Death Certificate, Ah Young

Ah Young died of consumption, a common cause of death on the early goldfields of Victoria. His death certificate, filled in by his brother Ah Pow is unusually detailed.

AH YOUNG - death registration

Image Courtesy of: BDM Victoria

Ah Young, a miner aged 35, died 4th of September 1863 of consumption, brought on by exposure to wet and cold. The duration of his illness was about 2 months. He was the son of Ah Chong (father, deceased) and Chong Poo (mother, living), Ah Chong being a farmer in the village of Sin On, near Canton. China. The death of Ah Young was registered by his brother Ah Pow, who signed his name in Chinese characters. His burial occurred on the 5th of September, and was attended by Ah Heu (?), Ah Yun and Ah Pow (his brother). Ah Young had resided 7 months in NSW and 1 year in Victoria. Ah Young married (aged 24) Hue Pow in Sin On. From this marriage there was one child (a daughter) aged 4 at the time of her father's death, named Ah Chan (?).

The above information has been obtained from the death registration (# 5978/1863) of Ah Young.

AH YOUNG - death registration

Image Courtesy of: AH YOUNG - death registration

Ah POW signature - brother of Ah Young

Image Courtesy of: AH YOUNG - death registration