Seow Soon Teck and Koh Leong Hin Neo (Bukit Brown)

It all started with an intriguing post on facebook on the Bukit Brown group by Golden-Pegasus-One with photos of  2 tombstones from Malacca belonging to Xiāo Hòu Dé/蕭厚德 & Kē Jiǎn Shùn/柯憸順 (posthumous names) and a story of a contested will from 1857 that finally found closure of sorts in 1933. That layer of story also leads back to Bukit Brown, Singapore to the tomb of Seow Soon Teck in which the author shared its plot location. 

On Saturday 27 June 2026, Raymond Goh ask us to go find out and document the tomb of Seow Soon Teck and his wife, Madam Koh Leong Hin Neo alias Jambol with the plot numbers provided as key. We quickly found plot 190 Block 2 Division G and using that as our guide, within minutes later found their tomb. Unfortunately, this quest did had the end results we wanted. Their tomb are unfortunately engulfed by a fig tree. 

The only thing i can see from the headstone

Tomb of Seow Soon Teck and Koh Ling Hin Neo (2026)

Seow Soon Teck passed away at the age of 65 on 18 October 1927 leaving behind 9 children. 

He is buried in Bukit Brown, Block 2, Division G, plot 187

Mrs. Seow Soon Teck nee Koh Leong Hin Neo alias Jambol passed away at the age of 59 at her residence, No 77-5 Joo Chiat Place on 26 April 1928. She left behind

4 sons; Seow Beng Hay, Seow Beng Cheng, Seow Beng Siew, Ghui Boo Liat

4 daughters, 

2 sons-in-law: Chew Kim Teck, Low Kim Teo 

2 daughters-in-law, 2 grandsons and 4 granddaughters. 

Bangkok papers please copy (showing some ties to Bangkok, Thailand). 

She is buried in Bukit Brown, Block 2 Division G, plot 188

1857 Will of Seow Imm Swee

Seow Im Swee  /Seow Imm Swee died on 17 October 1857 leaving behind a will of which the trustees in 1931 were Seow Soon Quee (first defendants) and Tan Teck Chye (second defendants). In that will,

Clause 5 - land for burial ground for perpetuity 

Clause 14 - residuary estate left to Seow Swee Peng. 

Seow Swee Peng died intestate in 1884 leaving behind 2 sons, Seow Soon Moh and Seow Soon Teck by his wife, Boon Neo. 

Inscriptions on Tomb stones cannot be relied Upon, says Counsel (1932)

Seow Beng Hay (the eldest son of Seow Soon Teck appealed in a judgement in connection with a dispute over a 75 years old will of the late Seow Imm Swee (dated 5 October 1857). Seow Beng Hay claimed that he was a legal beneficiary by being the grandson, but it was contended that his father, Seow Soon Teck was not a legitimate son of Seow Swee Peng, although the fact that the name, Seow Soon Teck appeared on the tombstone of Seow Swee Peng and also Seow Soon Teck was one of the chief mourners. Seow Beng Hay (being the plaintiff of this case) was unable to provide evidence that his father, Seow Soon Teck was the lawful son of Seow Swee Peng, despite evidence from a Chinese High Priest that no distinction was drawn between lawful and adopted. 

Legitimacy appeal upheld. Son of "Secondary Wife" Wins Will Claim (1933)

The case then went to the Court of Appeal, in which an important judgement was delivered dealing with Chinese customs. The matter at issue was the legitimacy of Seow Beng Hay, and it came before Chief Justice (Sir William Mursion), Mr. Justice Whitley and Mr. justice Burton on appeal from a judgement of Mr. Justice Beeckett Terreli on an originating summons in the matter of the trusts of the will of Seow Im Swee (dated 5 October 1857. The defendant respondents were Seow Soon Quee and others. Mr. Justice Terrell found against the plaintiff, but the judgement was reversed in the Appeal Court. 

With that case won, Seow Beng Hay was able to lay claim to the valuable freehold and house at 410 Race Course Road and other 999 year leasehold lands and freehold land. 

Exhibit A2 -"Filial" - "Dutiful" - "Howlan"

A translation of the inscription of Seow Swee Peng's tomb

"(Here is) the grave of (our) late father Siau Hock Beng (of the village) of Au-Sua (whose death) (occured)in the Imperial Ching Dynasty (on this Lucky Day) of the third (literally tong) moon in the Chinese cycle year of Ka-sing (or) the 10th dynastic year of (Emperor) Kwang-su. This stone is errected by (his) filial sons Soon Teck (and) Soon Moh and (his) adopted children Soon Kim, Soon Ting (and) Soon Kheng. 

In summary, after some struggle is defining the meaning of "holam", filial, dutiful, the trial judge concluded that it is safer to rely on admitted 2 facts.

1. A distinction on the stone is drawn between "sons" and "adopted" sons. As to this "sons" come first, and it is, i think, fairly clear that if the sons had been illegitimate they could not have been put before adopted sons. Perhaps the safer to put it would be that the family would not have allowed the inscriptions to remain with these sons' names put first unless they were in fact legitimate
2. This inscription has stood for 48 years without any sign of protest or dissent from any of the family concerned.  

[more updates later] 

Daughter: Seow Sek Kim alias Seow Puteh /Mrs. Chew Kim Teck  

Chew Kim Teck married Seow Sek Kim. On 27 October 2604 (1944), Seow Beng Hay together with Gui Boo Liat (Ghui Boo Liat), Seow Beng Cheng , Seow Beng Siew alias Seow Wee Lee, Seow Alima, Seow Nonia alias Sie Chaboh Poh) put a notice to sell certain immovable property in the District of Tanjong Pagar that was part on the original estate of Seow Imm Swee. 

References

Death. (1928, April 27). The Straits Times, page 7

Judgement Reserved in Will Case. (1932, November 1932)

Son of Secondary Wife. (1933, January 16). The Straits Times, page 19

Chinese Customs in Question. (1933, January 16). Singapore Daily News, page 7

Advertisement. (1944, October 27), The Syonan Shimbun, page 2