Click to Access
AMOY MAGIC SITE from
OUTSIDE China
Click to Access Amoy Magic Site from
INSIDE China
TRAVEL LINKS
Xiamen Gulangyu
Jimei Tong'an
Jinmen Zhangzhou
Quanzhou Wuyi
#1Fujian Sites!
Fujian Foto Album
Books on Fujian
Readers'Letters
Ningde Zhouning
Longyan Sanming
Putian Bridges
Travel Info,
Hakka Roundhouses
Travel Agents

MISC. LINKS
Amoy People!
Darwin Driving
Amoy Tigers
Chinese Inventions
Tibet in 80 Days
Amoy Vampires! 
Dethroned!
Misc.Writings
Latest News
Lord of Opium
Back to Main Page

Kung Fu

Copyright 2001-7 by Sue Brown & Dr. Bill Order Books Xiamenguide Forum
Amoy Mission Main Page 
Note: Please click thumbnails for larger photos
"The China Story--Recollections of a Little Girl's Life in Amoy, China" (1851-1859)  Part 1
by Mary Augusta Doty Smith, Daughter of Elihu Doty, RCA Missionary to China, 1844-1864
Part 1     Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Part 6    Elihu Doty Page     Amoy Mission
Ms. Jean Watson, Secretary, New Jersey Postal History Society, and author of "Doty's Garden", providing this copy of Mary Augusta Doty Smith's (1851-1937) fascinating 80-page account of her first eight years of life on Amoy.  (She is nicknamed "Pussie" in the story).
Mr. Elwood, Geiger,of South Dakota, a descendant of Elihu Doty, kindly provided the Doty photos, and permission to use Mary Doty's story.  Mary J. Geiger was given a carbon copy, with handwritten corrections and additions, and retyped it in Spring, 1972.
Obtain more Doty infofrom Reformed Church of America (RCA) archives at www.rca.org

My father, Elihu Doty, (born at Berne, N.Y., in 1809) received his course of instruction at Rutgers College, now known as the University of New Jersey: he also graduated from the Theological Seminary there, and in 1836 went out to the Island of Java, as a missionary.

This new work was in its infancy, but facts of its beginnings in Burma, India, and the Sandwich Islands (known today as the Hawaiian Group) which told of hardships and cruelties and killings and shut doors, had drifted in, and calls for helpers to take their places and to increase their forces, came from the little band of heroes who never gave up, which thrilled the hearts of some in the Homeland to accept the challenge.

While the ¡°Last Command¡± of our Saviour to go into all the world, stirred thoughts of Japan and China and the ¡°Islands of the Sea¡±; and it became a vivid reality, imperative in its Authority.

Father took his course of study with this objective in view.  The Dutch Reformed Church was beginning missionary work in Java, and he found a woman of high heart and brave spirit in Clarissa Ackley, to accompany him.

There are some writings which tell of difficulties and opposition from native priests, and disappointments, which they tried to overcome, in face of danger to the lives of two other companions also, who had joined him later.

After three years, he turned to Borneo¡ªthe Dutch Reformed Church thinking their own Holland Church would be respected by the Dutch Government, and settled there.

But instead, it joined the opposition and closed its doors to missionary work; and again, father and his wife and little son, went out¡ªthis time to Amoy, China, having heard through Chinese who had found their way to Borneo in trade, that there was a more kindly feeling there, in parts of the land. Among the very earliest names I remember hearing, is that of Bishop Boone, who evidently became a valued friend of these new adventurers in the land of his choice too, in Missionary Work of the Episcopal Church, not a great distance from them, where work still carries his name memoriaLly.

The little force in Amoy were able to lay good foundations, and the beginnings prospered.

Sorrows and burdens followed him. His baby, and then his wife died, and there were two little girls left to his care. At the same time, two other little children of the mission were left orphans, and it was decided that father should undertake the six months¡¯ voyage with the four children, being father and mother both to them.
In 1846 or ¡¯47, he arrived in New York City. Relatives claimed the other two, and warm friends of Foreign Missions offered to care for his little ones by adoption.
It seemed imperative to the band of friends of the new missions, that one so ably fitted as father was, and so wanted and begged to return to his few associates in Amoy, should do so.

He accepted the sacrifice of parting from his dearly loved children (probed by writings which show how close they were to him) and prepared to return to China.

Always during his life, ¡°the Voice of god in the Soul of Man¡± was to him a personal and living fact, calling for first loyalty and obedience, and directing of his course through great decisions and great burdens, great sorrows and great joys.
In the meantime, while in the Homeland, he preached in many pulpits¡ªdisseminating knowledge of this new work and needs, and seeking to create interest in the same.

