Mrs Koh Sek Lim nee Ang Chit Yan (Bukit Brown)

Madam Ang Chit Yan is the wife of Mr. Koh Sek Lim whose legacy is remembered by two road named after him, Koh Sek Lim Road and Xilin Avenue. Madam Ang Chit Yan passed away at her residence Gulega Bedoh Estate, No 655-17, Padang Terbakar, Bedoh (Bedok) at 10:15 pm on Friday, 12th November 1937 at the age of 65. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Koh Sek Lim, 

14 sons (Koh Kong Wee, Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong Hor, Koh Kong Thian and 5 others, 

5 daughters-in-law, (Mrs. Koh Kong Wee, Mrs. Koh Kong Wan. Mrs. Koh Kong Seng, Mrs. Koh Kong Sun, Mrs, Koh Kong Hor, 

10 daughters, 

4 son-in-laws (Yeo Eng Tiong, Wee Swee Seng, Lim Teck Seng, Lim Eng Yong and 30 grandchildren).

On her tombstones, the complete names of the sons and daughters include:
Sons: Koh Kong Wee, Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong Hor, Koh Kong Thian, Koh Kong Choo, Koh Kong Boo, Koh Kong Eng, Koh Kong Liang, Koh Kong Ann

Daughters: Koh Twa Nia, Koh Sah Nia, Koh Seet Nia, Koh Luk Nia, Koh Pek Nia, Koh Kow Nia, Koh Chup Nia, Koh Chup Itt Nia, Koh Chup Jee Nia, Koh Kong Neo

Grandson: Harry Koh
Grand-daughter: Rosy Koh, Daisy Koh, Merry Koh, Maggie Koh.

Tomb of Mrs Koh Sek Lim nee Madam Ang Chit Yan in Bukit Brown  

Koh Sek Lim (1864-1948)

Koh Sek Lim is a Hokkien, who came down from Malacca as a youth and was said to have work in bicycle repairs. He saved money to purchase property where he rented it out and also land, where he planted coconuts and rubber. His estate was said to stretch from Bedok Road to areas where Singapore Expo, the East MRT depot and the New Water plant is. Later, part of his estates was used as sand pits where sand was mined and used in Singapore's building industry.

Koh Sek Lim was also an auctioneer who ran his business from No. 3 Malacca Street and No 20 Raffles Place before it was sold off in June 27, 1924 to Yeo Eng Hoe of C-1, Sit Wah Road.
He rented houses from 501, Padang Terbakar, Bedoh. There was also an interesting article in the Singapore Free Press dated September 25, 1912 of Koh Sek Lim and sons cutting their towchangs or queue at his residence called "Raffles House" at 456 Geylang Road.

source: NewspaperSG

source: NewspaperSG

source: NewspaperSG

Death

I could not find the exact date where Koh Sek Lim passed away. However there was an article in August 25, 1948 where the family of the late Mr. Koh Sek Lim thanked Rev. Chew Hock Hin, Rev. Khoo Chiang Bee, Pastor Low Kway Song, Messrs. Lim Yew Chye, T.S. Kung and Chan Wah Teck, Members and Choir Members of Geylang Straits Chinese Methodist Church and Bedok Methodist Chapel for their time. From the book, Singapore Street Names (by V.R, Savage) it states that Koh Sek Lim has 7 wives. Unfortunately other than Madam Ang Chit Yan, i am not able to find the names of the rest of his wives. 

[Post article update: 21/6/2023] Kok Sek Lim passed away on 20 August 1948 at the age of 80.

Niche of Koh Sek Lim 
(photo courtesy of LoSongs)

Family 

Son: Koh Kong Wee

Koh Kong Wee worked for Sisson & Delay (1930). Koh Kong Wee passed away on 22 December 1949 at the age of 56. Mrs. Koh Kong Wee (Madam Tan Kiam Neo) passed away on 1 March 1988 at the age of 88.

