Here is my son Robert and his wife Kelly and their son Jackson , with my father, Jack. Dad lived to enjoy time with his two great grandchildren Jackson and Riley who are my grandchildren.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Generations
The recent passing of my father has got me thinking alot about the passage of time and the generations that carry on.
Here is a photo of my Grandfather ,San Tong, my father, Jack , and my son Robert when Robert was a baby .
Here is a photo many years later, with myself, my Father, Jack, my son, Robert , now with a child of his own , Jackson
Monday, January 7, 2013
In Memory: Joan Jue Yen, Jack Lee Jue
Jack Lee Jue, 84, of Pasadena, died peacefully on January 2, 2013 surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Los Angeles, CA in 1928, Jack attended UCLA and UC Davis. Jack took pride in his career accomplishments. Jack and his father specialized in asparagus farming and established a wholesale produce market in Los Angeles.
Jack worked for many years as a County of Los Angeles Right of Way Agent and was licensed as a real estate broker and appraiser.
Jack was President and co-owner of National Appraisal Corporation. In 1986 he served as President of the Los Angeles Chapter and was an Appraisal Institute instructor for many years. He was also an Associate Professor for the Los Angeles Community College District for 20 years.
Jack was one of the founders of Standard Savings Bank. The bank opened for business in 1982 in Los Angeles Chinatown with the goal of serving new Chinese American immigrants and businesses.
Among his personal accomplishments are his faith in God and his work with the San Gabriel Presbyterian Church.
Most important to him was his family who surrounded him with love and laughter.
Jack is survived by his wife of 62 years, Alice Jue, their 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; Jack Jr and Elizabeth Jue (Robert, Kelly, Jackson, Riley, Leah, Jordan), Arlene and Stephen Morton (Nicklaus, Kelle), Richard and Terri Jue (Emily), Adrienne and William Hwang (Brian, Kevin), Leslie Jue and Brian Payne (Jacqueline, Matthew).
Jack has an extended family in California including sisters: Soo-Jan Wong (Mel), Pingeleen Quon, Soo-Yin Holloway (Ed), sister-in-law Estelle Jue-Clay (Miles) and brother Guy Jue, deceased. He was preceded in death by his sister Joan Jue Yen (Richard) by just days.
Services will be held at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at
The Old North Church, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills
6300 Forest Lawn Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068
Visitation will be held from 7-8 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013 at
The Old North Church
Donations may be made in memory of Jack Jue to the San Gabriel Presbyterian Church
200 West Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776
Joan Jue Yen, 82, of Phoenix, died peacefully December 30, 2012, in the
embrace of her family. Born in Los Angeles, California in 1930, Joan
attended UCLA where she studied fine art and design. She finished her
formal education at ASU receiving both her BA and MA in art education.
Joan taught art at Cortez HS in Phoenix, Scottsdale Community College,
and Phoenix College. She was also an accomplished artist whose work has
been archived in the Library of Congress, in Washington, D.C., and
exhibited throughout California and Arizona. Joan has a large extended
family in California including sisters, Soo-Jan Wong (Mel); Pingeleen
Quon; Soo-Yin Holloway (Ed); sister-in-law, Estelle Jue-Clay (Guy Jue,
deceased). She was survived by her brother, Jack Jue (Alice), by just
days. Joan leaves behind her husband of 62 years, Richard Yen, their
children Richard Scott Yen (Sue), Robert E. Yen (Li), Jenifer Y. Pang
(Yin) and six grandchildren: Christopher Yen (Erika), Stephen Yen,
Michael Pang, Harrison Yen, Joan Emily Yen (Matt Young) and Kalia Pang.
Services will be held at 10:30 am, on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at
Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Serenity Chapel, 2300 West Van Buren
St., Phoenix, AZ. Visitation on January 11, 2013 from 6:00-8:00 pm,
A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuary, 710 West Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, AZ.
Donations may be made in Joan's memory to The Desert Jade Women's Club Scholarship Fund c/o Mary Tang, 1209 E. Steamboat Bend Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283.
Donations may be made in Joan's memory to The Desert Jade Women's Club Scholarship Fund c/o Mary Tang, 1209 E. Steamboat Bend Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283.
Jr., Arlo, Rich, Age and Les,
We're all sad to hear of your dad's passing and we know what you may be feeling at this time, but perhaps there's some comfort in knowing that your dad and our mom are together again, inseparable as ever.
A few years ago, mom made a painting from a photograph of your dad, herself and their mother, Rose. Although we grew accustomed to seeing it hanging on the wall in her living room next to the fireplace, it has taken on more meaning for us. Perhaps it can provide you some small solace as well.
Interestingly, while making funeral arrangements, we visited the burial site she had selected with our dad. It's in the shadow of a large sculpture of an angel, and as dad commented, he thought she chose the site because it reminded her of this painting.
Wishing you all peace.
Bob
We're all sad to hear of your dad's passing and we know what you may be feeling at this time, but perhaps there's some comfort in knowing that your dad and our mom are together again, inseparable as ever.
A few years ago, mom made a painting from a photograph of your dad, herself and their mother, Rose. Although we grew accustomed to seeing it hanging on the wall in her living room next to the fireplace, it has taken on more meaning for us. Perhaps it can provide you some small solace as well.
Interestingly, while making funeral arrangements, we visited the burial site she had selected with our dad. It's in the shadow of a large sculpture of an angel, and as dad commented, he thought she chose the site because it reminded her of this painting.
Wishing you all peace.
Bob
Dearest JR, Arlene, Richard, Adrienne, Leslie, Scott, Bob and Jeni,
There
is a spiritual bond among siblings that run quite deep. This is
so true between your Dad Jack and your Mom Joan. They were spiritual
twins. They shared so many blessings together in life, and most
important, bringing into this world all you beautiful and loving
children.
Just as they shared adventures together in their
childhood...being "Huckleberry Finn and Sidekick," rafting down the
L.A. River on an old wooden door-turned-raft...Or riding their horses
Thunder and Blake down the old DeCelis wagon trail...they are
now embarking on a great new adventure together. It is so ironic,
other-worldly, that the Lord should call your Mom and your Dad to Him
at the same time...yet, it could only be so.
We all looked up to your parents as the central
pillars of our Big Family. They taught us how to love one another and
to stay connected together as one family. This is their legacy to us,
and so much more, that we know will continue.
Much love to you all,
Auntie Soo-Yin
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
"Lee Why Pack", San Tong's Paper Identity
My grandfather immigrated to the United States as the son of a merchant in 1918 using his real name, Jew Sun Tong, at the age of 13 and held a valid certificate of identity. Recently my Auntie Soo-Jan shared with me a curious identity certificate she found amongst my grandfather's papers. It was a certificate of identity with my grandfather's picture but with a different name, " Lee Why Pack", who was admitted in July 25, of 1912 at the age of 14 as the " son of a native". This certificate is a duplicate certificate issued in Washington D.C. on March 25th, 1926. This certificate with my grandfather's picture but with a false identity certifies him as the son of a native born American and thus a citizen of the United States.
Here is a picture of this identity card as well as a picture of the rear of the certificate. (Click on pictures to enlarge)
Here is a copy of my grandfather's real certificate of identity issued to him after the family was admitted through Angel Island in 1918. Note that both the real and false identity certificates state that the recipient has pit above the right eyebrow.
Racist immigration laws during this period of time required that all ethnic Chinese in America whether citizen or legal immigrant carry a valid certificate of identity to prove that they were legal residents of the United States. My grandfather was a legal immigrant and carried a valid certificate of identity in his own name. Why did he also have a false identity certificate? Did he actually use this identity? If he did use this identity, how long did he use it and why did he stop using it ? In this post I will attempt to provide the answers.
At the time of the 1930 Census my grandfather , his wife Rose, and my father Jack were living at 841 East Adams Street in Los Angeles. In this 1930 census my grandfather uses his paper identity of "Lee, Why Pack.". Here is a picture of the 1930 Census information concerning my grandfather's family.
According to my grandfather's paper identity, he should be 30 years old and not 25 ( his real age) and thus he uses that age on the census. He states that he was born in China. ( His paper identity says he was the son of an American citizen and thus an American citizen himself even though he was born in China.). His wife Rose is identified by a Chinese name " Hom Yok" (I am not sure if this was her real Chinese name). Her actual age is used (21 years old). My father is identified as " Jue Jack" first name, and " Lee" last name. He is 1 year and 4 months old at the time of the census. My grandfather's occupation is "Produce trucking", and his employer is" own fruit market."
On my father's birth certificate ( he was born in 1928) , the name listed is Jue Jack Lee.
My aunt Joan , who was born just after the 1930 census was taken in September of 1930, has her name listed as Jue Joan Lee on her birth certificate.
My father and aunt have in their possession their real birth certificates. Interestingly , my Auntie Soo-Jan was able to locate bogus birth certificates amongst my grandfather's papers for my Dad and my Auntie Joan which list their father as Why Pack Lee. There are some discrepancies in these birth certificates as to the name of the mother , and occupation of the father and there are no real physician signatures on them .
