Qing Ming with the descendants of Lian Hee (Bukit Brown)

I am very fortunate again to able to approach another family, this time the Lian family as they were conducting their Qing Ming rituals in Bukit Brown. Their great granduncle tomb is maintained by tombkeeper Queenie and fortunately located very near the road. The tomb of Mr. Lian Hee is a very simple - only a headstone without any tomb shoulders. It is from the Lian family i found a few more details - They are Teochews and that Mr. Lian Hee was single when he passed away in 1930. I was fortunate to have Raymond around because he managed to find the burial entry after some difficulty. Mr. Lian Hee passed away at the age of 35.

One of the puzzling thing they shared with us although the knew their great granduncle was single when he passed away - however on Mr. Lian Lee's tomb, the name of their grandfather was visible. That got me thinking that it could be fengshui element were for a single person who passed away at their prime, a "son or daughter" name was added to improve their "status". I haven seen that for some of the tombs in Bukit Brown as well where the person is single but children names were "added". 

This explanation made sense to the Lian clan as they too recounted that their father will insist that they all must come down every Qing Ming to pay respects to their great grand-uncle and that is why till this day they visit. We don't know what occupation Lian Hee participated in when he was alive, but it was true that he passed away poor but despite that. he was 'rich" in the filial piety that his great grand nephews and nieces shown here today. 

The final thing i learned came not from the people present here today but from tombkeeper Queenie who shared that it was their father who told her that Mr. Lian Hee passed away because he was hit by a fallen tree. True or not, it was so interesting that all this sharing, many stories were peeled opened. I am happy and hearten to hear that the Lian family are supportive of our efforts in documenting the stories of Singapore Early Pioneers and the Lian family will continue to support Bukit Brown conservation efforts as an heritage site. 

Paying respects to Mr. Lian Hee 

Burning of offerings to Mr. Lian Hee

Food offerings for Mr. Lian Hee 

Burning of offerings to Mr. Lian Hee 

Food offerings for Mr. Lian Hee 

Location of tomb 

Paupers Section Block 3 Division 3, plot 798

The tomb was painted with the number 838 threw us off at first although the name matches but looking at the surrounding area, the tomb nearest to this is just in front of the tree before the road is plot 800. My suspicion is the the number engraving was so faded, when the engrave drew the name, it was wrongly drawn.  

Burial entry of Lian Hee 

Tomb of Mr. Lian Hee