Son: Koh Kong Seng

Koh Kong Seng married Miss Glory Low ( daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Low Kway Song). Their eldest son is Harry Koh Teck Hin. A reception was given by Mr. and Mrs. Low Kway Song at No. 35 Mohamed Sultan Street on 18 January 1927 on the occasion of the marriage of the second daughter, Miss Glory Low to Mr. Koh Kong Seng (fourth son of Mr. Koh Sek Lim). 

Mrs. Koh Kong Seng nee glory Low passed away at the age of 52 on 12 July 1963 leaving behind her husband, 2 sons, 3 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law and 6 grandchildren.

Son: Koh Kong Sun
Mr. Koh Kong Sun (5th son of Mr. and Mrs. Koh Sek Lim of Gulega Bedoh Estate, Singapore) married Miss Chee Siok Neo (eldest daughter of the late Mr. Chee Kim Chiang and Mrs. Chee Kim Chiang of Malacca) in September 1937. Mrs. Koh Kong Sun nee Madam Chee Siok Neo passed away at the age of 42 on April 29, 1959 at 1D Gulega Road leaving behind her husband, 8 sons and 2 daughters.

Koh Kong Sun and Chee Siok Neo

Son: Koh Kong Hai (1910-? )
Koh Kong Hai married Miss Cheong Keong Tuan (3rd daughter of Cheong Koon Seng and Chia Siew Tin) on 31 August 1940 at Wesley Church. Koh Kong Hai attended St. Andrew's School till age of 15 and worked as a foreman with the government office.

Koh Kong Hai passed away on May 15, 1988 and is survived by his wife, his daughters: Maureen Koh (son-in-law, Lim Kim Leong), Mildred Koh (son-in-law, Adrian Goh), son: Allan Koh
Grandchildren: Keith, Lisa, Jill, May, Mark, Allison. His residence was at 26 Bowmont Gardens.

Koh Kong Hai and Cheong Keong Tuan 

Son: Koh Kong Thian
Koh Kong Thian passed away on 2 January 1982. Mrs. Koh Kong Thian (nee Ong Phaik Hoon) passed away on 20 March 1987. She is survived by her children: Dennis Koh, Daniel Koh and Nancy Koh.

Son: Koh Kong Boo
Koh Kong Boo (son of Mrs. Koh Sek Lim and the late Mr. Koh Sek Lim) engaged with Miss Emma Wong Kay Siong (daughter of Mr and Mrs Wong Chai Lung in July 1950).

Son: Koh Kong Hor

Mr. Koh Kong Hor (eight son of Mr. and Mrs. Koh Sek Lim of Gulega Bedoh) married Miss Annie Ong (eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ong Guan Lye of Pulau Bukom). The got married on the same day, September 1937 as Koh Kong Sun. 

Koh Kong Hor and Annie Ong

Daughter: Koh Sah Nia
Koh Sangh Nya (likely Koh Sah Nia) engaged with Wee Swee Seng (second son of Wee Khiam Long) in May 1926

Land Acquisition and use

325 acres of land was acquired by the government from Public Trustees of the estate of Koh Sek Lim in 1954 for $750,000 for resettlement and development. Despite that, there was still land held in trust. In 1957, the Public Trustees called for a tender to invite bidders to pluck 20,000 coconuts from the estate.

In 1974 the Government has acquired more than 12 acres of land in Bedok for the construction of sewage treatment plant. The property belong to the estate of the late Mr. Koh Sek Lim. 

Today, Koh Sek Lim Road and Xilin Road is named after Mr. Koh Sek Lim. 

Koh Sek Lim Road

[Still researching for more leads]

Location of tomb

Hill 4 Section C plot 80

References
Death. (1937, November 14). The Sunday Tribune
Acknowledgements. (1948, August 25). The Straits Times
Appeal on Bedok Land Takeover. (1954, October 12). The Singapore Standard.
Advertisement. (1957, September 6). The Straits Times
Street Directory and Guide to Singapore. 1954
Savage, V. R., & Yeoh, S. A. B. (2013).Singapore street names: A study of Toponymics. Marshall Cavendish Editions
http://www.academia.edu/2461018/Peranakan_English_in_Singapore