Here is my father's bogus birth certificate:
Here is my Auntie Joan's bogus birth certificate.
By 1937 when my grandfather travels to China to remarry after my grandmother Rose's death, he is using his real name as San Tong Jue on immigration documents. In the1940 census he uses his real name and all family members are listed using their real names. Jue and not Lee is the surname used on all legal documents.
My grandfather explained later to both my father and my Auntie Joan that their birth certificates had the "Lee" name on them as well as the Jue name so that they could use either name as their American surname depending on whether my grandfather ultimately used Jue or Lee as his surname. Americans were aware of the Chinese practice of putting surnames first on legal documents as opposed to the American practice of listing surnames last. Thus, depending on which surname my grandfather ultimately used, a birth certifcate written as Jue Jack Lee and Jue Joan Lee could be interpreted as meaning : first names: "Jue Jack" and "Jue Joan" and last name " Lee". or alternately first and middle names "Jack Lee" and "Joan Lee" and last name "Jue". My grandfather explained to my father and my aunt that using the Lee name as a paper identity for him was arranged by Jue Joe as a potential means of circumventing the California Alien Land Laws that at the time prevented Chinese born abroad from ever owning land. The plan was ultimately abandoned as too risky and never actually carried out and my grandfather resumed using his real name.
The story of Jue Joe's attempts at insuring that real estate purchased by him could be legally owned by the family during the time of the Alien Land laws is fascinating and the decisions made had huge repercussions for the ultimate history of our extended family. I have discussed much of this in previous posts but I will discuss some of the material again primarily as it applies to the story of my grandfather's paper identity.
The California Alien Land Law of 1913 prohibited "aliens ineligible for citizenship" (i.e., all Asian immigrants) from owning land or property, but permitted three year leases. It affected the Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Korean immigrant farmers in California. Jue Joe and his two sons including my grandfather, San Tong, were born in China and under Exclusion era laws permanently ineligible for citizenship and unable to legally own land. A common means of circumventing this prohibition against owning land was to buy land in the name of American born children of immigrants who were by birth US citizens and eligible to own land. Immigrants or others could be appointed as guardians of the property owned by these minor children until they became of age. However, California law placed the burden of proof in these arrangements on the guardians that this was not an attempt to circumvent the Calfornia Alien Land Law and allow Asian immigrants born abroad to purchase and own land. If it was determined that such was the case, the land could be confiscated by the State of California. Much more detail about the California Alien Land Law and it's effect on the Jue Family can be found here.
In 1919 about one year after his family immigrated from China, Jue Joe and Leong Shee had an American born daughter, Corrine. That same year Jue Joe purchased land in Van Nuys with the help of his good friend Otto Brant, president of the Title Insurance and Trust Company. Rather than purchasing land directly in the name of Corrine with him or Otto as designated guardian, Jue Joe and his friend Otto agreed on a different plan.
"With the help of his friend, O. F. Brant of the Title Insurance and Trust Company, Jue Joe bought Lot 690 from one Anderson in 1919, the year of Corinne's birth. Deed dated October 29, 1919, conveyed title in trust to Title Insurance and Trust Company, subject to Anderson's trust deed to Title Guarantee and Trust Company securing Anderson's indebtedness of $18,000. The declaration of trust dated November 1, 1919, recites that no part of the consideration was paid by Title Insurance and Trust Company and certifies that said property is held by it in trust for O. F. Brant, beneficiary. The specified purpose of the trust is to convey "upon written demand" to said "O. F. Brant or order." An assignment of beneficial interest to Corinne (referred to therein by her Chinese name "Ah How Jew"), was signed by O. F. Brant and Sue E. Brant,on November 7, 1919." This document was signed shortly after the trust was created. This was an " informal and unrecorded assignment of beneficial interest to Corinne" and legally the beneficiary of the trust remained O.F. Brant.
Unfortunately, Otto Brant died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1922.
In 1926 Jue Joe arranged for the purchase of paper identity for his son San Tong as "Lee Why Pack" , an American citizen. Why was this done?
My own theory is that Jue Joe after the death of his long time friend , Otto Brant , began thinking about other ways to have legal ownership and control of his lands rather then to keep the land in a trust with the Otto Brant estate designated as the legal owner. Although the property was supposed to be conveyed to Corrine, his American born daughter when she reached maturity, and thus legally owned by the family at that time, perhaps there was another way to immediately have direct legal ownership of the land. If Jue Joe arranged for his second son to assume the paper identity of " Lee Why Pack" , an American citizen, then Jue Joe's property could be conveyed by the Brant estate outright to "Lee Why Pack" and the family would have immediate control and ownership of the land. The informal and unrecorded note assigning beneficial interest of the trust to Corrine,minor child, could be cancelled by Jue Joe as Corrine's guardian.
Also, the paper identity would allow "Lee Why Pack" , an American citizen, to purchase additional lands for Jue Joe directly and without the need to purchase land through non family intermediaries.
As we have seen , this scheme was well underway at the time of the 1930 census with my grandfather establishing this false identity for him and his family. Soon after the time of the 1930 census the scheme was abandoned by Jue Joe and my grandfather, San Tong, as too dangerous and fraught with serious risks of discovery. If the subtrefuge was discovered by officials and interpreted as a way of getting around the alien land law , all the Jue Joe property would be in danger of being confiscated by the state! My grandfather resumed using his real name and the paper identity was abandoned and never used in real estate transactions or other documents ever again.
Edited 8/31/2012 I have been able to obtain the original immigration files of "Lee Why Pack" and some other documents with respect to my grandfather's paper identity. ( Click on documents to enlarge and review)
Lee Why Pack and his father Lee Shew immigrated through San Francisco on July 28th 1912.
Lee Shew alleged he was an American born citizen who had travelled back and forth to China three times and was finally returning with his two sons who had been born over seas. Documentation of his American birth in San Francisco is sketchy and there is no picture documentation but he is admitted anyway. His son Lee Why Pack having been born of an American citizen abroad is by American law an American citizen by birth. Lee Why Pack has an identifying mark of a pit above his right eyebrow.
Here is Lee Why Pack's and Lee Shew's sworn statement concerning their citizenship status with pictures.
Lee Shew and his two sons are admitted to the United States as citizens in 1912.
It is unknown what happened to the original "Lee Why Pack ", but after being admitted in 1912 there is no further record of him . Did he die? Was "Lee Why Pack " a paper identity that the young man stopped using once he was admitted ?
In any event, when Jue Joe and San Tong Jue began looking for an American citizen paper identity to assume , they were apparently told that the identity of " Lee Why Pack" was available and for sale. This person was about 6 years older then my grandfather but age was close enough and he also had an identifying mark of a pit above his right eyebrow as did my grandfather ( see my grandfather's true identity card as a young boy earlier in this post).
In December of 1925, my grandfather posing as "Lee Why Pack" travels to Walla, Walla , Washington state and applies for a duplicate certificate of identity (Form 430) , claiming to have lost his original identity certificate . Why Walla, Walla? Did the original "Lee Why Pack" live there at one time or was there some other reason for Walla Walla?
The immigrant investigator in charge writes to the San Franciso office requesting the original immigration file to verify his claim.
" A Chinese named Lee Why Pack has filed application for return certificate as a citizen with this office. He claims to have been admitted at your port on August 15,1912 from the SS" Siberia", and to have been given certificate of identity #8344, as the son of an American born citizen, but to have lost said certificate of identity. To assist in the pending investigation, kindly have your records searched for landing of this Chinese , and if found, forward same to this office."
The inspector completes his investigation and forwards his findings and the files back to the main office in Seattle, apparently verifying that my grandfather is indeed "Lee Why Pack" and an American citizen. ( Unfortunately the transcript of the investigation and testimony of my grandfather in Walla ,Walla has not been archived and is not available) .
The Seattle commissioner approves the application for the certificate on January 6th , and returns the original immigration file to San Francisco
Interestingly , my grandfather after having his application for a return identity certificate approved, travels to Vancouver Canada from Walla ,Walla . I have no idea what the reason for that trip was. He carries with him his "Form 430" application for a return identity certificate verifying he is a US Citizen although he has not yet received his official duplicate identity certificate. From Vancouver he travels back to Seattle aboard the S.S. Princess Victoria and arrives in Seattle on January 21, 1926. Strict immigration laws then in effect require verification of the legal status of any Chinese returning to the United States from Canada. He is listed on the ship's manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States as a US citizen carrying a Form 430 application for a duplicate identity certificate in lieu of an actual certificate. Although born in China, he is listed as a US citizen and a resident of Walla , Walla Washington to which he is returning. His occupation is " Merchant" He is listed as 27 years old.
Here is the Seattle ship manifest of his arrival in Seattle:
In March, my grandfather gets his bogus duplicate identity card as "Lee Why Pack ".
The complicated ruse has been successful. Here is the March 26th, 1926 letter verifying that the duplicate certificate of identity has been issued.
