Won Alexander Cumyow 温金有 (1861-1955)
Alternate forms and spellings of name: Alexander Cumyow, Wan Alexander Cumyow, Wen Jinyou, Won Alexander Cumyou
Table of Contents
| Children | Comments and Queries | |
| Vital Details | Residences | Sources |
| Parents | Other Facts | External Links |
| Siblings |
Biography
Won Alexander Cumyow is said to have been the first baby of Chinese origin born in Canada. His name is the first entry appearing at the top of the Chinese Immigration List of 1923, a chronological compilation of names and other information concerning individuals of Chinese ethnicity born in Canada. Although his exact date of birth is uncertain, most sources indicate that it was 17 March 1861. Several documents give his birthdate as 14 February 1861.
Childhood
Won Alexander Cumyow was the first child of Won Ling Sing, who had emigrated from Canton to San Francisco in 1858, entering an arranged marriage with Wong Shee during his time in the U.S. In 1860, they travelled north to B.C., part of a rush of gold-seekers to new discoveries in Canada. Their son, Won Alexander Cumyow, was born in Port Douglas, B.C. at the head of Harrison Lake. The village had been established just a few years earlier in 1858, flourishing during the construction of the Douglas Trail, a major route into the B.C. Interior. Here, Won Ling Sing and Wong Shee ran a store selling clothing and equipment to gold prospectors. As the store had First Nations' customers, the young Won Alexander Cumyow learned to speak the Chinook Jargon, a pidgin language used on the West Coast of North America to facilitate communication between different groups of First Nations peoples and between First Nations peoples and non-aboriginals. (Cumyow was also a fluent speaker of English, Cantonese, and Hakka, a dialect of Cantonese).
In the mid-1860s, people began to abandon Port Douglas as the Cariboo Wagon Road became favoured as the main road into the Interior. The Cumyow family moved to New Westminster in the early 1870s, where they opened stores and the young Won Alexander Cumyow attended school with a future premier of British Columbia, Richard McBride.
Adult Life
Census records from 1881 indicate that Won Alexander Cumyow, aged 20 and a book-keeper, was still living in his parents' household, together with five younger siblings. The exact location of the household is unknown, but it was in Census District 187 of New Westminster North, amidst numerous other households that were predominantly Chinese. Cumyow worked in his father's stores in New Westminster and later at Granville, the early Vancouver townsite. From 1883 until 1884, he was working in Yale, contracting laborers for the railroad through the Fraser Canyon.
In 1884, Won Alexander Cumyow moved to Victoria, where he managed the King Tye Company and became secretary of the newly-formed Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. When the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in 1885, the federal government that July instituted a head tax of $50 upon any incoming Chinese. The government required a translator to communicate with Chinese immigrants, and Cumyow applied for that position. The application was unsuccessful, however, as an American missionary named John Vrooman secured the job instead. In September 1885, Edward Johnson claimed Cumyow had fraudently charged a $100 personal loan to the King Tye Company without permission, which the company refused to pay. In December 1885, Cumyow was tried before Judge Matthew Begbie, found guilty, and sentenced to three years in the B.C. Penitentiary. At his trial, Cumyow claimed that, as a partner in the King Tye Company, he was entitled to charge personal debts to the company. The King Tye Company maintained Cumyow was never a partner. Though some witnesses testified that they had believed Cumyow to be a partner, no documents could be produced that he was. In view of the pervasive racial discrimination of the time, it seems possible, perhaps likely, that a miscarriage of justice occurred in his case. Local groups appealed for a reduction in his sentence, but how long he was in prison is not documented.
In 1888, he was hired as a court interpreter for the Vancouver police, a position he held until 1936, eventually being replaced by his son Gordon. In due course, Won Alexander Cumyow articled at two Vancouver law firms, but he was unable to become a lawyer due to the fact that residents of Chinese heritage were denied the vote.
In 1889, Won Alexander Cumyow entered into an arranged marriage with Ye Chan (also known as Eva) in New Westminster. She was approximately 10 years younger than her husband and had emigrated to Canada from China around 1879. 1891 Canadian census records show the couple living in the City of New Westminster, with Won Alexander's parents. At this time, his occupation was recorded as real estate agent.
