Tjin-A-Djie family

Upon a family reunification program,[3] Joseph Tjin-A-Djie (born 1835-1903) moved from Kwangtung, China to Suriname on the ship Whirlwind. He arrived in Suriname in 1866.[1] After settling in, he began the development of a plantation that grew rice and various vegetables. On March 15, 1876 Joseph obtained a license to begin opening grocery stores on a plantation in Mon Trésor.[1]

He married a Chinese woman[3] and he fathered two boys named Eduard (Kon-Fat) (1871-1930), and Rudolf (A-Djie) (1880-1962). Joseph died in 1903.[1]

Eduard Alphons Tjin-Kon-Fat
Eduard Alphons Tjin-Kon-Fat Circa 1905 (Collection: Th. E. Wong)

A man of noble birth, Tjin-Kon-Fat was a businessman, trader, and tycoon who grew his wealth through various proprietorships, retail, and trade systems. He married Louise Nielo, the daughter of a wealthy business family. Together they started their business, known as Tjin-Kon-Fat - Nielo & Co. A fire in 1899 destroyed their business on Waterkant, but they were able to start over again, using the Nielo family store on Saramaccastraat.

He later left his wife and her family in bankruptcy. He predominantly was a plantation owner taking charge of at least three plantations in Oldenburg, Nieuw Meerzorg, and Monsort. His plantations grew assortments of rice, vegetables, coffee and coco.[1] In the town of Oldenburg, his own rice/peeling factories/mills processed the raw materials into retail goods in which he sold in the supermarkets that he owned throughout the towns of Oldenburg, Nieuw Meerzorg, Waterkant, Poeloepantje, and Paramaribo.[1] In his stores, he sold an assortment of hard and soft good items such as furniture and appliances, clothing, thread, needles, fabric, perfume, powder, cosmetics, cognac and wine, food and groceries, stationary, and cigars, etc.[1] He furthermore had a "Lucifer Match" Factory [Dutch: luciferfabriek] named “Vulcan” and a coffee restaurant named “Halikibe” (Vreugde), a rental property [Dutch: leenhuis], and a hardware store. Along with his store enterprise, in Waterkant Tjin-Kon-Fat had an import and export company importing products from Hong Kong, the United States, the Netherlands, England, France, and China,[1] as well as an automobile renting establishment and a money loan company.[1]

In addition to his business activities, Tjin-Kon-Fat played an active role helping to develop communities. He was a board member for education and a board member for Suriname’s sports. Also he was a board member for radio stations,[1] president of the Chinese association Moe Poen Sah, executive board member of the Green Cross, and was an alternate member of the Board of Appeal for the [Dutch: Huurwaardebelasting] (translates to rental value tax).[4]

Tjin-A-Djie
(Family Crest)
The Family Crest of the Tjin-A-Djie Family of Suriname. It depicts a "R" and a "T" indicating Rudolf J. Tjin-A-Djie. (Watermarked)

Eduard Tjin-Kon-Fat married and had a number of children. At least four are known.

• H. Tjin-Kon-Fat (female) was the chairman of the Catholic Suriname soccer team,[1] and treasurer for “Boys” tennis club.
• J. Tjin-Kon-Fat (female) took part in collecting for the church.[1]
• Estelle Tjin-Kon-Fat (female)
• Edy Tjin-Kon-Fat (female) ( -2011). Edy became a very prominent judge and a law professor for Suriname.

By the time of his death in 1930, he was one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in Suriname.[4]

The descendants of Eduard have the surname Tjin-Kon-Fat.

A prosperous merchant and industrialist, born in the town of Albina, Rudolf met a young black woman . They produced one child, named Joseph (February 19, 1899 – 1988).

Rudolf J. Tjin-A-Djie was a joint proprietor at the gold mines near the frontier between Suriname and French Guiana and often went to French Guiana for shopping purposes where he met his future wife.[3] A French lady, her name was Elisabeth Marie (nicknamed: Majotte) (née: Tong Lee A Tai). She was of Vietnamese descent born in Paris, France in 1883. Born and bred into French society, Elisabeth Marie came from a wealthy Vietnamese family who had established themselves within the French culture.[3] After ending up in French Guiana and meeting Rudolf J. Tjin-A-Djie, they decided to marry[3] on September 15, 1904. Upon her marriage in Suriname, Elisabeth Marie "[she] took not only her élan, her savoir vivre, her French hats and porcelain, but also the French language and introduced all of that into the extended Chinese family system.[3]" Elisabeth had a fascination for fashion, craftsmanship, and artistry. As a result of this, she heavily influenced the creations of the Tjin-A-Djie crest and constructed it into the family's tableware, including the plates, pure silver cutlery, and the pure crystal glassware. Since Elisabeth was influenced by the French culture having been born in Paris, after marriage and moving to Suriname with Rudolf, she also established a millinery shop, creating and selling beautiful hats in Suriname.

Although Rudolf spoke Dutch and Elisabeth spoke French, they communicated with each other in the Surinamese creole language Sranan Tongo.[3]

Apart from being a proprietor at the gold mines, Rudolf also was, as of 1938, the owner of the Hollandia bakery.[5]

Rudolf J. Tjin-A-Djie and Family
(Family Portrait) Suriname, Circa 1923-1925
Top: Herman, Eduard, Henriette, Leonard Middle: Agnes, Rudolf J., Elisabeth, Angeline Bottom: Arthur, Rudolf P.B., Raymond

Rudolf J. Tjin-A-Djie and Elisabeth Marie had nine children of high social standing, and moved from Albina to Paramaribo when their children were young.

1. Eduard Leo Henri (October 15, 1905 – 1933) (Studying to be a doctor when died)
2. Henriette Magdalena Antoinette (February 14, 1907 – 1967) (Teacher)
3. Herman Rudolf Johan (November 6, 1910 – 1975) (Tennis champion,[6] Vice President of Suriname Sports Committee,[1] Founder of Tennis BOYS,[7] Board member of the Suriname Tennis Association,[7] Owner of lumber mill companies, President/ Head Manager of Suriname K.L.N Airline)
4. Leonard Ernest Theodoor (March 29, 1912 – 1999) (Tennis champion,[6] Treasurer of Suriname Sports Committee,[1] Well known golfer,[1] Member and champion of the Curaçao Racing Club,[8] Rice plantation owner,[9] Bakery owner, proprietor)
5. Agnes Regina Marie (September 13, 1913 – 2000) (Head of Chinese Association, Board member of the Roman Catholic RK School Board,[10] Teacher, played active role in politics.[1])
6. Angeline Fanny Josephine (August 11, 1915- June 18, 1926) (Died from typhus at sea-traveling to study- and was buried in the Gulf of Biscay)
7. Arthur Jean Marie (February 11, 1917 – 1979) (President/Head Manager of Suriname Pan American Airline[11] Lumber factory Executive)
8. Raymond Octave Maurits (May 18, 1919 – 1988) (Owner of chicken, pig, and vegetable farms, and a store)
9. Rudolf Percy Benjamin (October 30, 1920 – 1991) (Owner of two grocery stores)