During this time, he met my mother, who responded to his desire that they should marry and return with him to Amoy.

My mother, Eleanor Augusta Smith, born 1822 in Troy, New Jersey, the daughter of Hiram and Mary A. Smith, was the oldest of six brothers and three sisters, a most beloved member of the large family, holding an influential and responsible place in the economy of the daily, busy life on a large prosperous farm. She was also a leading and loved member of the community.

It was a great event when it was decided that she should have the advantage of a year at boarding school as her mother enjoyed before her, appreciating its value in forming character and adding graces to a beautiful young girl¡¯s life. But it involved great expense for those days, not only in money, but in foregoing her valuable assistance in guiding and helping the younger brothers and sisters. But it was gladly and willingly given to her and she went¡ªto the still flourishing Moravian Seminary at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where her mother went before her¡ªand returned after the year, a young lady, to receive the marked attention of many young men, and in course of time met my father during one of this preaching services near her home, and the acquaintance ripened into readiness to throw in her lot with him in the Great Adventure.

Letters from many sources were received, endorsing Father¡¯s character and abilities, and high standing in his chosen work.  There came also a testimonial from one who had known and seen him as husband and father, as to lovable qualities so desirable in making a happy home life, and these assurances about one whose acquaintance was a short one, gave some comfort at this time.

But O! the opposition that developed! The accounts of terrible experiences of the band of men and women here and there in the unknown World, filled members of the family and friends with strong objections against it, notwithstanding father¡¯s assurances that conditions were much ameliorated in established centers where there were missions. And she was so needed at home¡ªthe eldest of the brothers and sisters, whose influence for all that was pure and good could not be spared; and there was the disparity in their ages¡ªhe, thirty-nine; she, twenty-five.

When it looked as if all resources of persuasion at home were to fail, brother John, the next younger to Samuel, at Yale College, wrote to him that it looked as if Eleanor intended to marry that man from China, and that he had better come home, and quickly, to stop it! He had always been able to influence and advise his loved sister, with whom there was a peculiarly close bond of sympathetic understanding and taste, and had often persuaded her from hers to his own will; and he did come at once. But he found her adamant this time! Then ¡°old Jack¡± took a hand. He was a left-over from slave days in the Northern states, and had always remained as a member of the household. He plead with her not to go. She had always obeyed her mother, and she should do so now, and he couldn¡¯t stand it to have her go¡ªthen reversed his plea into begging her to take him along to take care of her, if she wouldn¡¯t give it up. And when she showed him her purpose, in despair, he bought a dose of poison with which he intended to end his life, but was discovered in time by grandmother, who took it away form him and sternly calmed his frenzy!

[A Sad Wedding]     So, in course of time, they were married in the church where so many of her interests through childhood, girlhood, and young womanhood were centered, as was the custom in those earlier days, in relationships between Church and Community. A solemn, sad ceremony, listened to by friends and kindred from far and near, was performed. For the going into this Service was looked upon as about equivalent to death, certainly to all kinds of distresses; and to witness the ceremony that was to bind her to this life, was enough to fill everyone with sadness, that a beautiful young woman of their community was about to enter upon, and separate herself from them all in doing it.

Father and Mother remained in this country about one month and then farewells had to be said. Her father accompanied them to Boston where their ship ¡°Heber¡± was anchored.

From there she purchases little mementoes to be taken back to loved ones¡ªa tiny cushion of pretty white satin with pink flowers on it, a baby thing, was sent to ¡°Little Sister Molly¡±, only three years old¡ªthe baby often in her arms took as well as in her mother¡¯s¡ªand so peculiarly dear. This tiny cushion has always been kept as a sacred treasure; and only lately, at eighty-five years of age, she passed it on to another Molly, who I hope will give it tender care for all it meant¡ªto the one who first selected it, and sent it to her baby sister of three,--and remember the emotions which must have accompanied the gift, for ¡°auld lang syne.¡±

The Mission Board in Boston, under whom they were to serve, asked for their daguerreotypes, to put with their collection of missionaries, which was done; and long years after, this same little sister Molly (as she often was spoken of in returning letters from mother) was in Boston and inquired at the Mission Rooms if it could be possible there as a picture of her sister, not knowing any had been taken, though she knew others were in their keeping. There was search for the box of pictures of the earliest days, and the top layers of daguerreotypes were opened to no purpose, so on and on they went until nearly all had been scanned. Only the bottom layer remained of those earliest pictures, and not many of them. One more was taken out¡ªand, with a shock and thrill, almost as if a living presence had appeared, were sister Eleanor and father taken together, just as the little girl of three dimly recalled her¡ªsad faces, yet strong and calm, and ready to accept their appointed Mission. (I have a photograph of it, framed and hanging over my desk).

