Tan Tye and family

Tan Tye (1839-1898), a native from Amoy, China came to Singapore in the the 1860's and established himself as a timber merchant and pineapple packer in River Valley. Tan Tye passed away on 22 July 1898.  From the court case of his will, it was said that Tan Tye married twice and also had a mistress by who he had a child and also adopted sons. 

When Tan Tye passed away, his two sons, Tan Lian Boh and Tan Lian Chye alias Tan Chor Lam, sold the timber business and focused on the pineapple packing business and leased the lands in Sembawang Road. The pineapples grown are then send to Tan Lian Boh's factory. It was said that as many as 6000 pineapples are send everyday from the fields to his factory to be processed (clean, cut) and canned. The can pineapples are either sold locally or exported to places like London, United States, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Annual output is said to be 60,000 cases in all containing some 3 million pineapples ! The senior managing partner of this factory called Hin Choon & Co is of course Tan Lian Boh.

Tan Tye 

Tan Tye's factory

Tan Tye pineapple label

Grave robbed !

Grave robbers were reported to have desecrated a private cemetery off Upper Thomson Road, near Sembawang Circus in October 1975. The private cemetery included the grave of Mr. Tan Tye, Jewelry probably jade and old ornaments stolen were reported to be worth several thousand. The descendants after finding out, erected a new tomb for Mr. Tan Tye. 

Tan Tye 1898 tomb at his private cemetery (source: National Archives Singapore) 

Tan Tye (source: National Archives Singapore)

Tan Tye new tomb after the old one was desecrated (source: National Archives Singapore)

The grave robbers desecrated the tomb of Tan Tye in 1975

Cluster of Tomb at Lao Sua - wives of Mr. Tan Tye

The remains of Mrs. Tan Tye, mother of Tan Lian Boh and Tian Lian Chye were removed from her residence at 328 Beach Road on 24 November 1918 for burial at Toa Payoh Cemetery. Their tombs are beautiful but slowly getting forgotten again. 

Mrs. Tan Tye

Beautiful Transfer Print Tiles on Mrs. Tan Tye tomb 

Mrs. Tan Tye

Tan Tye's "Interesting" Will

Tan Tye had five sons. Three of them, Tan Lian Swee, Tan Cha Boh and Tan Lian Chye were natural sons. The other two, Tan Seng Chong and Tan Lian Kwee were adopted sons.

Tan Tye directed his trustees to apply his property and the income thereof upon the trusts aforesaid, until the expiration of the period of twenty one years from the decease of the survivor of such of my children and grandchildren, and my abovenamed nephews, as shall be living at my decease. At the expiration of which period, subject to the trusts aforesaid he direct my trustees or trustee to divide the whole of any property, among all such of my male issue (not including adopted male) as shall then be living, in equal shares, per capita.

The disputes of Tan Tye's will reminds me of another pioneer, Wee Theam Tew - In 1910, he was charged with perjury and criminal breach of trust with false statement in a 1909 case that involved Tan Lian Chye (Tan Chor Lam) during the time when Wee Theam Tew was acting for the trustees of the estate of the late Tan Tye and criminal breach of trust with regards to $25,000 land transactions (No 390 and 391) at Tiong Bahru. Debarred and struck off the roll after being found guilty of 2 charges of perjury and sentenced to 2 years of rigorous imprisonment for the first offence. While being imprisoned, Wee Theam Tew stood trial for his second offence. He was found guilty and further sentenced another 2 years.

If you interested to read more about this case: 

https://www.elitigation.sg/gdviewer/s/2004_SGHC_103

Legacy

Tan Tye Place in Clark Quay is named after him as his factories /warehouse were in that area.

Tan Tye Place 

[research on-going]

References

Untitled. (1918, November 20). The Straits Times, page 8

Tan Tye's Will. (1917, December 13). The Singapore Free Press, page 38

Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (1989). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Graham Brash, page 657

Let my legacy continue beyond 3 generations. [website] Bukit Brown.org

Tan Lian Boh.[website]. The Bukit Brown Documentation Project

Mrs Tan Tye nee Mdm Yap(website).Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录

Mrs Tan Tye nee Mdm Ang(website).Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录

Tan Tye Family Mdm Tan 葉門陳金鐲娘(website).Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录

Tan Tye (source: National Archives Singapore)

Tan Tye (source: National Archives Singapore)