Interestingly by 1930, the Immigration service has begun to suspect that "Lee Why Pack" and his father " Lee Shew" and some 37 other Lee family members have all immigrated fraudulently and claimed all to be from the same village which was in fact a fictious village. There is a letter in the front of "Lee Why Pack's " San Francisco immigration file that should he or any other persons listed come before the immigration service again they should be questioned. I wonder if my grandfather and great grandfather got wind of the fact that the immigration service was suspecting that " Lee Why Pack " was in fact a paper identity and for that reason my grandfather stopped using that identity? What is clear is that shortly after 1930 , my grandfather no longer used his paper identity and resumed using his real identity of San Tong Jue.
Post Script:
The strange story of my grandfather's paper identity is an interesting example of the complicated ways in which Chinese during the exclusion era circumvented strict immigration regulations. What is interesting in our family's case was that the paper identity that was obtained was not used to effect entry into the United States but rather used in an attempt to claim citizenship status for my grandfather in order circumvent the discriminatory California Alien Land Law which barred Chinese born abroad from owning land.
If you are interested in learning more about this period , Estelle Lau's book " Paper Identities" is an excellent source of information about how the racist immigration laws and policies of the Chinese Exclusion Era shaped an increasingly sophisticated Chinese community response to circumvent the laws and also how these laws also shaped the Immigration service itself that was charged with enforcing them.
Here is a picture of this identity card as well as a picture of the rear of the certificate. (Click on pictures to enlarge)
Here is a copy of my grandfather's real certificate of identity issued to him after the family was admitted through Angel Island in 1918. Note that both the real and false identity certificates state that the recipient has pit above the right eyebrow.
Racist immigration laws during this period of time required that all ethnic Chinese in America whether citizen or legal immigrant carry a valid certificate of identity to prove that they were legal residents of the United States. My grandfather was a legal immigrant and carried a valid certificate of identity in his own name. Why did he also have a false identity certificate? Did he actually use this identity? If he did use this identity, how long did he use it and why did he stop using it ? In this post I will attempt to provide the answers.
At the time of the 1930 Census my grandfather , his wife Rose, and my father Jack were living at 841 East Adams Street in Los Angeles. In this 1930 census my grandfather uses his paper identity of "Lee, Why Pack.". Here is a picture of the 1930 Census information concerning my grandfather's family.
According to my grandfather's paper identity, he should be 30 years old and not 25 ( his real age) and thus he uses that age on the census. He states that he was born in China. ( His paper identity says he was the son of an American citizen and thus an American citizen himself even though he was born in China.). His wife Rose is identified by a Chinese name " Hom Yok" (I am not sure if this was her real Chinese name). Her actual age is used (21 years old). My father is identified as " Jue Jack" first name, and " Lee" last name. He is 1 year and 4 months old at the time of the census. My grandfather's occupation is "Produce trucking", and his employer is" own fruit market."
On my father's birth certificate ( he was born in 1928) , the name listed is Jue Jack Lee.
My aunt Joan , who was born just after the 1930 census was taken in September of 1930, has her name listed as Jue Joan Lee on her birth certificate.
My father and aunt have in their possession their real birth certificates. Interestingly , my Auntie Soo-Jan was able to locate bogus birth certificates amongst my grandfather's papers for my Dad and my Auntie Joan which list their father as Why Pack Lee. There are some discrepancies in these birth certificates as to the name of the mother , and occupation of the father and there are no real physician signatures on them .
Here is my father's bogus birth certificate:
Here is my Auntie Joan's bogus birth certificate.
By 1937 when my grandfather travels to China to remarry after my grandmother Rose's death, he is using his real name as San Tong Jue on immigration documents. In the1940 census he uses his real name and all family members are listed using their real names. Jue and not Lee is the surname used on all legal documents.
My grandfather explained later to both my father and my Auntie Joan that their birth certificates had the "Lee" name on them as well as the Jue name so that they could use either name as their American surname depending on whether my grandfather ultimately used Jue or Lee as his surname. Americans were aware of the Chinese practice of putting surnames first on legal documents as opposed to the American practice of listing surnames last. Thus, depending on which surname my grandfather ultimately used, a birth certifcate written as Jue Jack Lee and Jue Joan Lee could be interpreted as meaning : first names: "Jue Jack" and "Jue Joan" and last name " Lee". or alternately first and middle names "Jack Lee" and "Joan Lee" and last name "Jue". My grandfather explained to my father and my aunt that using the Lee name as a paper identity for him was arranged by Jue Joe as a potential means of circumventing the California Alien Land Laws that at the time prevented Chinese born abroad from ever owning land. The plan was ultimately abandoned as too risky and never actually carried out and my grandfather resumed using his real name.
The story of Jue Joe's attempts at insuring that real estate purchased by him could be legally owned by the family during the time of the Alien Land laws is fascinating and the decisions made had huge repercussions for the ultimate history of our extended family. I have discussed much of this in previous posts but I will discuss some of the material again primarily as it applies to the story of my grandfather's paper identity.
The California Alien Land Law of 1913 prohibited "aliens ineligible for citizenship" (i.e., all Asian immigrants) from owning land or property, but permitted three year leases. It affected the Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Korean immigrant farmers in California. Jue Joe and his two sons including my grandfather, San Tong, were born in China and under Exclusion era laws permanently ineligible for citizenship and unable to legally own land. A common means of circumventing this prohibition against owning land was to buy land in the name of American born children of immigrants who were by birth US citizens and eligible to own land. Immigrants or others could be appointed as guardians of the property owned by these minor children until they became of age. However, California law placed the burden of proof in these arrangements on the guardians that this was not an attempt to circumvent the Calfornia Alien Land Law and allow Asian immigrants born abroad to purchase and own land. If it was determined that such was the case, the land could be confiscated by the State of California. Much more detail about the California Alien Land Law and it's effect on the Jue Family can be found here.
In 1919 about one year after his family immigrated from China, Jue Joe and Leong Shee had an American born daughter, Corrine. That same year Jue Joe purchased land in Van Nuys with the help of his good friend Otto Brant, president of the Title Insurance and Trust Company. Rather than purchasing land directly in the name of Corrine with him or Otto as designated guardian, Jue Joe and his friend Otto agreed on a different plan.
"With the help of his friend, O. F. Brant of the Title Insurance and Trust Company, Jue Joe bought Lot 690 from one Anderson in 1919, the year of Corinne's birth. Deed dated October 29, 1919, conveyed title in trust to Title Insurance and Trust Company, subject to Anderson's trust deed to Title Guarantee and Trust Company securing Anderson's indebtedness of $18,000. The declaration of trust dated November 1, 1919, recites that no part of the consideration was paid by Title Insurance and Trust Company and certifies that said property is held by it in trust for O. F. Brant, beneficiary. The specified purpose of the trust is to convey "upon written demand" to said "O. F. Brant or order." An assignment of beneficial interest to Corinne (referred to therein by her Chinese name "Ah How Jew"), was signed by O. F. Brant and Sue E. Brant,on November 7, 1919." This document was signed shortly after the trust was created. This was an " informal and unrecorded assignment of beneficial interest to Corinne" and legally the beneficiary of the trust remained O.F. Brant.
Unfortunately, Otto Brant died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1922.
In 1926 Jue Joe arranged for the purchase of paper identity for his son San Tong as "Lee Why Pack" , an American citizen. Why was this done?
My own theory is that Jue Joe after the death of his long time friend , Otto Brant , began thinking about other ways to have legal ownership and control of his lands rather then to keep the land in a trust with the Otto Brant estate designated as the legal owner. Although the property was supposed to be conveyed to Corrine, his American born daughter when she reached maturity, and thus legally owned by the family at that time, perhaps there was another way to immediately have direct legal ownership of the land. If Jue Joe arranged for his second son to assume the paper identity of " Lee Why Pack" , an American citizen, then Jue Joe's property could be conveyed by the Brant estate outright to "Lee Why Pack" and the family would have immediate control and ownership of the land. The informal and unrecorded note assigning beneficial interest of the trust to Corrine,minor child, could be cancelled by Jue Joe as Corrine's guardian.
Also, the paper identity would allow "Lee Why Pack" , an American citizen, to purchase additional lands for Jue Joe directly and without the need to purchase land through non family intermediaries.
As we have seen , this scheme was well underway at the time of the 1930 census with my grandfather establishing this false identity for him and his family. Soon after the time of the 1930 census the scheme was abandoned by Jue Joe and my grandfather, San Tong, as too dangerous and fraught with serious risks of discovery. If the subtrefuge was discovered by officials and interpreted as a way of getting around the alien land law , all the Jue Joe property would be in danger of being confiscated by the state! My grandfather resumed using his real name and the paper identity was abandoned and never used in real estate transactions or other documents ever again.
Edited 8/31/2012 I have been able to obtain the original immigration files of "Lee Why Pack" and some other documents with respect to my grandfather's paper identity. ( Click on documents to enlarge and review)
Lee Why Pack and his father Lee Shew immigrated through San Francisco on July 28th 1912.
Lee Shew alleged he was an American born citizen who had travelled back and forth to China three times and was finally returning with his two sons who had been born over seas. Documentation of his American birth in San Francisco is sketchy and there is no picture documentation but he is admitted anyway. His son Lee Why Pack having been born of an American citizen abroad is by American law an American citizen by birth. Lee Why Pack has an identifying mark of a pit above his right eyebrow.
