Cheang Sam Teo (Bukit Brown)

Cheang Sam Teo (章三潮 ) migrated from China (Teang Thye Village in the Fujian Province)  around 1820 and started a business in partnership with Tay Han Long (father of Tay Ho Swee) under the chop Teang Wat at Telok Ayer Street and for some time held the monopoly of the Opium and Sirih Farms and later Opium and Spirit Farms. After Cheang Sam Teo's death in 1862, the firm was known as Cheang Hong Lim & Co. chop Teang Wat Wan Kee which in later years became chop Wan Seng.

Cheang Sam Teo and his title (进士 Jin Shi)

Cheang Sam Teo passed away in 1862 (will was date 6 March 1862)

进士 Jin Shi

I learned from Raymond Goh that there seem to be a scholastic title  (进士 Jin Shi) associated with Cheang Sam Teo's tomb inscription.  This scholaristic title is a very highly regarded title, and is not known if it can be brought, as what Cheang Hong Lim did for him and his sons. Even Khoo Seok Wan, the scholar poet, was not able to pass and obtain this highest ranking title. Khoo Seok Wan managed to obtain the title 舉人 (Ju Ren) in 1894, which qualify him to sit for exam of Jin Shi, but which he failed in 1895 and subsequently returned to Singapore in 1896

Cheang Sam Teo appointed his sons Cheang Hong Lim and Cheang Hong Guan as executors of his estate. In his will, the names i can make out: 

Wife - Gan E Neo 

Children: Cheang Hong Lim, Cheang Hong Guan, Cheang Hong Choon, Cheang Hong Leap

Daughter: Cheang Geo Neo, Hong Keaow Neo 

Adopted Sons: Cheang Hong Ong, Cheang Hong Kok, Cheanf Hong Leong, Cheang Hong Keat, Cheang Hong Gwat, Cheang Hong Chee, Cheang Hong Heong (all in China)

Grandsons: Cheang Chean Teng, Cheang Chean Peng, Cheang Chean Cheong

Mrs. Cheang Sam Teo nee Madam Gan E Neo passed away in 1867. 

Mrs. Cheang Sam Teo nee Madam Gan E Neo

Last Will of Cheang Sam Teo

Probate No. 10 of 1862  

This is the last Will and Testament of me Cheang Sam Teo, a Chinese merchant residing in Singapore. I hereby annul and revoke any other Will or Testament previously made by me, declaring this to be my last Will and Testament. I nominate and appoint my sons, Cheang Hong Lim and Cheang Hong Guan, both of Singapore, as Executors of my Will.

I direct that all my debts, funeral, and testamentary expenses be fully paid by my Executors as soon as possible after my death. I leave my wife, Gan E neo, the following:  

- Sum of $5,000  

- Two houses: No. 63 China Street and No. 35 Nam Kim Street  

- Her jewels and gold and silver items  

- Sum of $1,000 for her funeral expenses  

For my sons:  

- Cheang Hong Lim and Cheang Hong Guan each receive $15,000  

- Cheang Hong Choon and Cheang Hong Leap each receive $10,000  

For my daughters:  

- Cheang Goe Neo receives $3,000 and an additional $500 for marriage expenses  

- Hong Keaow Neo, in China, receives $1,000 when she turns 21  

For my adopted sons, all in China:  

- Each adopted son (Hong Ong, Hong Kok, Hong Leong, Hong Keat, Hong Gwat, Hong Chee, Hong Heong) receives $1,000  

For my grandchildren, all in China:  

- Each grandson (Chean Teng, Chean Peng, Chean Cheong) receives $1,000  

Additionally:  

- My wife Kwae Neo (in China) receives $1,000  

- Teo Yean Lean (formerly of China, now in Singapore) receives $500  

Regarding my property:  

- The house in Teluk Ayer Street, occupied by my family, and the plantation in Tanglin district are to be preserved as ancestral heritage and not sold, mortgaged, alienated, or exchanged.  

- 18 houses in Upper Hokkien Street, 9 houses in Upper Nam Kin Street, and 6 houses in New Bridge Road are not to be sold. The rent or profits from these properties will fund sacrifices to my and my wife's tablets, following Chinese customs.  

- Executors must remit $4,000 to my grandson Chean Teng in China for purchasing a house as ancestral heritage and for sacrifices to the tablets of deceased parents and ancestors.  

With regards to the Spirit Farm in Singapore and the Spirit and Opium Farm in Johore:  

- Executors should honor the terms of the respective agreements.  

Any remaining surplus after expenses and legacies will be divided among the legatees in proportion to their respective shares. If there are insufficient assets, the legacies will be reduced proportionately.

Witnessed, signed, sealed, and declared as my Will this 6th day of March, 1862.  

Variant Names 

Cheang Sam Teo also spelt has Cheang Sam Teoh 

Location of tomb 

Block 3 Division D, plot 769  (relocated from Cheang Hong Lim private cemetery on 6 October 1931). 

References

The House of Cheang. The Cheangs were once one of Singapore's most illustrious Baba-Nonya famiiles. by Professor Walter Woon. (website) Biblioasia. National Library Singapore. 

A descendant search for his roots in Bukit Brown-Cheang Sam Teo . by Gavin Koh (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Studies.

A descendant search for his roots in Bukit Brown-Cheang Sam Teo -Part 2 . by Gavin Koh (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Studies.

Song, Ong Siang. One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore. Ed. Edwin Lee. Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1984.