Soon they embarked on the ¡°good ship ¡®Heber¡¯¡± for a six month¡¯s voyage around the Horn and over the Pacific. A young man (brother of the noted Dr. Dewitt Talmadge, of a long and influential service in the Metropolitan pulpit) had joined the Amoy Mission, and he was a passenger on the ¡°Heber¡±, too.
These, having the same common heart interests, became warm friends, and the new ones began intensive study of the Chinese language under the tutelage of father.

And so, with no ¡°undue course of events¡± to mar their journey, they arrived at a port of entry in China and were transferred to a smaller coast vessel and taken to Amoy, where the small band of missionaries awaiting their arrival gave them a loving and cordial welcome.

This first year was one full of new experiences, not the least of which was the birth of their first baby, Edward Smith Doty, who died when a few months old¡ªthe first deep trial to meet mother, after the farewells had been spoken with the loved home circle and friends.

She had told her mother of the great fact, before she left; and faced all the new maternal experiences, without the loving guiding presence most wanted during such weeks and months; and then laid her first born away, in 1848. And, also, the mother heart left behind held an added ache, as she and the others of the closely-knit home circle recognized the many serious possibilities lying before their precious child, of which they could know nothing for many months.
Continue to Part 2

Note from Mr. Elwood Geiger, a Doty descendant: A well-known historian claims Commodore Perry never visited Amoy--but Mary remembers his visit, and even monogrammed a handkerchief for him!

Please Help the "The Amoy Mission Project!" Please share any relevant biographical material and photos for the website and upcoming book, or consider helping with the costs of the site and research materials.   All text and photos will remain your property, and photos will be imprinted to prevent unauthorized use.  Thanks!  

Dr. Bill   Xiamen University MBA Center
E-mail: amoybill@gmail.com  
Snail Mail: Dr. William Brown 
Box 1288  Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian  PRC   361005

Readers'Letters

Return to Main Page

   Back to Top

AMOY MISSION LINKS

A.M. Main Menu
RCA Miss'ry List
AmoyMission-1877
AmoyMission-1893
Abeel, David
Beltman
Boot Family
Broekema, Ruth
Bruce, Elizabeth
Burns, Wm.
Caldwells
DePree
Develder, Wally
   Wally's Memoirs!
Douglas, Carstairs
Doty, Elihu
Duryea, Wm. Rankin
Esther,Joe & Marion
Green, Katherine
Hills,Jack & Joann
. Hill's Photos.80+
..Keith H.Homeschool
Hofstras
Holkeboer, Tena
Holleman, M.D.
Hope Hospital
Johnston Bio
Joralmans
Karsen, W&R
Koeppes, Edwin&Eliz.
Kip, Leonard W.
Meer Wm. Vander
Morrison, Margaret
Muilenbergs
Neinhuis, Jean
Oltman, M.D.
Ostrum, Alvin
Otte,M.D.Last Days
Platz, Jessie
Pohlman, W. J.
Poppen, H.& D.
Rapalje, Daniel
Renskers
Talmage, J.V.N.
Talman, Dr.
Veenschotens
. Henry V.Stella V.
. Girard V.
Veldman, J.
Voskuil, H & M
Walvoord
Warnshuis, A.L.
Zwemer, Nellie
Fuh-chau Cemetery
City of Springs
   (Quanzhou, 1902!!)
XM Churches
Church History
Opium Wars
A.M. Bibliography
YMCA Volunteer!
XICF Fellowship
TemplesMosques
Christ in Chinese 
       Artists' Eyes

DAILY LINKS
FAQs Questions?
Real Estate
Shopping Maps
Bookstores
Trains Busses
Car Rental
Hotels News (CT)
Medical & Dental
Expat Groups
Maids Phone #s
EDUCATION
Xiamen University
XIS(Int'l School)
Study Mandarin  
CSP(China Studies)
Library Museums
History
DINING  Tea Houses
Restaurants Asian
Veggie Junk Food
Chinese Italian
International
Visas 4 aliens
RECREATION
Massage!
Beaches Fly Kites
Sports Boardwalk
Parks Pets
Birdwatching
Kung Fu Hiking
Music Events
Cinema 
Festival&Culture
Humor&Fun Fotos
BUSINESS
Doing Business
Jobs!(teach/work)
Hire Workers
Foreign Companies
CIFIT (Trade Fair)
MTS(Translation)

Back to Top