Page 94 - All About History - Issue 12-14
P. 94
ALL ABOU
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A depiction of Beijing under
siege during the Boxer Rebellion
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Hannah Soulsby, Poole, UK Thomas Wellesley Pigott in Beijing within the year.
WE WANT YOUR… I’d mentioned to my father – a After an attempted robbery, in which Thomas
Pigott was seriously injured, the couple were
keen genealogist – that I’d like
Photos to find something interesting in forced to return to England so he could regain his
Scans of snaps that our family tree to write about. It strength. During this time Jessie gave birth to a boy,
offer insight to the past only took 24 hours. “Beheadings! William Wellesley Pigott. China was still calling, so
Beheadings in China!” he said they returned in 1888 with their one-year old son.
Antiques and down the phone one evening. As far as I was The family travelled China, settling in villages
objects aware there was no Chinese DNA in our bloodline from time to time, her performing operations
Show off your family heirlooms, so I was a little confused. It wasn’t until I started and him preaching the word of God to the needy
mementos and retro curios to do some research that I learned of The Boxer locals. However, while their community of British
Letters from the past Rebellion, one of the bloodiest and cruellest anti- Christians were going about their charitable work,
Old correspondence can hold a wealth of Christian movements in China. And most exciting, an uprising was beginning. There was growing
historical info and fascinating stories during my research, I found that a book had been unrest at the foreign influence in Chinese religion,
written by a relative, CA Pigott, in the immediate politics and trade and in 1899 violence against
News clippings aftermath of the tragedy. This book has given me Christian churches and homes began. Mr and Mrs
Articles reporting on iconic events most of the information below, including personal Pigott soon began to experience the same hostility
letters and pictures. as this letter to another missionary shows:
Amazing stories Emily Jessie Kemp was the daughter of my “My Dear Mr Farthing,
Interesting or insightful tales passed fourth great-grand uncle, George Tawke Kemp, Thanks for the reassuring news re the rumours
down from your ancestors
a rather successful businessman in Rochdale, afloat just now… the place is full of them, the
Eyewitness accounts Essex. It seems that Jessie, as she was known, people being assured that we shall all very soon
Did you witness a historic event in was a devoted Christian missionary, and in 1882 be killed… I was twice threatened yesterday on my
person? Share it today she and her sister Florence left England for China, way from our out-station… My carter was stopped
determined to spread the word of God and help and beaten on the road because he was recognised
Family trees those in need. One of her first achievements was as belonging to foreigners… TW Pigott.”
A chance to boast about famous or learning how to operate on the eyes of the natives, In June 1900, the rebels, who were known
significant ancestors to cure things like cataracts. She met and married as Boxer fighters, attempted to storm foreign
Send your memories to: allabouthistory@imagine-publishing.co.uk
94
