Lee Soon Swee and family (Bukit Brown)

Lee Soon Swee passed away at the age of 68 on 4 June 1929. His residence was listed as No. 340-A, East Coast Road. He leaves behind an aged mother, a widow, 

6 sons: Lee Tian Seck, Lee Tian Yew, Lee Tian Quan, Lee Tian Cheok, Lee Tian Teck and Lee Tian Whee

6 daughters, about 25 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. 

Penang, Rangoon and China papers please copy. 

Lee Soon Swee was the Manager of the Batu Pahat Bank Limited.

Lee Soon Swee

Lee Soon Swee

Batu Pahat Bank Limited 

Family 

Father: Lee Soo Tat 

The only clue i have is that Lee Soo Tat died somewhere before 1929 and he was a merchant in Singapore for many years. The nearest i could find of a Mr. Lee Soo Tat was one who was reported in an article titled - The Johore Scandal (September 1897). Lee Soo Tat was described as a person who traded in and around Singapore for the last 40 years. On 1st December 1895, he deposited $400 as security and became for 3 years an opium frmer for Poh Laylung (a small island near Pulau Ubin belonging to Johore). Things went south when Unku Khalid (uncle to the Sultan) arrived and took over his business. Lee Soon Tat went to the Dato Muntir of Johore for resolution but Unku Khalid would not listen. Out of desperation, Lee Soo Tat sought help from his brother Celestials in Singapore ( a Secret Society Group ? ) but they were powerless to help in against another independent foreign State. As a result Lee Soo Tat said that he lost his license and $3,000 worth of debts owed to him by the Chinese fishermen of Poh Laylung. Fortunately for Lee Soo Tat, the Johore Government eventually redressed his grievances of unlawful explusion and re-instated by way of compensation extended his lease. 

Mother: Mrs. Lee Soo Tat nee Wee Gek Neo.

The grand old lady of Siglap is the widow of the late Mr. Lee Soo Tat, a merchant in Singapore. It is from her 88th Birthday celebration in January 1929 that we got to find more details about the family. A large gathering of family friend were present to celebrate her birthday at the residence of Lee Tian Seck (one of the sons of Lee Soon Swee and grandson of Mrs. Lee Soo Tat). Two chinese singing companies were present ad well as a ronggeng party. Members of the Straits Chinese Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society were present as well.  Madam Wee Gek Neo passsed away at the age of 92 on 27 November 1931 at her residence, No 57-1, Lorong 203, East Coast, off Joo Chiat Terrace. She leaves behind 1 daughter, Mrs. Yap Soo Kow, 10 grandchildren (including Messrs. Lee Tian Seck, Lee Tian Yew, Lee Tian Guan and Lee Tian Cheok), 9 granddaughters, 36 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. She is buried at the Upper Serangoon Road burial ground. (Malacca, Rangoon and Amoy papers please copy). 

Brother: Lee Soon Jip

Lee Soon Jip was described as a gentleman of independent means. Other than that i could not further information for now other than a case where Lee Soon Jip sued Tan Kah Kee in August 1925 (but i can't be sure if he the same person).

Sister: Mrs. Yap Soo Kow

No further information at the moment 

Wife: Madam Goh Gek Kian 

Mrs. Lee Soon Swee nee Goh Gek Kian passed away at the age of 71 on 19 July 166. She leaves behind son, Lee Tian Hwee of Esso Standard (M) Ltd., daughter-in-law, Tan Cheng Neo, 3 daughters and sons-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Lim Lian Cheng, Mr. and Mrs. Kua Swee Keng and Mr and Mrs. Ho Lai Seng, 29 grandchildren. 

Son: Lee Tian Seck / Lee Tian Sek 

Lee Tian Seck was the compradore of the Banque de I'Indo-Chine Singapore. His residence was at 340-A, Siglap Road. In 1953, Lee Tian Seck, managing director of Batu Pahat Bank Ltd celebrated his 61 birthday on 6 June together with his wife, 3 sons, 2 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, 3 daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren. Mrs. Lee Tian Seck nee Chew Quee Neo is the only daughter of Mr. Chew Joo Chiat. She celebrated her 61st birthday at her Singapore residence in Tembling Road on 19 February 1955 with over 400 guest. Lee Tian Seck passed away in December 1957. Madam Chew Quee Neo "the grand old lady of Joo Chiat" passed away at the age of 71 on 12 December 1962. 

 

Lee Tian Seck and Chew Quee Neo 

Son: Lee Tian Yew

Lee Tian Yew is a cashier at Messrs. Harrison Barker and Crossfield's. Lee Tian Yew was a member of the Marigold Minstrels. 

Son: Lee Tian Whee / Lee Tian Hwee / Stephen Lee Tian Hwee. 

Miss Lucy Tan Cheng Neo (daughter of Mr. Tan Tiong Kiat and the late Madam Chua Guek Neo) married Mr. Lee Tian Hwee, a staff of Standard Vaccum Oil Co. ( son of Madam Goh Gek Kian and the late Mr. Lee Soon Swee) in September 1948.

Lucy Tan Cheng Neo and Lee Tian Hwee

Mrs. Stephen Lee Tian Hwee nee Lucy Theresa Tan Cheng Neo passed away on 17 August 1984. 

Daughters: Helen Lee, Virgina Lee

Sons-in-law: Simon Seow Hock Chye, Vincent Lim Tiang Hock

Grandson: Mark Seow 

Granddaughters: Charmaine Lim, Charlene Lim 

Son: Lee Tian Kuan / Lee Tian Quan 

Lee Tian Kuan is an assistant manager in the Batu Pahat Bank. 

Son: Lee Tian Cheok 

No further information at the moment 

Daughter : Lee Sor Choo / Nancy Lee See Chor  /Mrs. Lim Lian Cheng 

The marriage took place on 4 January 1945 between Lim Lian Cheng Charlie (second son of Mr. and Mrs. Lim Siew Tiok) and Miss Lee Sor Choo Nancy (fifth daughter of Madam Goh Gek Kian and the late Mr. Lee Soon Siew). 

Daughter: Mrs. Kua Swee Keng

No further information at the moment. 

Daughter: Mrs. Ho Lai Seng

No further information at the moment. 

Location of tomb

Lee Soon Swee tomb is just before Leow Chia Heng tomb and on his right is the cluster of Tan Hock Ann and Dr. Essel Tan. 

Block 3 Division B.

[research on-going]

References

Domestic Occurrences. (1929, June 7). Malaya Tribune, page 8

Happy Old Lady. Visited by Army of Descendants. Mrs. Lee Soo Tat's Birthday. (1929, January 29). Malaya Tribune, page 5. 

Death. (1931, November 30). The Straits Times, page 10

Untitled. (1948, September 20). The Straits Times, page 3

Death. (1966, July 20). The Straits Times, page 20