Won Alexander Cumyow and Ye Chan's first three children were born in New Westminster, but the family moved to Vancouver sometime around 1896. Seven children were born in Vancouver, for a total of ten - six boys and four girls - born between 1891 and 1916. Although other Cumyow family members continued to reside in New Westminster, the city's Chinatown declined, eventually disappearing after a devastating fire in 1898. In Vancouver, Won Alexander Cumyow and his family resided at several addresses. His final residence was 1442 East First Avenue, not far from Vancouver's Chinatown.
During his long career as a police interpreter, Won Alexander Cumyow reported to the courthouse daily but was only required to translate as necessary, leaving him free to engage in a wide range of business and community activities. His business dealings were extensive and he was also an energetic advocate and volunteer for Vancouver's Chinese community. As well, Won Alexander Cumyow devoted considerable effort to serving the community at large, for example through fundraising to support Canada's contribution to the South African War. Closer to home, at the request of the Women's Auxiliary of the Vancouver General Hospital, he raised money from the Chinese community for hospital construction, despite the fact that Chinese-Canadian received discriminatory hospital care.
For decades, he also campaigned to remedy the injustice that denied Chinese-Canadians the vote. When Chinese-Canadians were finally granted the vote after the Second World War, Won Alexander Cumyow cast his ballot in the federal election of 1949, at the age of 88. A photograph of him voting in this election has been reproduced many times.
Won Alexander Cumyow died peacefully in hospital on October 6, 1955 at the age of 94. His funeral was at the Mount Pleasant Chapel on October 11 and he was interred at Ocean View Burial Park in Burnaby, B.C.
Vital Details
| Gender: | M |
| Date of birth: | 17 March 1861 |
| Place of birth: | Port Douglas, B.C. |
| Spouse: | Ye Chan |
| Date of marriage: | 29 November 1889 |
| Place of marriage: | New Westminster, B.C. |
| Date of death: | 6 October 1955 |
| Place of death: | Vancouver, B.C. |
| Place of burial: | Ocean View Burial Park, Burnaby, B.C. |
Parents
| Father: | Won Ling Sing (c1824-26 May 1903) |
| Mother: | Wong Shee (c1843-Bef. 1909) |
Siblings
| M |
Won Stephen Cumye |
1862 - 1904 | |||||||||
| M | Won Joe Quoy | 1865 - 1942 | |||||||||
| M | Won Edward Cumyow | @1870 - Bet. 1904 & 1955 | |||||||||
| F | Won Elizabeth Shee | 1871 - 1951 | |||||||||
| F | Won Nellie Look | 1874 - 1949 | |||||||||
| M | Won Frank Sing | 1883 - 1957 | |||||||||
Children
| M |
Frederick Cumyow |
1891-1972 | |||||||||
| F | Grace Cumyow | 1893-1980 | |||||||||
| M | Harry Cumyow | 1895-1961 | |||||||||
| M | Gordon Cumyow | 1897-1988 | |||||||||
| M | Richard Cumyow | 1900-1965 | |||||||||
| F | Jenny Aylene Cumyow | 1901-1990 | |||||||||
| F | May Cumyow | 1903 - Bet. 1928 & 1939 | |||||||||
| M | Victor Cumyow | 1908-1998 | |||||||||
| F | Margaret Cumyow | 1911-1986 | |||||||||
| M | Clifton Cumyow | 1916-1945 | |||||||||
Residences
Directories and other primary sources indicate the following residential addresses for Won Alexander Cumyow:
| 1881 | New Westminster North, BC |
1881 Census |
| 1884 | Yale, BC | Inland Sentinel article 1884-01-31 |
| 1884 | Victoria, BC | Colonist article 1884-06-14, page 3 |
| 1889 | Dallas St (now Carnarvon), New Westminster, BC | 1 Dec 1889 Colonist article on Cumyow-Chan marriage |
| 1890 | Princess St (now East Pender), Vancouver, BC | Henderson's City of Vancouver Directory,1890 |
| 1891 | New Westminster, BC | 1891 Census (District 2, Subdistrict 16) |
| 1891 | 1060 Cornwall, New Westminster, BC | Henderson's BC Gazetteer and Directory,1891 |
| 1895 | 1040 Cornwall, New Westminster, BC | Williams' Official BC Directory, 1895 |
| 1899 | 458 Hastings Street East, Vancouver, B.C. | Williams' Official BC Directory, 1899 |
| 1901 | Vancouver (Burrard District) | 1901 census |
| 1903 | 458 Hastings Street East, Vancouver, B.C. | 1903 marriage certificate for sister Nellie Won |
| 1911 | 1440 East First Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. | 1911 census |
| 1939 | 1440 East First Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. | death certificate, Ye Eva Cumyow |
| 1955 | 1442 East First Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. | death certificate, Won Alexander Cumyow |
Other Facts
| Religion: | Methodist |
Comments and Queries
- Much of the information in this profile is derived from Janet Nicol's excellent paper, Canadian First: The Life of Won Alexander Cumyow, 1861 to 1955 (see Sources).
