Profile: Seah Boon Kang (佘文江)
Tomb Inscriptions of Seah Boon Kang and Chua Yeow Kuen
Tomb Inscriptions
| Name | Seah Boon Kang (佘文江) |
| Ancestral Village | Yuepu (月浦), Chaoshan, China |
| Dialect Group | Teochew |
| Year of Birth | c. 1873 |
| Year of Death | 26 July 1927 (Age 54) |
| Burial Location | Bukit Brown Cemetery, Block 2, Plot 156 |
| Wife | Chua Yeow Kuen (蔡耀娟) of Chenghai (澄海) |
| Residence (1890s) | No. 1 Kramat Road, Singapore |
| Key Roles | Developer (Emerald Hill Estate, Siglap), Partner in Chop Chuan Tye |
Epigraphy Breakdown
Central Tablet:
- Top: 祖 (Ancestors)
- Right: 考 月浦 (Deceased Father: Yuepu)
- Center: 佘文江 (Seah Boon Kang)
- Left: 妣 澄海 (Deceased Mother: Chenghai) / 蔡耀娟 (Chua Yeow Kuen)
Dates:
- Death: 丁卯年六月廿八日酉時終 (Ding Mao Year [1927], 6th Lunar Month, 28th Day, You Hour [1700-1900hrs])
- Burial: 七月初二安葬 (7th Lunar Month, 2nd Day)
Descendants (In English):
- Seah Eng Khee (Son)
- Seah Eng Kiat (Son)
- Seah Wee Tian (Son)
Biography & Timeline
1897: Residence at Kramat Road
12 April 1897
Seah Boon Kang lodged a police report regarding the attempted suicide of his 13-year-old servant girl, Ah Chew, at his residence (No. 1 Kramat Road). The girl was found with a throat wound. Though initially claiming a quarrel with children, she later testified at the hospital that she had been beaten by Seah Boon Kang’s brother.
12 April 1897
Seah Boon Kang lodged a police report regarding the attempted suicide of his 13-year-old servant girl, Ah Chew, at his residence (No. 1 Kramat Road). The girl was found with a throat wound. Though initially claiming a quarrel with children, she later testified at the hospital that she had been beaten by Seah Boon Kang’s brother.
1898: Legal Proceedings (Theft)
13 October 1898
Charged in Police Court alongside Seah Boon Hang for possession of stolen property (diamonds belonging to Mr. M. Zerner, lost in a rickshaw). The case was committed to Assizes.
The case was later dismissed in November 1898
13 October 1898
Charged in Police Court alongside Seah Boon Hang for possession of stolen property (diamonds belonging to Mr. M. Zerner, lost in a rickshaw). The case was committed to Assizes.
The case was later dismissed in November 1898
1900: Financial Guarantor (Seah Eng Teck)
12 April 1900
Seah Boon Kang acted as "joint security" for Seah Eng Teck (a son of the prominent Seah Liang Seah) regarding a loan from a Chetty. This connects Boon Kang to the wider network of prominent Seah families and high-stakes financial dealings of the era.
12 April 1900
Seah Boon Kang acted as "joint security" for Seah Eng Teck (a son of the prominent Seah Liang Seah) regarding a loan from a Chetty. This connects Boon Kang to the wider network of prominent Seah families and high-stakes financial dealings of the era.
1900-1901: Development of Emerald Hill
Pivotal Business Venture
Seah Boon Kang and his partner Seah Eng Kiat purchased the 13.2-hectare Emerald Hill estate (formerly William Cuppage's nutmeg plantation).
Source: National Archives of Singapore
Pivotal Business Venture
Seah Boon Kang and his partner Seah Eng Kiat purchased the 13.2-hectare Emerald Hill estate (formerly William Cuppage's nutmeg plantation).
- Subdivision: They subdivided the land into building lots and laid out the terrace house configuration.
- Shophouses: Seah Boon Kang personally developed and registered nine shophouses on Emerald Hill Road.
- Legacy: Their subdivision created the iconic layout of the Peranakan Place conservation area we see today.
Source: National Archives of Singapore
Early 1900s: Siglap Land Deal
The Straits Times
Purchased freehold building allotments in the district of Siglap (total area 237,639 sq ft) for $1,300.
The Straits Times
Purchased freehold building allotments in the district of Siglap (total area 237,639 sq ft) for $1,300.
1904: Bankruptcy Case (Chop Chuan Tye)
24 November 1904
The Supreme Court ruled on the bankruptcy of "Chop Chuan Tye." Seah Boon Kang was named as a partner in the firm (alongside the widow Tan Kim Kee and sons of the late Seah En Su). The court found no reason to annul the adjudication of bankruptcy against Seah Boon Kang, implying he held liability for the firm's debts.
24 November 1904
The Supreme Court ruled on the bankruptcy of "Chop Chuan Tye." Seah Boon Kang was named as a partner in the firm (alongside the widow Tan Kim Kee and sons of the late Seah En Su). The court found no reason to annul the adjudication of bankruptcy against Seah Boon Kang, implying he held liability for the firm's debts.
1927: Death
26 July 1927
Died at age 54. Buried at Bukit Brown Cemetery.
26 July 1927
Died at age 54. Buried at Bukit Brown Cemetery.
Genealogical Data
- Spouse: Chua Yeow Kuen (蔡耀娟)
- Children (Sons):
- Seah Eng Khee
- Seah Eng Kiat
*Note: A "Seah Eng Kiat" is listed as the co-developer of Emerald Hill in 1901. Given that Seah Boon Kang was 27 in 1900, it is unlikely his son was old enough to be a business partner. The developer "Seah Eng Kiat" may be a brother or cousin, and the son listed on the tomb was named after him. - Seah Wee Tian
- Associates / Kin:
- Seah Boon Hang: Likely a brother (co-accused in 1898).
- Seah En Su (Estate of): Seah Boon Kang was a partner in his firm, Chop Chuan Tye.
- Seah Eng Teck: Son of Seah Liang Seah; Boon Kang acted as his guarantor.
References
- The Singapore Free Press, 13 Apr 1897, "Attempted Suicide Case".
- The Singapore Free Press, 13 Oct 1898, "Police Court Proceedings".
- The Singapore Free Press, 12 Apr 1900, "Re Seah Eng Teck".
- The Straits Budget, 24 Nov 1904, "A Family Affair / Chop Chuan Tye".
- The Straits Times, 1 Jul 1984, "Emerald Hill tells its tale".
- National Archives of Singapore (Emerald Hill Building Plans).
- Bukit Brown Cemetery Burial Register, Block 2, Plot 156.
Comments
Post a Comment