Here is Lee Why Pack's and Lee Shew's sworn statement concerning their citizenship status with pictures.
Lee Shew and his two sons are admitted to the United States as citizens in 1912.
It is unknown what happened to the original "Lee Why Pack ", but after being admitted in 1912 there is no further record of him . Did he die? Was "Lee Why Pack " a paper identity that the young man stopped using once he was admitted ?
In any event, when Jue Joe and San Tong Jue began looking for an American citizen paper identity to assume , they were apparently told that the identity of " Lee Why Pack" was available and for sale. This person was about 6 years older then my grandfather but age was close enough and he also had an identifying mark of a pit above his right eyebrow as did my grandfather ( see my grandfather's true identity card as a young boy earlier in this post).
In December of 1925, my grandfather posing as "Lee Why Pack" travels to Walla, Walla , Washington state and applies for a duplicate certificate of identity (Form 430) , claiming to have lost his original identity certificate . Why Walla, Walla? Did the original "Lee Why Pack" live there at one time or was there some other reason for Walla Walla?
The immigrant investigator in charge writes to the San Franciso office requesting the original immigration file to verify his claim.
" A Chinese named Lee Why Pack has filed application for return certificate as a citizen with this office. He claims to have been admitted at your port on August 15,1912 from the SS" Siberia", and to have been given certificate of identity #8344, as the son of an American born citizen, but to have lost said certificate of identity. To assist in the pending investigation, kindly have your records searched for landing of this Chinese , and if found, forward same to this office."
The inspector completes his investigation and forwards his findings and the files back to the main office in Seattle, apparently verifying that my grandfather is indeed "Lee Why Pack" and an American citizen. ( Unfortunately the transcript of the investigation and testimony of my grandfather in Walla ,Walla has not been archived and is not available) .
The Seattle commissioner approves the application for the certificate on January 6th , and returns the original immigration file to San Francisco
Interestingly , my grandfather after having his application for a return identity certificate approved, travels to Vancouver Canada from Walla ,Walla . I have no idea what the reason for that trip was. He carries with him his "Form 430" application for a return identity certificate verifying he is a US Citizen although he has not yet received his official duplicate identity certificate. From Vancouver he travels back to Seattle aboard the S.S. Princess Victoria and arrives in Seattle on January 21, 1926. Strict immigration laws then in effect require verification of the legal status of any Chinese returning to the United States from Canada. He is listed on the ship's manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States as a US citizen carrying a Form 430 application for a duplicate identity certificate in lieu of an actual certificate. Although born in China, he is listed as a US citizen and a resident of Walla , Walla Washington to which he is returning. His occupation is " Merchant" He is listed as 27 years old.
Here is the Seattle ship manifest of his arrival in Seattle:
In March, my grandfather gets his bogus duplicate identity card as "Lee Why Pack ".
The complicated ruse has been successful. Here is the March 26th, 1926 letter verifying that the duplicate certificate of identity has been issued.
Interestingly by 1930, the Immigration service has begun to suspect that "Lee Why Pack" and his father " Lee Shew" and some 37 other Lee family members have all immigrated fraudulently and claimed all to be from the same village which was in fact a fictious village. There is a letter in the front of "Lee Why Pack's " San Francisco immigration file that should he or any other persons listed come before the immigration service again they should be questioned. I wonder if my grandfather and great grandfather got wind of the fact that the immigration service was suspecting that " Lee Why Pack " was in fact a paper identity and for that reason my grandfather stopped using that identity? What is clear is that shortly after 1930 , my grandfather no longer used his paper identity and resumed using his real identity of San Tong Jue.
Post Script:
The strange story of my grandfather's paper identity is an interesting example of the complicated ways in which Chinese during the exclusion era circumvented strict immigration regulations. What is interesting in our family's case was that the paper identity that was obtained was not used to effect entry into the United States but rather used in an attempt to claim citizenship status for my grandfather in order circumvent the discriminatory California Alien Land Law which barred Chinese born abroad from owning land.
If you are interested in learning more about this period , Estelle Lau's book " Paper Identities" is an excellent source of information about how the racist immigration laws and policies of the Chinese Exclusion Era shaped an increasingly sophisticated Chinese community response to circumvent the laws and also how these laws also shaped the Immigration service itself that was charged with enforcing them.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Immigration Service Decision- Jue Family on Angel Island 1918
In previous posts, I have given an overview of the immigration process for the Jue family on Angel Island in 1918. Transcripts of the investigation of Jue Joe's status as a merchant, testimony of Jue Joe, Lee Bing, Leong Shee , Sun Yeaw, and Sun Tong as well as their reexamination interviews have been presented in this blog. After all the testimony was given , a decision was made to allow the family to land. After 12 long years wife and sons were finally able to reunite with Jue Joe. A few words about our family name: In original immigration documents the family Chinese surname is always translated into English as Jew. Shortly after the family is allowed entry from Angel Island, Jew Joe changes the English version of the family name to Jue and he refers to himself as Jue Joe thereafter. In a Los Angeles Times article later in 1918 about the reunification of his family the family surname is Jue.
The Angel Island detention and investigation of the Jue family was relatively swift compared to some Chinese detainees who were kept on the island much longer. The Jue family arrived on Angel Island on April 24,1918 and were admitted to the United States on May 2, 1918, after a 9 day period of detention and investigation.
U.S. Department of Labor
Immigration Service
May 1st 1918
Commissioner of Immigration,
Thru Inspector in Charge, Chinese Division,
Angel Island, California.
In re:
17119/10-2, Leong Shee, wife of Mer.
17119/10-3 ,Jew Sun Yeaw, Son of Mer.
17119/10-4, Jew Sun Tong, Son of Mer.
Ex. SS Columbia , April 24 , 1918
The alleged husband of applicant 10-2 and father of applicants 10-3 and 10-4 is the holder of a certificate of residence which shows his lawful residence. He has made one trip to China from 1902 to 1906, during which period his marriage to applicant 10-2 and the births of applicant 10-3 and 10-4 took place. The alleged father's mercantile status has been investigated by the Los Angeles office and is favorably reported upon by Inspector Brazie, of our Los Angeles office.
The evidence regarding the alleged relationship consists of the testimony of the alleged father, and the three applicants, and one identifying witness named Lee Bing. A comparison of the testimony of the alleged father, mother and two boys reveals no discrepancies which I consider of any significance.
The identifying witness states that the home of the applicants is the first house in the fourth row, and that it is one of the front houses in the village, whereas all the other witnesses agree that their home is the fourth house fourth row.
The identifying witness states that he took $50 from the alleged father to his family in China on each of the two occasions when he visited their home, namely on the last two trips, the first time from 1906 to 1907, and the second time from 1914 to 1915. Reference to the record of his return in 1915 shows that he was then asked if he had taken any money, letters or anything else from the United States to anyone in China and he answered : "$50 to Lee Lock's family" and that he did not mention taking any money to anyone else.
The identifying witness states that he visited the home of the applicants on only two occasions , once on his last trip and once on a previous trip. All three applicants state consistently that the identifying witness visited their home two or three times on each of the two trips.
I have noted a good family resemblance between the alleged father and applicant 10-3 and a fair family resemblance between alleged father and applicant 10-4. The appearance of the family as a whole is very satisfactory as also was their demeanor throughout the examination.
In view of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the testimony of the identifying witness is entitled to acceptance as truthful. Notwithstanding this fact, I am of the opinion that the testimony of the four members of this family is so circumstantial and in such close agreement that it must be held that their alleged relationship to one another is established.
Landing of all three applicants is recommended.
signed,
J.B. Sawyer
Immigrant Inspector.
The Angel Island detention and investigation of the Jue family was relatively swift compared to some Chinese detainees who were kept on the island much longer. The Jue family arrived on Angel Island on April 24,1918 and were admitted to the United States on May 2, 1918, after a 9 day period of detention and investigation.
U.S. Department of Labor
Immigration Service
May 1st 1918
Commissioner of Immigration,
Thru Inspector in Charge, Chinese Division,
Angel Island, California.
In re:
17119/10-2, Leong Shee, wife of Mer.
17119/10-3 ,Jew Sun Yeaw, Son of Mer.
17119/10-4, Jew Sun Tong, Son of Mer.
Ex. SS Columbia , April 24 , 1918
The alleged husband of applicant 10-2 and father of applicants 10-3 and 10-4 is the holder of a certificate of residence which shows his lawful residence. He has made one trip to China from 1902 to 1906, during which period his marriage to applicant 10-2 and the births of applicant 10-3 and 10-4 took place. The alleged father's mercantile status has been investigated by the Los Angeles office and is favorably reported upon by Inspector Brazie, of our Los Angeles office.
The evidence regarding the alleged relationship consists of the testimony of the alleged father, and the three applicants, and one identifying witness named Lee Bing. A comparison of the testimony of the alleged father, mother and two boys reveals no discrepancies which I consider of any significance.
