Tan Chian and family (Kopi Sua)

The tomb of Tan Chian alias Tan Kwee Chian 陳貴賤 was identified by Raymond Goh while we were exploring an area of the Hokkien Cemetery near Mount Pleasant colloquially known as Kopi Sua. While searching through the newspapers archives, we can slowly piece together the story of Tan Chian (1876-1944) and his family. Tan Chian passed away at his residence at No. 19 Scotts Road at the age of 68 on 3 November 2604 (the Japanese koki calender for 1944). He is survived by 7 sons, ( Messrs. Tan Beng Kee, Tan Beng Thong, Tan Beng Wah, Tan Beng Teck, Tan Beng Guan, Tan Beng Ghee and Tan Beng Hui), 4 daughters, 1 son-in-law and 14 grandchildren.

Tan Kwee Chian 

Tan Chian alias Tan Kwee Chian 

Tan Chian  (alias Tan Kwee Chian) was a timber merchant and sawmill propertier with company under the name of Chop Chye Hin, 368 Beach Road. He was also a shareholder in the Chinese Commercial Bank. Mr. Tan Chian was granted a certificate of naturalization by the British Colonial Government in 1919. This means he was granted naturalization at the age of 43. From the article, this could also mean he came from China at the age of 19. Tan Chian was also mentioned in a 1936 article to be one of 3 well-known Straits Chinese (the other being Mr. Teo Soo Piah and Mr. Ong Hock Thye).  who went on a world tour, starting on a ship called President Adams for Europe, and from there tour Europe for 40 days before crossing to New York on the Queen Mary. After a tour of Canada and US, they will set sail from San Francisco to China. 

Helping Tan Kah Kee escape and other contributions

When Tan Kah Kee fled Singapore from the advancing Japanese invasion (he was a targeted man for being the Nanyang leader responsible for the China Relief Fund ), he and many other anti-Japan activist fled Singapore to Sumatra on motor launches that belong to Tan Kwee Chian.

In Japanese occupied Singapore, Tan Kwee Chian continued his work of giving back to the community. On behalf of the Overseas Chinese Association it was reported that Tan Kwee Chian donated 500 coffins while Siong Lim Saw Mills Ltd already given 300 coffins. This was a drive to provide a free coffin together with $10 in cash for burial expenses for chinese who cannot afford to bury their love ones. 

19 Scotts Road "Lochaber" 

Tan Chian's residence was in No 19 Scotts Road and the name of its house, "Lochaber" which is likely named after an area in the Scottish Highlands. Other properties purchase that i could make out includes a 99 years old leasehold land and house at 91 Upper Nankin-Street, 1,120 square feet for $10,500 in 1920. He bought land and a business premise, 2,365 sq feet at 215 South Bridge Road for $49,000 in 1922. The current location of the place is the American Club of Singapore. 

Lochbar House -19 Scotts Road (source: National Archives)

Lochaber - No. 19 Scotts Road in 1929 
(source: NewspaperSG)

Family

Wife: Madam Lee Bak Nee

Madam Lee Bak Nee passed away at the age of 79 on 11 June 1984. She is survived by the following;

Sons: Tan Beng Guan, Tan Beng Gee, Tan Beng Hui

Daughters-in-law: Wendy Ng Eng Soon, Chan Kwee Tian, Eva Keng 

Daughters: Tan Siang Guat, Tan Siang Hong, Tan Siang Choo

Sons-in-law: Wee Tin Teck, Kuah Leong Huat, Heinz Lehnacker 

12 grandsons, 13 granddaughters, 4 grand daughters-in-law, 3 grand sons-in-law, 3 great grandsons and 3 great grand daughters to mourn her loss. The cortege left from 22 Penhurst Place.

Madam Lee Bak Nee (wife of the late Tan Kwee Chian)

Son: Tan Beng Kee

Tan Beng Kee (eldest son Mr and Mrs Tan Chian of 36 Cairn hill Road) engaged Miss Chua Bee Neo (youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chua Hong Hin) of No. 96 Owen Road. The marriage took place on December 2, 1924. 

Mrs. Tan Beng Kee nee Anna Chua Bee Neo passed away  at the age of 78 on 24 August 1983. 

Son: Tan Beng Thong
The marriage of Tan Beng Thong (second son of Mr and Mrs Tan Chian) to Miss Cheok Sye Huay (second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cheok Cheng Kee) took place on 16 June 1926 at "Lochaber", 19 Scotts Road. 

Wedding of Tan Beng Thong and Miss Cheok Sye Huay 
(source: NewspaperSG)

Son: Tan Beng Wah

Tan Beng Wah married Miss Chew Kheok Kim (only daughter of the late Mr. Chew Cheng Sun and Mrs. Chew Cheng Sun) at "Lochaber" 19, Scotts Road on 11 June 1939. The flower girls for the wedding were Miss Tan Chwee Yam and Lim Soon Lan. There were 300 guests invited and among them were, H.H. Sultan and Sultana of Trengganu, Dr. Lim Boon Keng, Messrs. Lim Bock Kee, J.P. , Tan Beng Thong, Parkcane C. Wang, Kwek Kho Chay, Lim Chong Pang, J.P. and Ching Ku Sun, J.P.

Tan Beng Wah and Chew Kheok Kim
(source: NewspaperSG)

Daughter: Tan Siang Guat

The engagement was announced between Wee Sin Teck (fifth son of Mr.s Wee Cheow Keng and the late Wee Cheow Keng) and Miss Tan Siang Guat (second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Kwee Chian). Reported on 13 July 1939. 

Grandson: Tan Hock Seng

Tan Hock Seng (eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Beng Kee and eldest grandson of the late Mr. Tan Chian and Mrs. Tan Chian of 19, Scotts Road) engaged Miss Happy Lim Keng Wah (second daughter of Mr. Lim Seow Eng and the late Madam Tay Keng Guan and grand daughter of the late Mr. Lim Peng Siang and Mrs. Lim Peng Siang of No. 10 Bukit Pasoh Road on 24th December 2604.

[research on-going]

Tan Chian alias Tan Kwee Chian

Retaining wall of Tan Chian's tomb 

Variant Name 

Tan Chian is also known as Tan Kwee Chian / 陳貴賤

Location of tomb

8RHH+HF7 Singapore  (1.3290680262723464, 103.82869335767104)

References

Gazette Items. (1919, May 5). Malayan Tribune, page 7
Chinese Commercial Bank. (1923, December 28). The Singapore Free Press, page 12 

Births, Marriages, Deaths.(1924, November 29). Malayan Tribune, page 6
Domestic Occurrences. (1926, June 14). Malayan Tribune, page 8
Start of Opium Enquiry. (1929, October 23). The Straits Times, page 11

Untitled. (1929, July 6). Malayan Saturday Post, page 42
World Tour. (1936, July 26). Morning Tribune, page 2

Free Coffins, Cash To Assist Poor People Bury the Dead. (1942, October 4). Syonan Shimbun, page 3

Death. (1944, November 8). Syonan Shimbun, page 2

Domestic Occurrences. (1944, December 25). Syonan Shimbun, page 2
Tan Kah-kee: The Making of an Overseas Chinese Legend.By Ching Fatt Yong, Julio Antonio Gonzalo, Manuel Maria Carreira

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