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Subject: Ernest Alfred CHING - Devonport?
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 10:34:16 -0500

First, let me say that I've always found this the most "genial" of lists.
For a while over the weekend it was a bit like walking into your
favourite pub and finding a brawl going on in the corner. I apologize
to those who felt, as has been gently suggested, that my voice only
added to the clamour.

Back to the real reason we're all here. Some time ago I was able,
with the direct and indirect help of many listers, to find my most
recent Devon-born ancestor, James CHING, born in Parkham in
1812. James married in London in 1838 and raised a large brood
there - I'm pursuing most of them elsewhere. James' youngest son
George Henry CHING ( and wife Kezia HICKS) himself had two
sons, George Leopold C. (my ggGrandfather) and Ernest Alfred
CHING.

Ernest Alfred C. was born in Stepney in 1874. He joined the navy
before the turn of the century and was still serving in January 1915
when he posted a letter from Hong Kong to his father (then in
Pasadena, California). I had alsways thought he made his way back
to London after the navy, but now this seems not to be so. Apart
from some references in George Henry C's surviving letters. the trail
has gotten rather cold. It now looks to me as if Ernest 'strayed' back
into Devon. (and who could blame him?)

Some of the best evidence I have is in old photographs. I have some
taken in the nineties in Stratford and Leytonstone, then three more
recent ones apparently taken in Devonport. One is of a very happy
young fellow, captioned:
Ernest A. Ching, Junior.
Born Oct 10th, 1905
aged 7 months.

There is another of junior and senior, taken two or three years later.

The third is from the studio of W.H. Waterfield, 38 Marlboro'
St,.Devonport. It is undated, and shows a very attractive young
woman in Edwardian dress. It is inscribed "with kind regards from
Jessie." I suspect this is (or would soon be) Mrs. Ernest A. Ching.

My father believes there was a second son, George, who was in the
navy in the thirties.

If this strikes a chord with anyone on the list. I'd be delighted to hear.
I can send scanned images (in rather large files) to those who'd like
to see them.

George Ching
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

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