The identifying witness states that the home of the applicants is the first house in the fourth row, and that it is one of the front houses in the village, whereas all the other witnesses agree that their home is the fourth house fourth row.
The identifying witness states that he took $50 from the alleged father to his family in China on each of the two occasions when he visited their home, namely on the last two trips, the first time from 1906 to 1907, and the second time from 1914 to 1915. Reference to the record of his return in 1915 shows that he was then asked if he had taken any money, letters or anything else from the United States to anyone in China and he answered : "$50 to Lee Lock's family" and that he did not mention taking any money to anyone else.
The identifying witness states that he visited the home of the applicants on only two occasions , once on his last trip and once on a previous trip. All three applicants state consistently that the identifying witness visited their home two or three times on each of the two trips.
I have noted a good family resemblance between the alleged father and applicant 10-3 and a fair family resemblance between alleged father and applicant 10-4. The appearance of the family as a whole is very satisfactory as also was their demeanor throughout the examination.
In view of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the testimony of the identifying witness is entitled to acceptance as truthful. Notwithstanding this fact, I am of the opinion that the testimony of the four members of this family is so circumstantial and in such close agreement that it must be held that their alleged relationship to one another is established.
Landing of all three applicants is recommended.
signed,
J.B. Sawyer
Immigrant Inspector.
Reexamination Interviews-Jue Family Angel Island 1918
In previous posts, I have provided an overview of the Angel Island investigation of the Jue Family in 1918. Other posts have provided transcripts of the initial testimony of Jew Joe, Lee Bing (identifying witness), Leong Shee , Sun Yew, and Sun Tong.
The re-examination phase of an Angel Island Immigration investigation was often quite intimidating for applicants for entry . During this phase, inconsistencies between testimonies between alleged family members were highlighted and the applicants were aggressively questioned. Note the aggressive manner the inspector grills Jew Joe about his lack of knowledge about the families of his brother Jew Shee and his nephew Jew Mun Jew. P.S. The son of Jew Mun Jew discussed in this interview, Chan Lum, later emigrated to the United States as a "paper son." The immigration was arranged by Jew Joe. Chan Lum was known as "Loon" and was the father of my cousins Jimmy and Ming Loon.
UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION SERVICE
CHINESE DIVISION
ANGEL ISLAND, CAL MAY 1ST , 1918
17119/10-2, Leong Shee, Wife of Mer.
17119/10-3, Jew Sun Yeaw, Son of Mer.
17119/10-4, Jew Sun Tong, Son of Mer.
Ex SS "Columbia", April 24, 1918
Inspr: J.B. Sawyer
Inspr: Mr. Wisner
Steno: D. Clement
Reexamination of Applicant 10-3, Sworn and admonished, Speaks See Yip dialect, Intpr. Qualifies.
Q What is your name ?
A Jew Sun Yeaw.
Q Do you identify these photographs (showing photographs on identification papers in present case) ?
A I don't know this one ( indicating photo of manager). This is my father Jew Joe, this is my mother and myself, my younger brother, and Lee Bing , my uncle. ( Identification correct).
Q How long have you known Lee Bing?
A About three years.
Q Where did you first meet him?
A In the Dai Hong Lee village of the Sam Gong section, Sun Wuey District.
Q Tell me the circumstances under which you have known him?
A He came to visit our place.
Q Did you ever see him anywhere else than at your home village?
A No. no other place, but I saw him once when I was small at home.
Q How many times have you seen him in all ?
A Five or six times I should say.
Q You say that you saw him when you were small. Do you remember anything about that visit?
A Yes.
Q How old were you at that time?
A No , I don't remember , I was only one or two years old.
Q When was the first time that you remember him coming to your home?
A In KS 32 (1906)
Q How old were you then?
A Two or three years old .
Q How can you remember that visit if you were only two or three years old?
A Yes , I can remember.
Q When was the next time that he visited your home?
A In CR 3(1914)
Q When he came to your house in KS 32 (1906) was he in China on a visit or had he never been away from China?
A He had been to America and returned to China.
Q How many times did he visit your home on the trip he made to China at that time?
A Two or three times.
Q When he visited your home in CR 3 , was he also on a trip from the U.S.A.
A Yes.
Q How many visits did he make to your home on that trip?
A Two or three times.
Q Has he made any other trips to China that you remember besides the one in KS32 and CR 3?
A I only know of these two trips.
Q What was the purpose of his visits to your home on this last trip?
A Just the visit , as far as I know.
Q Did you ever know him to bring anything to your home?
A I don't know of anything of that sort.
Q Did you ever hear that he had brought any money or letter or gift from your father in the United States?
A No.
Q Do you remember regarding any of his visits, how long he stayed and whether he took any meals at your home and whether he spent any nights at your home ?
A Yes , he ate rice and stayed all night .
Q Have you anything further to state .
A No
Q Have you understood the interpreter?
A Yes ( thru Ins. Sawyer)
signed in Chinese
Re-examination of Applicant 10-4 ,Sworn and admonished
Interpreter H.K. Tang, qualifies. Applicant speaks See Yip, Sun Wuey District dialect.
Q What is your name?
A Jew Sun Tong
Q Did you identify a photograph of Lee Bing yesterday?
A Yes
Q How long have you known that man?
A I saw him three years ago.
Q Where is he now?
A Now in Los Angeles, Cal.
Q Had he been in the United States before you saw him three years ago?
A Yes.
Q How long was he in China on that trip when you saw him three years ago?
A I don't know how long he stayed in China that time but he had been in our house two or three times.
Q Do you mean that he visited your home three times on his trip to China about three years ago?
A Two or three times .
Q What was the purpose of those visits?
A He came to visit us because he is a relative of ours by marriage.
Q Did he bring any letter,money or gifts or anything to your home?
A I don't know because I was at school. I just saw him there when he came.
Q Did he take any meals at your home or stay over night at that time.
A Yes he ate with us and stayed over night.
Q Do you remember whether he was ever in China earlier than that trip that have told me about ?
A Yes.
Q How old were you then?
A I was only a small boy but I cannot remember how old I was , my mother told me that he had been there.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No .
Q Have you understood the interpreter?
A Yes (Thru Ins .Sawyer).
signed in Chinese
Reexamination of Alleged Father
Sworn and Admonished, Speaks See Yip Dialect
Intpr. Pon Fang., qualifies
(Statement taken in presence of Acting Inspector in Charge, Lorensen).
[transcription note .. in the original document the inspector incorrectly refers to Jew See as Jew Joe's aka Jew Soong's uncle, and Jew Mun Jew as his uncle as well, I have changed the transcribed interview to read "brother" and "nephew" so that the testimony makes more sense ]
Q What is your name?
A Jew Soong.
Q Do you remember testifying that your brother Jew See has no family so far as you know?
A When I was in China he was here.
Q Do you remember testifying yesterday that he had no family so far as you know?
A When I was home he wasn't married but he was over here.
(Acting Inspector in Charge, Lorenson is called from the room).
Q I want you to tell me frankly all that you about your brother, Jew See's marriage and his family?
A As far as I know my son sent me a letter telling me that uncle came back from Paris and got married.
Q Was that his first marriage or had he been married before that?
A The first marriage
Q You are sure he never had two wives?
A I don't know whether he has one or two but I know he has one.
(Acting Inspector in Charge Lorenson returns).
Q It is important that you should tell me all that you know about this brother's family affairs and if he has been married twice you should tell me about his first marriage and his children by either wife?
A We have been parted over ten years and as far as I know he has married only once, maybe he has married other places, I know know, and if he has any children I don't know.
Q Your alleged wife and your two alleged sons have given me full particulars regarding the family of your brother Jew See , and as this family live in your house in China it seems reasonable to expect you to be familiar with the family. Are you sure that you have been perfectly frank with me and have told me all you know about Jew See's family?
A I left China over ten years ago and as far as I know I only know thru letters from my wife and children, they state that uncle came back and got married and that is all I know of his family.
Q Is it possible that your brother, Jew See, had a son several years old in China at the time you were last at home in China?
A No.
Q When you testified yesterday you also stated that your nephewJew Mun Jew never had any children so far as you knew. Is that right?
A I stated that he had children.
Q Tell me all you know about his family.
A When I was home he had one son and after that I don't know whether he had any more .
Q Did he have any daughter at that time?
A No.
Q What was the son's name?
A Jew Chun Lam.
Q How old was he at that time?
A Two or three years old when I was home.
Q Yesterday you said that your nephew, Jew Mun Jew, never had any children so far as you knew. Today you recall one son ,don't you think that if you think carefully that you can remember some other children in his family?
A I stated yesterday that he has one son but any more or not I don't know.
Q Your alleged wife and your two sons have all testified to facts regarding Jew See's family and Jew Mun Jew's family, which you have not told me, and which you certainly would be in a position to know about. Are you sure that you have nothing further to say about this?
A Jew See has been living in the U.S. all the time, but my wife knows about his family. I only know from their letter telling me that he went back and got married.
