Tobias HUNTER (aka The Colonel) [1877-1970]

Tobias Hunter was my grandfather. I am looking for info on him and other HK family members. I also have some info already.

I am also looking for a Mr Ross who was with the water dept in the 1920s.

Brian Hunter Beesley

Tobias Hunter moved to Shanghai with his wife and two daughters in abt 1919.

He partnered with is sister's husband Thomas Cock in the food supply business which later became Geddes Trading and Dairy Co. They imported such items as butter and dairy products from Australia, along with foods from the USA and Britain.

Tobias was interned during the Japanese occupation at Linclon Road Camp but was released in 1945. His brother George and sister May were also interned but came through their ordeal relatively unharmed, other than financially.

I was aware that Toby Hunter is listed at DBS in 1883 but the Sun-Yat-Sen age didn''t seem to me to be a match ( SYS was born in 1866 which would make him 17 or so in 1883 which sounds a bit old to be admitted that same year, but I suppose anything is possible ) As for Toby Hunter, I wonder if there is any school record of his family, guardians, mother or father? If he attended alone it makes me wonder where his brother and sister were? Toby was only 6 in 1883 which I've been told was very young to be admiited to the DBS. His brother would have been 2 years older, so should have also ben there and his sister 2 years younger, would still be at home.

I've also discovered a connection to the name "CHOY" as well. Is there any way to check that name at DBS? Were there any Choy children listed around that same time? I would appreciate any info on the Choy, Choi, or Choa families in Hong Kong.

Hi,

     Yes, as a matter of fact I was looking at the list last night. I had trouble finding it. I thought there was a link to it, but I guess not. I've saved it now. I looked into both the Choy students but got nowhere. I also checked a few Caucasian names from 1883 who were there when my GF attended, Goodridge brothers, Thomas Gifford and Rodney Powers, all to no avail. I'd initially questioned my GFs age as he was born in 1877 so six is very young, but I actually found a quote from a letter he wrote to my mother in the 50s where he said he'd been sent to boarding school at 5 1/2.

I found a friend of his who was mentioned in later correspondence; Harry Hastings, a student in 1885 and a friend of my GF who ended up in Victoria, Canada and became an advocate for Asian and Eurasian immigrants there. His family had been in the sugar business in Formosa.