Madam Tay Hong Gek (Bukit Brown)

The Teochew tomb of Madam Tay Hong Gek is very close to the road of Hill 1 Division B, plot 239, but it was only recently we took a closer look. Although i can't find any information about her husband, Mr. Tan Chiang Leng, but Madam Tay Hong Gek herself have a unique nickname called Besar Bengkalis (it was common among local born chinese woman of that time to adopt nicknames and especially Malay nicknames). Bengkalis as you might be aware is an Island in the Riau Archipelago of Sumatra, Indonesia and Besar means Big in Malay. Could Madam Tay Hong Gek be a daughter of a rich person from Bengkalis or herself a rich merchant that was originally from Bengkalis  ?

Mr. Madam Tay Hong Gek alias Besar Bengkalis, wife of the late Mr. Tan Chiang Leng passed away at her residence, No. 10 Cairnhill Road on 25th November 1935 at the age of 67. She leaves behind her her 5 sons: Tan Miang Song, Tan Miang Khim, Tan Miang Chua (P. S'ham), Tan Miang Choo (K.L), Tan Miang Teng (P. S'ham), 4 daughters-in-law, 6 grandsons, 6 granddaughters.

Madam Tay Hong Gek alias Besar Bengkalis nee Mrs. Tan Chiang Leng 

Madam Tay Hong Gek alias Besar Bengkalis nee Mrs. Tan Chiang Leng 

An All night gambling party

An all night gambling party in March 1922, led to the loss of over $2,000 by Tan Miang Song to one of his friend, Leng Ghee (Leng Ghee subsequently ask Tan Miang Song to pay the debt to his aunt, Watt Goh). At the request of Watt Goh, Tan Miang Song went on to sign a promissory note which he included his name and added the names of his wife (Lim Ah Poh) and mother (Tay Hong Gek) and left the payee name blank. After 1 installment of $250 and $100 interest has been paid, the promissory note was sold to a Chetty. It was in a Supreme Court Case, we got to know about this incident when the owner of the note, M.R.M.S Sockalingam Chitty sued for the recovery of $2,250 the balance due on the promissory note. What was the outcome of this court case ? I am not sure as i can't find further the final ruling. 

Son: Tan Miang Song
Tan Miang Song was a salesman for The Successors of Momie Comte & Co. Ltd until October 1928. He left to be the Chief Salesman for Schiffner & Co on November 1928.

Son: Tan Miang Khim
Tan Miang Song was a staff for The Successors of Momie Comte & Co. Ltd. In 1928 he was reported to be leaving for Penang and Bangkok on business and will away for a month. He was also a Vice-President of the Chivalrous Friendly Society and the Amicable Athletic Association.

Son: Tan Miang Chua
Tan Miang Chua was a staff for Messrs. Boustead and Co (Port Swettenham) and Committee member of the Chinese Recreation Club, Port Swettenham (1932)

Location of tomb 

Hill 1 Division B, plot 239

References

All Night Gambling. (1922, December 21). The Singapore Free Press, page 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG
Advertisement.(1928, November 3). The Straits Times, page 9. Retrieved from NewspaperSG
Domestic Occurrences. (1935, November 26). Malaya Tribune, page 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG

Mrs Tan Chiang Leng nee Tay Hong Gek. (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录