Q As I said before, your family have given me information with which you should reasonably be familiar regarding the family of Jew See and Jew Mun Jew. Are you certain that you have nothing to add to your statement?
A No nothing to add.
Q Have you ever heard of Jew Tuey Sew?
A No.
Q Have you ever heard of Jew Sin Nam?
A No
Q Have you ever heard of Jew Ah Gum?
A No.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No.
Q Have you understood the interpreter.
A Yes ( In English)
signed in Chinese characters.
Re-examination of alleged wife, sworn and admonished,
Speaks See Yip Dialect, Interpreter H.K. Tang , qualifies
(Statement taken in the presence of Acting Inspector in Charge, Lorensen)
Q What is your name?
A Leong Shee, or Leong Ah Ho.
Q You testified yesterday that Jew Mun Jew has one son and two daughters. Is that right ?
A Yes, two daughters and one son.
Q And you stated that your husband knew the two oldest. Is that right ?
A Yes , one son and one daughter.
Q What are the names of the two your husband knew?
A Jew Chun Lam and the daughter Jew Ah Gum.
Q How old were they when your husband was last in China?
A They were only small children. Ah Gum was about three and Chun Lam about two.
Q You testified yesterday that Jew See had one son , Jew Sin Nam , now 16 or 17 years old . Is that right?
A Yes.
Q How old was Jew Sin Nam when your husband was last in China?
A I don't know, my husband never knew this boy, the boy was brought from somewhere else.
Q Do you mean that he was not a natural son?
A I don't know, but his father, Ah See, said that Sin Nam was his own son that he brought home from a distant land.
Q Did you ever see Jew Sin Nam's mother?
A No.
Q Do you know if Jew Sin Nam's mother was in a distant land?
A Yes.
Q Do you know if she was ever in China?
A No , she lived in a foreign country.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No
Q Have you understood the interpreter?
A Yes (thru Ins . Sawyer).
signed with an X by English name.
The re-examination phase of an Angel Island Immigration investigation was often quite intimidating for applicants for entry . During this phase, inconsistencies between testimonies between alleged family members were highlighted and the applicants were aggressively questioned. Note the aggressive manner the inspector grills Jew Joe about his lack of knowledge about the families of his brother Jew Shee and his nephew Jew Mun Jew. P.S. The son of Jew Mun Jew discussed in this interview, Chan Lum, later emigrated to the United States as a "paper son." The immigration was arranged by Jew Joe. Chan Lum was known as "Loon" and was the father of my cousins Jimmy and Ming Loon.
UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION SERVICE
CHINESE DIVISION
ANGEL ISLAND, CAL MAY 1ST , 1918
17119/10-2, Leong Shee, Wife of Mer.
17119/10-3, Jew Sun Yeaw, Son of Mer.
17119/10-4, Jew Sun Tong, Son of Mer.
Ex SS "Columbia", April 24, 1918
Inspr: J.B. Sawyer
Inspr: Mr. Wisner
Steno: D. Clement
Reexamination of Applicant 10-3, Sworn and admonished, Speaks See Yip dialect, Intpr. Qualifies.
Q What is your name ?
A Jew Sun Yeaw.
Q Do you identify these photographs (showing photographs on identification papers in present case) ?
A I don't know this one ( indicating photo of manager). This is my father Jew Joe, this is my mother and myself, my younger brother, and Lee Bing , my uncle. ( Identification correct).
Q How long have you known Lee Bing?
A About three years.
Q Where did you first meet him?
A In the Dai Hong Lee village of the Sam Gong section, Sun Wuey District.
Q Tell me the circumstances under which you have known him?
A He came to visit our place.
Q Did you ever see him anywhere else than at your home village?
A No. no other place, but I saw him once when I was small at home.
Q How many times have you seen him in all ?
A Five or six times I should say.
Q You say that you saw him when you were small. Do you remember anything about that visit?
A Yes.
Q How old were you at that time?
A No , I don't remember , I was only one or two years old.
Q When was the first time that you remember him coming to your home?
A In KS 32 (1906)
Q How old were you then?
A Two or three years old .
Q How can you remember that visit if you were only two or three years old?
A Yes , I can remember.
Q When was the next time that he visited your home?
A In CR 3(1914)
Q When he came to your house in KS 32 (1906) was he in China on a visit or had he never been away from China?
A He had been to America and returned to China.
Q How many times did he visit your home on the trip he made to China at that time?
A Two or three times.
Q When he visited your home in CR 3 , was he also on a trip from the U.S.A.
A Yes.
Q How many visits did he make to your home on that trip?
A Two or three times.
Q Has he made any other trips to China that you remember besides the one in KS32 and CR 3?
A I only know of these two trips.
Q What was the purpose of his visits to your home on this last trip?
A Just the visit , as far as I know.
Q Did you ever know him to bring anything to your home?
A I don't know of anything of that sort.
Q Did you ever hear that he had brought any money or letter or gift from your father in the United States?
A No.
Q Do you remember regarding any of his visits, how long he stayed and whether he took any meals at your home and whether he spent any nights at your home ?
A Yes , he ate rice and stayed all night .
Q Have you anything further to state .
A No
Q Have you understood the interpreter?
A Yes ( thru Ins. Sawyer)
signed in Chinese
Re-examination of Applicant 10-4 ,Sworn and admonished
Interpreter H.K. Tang, qualifies. Applicant speaks See Yip, Sun Wuey District dialect.
Q What is your name?
A Jew Sun Tong
Q Did you identify a photograph of Lee Bing yesterday?
A Yes
Q How long have you known that man?
A I saw him three years ago.
Q Where is he now?
A Now in Los Angeles, Cal.
Q Had he been in the United States before you saw him three years ago?
A Yes.
Q How long was he in China on that trip when you saw him three years ago?
A I don't know how long he stayed in China that time but he had been in our house two or three times.
Q Do you mean that he visited your home three times on his trip to China about three years ago?
A Two or three times .
Q What was the purpose of those visits?
A He came to visit us because he is a relative of ours by marriage.
Q Did he bring any letter,money or gifts or anything to your home?
A I don't know because I was at school. I just saw him there when he came.
Q Did he take any meals at your home or stay over night at that time.
A Yes he ate with us and stayed over night.
Q Do you remember whether he was ever in China earlier than that trip that have told me about ?
A Yes.
Q How old were you then?
A I was only a small boy but I cannot remember how old I was , my mother told me that he had been there.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No .
Q Have you understood the interpreter?
A Yes (Thru Ins .Sawyer).
signed in Chinese
Reexamination of Alleged Father
Sworn and Admonished, Speaks See Yip Dialect
Intpr. Pon Fang., qualifies
(Statement taken in presence of Acting Inspector in Charge, Lorensen).
[transcription note .. in the original document the inspector incorrectly refers to Jew See as Jew Joe's aka Jew Soong's uncle, and Jew Mun Jew as his uncle as well, I have changed the transcribed interview to read "brother" and "nephew" so that the testimony makes more sense ]
Q What is your name?
A Jew Soong.
Q Do you remember testifying that your brother Jew See has no family so far as you know?
A When I was in China he was here.
Q Do you remember testifying yesterday that he had no family so far as you know?
A When I was home he wasn't married but he was over here.
(Acting Inspector in Charge, Lorenson is called from the room).
Q I want you to tell me frankly all that you about your brother, Jew See's marriage and his family?
A As far as I know my son sent me a letter telling me that uncle came back from Paris and got married.
Q Was that his first marriage or had he been married before that?
A The first marriage
Q You are sure he never had two wives?
A I don't know whether he has one or two but I know he has one.
(Acting Inspector in Charge Lorenson returns).
Q It is important that you should tell me all that you know about this brother's family affairs and if he has been married twice you should tell me about his first marriage and his children by either wife?
A We have been parted over ten years and as far as I know he has married only once, maybe he has married other places, I know know, and if he has any children I don't know.
Q Your alleged wife and your two alleged sons have given me full particulars regarding the family of your brother Jew See , and as this family live in your house in China it seems reasonable to expect you to be familiar with the family. Are you sure that you have been perfectly frank with me and have told me all you know about Jew See's family?
A I left China over ten years ago and as far as I know I only know thru letters from my wife and children, they state that uncle came back and got married and that is all I know of his family.
Q Is it possible that your brother, Jew See, had a son several years old in China at the time you were last at home in China?
A No.
Q When you testified yesterday you also stated that your nephewJew Mun Jew never had any children so far as you knew. Is that right?
A I stated that he had children.
Q Tell me all you know about his family.
A When I was home he had one son and after that I don't know whether he had any more .
Q Did he have any daughter at that time?
A No.
Q What was the son's name?
A Jew Chun Lam.
Q How old was he at that time?
A Two or three years old when I was home.
Q Yesterday you said that your nephew, Jew Mun Jew, never had any children so far as you knew. Today you recall one son ,don't you think that if you think carefully that you can remember some other children in his family?
A I stated yesterday that he has one son but any more or not I don't know.
Q Your alleged wife and your two sons have all testified to facts regarding Jew See's family and Jew Mun Jew's family, which you have not told me, and which you certainly would be in a position to know about. Are you sure that you have nothing further to say about this?
