Ah Fook
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.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.
Current Page Transcription [edit] [history]
[Coroner] INQUISITION Province of British Columbia New Westminster District
An Inquisition indented taken at Moodyville, British Columbia, the eighth day of April A.D. 1879 before me, Charles Newland Trew, gentleman, Coroner for our Lady the Queen, for the District aforesaid, upon the view of the body of a Chinaman named Ah Fook then and there and within the jurisdiction of the said Coroner, lying dead, upon the oaths of
J S Merritt Chris Irwin T Vipont Charles Svenson A. Nelson
Good and lawful men of District aforesaid, in the Province, who being now here sworn and charged to enquire, on the part of our said Lady the Queen when, how, and after what manner, the said Ah Fook, came to his death, do say upon their oath, that he was drowned in Burrard Inlet and we believe his death was accidental.
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 2 File 5 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.