The Story of Lee Dong
撠╴╴╴寞╴╴╴╴剜╴舀╴╴璉╴

Lee Dong is accorded the honour of being the first southward migrating ancestor. He was the eldest son of Lee Hay (╴╴╴蝳╴) who in turn was Lee Lun's (╴╴╴╴╴╴) eldest son.

Here is a little historical background. In 1126 AD (╴╴╴摨瑕╴╴撟╴) when the Jins (憟喟╴╴╴╴╴鈭╴), a northern nomadic tribe who were the ancestors of the later day Manchus (皛踵╴╴), invaded China. They lay siege to the capital, Kaifeng (╴╴╴撠╴) or Binliang (瘙湔╴╴) as it was called then. They returned a year later and sacked the city, returned north with their captives which included the two Sung emperors and members of the royal family totalling over 3,000 people. A little over a hundred years later (1233 AD), this scene was replayed when the Mongolians conquered the Jins.

According to clan records, Lee Dong (╴╴╴璉╴) was involved with the failed effort to relief the siege of Kaifeng. From the wordings, he was either a low ranking officer or leader of a local militia which had become common as a defence against the numerous roaming robbers and bandits (瘚╴撖╴). The heros of the famous novel Water Margin (瘞湔遘╴╴╴) supposingly were from this era.

After the siege, Lee Dong took his family which included his wife, their three sons, Lee Hon (╴╴╴靘╴), Lee Chun (╴╴╴靘╴) and Lee Yee (╴╴╴雿╴), and his younger brother, Lee Jong (╴╴╴璉╴) to Lau-sa Li (瘚╴瘝╴╴╴╴) in Panyu just south of Guangzhou. However, there are writing saying they went to Guangzhou's Gao-de Li (擃╴敺琿╴╴) first. They later moved to what was Gongzhou (撗∪╴╴) in ancient time but is currently known as Xinxing (╴╴啗╴╴), in Xinhui county (╴╴唳╴╴). Lived in Chong-bu Hong (銝剜郊撌╴) which was on the town's western edge, Lai-yee Feng district (蝳桀╴╴╴╴╴). On a modern day map of Xinhui there is a Gongzhou just west of Xinhui City. Could this be one and the same?

After things somewhat settled, by that I guess they meant after the invaders had left, Lee Dong and his brother returned to Nanxiong (╴╴╴╴╴╴) to tie up loose ends such as disposing real estate properties. Lee Dong died on the return trip. His brother brought his remains back and he was buried at Shek Goe Shan, Xinhui (╴╴唳╴╴╴╴喟╴╴撅╴).

After Lee Dong's death, the family was on the move again. Except this time they all went their separate ways. Lee Dong's widow went with the third son Lee Yee and the second son Lee Chun's third son Lee Kit (╴╴╴╴╴╴) to Gun-jok Hong De-hung Li, Taishan (╴╴啣控敺瑁╴╴╴╴╴蝑╴蝡孵╴╴). Lee Dong's brother, Lee Jong, and his family went to Shunde (╴╴╴敺╴) and Huengshan (擐╴撅╴)(later renamed Zhongshan, (銝剖控). The second son, Lee Chun was dispatched to Dai Gong, Kaiping (╴╴╴撟喳之撗╴). Lee Hon, the eldest son, moved to Wunbu, Xinhui (╴╴唳╴╴╴╴脫郊).

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