A Jew See has been living in the U.S. all the time, but my wife knows about his family. I only know from their letter telling me that he went back and got married.
Q As I said before, your family have given me information with which you should reasonably be familiar regarding the family of Jew See and Jew Mun Jew. Are you certain that you have nothing to add to your statement?
A No nothing to add.
Q Have you ever heard of Jew Tuey Sew?
A No.
Q Have you ever heard of Jew Sin Nam?
A No
Q Have you ever heard of Jew Ah Gum?
A No.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No.
Q Have you understood the interpreter.
A Yes ( In English)
signed in Chinese characters.
Re-examination of alleged wife, sworn and admonished,
Speaks See Yip Dialect, Interpreter H.K. Tang , qualifies
(Statement taken in the presence of Acting Inspector in Charge, Lorensen)
Q What is your name?
A Leong Shee, or Leong Ah Ho.
Q You testified yesterday that Jew Mun Jew has one son and two daughters. Is that right ?
A Yes, two daughters and one son.
Q And you stated that your husband knew the two oldest. Is that right ?
A Yes , one son and one daughter.
Q What are the names of the two your husband knew?
A Jew Chun Lam and the daughter Jew Ah Gum.
Q How old were they when your husband was last in China?
A They were only small children. Ah Gum was about three and Chun Lam about two.
Q You testified yesterday that Jew See had one son , Jew Sin Nam , now 16 or 17 years old . Is that right?
A Yes.
Q How old was Jew Sin Nam when your husband was last in China?
A I don't know, my husband never knew this boy, the boy was brought from somewhere else.
Q Do you mean that he was not a natural son?
A I don't know, but his father, Ah See, said that Sin Nam was his own son that he brought home from a distant land.
Q Did you ever see Jew Sin Nam's mother?
A No.
Q Do you know if Jew Sin Nam's mother was in a distant land?
A Yes.
Q Do you know if she was ever in China?
A No , she lived in a foreign country.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No
Q Have you understood the interpreter?
A Yes (thru Ins . Sawyer).
signed with an X by English name.
Immigration Interview Sun Tong/Jue Family on Angel Island 1918
Jue San Tong was my paternal grandfather. (His Chinese name is spelled Jew SunTeong in this interview) . Although he seems like a very cool headed 13 year old boy in this transcribed interview, my grandfather always remembered the Angel Island interrogation as very frightening when asked about this experience later in life!
Statement of Applicant 10-4 Interpreter Pon Fang.
Sworn
Speaks See Yip, Interpreter qualified.
Admonished if you do not understand the interpreter to immediately so state.
Q What is your name?
A Jew Sun Teong.
Q How old are you ?
A 13 years.
Q Date of birth?
A K.S. 31-7-17 (Aug. 17, 1905)
Q What is your father's name?
A Jew Joe, Jew Soong. I only know two names.
Q How old is he ?
A 62.
Q Did you ever see your father?
A I saw him when I was a little boy and we have a big picture of him at the home.
Q What is your mother's name?
A Leong Shee.
Q How old is she?
A 35
Q Any brothers or sisters?
A Have one brother, no sisters.
Q Give the name , age and date of birth of your brother?
A Jew Sun Yew. 15 years. I don't know date of birth.
Q Did you are ever see your paternal grandfathers?
A No , neither of them. They died a long time ago.
Q Did your father have any brothers or sisters?
A Yes, four brothers including my father and one sister.
Q How many of those are living?
A Two living and two dead.
Q What are the names of the two living?
A Jew See and my father.
Q Where is Jew See living?
A Living in Sam Goong, Dai Hai Lee.
Q In what house?
A The same house with us.
Q What is the location of your house?
A 4th row 4th house.
Q Has Jew See a family?
A Yes.
Q Is his wife living?
A Yes.
Q How many children has she?
A One boy and one girl.
Q What are their names and ages?
A Jew Sin Nam, 14 years or 15. Jew Mun Sui, 3 or 4 years old.
Q Did they all live in your house?
A Yes.
Q Do you know Jew Mun Jew?
A Yes, my uncle's son.
Q Which uncle's son?
A My oldest uncle's son.
Q Where does Jew Mun Jew live?
A Not far from our house.
Q Same row with your house.
A No , not on the same row.
Q Toward the tail of the village?
A Near the tail of the village.
Q Do you know Jew Fook?
A Yes.
Q How is he related to you?
A He is the son of my 4th uncle.
Q Where does he live?
A He lives with us and sleeps with the boys outside.
Q Does Jew Mun Jew have a family?
A He has a son but his wife died.
Q What is the son's name?
A Chu Lam
Q What is his age?
A About my size.
Q Doesn't Chin Lan have a brother or sister?
A He has an older sister and younger sister, but no brother.
Q When did Jew Mun Jew's wife die?
A She died 3 or 4 years ago.
Q Did Jew Fook ever sleep in a house near you?
A Yes , a long time ago.
Q Where was that house located?
A The 4th house on the 4th row.
Q That is the same location given for your house, isn't it?
A Yes.
Q What part of the house does he sleep in?
A On the lower part of the house.
Q What do you mean by the lower part of the house?
A It was in a small house right close to our house, but when his mother died he came to sleep in our house.
Q Did that small house touch your house?
A Yes, close together.
Q On which side of your house was it?
A On the west side.
Q Is there any alley that runs between that house and the small house.
A No.
Q Do you identify these photographs ( applicant shown photographs in the present case)?
A My father, I don't know this man ( indicating manager of alleged father's firm).
My mother, my brother , myself and Lee Bing. Identifcation of all photographs correct.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No.
Q Have you understood the Interpreter (by Inspector Sawyer in Chinese)?
A Yes.
Inspector's note- The three applicants and the alleged father are brought into my presence and a careful comparison is made for resemblance. In my opinion, applicant 10-3 bears a close family resemblance to the father and in my opinion applicant 10-4 bears some family resemblance to his alleged father although not as distinctly a resemblance as borne by the applicant 10-3. In my opinion the two boys bear a good general appearance to one another. I see no special resemblance between the alleged mother and two boys. In my opinion, the appearance of the family in a whole is satisfactory and there is nothing to suggest that either boy is an outsider.
May 2, 1918.
Statement of Applicant 10-4 Interpreter Pon Fang.
Sworn
Speaks See Yip, Interpreter qualified.
Admonished if you do not understand the interpreter to immediately so state.
Q What is your name?
A Jew Sun Teong.
Q How old are you ?
A 13 years.
Q Date of birth?
A K.S. 31-7-17 (Aug. 17, 1905)
Q What is your father's name?
A Jew Joe, Jew Soong. I only know two names.
Q How old is he ?
A 62.
Q Did you ever see your father?
A I saw him when I was a little boy and we have a big picture of him at the home.
Q What is your mother's name?
A Leong Shee.
Q How old is she?
A 35
Q Any brothers or sisters?
A Have one brother, no sisters.
Q Give the name , age and date of birth of your brother?
A Jew Sun Yew. 15 years. I don't know date of birth.
Q Did you are ever see your paternal grandfathers?
A No , neither of them. They died a long time ago.
Q Did your father have any brothers or sisters?
A Yes, four brothers including my father and one sister.
Q How many of those are living?
A Two living and two dead.
Q What are the names of the two living?
A Jew See and my father.
Q Where is Jew See living?
A Living in Sam Goong, Dai Hai Lee.
Q In what house?
A The same house with us.
Q What is the location of your house?
A 4th row 4th house.
Q Has Jew See a family?
A Yes.
Q Is his wife living?
A Yes.
Q How many children has she?
A One boy and one girl.
Q What are their names and ages?
A Jew Sin Nam, 14 years or 15. Jew Mun Sui, 3 or 4 years old.
Q Did they all live in your house?
A Yes.
Q Do you know Jew Mun Jew?
A Yes, my uncle's son.
Q Which uncle's son?
A My oldest uncle's son.
Q Where does Jew Mun Jew live?
A Not far from our house.
Q Same row with your house.
A No , not on the same row.
Q Toward the tail of the village?
A Near the tail of the village.
Q Do you know Jew Fook?
A Yes.
Q How is he related to you?
A He is the son of my 4th uncle.
Q Where does he live?
A He lives with us and sleeps with the boys outside.
Q Does Jew Mun Jew have a family?
A He has a son but his wife died.
Q What is the son's name?
A Chu Lam
Q What is his age?
A About my size.
Q Doesn't Chin Lan have a brother or sister?
A He has an older sister and younger sister, but no brother.
Q When did Jew Mun Jew's wife die?
A She died 3 or 4 years ago.
Q Did Jew Fook ever sleep in a house near you?
A Yes , a long time ago.
Q Where was that house located?
A The 4th house on the 4th row.
Q That is the same location given for your house, isn't it?
A Yes.
Q What part of the house does he sleep in?
A On the lower part of the house.
Q What do you mean by the lower part of the house?
A It was in a small house right close to our house, but when his mother died he came to sleep in our house.
Q Did that small house touch your house?
A Yes, close together.
Q On which side of your house was it?
