More about Annie Hazel Asger/Alarakia

 The following is a result of Davids (eurasian_david) hard work and dogged determination to assist me with this journey.

Annie Hazel Asger (1877-4th March 1959) was half Persian and half Chinese. Her father was Mahomed Ebrahim Asger (aka 'Haji Ali Asger') (18??-1st Feb 1900). Her mother was Hung Kung Siu (or Chiu). Her other siblings included Asadulla Ebrahim Asger (10th Aug 1878-26th Jan 1967), the well known dental surgeon trained in Illinois, USA, Mehdy Edward Asger (1880-26th Dec 1948), sisters Ada Asger (5th Dec 1885-19??) and Bharnoo Asgar ('Ella') (188?-19??). Ada Asger interestingly was later baptised in adulthood in St Peter's Church 27th December 1906. 

Mahomed Ebrahim Asger was a cousin to Hajee Mahomed Sadeck Hajee Esmail (1843-21st Feb 1905), the latter from Yazd, Persia who settled in HK in the 1860s when he was in his 20s. The two merchants ran one of the oldest Persian opium firms in the Colony - partners at least since 1867. And they were based in Gage Street from the late 1860s to 1888. 

You recall your greatgrandfather Mahomed Sewjee Alarakia (1866-22nd Oct 1920) lived in Gage Street. Which meant so did his father Sewjee Alarakia (1843-21st Jun 1890) and his younger brother Abdulla Sewjee Alarakia (1872-26th May 1898). 

Thus Abdulla Sewjee Alarakia and his future bride Annie Hazel Asger both lived in Gage Street in their youth...and that is how they/families came to know each other well.

Both Alarakia and Asger families were Muslims, merchants and ended up living in the same street in HK. The Asgers were from Persia; Alarakias from India...but as you suspect, probably from Persia further back in time. 

Added to this I have discovered a certain Mr H.Bone and Mr T. Bone(no pun intended) started work as a Warder and 2nd Class Assistant respectively at the Victoria Gaol in 1886 and 1887. Could this H. Bone be Annies second husband Henry? (there is a service record on 'ChinaFamilies.net showing H. Bone who was a 'Watcher' first appointed 1May 1897 until 1 Mar 1918 for Chinese maritime customs) There is certainly evidence of an extended 'Bone' family with links to Hong Kong around the time. Something perhaps for those with a specific interest to investigate.

So we now know that Abdulla Sewjee Alarakia was married to Annie Hazel Asger and had two sons Alfred Abdulla(may have been known as Alfred Arthur) and Salomon. Alfred married a Japanese girl Gotoda and they adopted at least one son John Stephen who moved to Australia after WW2. (later becoming naturalised around 1958).

Again many thanks to David for his help.

 


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