Seow Chye Watt (萧財發) and Yeo Boey Neo (楊梅娘)
Overview
A documentation of the genealogy of the Seow family through epigraphic records found in Melaka (Bukit Cina), Toa Payoh (Lao Sua), and Bukit Brown Cemetery. These inscriptions trace the migration of the family from Nanjing (Fujian) to the Straits Settlements.
A documentation of the genealogy of the Seow family through epigraphic records found in Melaka (Bukit Cina), Toa Payoh (Lao Sua), and Bukit Brown Cemetery. These inscriptions trace the migration of the family from Nanjing (Fujian) to the Straits Settlements.
1. Tomb of Seow Chye Watt’s Parents (Melaka)
Location: Bukit Cina, Melaka
Year: Guangxu 18th Year, 7th Moon (1892)
Year: Guangxu 18th Year, 7th Moon (1892)
Inscription Details:
- Ancestral Origin: 南靖 (Nánjìng, a county in Zhangzhou, Fujian province).
- Date: 光緒十八年壬辰瓜月吉旦 (1892, 7th Moon/Autumn).
- Deceased:
- Father: 顯考寬柔蕭府君之墓 (Tomb of the Deceased Father, the Benevolent and Gentle Gentleman Seow).
- Mother: 顯妣淑慎陳孺人之墓 (Tomb of the Deceased Mother, the Virtuous and Prudent Lady Tan).
Descendants Listed:
- Son (男): 財發 Seow Chye Watt
- Daughter (女): 皆娘 (Kai Neo), 蓮娘 Seow Lian Neo
- Eldest Grandson (Cheng Zhong Sun 承重孫): 淋生 Seow Lim Seng
- Grandsons (孫): 宝雲 Seow Poh Hoon, 宝寧 Seow Poh Leng
- Granddaughters (女孫): 七娘 Seow Chit Neo, 坤英 Seow Koon Eng, 月英 Seow Guat Eng (Mrs Chia Yee Soh), 金英 Seow Kim Eng, 寿英 Seow Siew Eng
2. Tomb of Seow Chye Watt’s Mother (Singapore)
Location: Lao Sua (Old Cemetery), Toa Payoh
Year: Guangxu 19th Year, 5th Moon (1893)
Year: Guangxu 19th Year, 5th Moon (1893)
Inscription Details:
- Date: 光緒十九年癸已蒲月吉旦 (1893, 5th Moon).
- Deceased: 清顕妣溫順蕭門陳氏之墓 ("Tomb of the illustrious deceased mother from the Qing Dynasty, the gentle and compliant Madam Tan of the Seow household").
Descendants Listed:
- Son: 財發 Seow Chye Watt
- Daughter: 皆娘 (Kai Neo), 蓮娘 Seow Lian Neo
- Grandsons: 霖生 Seow Lim Seng, 宝雲 Seow Poh Hoon, 宝寧 Seow Poh Leng
- Granddaughters: 七娘 Seow Chit Neo, 坤英 Seow Koon Eng, 月英 Seow Guat Eng (Mrs Chia Yee Soh), 金英 Seow Kim Eng, 寿英 Seow Siew Eng
3. Seow Chye Watt (萧財發)
Portrait of Seow Chye Watt:
Tomb of Seow Chye Watt
Location: Lao Sua (Old Cemetery), Toa Payoh
Year: Guangxu 21st Year, 11th Moon (1895)
Location: Lao Sua (Old Cemetery), Toa Payoh
Year: Guangxu 21st Year, 11th Moon (1895)
Inscription Details:
- Ancestral Origin: 南靖 (Nánjìng)
- Date: 光緒二十有一年仲冬 (1895, 11th Moon/Middle of Winter).
- Deceased: 顯考諡守儉蕭公府君之墓 ("Tomb of the illustrious deceased father, Gentleman Xiao, who was posthumously named 'Shǒujiǎn' [Upholder of Frugality]").
Descendants Listed:
- Filial Sons (孝男): 寶龍 Seow Poh Leng, 寶興 Seow Poh Hin, 寶雲 Seow Poh Hoon, 寶貴 Seow Poh Quee.
- Daughters (女): 月娘 (Guat Neo), 坤娘 (Koon Neo), 英娘 (Eng Neo).
4. Mrs Seow Chye Watt (Yeo Boey Neo)
Location: Bukit Brown Cemetery, Block 3A, Plot 639
Date of Death: February 23, 1929
Residence: "Oberon", 117 Emerald Hill Road
Date of Death: February 23, 1929
Residence: "Oberon", 117 Emerald Hill Road
Inscription Details:
- Origin: 廈門 (Amoy/Xiamen)
- Date: 民國十八年二月二十三日 (Republic Year 18, Feb 23).
- Deceased: 蕭門楊氏梅娘墓 (Tomb of Madam Yeo Boey Neo of the Seow Clan).
Descendants Listed:
- Sons (男): 保齡 Seow Poh Leng, 寶興 Seow Poh Hin, 寶貴 Seow Poh Quee.
- Daughters (女): 月娘 (Seow Guat Neo/Mrs Chia Yee Soh), 根娘 (Gen Neo), 金娘 (Kim Neo).
- Grandsons (孫): 順仁, 秀仁 (Duke Siew Jin), 秀金, 友仁 (Eugene Eu Jin), 思仁, 清仁.
- Granddaughters (女孫): 月明 (Betty Seow Guat Beng), 月清 (Amy Seow Guat Cheng), 月桂 (Seow Guat Kwee).
Obituary Notice:
Malaya Tribune, 25 February 1929, Page 8
"Mrs Seow Chye Watt (née Yeo Boey Neo) departed this life at 'Oberon', 117 Emerald Hill Road, Singapore, on Saturday, Feb 23, 1929, at age 70, leaving behind her 3 surviving sons, 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, 4 daughters-in-law, and 26 grandchildren."
"Mrs Seow Chye Watt (née Yeo Boey Neo) departed this life at 'Oberon', 117 Emerald Hill Road, Singapore, on Saturday, Feb 23, 1929, at age 70, leaving behind her 3 surviving sons, 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, 4 daughters-in-law, and 26 grandchildren."
Family Photographs & Connections
Tan Tock Seng Lineage Connection
From left: Tan Toon Hor (son of Tan Boo Liat), Lilian Tan Luck Neo (Sister of Tan Boo Liat, Mrs Seow Poh Leng), Polly Tan Poh Li (daughter of Tan Boo Liat, later Mrs Seow Poh Leng), Yeo Boey Neo (Mrs Seow Chye Watt), and Tan Toon Lay (son of Tan Boo Liat).
(Pics courtesy of Lim Sumin)
(Pics courtesy of Lim Sumin)
Seow Poh Leng Family
Family photograph of Seow Poh Leng, Mrs Polly Seow Poh Li (née Tan), Rosie Seow (later Mrs Lim Kok Ann) and Eugene Seow Eu Jin.
(Lee Brothers Studio Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore)
(Lee Brothers Studio Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore)
Index Terms: Seow Chye Watt, Yeo Boey Neo, Seow Lim Seng, Seow Poh Leng, Seow Poh Hin, Seow Poh Quee, Seow Guat Neo, Tan Boo Liat, Tan Tock Seng Lineage, Nanjing Zhangzhou, Bukit Cina Melaka, Lao Sua Toa Payoh, Bukit Brown Block 3A, Oberon Emerald Hill, Straits Chinese Genealogy.