- While the Chinese Immigration List gives a birth date of 14 February 1861 for Won Alexander Cumyow, other sources cite his date of birth as 17 March 1861, just over a month later.
- The family in which Won Alexander Cumyow grew up is difficult to reconstruct, but it would appear that he had 4 younger brothers (English names Stephen, Joe, Edward and Frank) and 2 younger sisters (Elizabeth and Nellie).
- An entry in the 1881 Canadian census appears almost certainly to relate to him, and is corroborated in other sources. There are also five apparent siblings in the same 1881 household census record ("apparent" because the 1881 census does not indicate relationships between members of a household). These are Won Cumge (male, age 18), Won Ayuy (male, age 16), Won Sie (female, age 11), Won Zan (male, age 9) and Won Look (female, age 7). Note: Names are based on the transcription found on the FamilySearch website.
- Won Alexander Cumyow (age 31) and his wife are also seen in an 1891 Canadian census record, living with his parents. This census does show relationships. The other children of Won Lin Sing and Won Shee seen in this record (brothers and sisters of Won Alexander Cumyow) are "S. Com Ye Won" (son, age 28), "Joe Qui Won" (son, age 26), "S. Man Lee Won" (female, age 21), "Edward Unyan Won" (son, age 19), "Nellie Look Won" (daughter, age 15) and "Cain Sing Won" (son, age 10). There is also a male lodger named Oi Gim Chun, age 10. Except for the young 10-year-old son and the lodger, the genders and ages all correspond well to the 1881 census record, and there are also parallels to be drawn between names in some cases. A notable discrepancy is the fact that while "Won Look" (Nellie Look) was age 7 in 1881, she is only age 15 in 1891. Note: Names are based on the transcription found in Ancestry Library Edition.
- Several of Won Alexander Cumyow's siblings are recorded in the Chinese Immigration List : Won Joe Quoy (Joe Qui), Won Shee (Mrs. Chang Suey) (S. Man Lee Won), Mrs. Nellie Chow (Nellie Won) (Nellie Look Won), and Won Sing (Cain Sing Won). Three of the ten children listed above are also included.
- The Chinese Immigration List does not appear to include entries for a Won Stephen Cumyow or Edward ("W.E.") Cumyow. The 1924 registration of Frank Won Sing's 1883 birth states that 6 children in the family are alive and that one child has died.
- According to the 1901 census (see Sources), a 38-year old brother named Won Stephen Cumyow, born on November 14, 1862, was living with Won Alexander Cumyow. This seems likely to be the 18-year old brother seen in the 1881 census record, whose name is hard to decipher , and the 28-year-old brother recorded as "S. Com Ye" in 1891. According to family documents preserved in the fonds at UBC, Stephen Cumye died 6 November 1904.
