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Rojak Librarian

The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. I wrote many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the early pioneers buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and birdwatching.

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Showing posts with the label Kapitan Cina

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Wee Chim Yean revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 12, 2025

exhumed Family - Wee Boon Teng former Bukit Brown cemetery Kapitan Cina Mandai Columbarium

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Lim Ie Ging and Oei Khoen Nio (Bukit Brown)

September 24, 2023

Block 3 Div C Kapitan Cina

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Chinese Kapitan's of Bukit Brown

Bukit Brown Kapitan Cina Penang

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Kapitan Tan Sin Kiat (Bukit Brown)

January 07, 2015

Block 4 Div C Bukit Brown Hill 4 Kapitan Cina

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Capitan China Wee Chim Yean (Bukit Brown)

January 24, 2012

Block 2 Division D Bukit Brown Hill 2 Kapitan Cina

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Bukit Brown961
Hill 3317
Hill 1185
Hill 4165
Died Young143
decorative tiles135
Block 3 Div D130
Block 4 Div A115
Hill 297
Block 3 Div B86

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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

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Popular Post

Tan Cheng Yong (Bukit Brown)

Tan Cheng Yong passed away at the age of 47 on 5 March 1939. On his marble headstone, the names of his children are listed; Sons: Edward Tan, George Tan and Cecil Tan Daughters: Tan Tak Neo, Alice Tan and Maggie Tan With the rediscovery of this tomb, i can confirm that the names of the children that are clearly etched on Mr. Tan Cheng Yong tomb matches the name of the children of Madam Lau Lan Neo and grandchildren of Tan Hap Leong - this confirms that this Tan Cheng Yong is the eldest son of Mr. Tan Hap Leong and grandson of Mr. Tan Kim Tian (a prominent merchant and shipowner of Tan Kim Tian and Sons.). The secondary but equally useful information etched on the tomb is the ancestral place he is from 山仰 which matches that of Tan Kim Tian. This indeed is a fantastic find as another family member of Tan Kim Tian is found but also confirmed to me that the wealth did not flow down to Tan Cheng Yong as his tomb is a simple one located at the Pauper section....

Ho Siak Kuan cluster revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

Before Bukit Brown cemetery changed forever due to construction of the Lornie Highway, a cluster of tombs catches your eye as you passed through the gates of Bukit Brown and walk pass the roundabout. It is the wonderful unique landmark of chinese-style roofing that bears a story of a Singapore pioneer by the name of Mr. Ho Siak Kuan (何式均), (1846-1946), M.B.E., C.H. . He was the Chief Chinese Translator for the Straits Settlement Government and Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs and the tomb cluster included his 2 wives and his son, Dr. Ho Siak Khun, who was buried in an adjacent tomb with chinese-style roofing as well. Another landmark use to exist nearby the cluster too, which was the former Bukit Brown cemetery temple but the temple was already demolished (year unknown) by time i visited Bukit Brown cemetery around 2010. Fortunately photos of the temple of that survived. Today while exploring the niches at Mandai Columbarium, i came across this niches which...

Wee Chim Yean revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

Wee Chim Yean / Oei Chim Yean was one of the few chinese pioneers that was buried in Bukit Brown with this Kapitan Cina title in Bukit Brown. The others were: Tan Kim Ching (Kapitan Cina -Singapore) Wee Boon Teng (Majoor Titulair de Chinezen - Selat Panjang) Tan Sin Kiat (Kapitien de Chinezen - Singkep) Unfortunately, Wee Chim Yean's beautiful tomb was also one of the many that was also affected by the construction of Lornie Highway. His LTA stake number was 1838. From his niche at Mandai Columbarium, i finally got a glimpse of his portrait for the first time and additional crucial information about his family were fortunately etched there as well: Wife: Gan Lan Eng Daughters: Wee Siew Neo, Wee Siew Cheng, Wee Siew Geok Kapitan Cina of Bengkalis Sumatra Wee Chim Yean (1885-1926) was the Capitan China or Kapitan China of Bengkalis or Kapiten de Chinezen - Bengkalis . Bengkalis is a place is the Riau archipelago off east coast Sumatra...

