Sir Manasseh Meyer (Jewish Cemetery Choa Chu Kang)

Sir Manasseh Meyer (born 1846 in Baghdad, Iraq– died 1 July 1930, Singapore) was a pioneer Jewish businessman, community leader and philanthropist. Educated in Calcutta, India, Meyer came to Singapore in 1861 at the age of 15 and studied at St Joseph’s School (the percussor to St. Joseph's Institution), before returning to Calcutta in 1864 and joined his uncle's firm. In 1867 he went to Rangoon to do business and after 6 years there came to Singapore to start an import and export business which became very successful and grew to be very profitable. This business which is now carried on by his sons under the name of Meyer Brothers, has important trading connections with India and in the days before the importation of opium was monopolised by the Government, Meyer's company handled large quantities of the opium trade. From the merchant business, he expanded to real estate and was the owner of some of the most valuable properties in Singapore. He built the first block of flats in Singapore - the Crescent Flats at Seaview, the Meyer Mansions, Meyer Building (Raffles Place), Seaview Hotel, Adelphi Hotel, a number of properties in the Raffles Place and Collyer Quay area and apparently some properties in London. 

Sir Manasseh Meyer was made a Knight Bachelor in March 1929 for public services and benevolence (that was the only honour allotted to Malaya in the New Year Honours list that year) 

Philanthropist

A Member of the Municipal Commission, Sir Manasseh Meyer played an important role in the Jewish Community in Singapore and was responsible for the building of Maghain Aboth Synagogue on Waterloo Street and later Chesed-El Synagogue at Oxley Rise. He contributed to Singapore has a whole and raised $150,000 for a Science Block at Raffles College, $20,000 for an aero plane during the Great War among many other contributions. 

Sir Manasseh Meyer (source: National Archives Singapore)

Death and his Mausoleum at Jewish Burial Ground, Thomson Road

Sir Manasseh Meyer passed away at the age of 84 at 12:20 am on 1 July 1930 at his residence "Belle Vue", Oxley Rise. The funeral of Sir Manasseh Meyer took place on 1 July 1930 at the Jewish Burial Ground, Thomson Road. The service was conducted by the Rabbi Soloman and Rabbi Elias at the Chased El Synagogue. The body was laid to rest in the family plot alongside the grave of Mrs. Meyer. The large attendance included Sir David Galloway and Mr. Roland Braddell. 

The mausoleum of Sir Manasseh Meyer was designed by Italian Sculptor Rodolfo Nolli (the sculptor responsible for the reliefs of the old Tanjang Pagar Railway Station) can be seen below. 

Mausoleum of Sir Manasseh 

Tomb of Sir Manasseh Meyer and his wife relocated to Jewish Cemetery at Choa Chu Kang

Family 

The will of Sir Manasseh Meyer is very interesting and it is from here, i know the names of this children;

Sons: Isaac, Jacob, Reuben (probate granted to all his 3 sons as executors and trustees of his estate)

Daughters: Rachel, Hanna, Rama and Mozelle

Son: Isaac Manasseh Meyer 

Mr. Isaac Manasseh Meyer, the last male member of the wealthy Manasseh Meyer passed away on 28 December 1955 after an operation at the French Riveria. He was 62. The eldest son of Sir Manasseh Meyer, Isaac was born and educated in Singapore. He left Singapore in 1941 and lived in Calcutta. When his father passed away (Sir Manasseh Meyer was said to be the biggest single property owner in 1930), the estate  was divided between between his 3 sons, Isaac, his twin brother Jacob and Reuben. Reuben died before the war (1934) while Reuben died in 1952. Since 1946, there has been extensive litigation on the division of the estate. Isaac was said to be worth an estimated $30 million and yet lived a quiet and simple life. Among the properties owned in Singapore included the Meyer Chambers (Raffles Place), the Adelphi and Sea View Hotels and large portions of Meyer Road, North Bridge Road, Tank Road and Clemenceau Avenue. He also owned property in Calcutta and Cairo. In 1950 he married Miss Sally Jacobs in Calcutta. They had no children. He was holidaying in Europe when he was taken ill. The funeral was held on 5 January 1955 in Nice. 

Son: Jacob Manasseh Meyer, J.P (17 April 1890-27 December 1934)

Jacob Manasseh Meyer, J.P passed away at the age of 44 at 4:45 am on  27 December 1934 at 3 Oxley Rise. He leaves a widow (former Miss Rebecca David) and a daughter (age 7). He was buried at the Jewish Cemetery, Thomson Road. 

Jacob Manasseh Meyer

Son: Reuben Manasseh Meyer

Reuben Manasseh Meyer, youngest son of the late Sir Manasseh Meyer passed away in London at the age of 60 on 16 April 1951 while on on holiday there. He was unmarried and had 4 sisters and a brother, Mr. Isaac Meyer who is in India. Mr. Reuben Meyer was a Municipal Commissioner before the war and was the proprietor of Meyer Brothers, and a senior trustee of the estate of the late Sir. Manasseh Meyer. He was a director of several companies and Managing Director of the Adelphi and Seaview Hotels post war. 

Daughter: Rachel Meyer

Rachel Meyer, eldest daughter of the late Sir Manasseh Meyer passed away on 29 October 1951 at her residence 83 Meyer Road after a long illness. She was 69 when she passed away. 

Belle Vue House, 3 Oxley Rise

It was formerly called Killiney house (once residence of Dr. Thomas Oxley, a surgeon and nutmeg plantation owner) before Sir Manasseh Meyer bought it. 

Belle Vue House, Oxley Rise (source: National Archives Singapore)

[research still in-progress]

References 

The late Sir Manasseh Meyer. (1930, July 2). Malay Tribune, page 8

Sir. M. Meyer dies at the age of 84. (1930, July 3). The Straits Budget, page 7

Death of Mr. J. Meyer. (1934, December 27). Malaya Tribune, page 11

Mr. Reuven M Meyer dies in London. (1951, April 18). The Straits Times, page 8 

A quiet and simple S'pore millionaire dies on the Riveria. (1955, January 6). The Straits Budget, page 8