Ah Soy
As part of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Initiative, we’ve digitized a small selection of inquests and inquiries from 1872 to 1934, found in series GR-0431. These were chosen to reflect the experiences of early Chinese immigrants to B.C. – their living and working conditions, and their unfortunate accidental or unusual deaths. They range from a woman working in a brothel in Barkerville who died of natural causes to three sawmill workers who died from malnutrition. Learn more.
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Employment on the ranch _ there were only two chinamen employed on my ranch last Saturday they were the deceased Ah Soy and Ah Leung _ The deceased came to work for me last Thursday and worked half a day and continued in my employ until he died I agreed to pay the deceased one dollar a day he was to pay for his own board _ I pay Ah Leung fifteen dollars a month and board him _ Ah Soy did not come into Town for his dinners but used to cook my potatoes and eat at the ranch _ On Friday look my women Told me that Ah Soy was cooking my potatoes_ On Saturday morning lash I told the deceased not to eat the potatoes but to purchase some bread. he got a loaf of bread on credit and I gave him a little sugar The deceased owed me about thirteen dollars _ If he did not owe me money I would not give him four bits a day as he was very lazy.
Witnessed by Ah Chow Frederick Hussey
Taken upon oath and acknowledged this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and eighty four before me
James Wardle Defending Coroner