A On the west side.
Q Is there any alley that runs between that house and the small house.
A No.
Q Do you identify these photographs ( applicant shown photographs in the present case)?
A My father, I don't know this man ( indicating manager of alleged father's firm).
My mother, my brother , myself and Lee Bing. Identifcation of all photographs correct.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No.
Q Have you understood the Interpreter (by Inspector Sawyer in Chinese)?
A Yes.
Inspector's note- The three applicants and the alleged father are brought into my presence and a careful comparison is made for resemblance. In my opinion, applicant 10-3 bears a close family resemblance to the father and in my opinion applicant 10-4 bears some family resemblance to his alleged father although not as distinctly a resemblance as borne by the applicant 10-3. In my opinion the two boys bear a good general appearance to one another. I see no special resemblance between the alleged mother and two boys. In my opinion, the appearance of the family in a whole is satisfactory and there is nothing to suggest that either boy is an outsider.
May 2, 1918.
Immigration Interview of Sun Yew/ Jue Family on Angel Island 1918
Both the sons of Jew Joe did an excellent job in their immigration interviews. Despite their young age and being interviewed by strange foreign men in an intimidating setting they remained cool and collected and did their father proud! Here is a picture of a typical Angel Island Immigration interview that illustrates what these boys needed to face.
Here is a picture of my great uncle, Sun Yeaw (San You) on Angel Island.
Statement of Applicant 10-3 Interpreter Louie Fon.
Sworn
Speaks See Yip dialect, Interpreter qualifed.
Admonished, if you do not understand the interpreter to immediately so state.
Q What is your name ?
A Sun Yew.
Q No other names?
A No other.
Q How old are you ?
A 15 years ( Inspector's note, Applicant appears to be about the age claimed.)
Q Date of birth?
A K.S. 29 ( October 1903) Sam Goong village, Dai Hai Gong.
Q What is your father's name?
A Jew Soong and Jew Pan Joong.
Q Where is your father?
A He is now in Los Angeles?
Q How old is he ?
A 62
Q When did you see him last?
A When I was about 2 years old.
Q What is your mother's name?
A Leong Shee.
Q How old is she?
A 35, natural feet.
Q Of what village is she a native?
A Ma Choong village, S.W. district.
Q Have you any brothers or sisters?
A One brother, no sister
Q Give me the name and date of birth of your brother?
A Jew Sun Teong (Choong). 13 years, born K.S.32(1906) 7-17.
Q Are you sure of the year?
A No , I am not sure , it is K.S. 31 or 32.
Q How much younger is he than you?
A I am two years older than he.
Q Therefore he must have been born in K.S.31 not in K.S. 32.
Inspector's note, the date of birth is Aug .17, 1905.
Q What is your paternal granfather's name?
A Jew Leung Kow. He is dead.
Q Have you ever seen him?
A No
Q What is your paternal grandmother's name?
A Lee Shee.
Q She living?
A No.
Q Ever seen her?
A No. she is dead.
Q Has your father any brothers or sisters?
A Three brothers and one sister.
Q Name of your father's oldest brother?
A He had an older brother that died many years ago, I never saw him.
Q Did he have any children?
A One son
Q What is his name?
A Jew Jeung.
Q Did he have another name?
A Jew Mun Jew, he is married.
Q Has he any children?
A Three brothers and one sister.
Q What are their names and ages?
A Jew Shun Lam about 14 years . Ah Gum , don't know her age, she is married. Tuey Sew, about so big, indicating with his hand, about 3 ft. high
Q Name of your father's next brother?
A Jew See, 51 or 52 years.
Q Where is he?
A At home in China.
Q Does he have any children?
A One boy and one girl.
Q What are their names and ages?
A Jew Sin Nam 17 years. Jew Mun Sui , a baby.
Q What is the name of your father's next brother?
A He is dead, I don't know his name . I never saw him.
Q Did he have any children?
A Son.
Q What is his name?
A Jew Fook . He is older than myself but I don't know his age and he is now at home.
Q What is your father's sister's name?
A I don't know her name. She is married.
Q She is living?
A She is living.
Q Where is she?
A Nam Loong, S.W. District
Q What is the location of your house in your village?
A 4th house 4th row from the head of the village.
Q Where does Jew Jeung alias Jew Mun Jew live?
A Lives in the same village.
Q Do they live in your row?
A No.
Q Toward the head or tail of your house?
A Toward the head.
Q First row in the head of the village.
A I can't say which row.
Q You don't know which row in the village?
A I can't say whetheer he lived in the 1st row or not.
Q Where did Jew See and his family live?
A Live in our house.
Q Which side of the house?
A They live in the right hand side of the house.
Q Where does Jew Fook live?
A He takes his meals at our house but sleeps anywhere, sometimes Ancestral hall and sometimes in club rooms.
Q Did he ever live in your house?
A No.
Q Did he ever live near your house ?
A Yes, he lives in a little house directly from my house.
Q Does it touch your house?
A No.
Q How much space divides them?
A About as far as that corner to that corner ( indicating distance of 12 feet).
Q Is it across the alley from your house?
A Yes.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No.
Q Have you understood the Interpreter( thru Inspector Sawyer in Chinese).
A Yes.
Here is a picture of my great uncle, Sun Yeaw (San You) on Angel Island.
Statement of Applicant 10-3 Interpreter Louie Fon.
Sworn
Speaks See Yip dialect, Interpreter qualifed.
Admonished, if you do not understand the interpreter to immediately so state.
Q What is your name ?
A Sun Yew.
Q No other names?
A No other.
Q How old are you ?
A 15 years ( Inspector's note, Applicant appears to be about the age claimed.)
Q Date of birth?
A K.S. 29 ( October 1903) Sam Goong village, Dai Hai Gong.
Q What is your father's name?
A Jew Soong and Jew Pan Joong.
Q Where is your father?
A He is now in Los Angeles?
Q How old is he ?
A 62
Q When did you see him last?
A When I was about 2 years old.
Q What is your mother's name?
A Leong Shee.
Q How old is she?
A 35, natural feet.
Q Of what village is she a native?
A Ma Choong village, S.W. district.
Q Have you any brothers or sisters?
A One brother, no sister
Q Give me the name and date of birth of your brother?
A Jew Sun Teong (Choong). 13 years, born K.S.32(1906) 7-17.
Q Are you sure of the year?
A No , I am not sure , it is K.S. 31 or 32.
Q How much younger is he than you?
A I am two years older than he.
Q Therefore he must have been born in K.S.31 not in K.S. 32.
Inspector's note, the date of birth is Aug .17, 1905.
Q What is your paternal granfather's name?
A Jew Leung Kow. He is dead.
Q Have you ever seen him?
A No
Q What is your paternal grandmother's name?
A Lee Shee.
Q She living?
A No.
Q Ever seen her?
A No. she is dead.
Q Has your father any brothers or sisters?
A Three brothers and one sister.
Q Name of your father's oldest brother?
A He had an older brother that died many years ago, I never saw him.
Q Did he have any children?
A One son
Q What is his name?
A Jew Jeung.
Q Did he have another name?
A Jew Mun Jew, he is married.
Q Has he any children?
A Three brothers and one sister.
Q What are their names and ages?
A Jew Shun Lam about 14 years . Ah Gum , don't know her age, she is married. Tuey Sew, about so big, indicating with his hand, about 3 ft. high
Q Name of your father's next brother?
A Jew See, 51 or 52 years.
Q Where is he?
A At home in China.
Q Does he have any children?
A One boy and one girl.
Q What are their names and ages?
A Jew Sin Nam 17 years. Jew Mun Sui , a baby.
Q What is the name of your father's next brother?
A He is dead, I don't know his name . I never saw him.
Q Did he have any children?
A Son.
Q What is his name?
A Jew Fook . He is older than myself but I don't know his age and he is now at home.
Q What is your father's sister's name?
A I don't know her name. She is married.
Q She is living?
A She is living.
Q Where is she?
A Nam Loong, S.W. District
Q What is the location of your house in your village?
A 4th house 4th row from the head of the village.
Q Where does Jew Jeung alias Jew Mun Jew live?
A Lives in the same village.
Q Do they live in your row?
A No.
Q Toward the head or tail of your house?
A Toward the head.
Q First row in the head of the village.
A I can't say which row.
Q You don't know which row in the village?
A I can't say whetheer he lived in the 1st row or not.
Q Where did Jew See and his family live?
A Live in our house.
Q Which side of the house?
A They live in the right hand side of the house.
Q Where does Jew Fook live?
A He takes his meals at our house but sleeps anywhere, sometimes Ancestral hall and sometimes in club rooms.
Q Did he ever live in your house?
A No.
Q Did he ever live near your house ?
A Yes, he lives in a little house directly from my house.
Q Does it touch your house?
A No.
Q How much space divides them?
A About as far as that corner to that corner ( indicating distance of 12 feet).
Q Is it across the alley from your house?
A Yes.
Q Have you anything further to state?
A No.
Q Have you understood the Interpreter( thru Inspector Sawyer in Chinese).
A Yes.
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