter Yuk Zhen for the first time. She died at age 18 from appendicitis in 1939.

1924

William passes control of Chin See Bros. to Percy and Henry Levy Chin and returns to China.

At age 58, William retired from the family business and passes control of Chin See Bros. to Percy and Henry Levy Chin. On October 25th, 1924, William boarded the SS Metapan in Kingston, Jamaica in transit to Hong Kong via New York.

He paid his full passage home. He returned to China, indebted to no one.

The publication, Chinese in the Caribbean (1941) included an article on William, Percy, Henry Levy Chin and Chin See Bros. on page 136.

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

1926

Ida joins Percy in Jamaica.

After 5 years of separation, Ida joined Percy in Jamaica. On November 1926, she traveled from Hong Kong to Jamaica via Canada on the SS Tyndareous. Their 
marriage was officially recorded in the Jamaica Civil Registry on December 1926.

1926

William passes (China.)

At age 60, William passed away. He was buried in China.

1927

Ida gives birth to infant Mary Elizabeth (Jamaica.) She passes 10 days later.

Mary Elizabeth’s birth record.
Mary Elizabeth’s death record.

1928

Albert’s birth (Jamaica.)

Albert’s birth record.

1930

Costa’s birth (Jamaica.)

Costa’s birth record.

1931

Owen’s birth (Jamaica.)

1932

George’s birth (Jamaica.)

1933

Ramsay’s birth (Jamaica.)

1934

Ida returns to China with Albert, Costa, Owen, George and Ramsay.

On April 4th, 1934, Ida Chue Koy Moy, along with Albert, Costa, Owen, George and Ramsay boarded the SS Glaucus in Kingston, Jamaica in transit to Hong Kong via the Panama canal.
page 1 of ship’s manifest
page 2 of ship’s manifest
page 3 of ship’s manifest
page 4 of ship’s manifest

1935

Percy returns to China to build family compound.

On July 13, 1935, Percy and 3 of Henry Levy Chin’s children set sail from Jamaica to Hong Kong via New York on the SS American Ulua.
According to Rupert’s son Chen Li Bang, Percy returned to China with 10,000 gold coins to finance the construction of the Chin See family compound in Niu Fu.
page 1 of ship’s manifest
page 2 of ship’s manifest

1935

Chin See family photo taken in Hong Kong in 1935

CHINSEE FAMILY – 1935 Hong Kong.
(Same year Percy built large house in Niu Fu)
Back Row L-R , *Yuk Zhen standing ( 1921-1939), LiMan ( 1908-1991) 1st wife of Rupert & mother of Yuk Yu & LiBang,
Ramsay b. 1933, Grandmother Martha (Hew Po 1869-1945) , Ida nee Chue (1903-1991) wife of Percy, George age 3 b. 1932,
Percy 1904-1943 older brother of Rupert & husband of Ida nee Chue, Rupert (standing)1906-1983
Front Row seated on floor, L-R – Yuk Yu b. 1929, Albert 1928-1992, LiBang b. 1926, Costa 1930-2015, Owen b. 1931-.
Yuk Zhen (jade pearl) was the firstborn of Ida & Percy. She died at age 18 from appendicitis. She was 14 in this photo.

1936

Percy, Ida and Costa returns to Jamaica.

On August 21, 1936, Ida and Percy returned from Hong Kong to Jamaica on the SS Empress of Japan via Vancouver, Canada.
page 1 of ship’s manifest
page 2 of ship’s manifest

On October 31, 1938, Costa returned from Hong Kong to Jamaica on the SS Talthybius via Vancouver, Canada.
page 1 of ship’s manifest
page 2 of ship’s manifest

1937

Iris’ birth (Jamaica.)

Iris’ birth record.

1939

Yuk Zhen passes (China.)

Yuk Zhen dies from appendicitis at age 18.

1943

Gwen’s birth (Jamaica.)

Gwen’s birth record.

1943

Percy passes (Jamaica.)

In 1943, Percy contracted black water fever (malaria) and passed away at age 40. Percy was buried in the Chinese Cemetery in Jamaica.
Percy’s death record.

1945

Martha aka Hew Po passes (China.)

1947

Albert marries Tsang Chau Heung (Doris)

In 1947, Percy and Ida’s first born son Albert married Doris Tsang Chau Heung (b. 1930) in Hong Kong.
In 1946, eighteen year old Chin Lip Wei (Albert) received a letter from his mother Ida requesting he return to Jamaica to work in the family business. His father Percy had died 3 years earlier. Knowing that once he left for Jamaica, there will be some time before he will be able to return to China, his relatives urged him to find a wife to take back to Jamaica with him. He received several pictures of prospective brides from which he chose Tsang Chau Heung (Doris), whom he had never met. Albert sent this photo to Doris in proposal to marriage.
He left China for Jamaica on September 14, 1947, sailing from Hong Kong to Jamaica via San Francisco on the 
SS Marine Swallow. It was not until 1949 that Doris would join Albert in Jamaica.

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

1949

Doris joins Albert in Jamaica.

After 2 years of separation, Doris sailed from Hong Kong to Jamaica via San Francisco on August 6, 1949 on the SS General W H Gordon.

Ship’s manifest

1983

Rupert passes (USA.)

Rupert is buried in the Martha Brae Cemetery in Jamaica.

1991

Ida passes (USA.)

Ida is buried in the Woodlawn South Cemetery in Miami, FL.