Qing Ming at Tan Quee Lan cluster (2024)

I am so fortunate to have bumped into Serene Tan and her family for this year's Qing Ming. My sincere thanks for allowing me to document her private moments of filial piety together with her daughter, son and son-in-law. Serene Tan is the great-great-granddaughter of Tan Quee Lan. Her journey of rediscovery and the reinstatement of the cluster has been well documented in the past. 

Serene Tan paying respects to Tan Quee Lan and Tan Jim Seng

Serene Tan paying respects to Mr. and Mrs. Tan Koh Ling 

The Qing Ming tradition continues many levels down the family tree of Tan Quee Lan 

Serene's children and son-in-law paying respects

The Tan Quee Lan (陳桂蘭) cluster consists of the tomb of :

Row 1

• Mr. Tan Quee Lan (posthumous name: Tan Tock Xin / 2nd Generation) (passed away on 12 May 1904)
• Mr. Tan Jim Seng (4th generation - grandson of Tan Quee Lan) (passed away 26 September 1919)

Row 2

• Madam Tan Siew Neo (2nd generation - sister of Tan Quee Lan) (passed away: N.A.) 

• Mr. and Mrs. Tan Koh Ling (Posthumous name: Madam Yeo Gong Jian (1846) and Tan Kheam Teck (1841) / 1st generation - parents of Tan Quee Lan 

Row 3

• Mr. and Mrs Tan Cheng Kiat (Posthumous name: Madam Cai Koon Huan (30 Jan 1862) and Tan Cheng Kiat / 2nd generation - eldest brother of Tan Quee Lan 
• Mr, and Mrs. Tan Quee Lim (Posthumous name: Madam Yeo Zheng Liet and Mr. Tan Tock Gao / 2nd generation -2nd brother of Tan Quee Lan)

I got the above information from Serene who nicely documented who is who in the cluster so that future generations and non-family members who may interested (such as myself) may know. Another insight she shared with me is that all the tombs in the cluster that are taller seems to be of the women of the household. 

Tan Quee Lan cluster was relocated to Bukit Brown on 16 January 1941 from the family burial ground, Sin Tiong at Tiong Bahru Road. 

Mrs. Tan Quee Lan tomb is located in Bukit Timah Estate along Sian Tuan Avenue. 

Tan Quee Lan cluster on Qing Ming 2024

In Loving Memory of Our Ancestors 

Who is Tan Quee Lan ?

Most people will remember Tan Quee Lan Street (off Beach Road) but finding details about the man himself requires some digging and then some more. Going through various sources, what i can gather is that he was a plantation and land owner with freehold and leasehold land with fruit trees in Bukit Timah Road area and properties in Tanjong Katong.  His office was in Club Street too. But how did it come to such wealth to enable him to purchase so much land ? Digging further, Tan Quee Lan was likely a merchant and trader as well. Other nuggets i found about him:

1872 -  A threat by secret society group on Mr. Tan Quee Lan (landlord of the building in Kampong Malacca used by Mr. Plow as a registration office) was reported. The treat mentioned that they are offering a reward of $400 for Tan Quee Lan's  head, $200 for killing his wife or any member of his family. 

1877 - The arrival of steamship from Malacca of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Quee Lan, 1 boy and 2 ayah (ayah in that time period means Nanny or Nursemaid) to Singapore port. 

1882 - Mentions of a Tan Quee Lan Street starting appearing in the newspapers  

1883 - Lots of mention of shipping consignment by Tan Quee Lan 

1884  - Tan Quee Lan presented a monkey to Raffles Museum  

1889 - Wanted an Overseer for a plantation and an Eurasian Clerk for office work - Apply to Tan Quee

1891 - Land for sale by Tan Quee Lan

1903 - Wanted, a Eurasian as head mandor for a plantation at Bukit Timah - Apply to Tan Quee Lan, Club Street. 

1904 - Tan Quee Lan passes away

1907 - Auction Sale of Valuable Properties of Tan Quee Lan (deceased) 

Letters of Administration Cancelled (1906)

The late Mr. Tan Quee Lan was a very old and well-known Chinese resident of Singapore. After his death letters of administration (LOA) were granted by the Supreme Court to his eldest son, Mr. Tan Chew Kim and his daughter Tan Siok Ek. A will of the deceased was subsequently discovered which Tan Chew Kim had been appointed Executor , who thereupon been appointed Executor, who thereupon applied to have the LOA canclled and recalled and Probate to the Will granted to him. Tan Siok Ek, however objected and legal proceedings ensued. However later, Tan Siok Ek stated that the parties had come to an amicable arrangement. Probate to the Will was accordingly granted to Mr. Tan Chew Kim, the sole executor and trustee. 

The next tomb visited by Serene and her family were the tombs of Mr. Tan Chew Kim and Madam Tay Hiap Guat. Tan Chew Kim was the manager of Kallang Ice Works and son of Tan Quee Lan. Tan Chew Kim together with Koh Tiong Ya, Koh Seck Tian, Chia Keng Chin and Ong Kim Cheow were the founder of the Straits Chinese Recreation Club (SCRC) founded in 1885.  

Mr. Tan Chew Kim passed away at the age of 75 at his residence No 161 Devonshire Road on 3 July 1935.

Madam Tay Hiap Guat passed away at the age 65 on 20 August 1929 at the General Hospital. She is the wife of Mr. Tan Chew Kim.

Son: Tan Jim Seng 

His son, Tan Jim Seng (who died at the age of 25 on 26 September 1919) is the one that lies next to his grandfather, Tan Quee Lan. Tan Jim Seng, the elders on of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Chew Kim of 142-22 Orchard Road (and grandson of the late Mr. Tan Quee Lan) passed away at his fathers home from pneumonia followed by an attack of influenza. He was a sportsman, keen on motor cycling and swimming. The deceased leaves a widow and a baby of 10 months old. 

Serene and family paying respects to Mr. and Mrs. Tan Chew Kim

Parting words from Serena - Why you so kapoh (busybody) Mr. Rojak Librarian !!

References 

The Supreme Court. (1906, June 28). The Straits Budget, page 12

Advertisement. (1907, March 19). The Singapore Free Press, page 3

Tan Quee Lan family. (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录

Tan Quee Lan and Tan Jim Seng. (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录

First, 1st November. 7 November 1872. Straits Times Overland Jorunal