- Finally, B.C. Vital Events records include an 1894 marriage registration for an individual named Won Edward Yuen. The names of his parents are not shown on the marriage certificate, but the person recorded as "Edward Unyan" in 1891 is likely the same person. Ths individual was apparently recorded as Won Zan in the 1881 census. An article in the 27 April 1902 edition of the Colonist (page 5) clearly identifies an Edward Yuen with an alternate name of Cumyow. It also seems possible that he and a clerk named "Cumyow W.E.", listed on page 130 of Henderson's Vancouver City Directory for 1890 are one and the same.
- As well, Won Alexander Cumyow's 1955 obituary mentions a brother named Frank , who is also named as the informant on Won Joe Quoy's death certificate. According to the Chinese Immigration List, Frank was the English name of Won Sing. Frank/Won Sing seems likely to be the10-year-old boy recorded in the 1891 census.
- Although it seems likely that Won Alexander Cumyow was a Methodist (this religion is recorded on his marriage certificate), the 1881 census record states that he belonged to the Church of England.
- Clifton Cumyow, the youngest child in the family, was born in August 1916. By that time Ye Eva Cumyow may have been 45 years old, and thus near or already in menopause. This, along with the more than five years since the birth of the preceding child, Margaret in 1911, has led some to speculate that Clifton might have been an adopted or "paper" son.
Sources
B.C. civil death record, Won Alexander Cumyow, 1955 – British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency, Death Registrations, 1872-1984. Reg. No. 1955-09-010170, B.C. Archives Microfilm Number B13225. (Image)
B.C. civil marriage record, Won Alexander Cumyow and Ye Chan, 1889 - British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency, Marriage Registrations, 1872-1929. Reg. No. 1889-09-114432, B.C. Archives Microfilm Number B11381. (Image)
The British Columbia and Yukon Directory, 1936, p. 660. (Image)
Census Returns for the 1881 Canadian Census. Library and Archives Canada, RG 31 C1, District 187, Sub-district B, Page 55, Household 245 Reel C-13284. (Image | Transcription)
Census Returns for the 1891 Canadian Census. Library and Archives Canada, RG 31 C1, District 2, Sub-district 16, Page 43, Households 201 and 202, Reel T-6290. (Image)
Census Returns for the 1901 Canada Census. Library and Archives Canada, RG 31 C1, District 1, Sub-district D-19, Page 16, Household 192, Reel T-6428. (Image | Transcription)
Census Returns for the 1911 Canada Census. Library and Archives Canada, R233-28-5-E, District 12, Sub-district 33, Page 16, Household 174, Reel T-20337. (Image | Transcription)
Chinese Immigration List, Library and Archives Canada, RG76, p. 2. (Image)
"Chinook Jargon." The Encyclopedia of British Columbia. Madeira Park: Harbour, 2000.
Henderson's British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory,1889, p. 109. (Image)
Henderson's British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory,1890, p. 130. (Image)
Nicol, Janet. "Canadian First: The Life of Won Alexander Cumyow, 1861-1955". (PDF)
Obituary of Eva Cumyow - Vancouver Sun, 19 December, 1939, p. 17. (Image)
Obituary of Won Alexander Cumyow - Vancouver Sun, 8 October, 1955, p. 32. (Image)
"Port Douglas." The Encyclopedia of British Columbia. Madeira Park: Harbour, 2000.
Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory, 1955, p. 196. (Image)
External Links
Won Alexander Cumyow Fonds
A description of the Won Alexander Cumyow fonds at the University of British Columbia Archives. The fonds comprise 14 cm of textual records and 74 photographs and include biographical information, correspondence, journals, documents, scrapbooks, photographs and printed material.
Won Alexander Cumyow: An Inventory of His Fonds in Rare Books and Special Collections, The Library of the University of British Columbia
In addition to describing the fonds, this document provides an item-by-item listing of each item in the collection.
Won Cumyow & brother Cumye on 1898 BC Voters' list
Won Cumyow had voted in earlier elections, but BC legislation enacted in 1896 prohibited Chinese from voting. Since federal voters lists depended on provincial voters lists, the federal franchise was also blocked.
Photo of Won Alexander Cumyow voting in 1949 federal election
