Person

Ling, Twesing

• Chong, Toy Sing
• Mrs. Ling How
• Mrs. George Ling

1899-1962

Born on August 26, 1899 in China, Twesing’s family had been destitute and they were forced to sell her. At a very young age, she became a mui tsai -- a servant girl -- to the Chong family and known as CHONG Toy Sing. The Chong’s promised that once Twesing came of age they would find her a husband and release her from servitude. The Chong family brought her to Canada with them in 1910 when Twesing was around 11 years old.

The father of the Chong house was kind, but the matriarch was difficult and treated the young servant poorly. It affected Tweswing in so many lasting ways. She would be haunted by a sense of longing and loneliness. She mourned the fact she could not remember her birth family, nor could she remember her birth surname. She also would suffer from shyness and sadness for much of her life.

In 1918, the Chong family married her to LING How who was almost 20 years her senior and who was living in Nova Scotia and operating a farm.

Ling How was a difficult man and the marriage was not happy. He owned and operated a vegetable farm and showed little interest or affection in his wife or children.

Despite having little to no formal education, Twesing was intelligent. She taught herself to read Chinese so she could cook tasty dishes. She was also generous; every Sunday she would cook a feast for all the Chinese bachelors who worked on the farm. She also became a fabulous baker.

Twesing also learned English, making her way on the bus many evenings to attend night school.

She would have, in total, seven children with Ling How.

She died on September 30, 1962.

Ling, Frank (b. 1922)

Ling, Tom (1920-1995)

Ling, How (1883-1963)

Description supplied by collector/curator