Gan Eng Seng and family (Bukit Brown)

Gan Eng Seng was born in Malacca ( Melaka) in 1844. His Great Grandparents came from Sam-Toh, Fukien province. Born third in a family of 5, he had two elder sisters, Gan Gin Neo and Gan Guat Neo. He was the eldest son. His younger brother was Gan Eng Chye followed by the youngest sister, Gan Guan Neo. Born poor, he still was able to received some education, giving him the ability to read and write simple English. His father died when he was 16 years old. He then left for Singapore and was involved initially in a nutmeg business in a small scale. He went on to served under Guthrie and Co. Gan Eng Seng Chief Campradore, Gutherie and Co. Thomas Scott, a partner of Gutherie, offered Gan Eng Seng a job in the godown at Coller Quay as a clerk and it was there he climbed up the ranks, from an Assistant Storekeeper to Chief Storekeeper and finally the Chief Campradore of Guthrie and Company after 13 years of service. He was the Chief Compradore for 25 years till he died in 1899. ...

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th...

Madam Sng Cheng Lian (Bukit Brown)

Madam Sng Cheng Lian passed away at the age of 70 on 29 May 1941. A fig tree is growing in the middle and her portrait photo was dislodged from its previous location below the altar. Some kind soul has fortunately cleared the tomb and placed the ceramic photo were it was visible and thus attracted my attention. Madam Sng Cheng Lian I have no further details at the moment, will update when there is. Location of tomb Block 5 Division A, plot 59. The burial registrar list her as Hokkien.

Miss Teo Geok Neo (Lao Sua)

We came across the tomb of Miss Teo Geok Neo during our hike in Lao Sua in June / July 2024. There was a sign next to it. Usually from experience, we guessed that this is a sign that the descendants have reconnected with her and wish for her to "move house" (exhumed) and placed together with her fellow love ones. Miss Teo Geok Neo / Annie Teo Geok Neo passed away at the age of 28 on 3 November 1952. She unfortunately passed away due to either pneumonia or tuberculosis. Miss Teo Geok Neo (photo courtesy of Engsoon Tan) A young Miss Teo Geok Neo with her mother, Mrs. Tan Piah Eng nee Madam Chan Ah Siew (source: Engsoon Tan) Miss Teo Geok Neo tomb in Lao Sua before she "moved house" Fast forward to September 2024, i manage to see pictures of her tomb posted by a nephew of Miss Teo Geok Neo under the moniker of Our Bedok Kampong House - Singapore on Bukit Brown facebook group ! What amazing coincidence and the black and white documentation of photos was of her tomb...

Madam Cheang Kok Peck (Bukit Brown)

Madam Cheang Kok Peck passed away at the age of 50 on 15 September 1932. Listed on her tomb is the name of her daughter; Quah Swee Hai. Although i am unable to find more details about Madam Cheang Kok Peck, basic observation of her simple tomb whose tomb shoulders are crumbling and headstone engraving which is getting more difficult to read due to years of weathering tells a bit more. After some chalking, i realise her simple tomb can tell many stories - and the story that seems to reach to me is the the tomb mason made 2 serious during the engraving process. First one is very obvious after the chalking - Madam Cheang surname was wrongly spelled and the "A" was added above Cheng. The second mistake was Peck was spelt wrongly as Peok (also confirmed in the burial registrar). Location of tomb Pauper 3 Section 7, plot 1504

Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers (former Bidadari Cemetery)

George Edward Noel Oehlers / George E N Oehlers / Geno Oehlers (1 April 1908- 27 October 1968) was educated at St. Andrew's School and Raffles Institution, George Edward Noel Oehlers was called to the Bar (Gray's Inn) in 1931 and to the Singapore Bar in March 1932. He practiced as advocate and solicitor in Singapore until he was appointed Speaker designate of Singapore Legislative Assembly in December 1954. He was appointed First Speaker of the Singapore Legislative Assembly in 1 June 1960. Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers was knighted in 1958 making him the first Eurasian in Singapore to be knighted. Other positions he held throughout his career included being the President of the Industrial Arbitration Court (1965) and Chairman of the Public Utilities Board, Singapore. Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers passed away due at his residence in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur at the age of 60 on 27 October 1968 in Kuala Lumpur age 60 and was cremated on 28 Oc...

Tan Swee Hoe mansion in Batu Pahat

The status of Tan Swee Hoe's mansion at 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Pahat was finally revealed! The mansion that was once owned by Tan Swee Hoe's descendants was sold and the rumors circulating at one point of time was it was going to be demolished. In fact various readers of my blog sent me pictures of the mansion after it was sold where the rooftop of the building and the interiors was completely stripped. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion (minus the roof) Well it was finally revealed in various Malaysian papers ( Sin Chew Daily , Johor China Press ) that it was purchased by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan of Johor. It was reported in the papers that the Sultan of Johor plans to restore the building and turn it into a Heritage Centre featuring the artefacts of the Johor Chinese community as well as as artefacts from China as a strong symbol to reaffirm the long relationship between the Johor Sultanate and China. About Tan Swee Hoe Tan Swee Hoe T...

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