Augusta Rowena Parsons
Augusta Rowena Parsons was born in 1859 in Beechworth, Victoria (Victorian registration no. 10124. She was the daughter of Alfred John Parsons and Sarah Lewis.
On 1 October 1874, Augusta Parsons, aged 15 years, married Wong Ah Mung, aged 35, from Canton, China, at the Church of England in Bright, Victoria. They had three children :
- Ling Ung (Clara) Ah Mung, born 1875, Victorian registration no. 18062. A child named Clara, age 3½ years, died on 4 April 1879. Checking the birth date of Ling Ung and then the date of Clara's death, it appears that Ling Ung had her name changed to Clara.
- Lin Oy Ah Mung (later know as Sarah Hannah), born 1877, reg no 13411.
- William Arthur Ah Mung, born 1880, reg no 2680.
Unlike persons of European culture, Asian people, including Chinese, always give their names with the surname first. Thus Wong Ah Mung would correctly have been identified as Mr Wong and his given names were Ah Mung. Apparently there was confusion about his names, because his children were known by their father's given names rather than by his family name, Wong.
Wong Ah Mung died on 19 June 1887 and Augusta Ah Mung (nee Parsons) died 11 months later on 1 May 1888, aged approximately 30 years, registration no 4745, leaving the two children orphans.
After the death of Augusta Ah Mung, her daughter Sarah Hannah Ah Mung, was in the care of Mrs Hung Chee (nee Elizabeth Wallace) of Harrietville.
Her son, William Arthur Ah Mung, was in the care of Mr Kum Lin, Chinese interpeter at Bright. It has not been possible to trace any further information about Augusta's son William Arthur Ah Mung, and any further information would be very welcome.
