Decoding the mystery of the Botanic Gardens tombs

 "Hidden within the lush greenery of the Singapore Botanic Gardens—a world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage site—lie some of the oldest Chinese tombs still in situ, whispering stories of a forgotten pioneer era.

Our latest investigation decodes a fascinating mystery that stretches from the historic hills of Tanglin to the bustling streets of old Tanjong Pagar. By tracing early 19th-century land deeds, we reveal the profound footprint of Khoo Cheng Cheok and his family. His name isn't just etched on cemetery stones; it was once the name of a vital thoroughfare—Cheng Cheok Street—famously known to locals as Gu-kak hang or 'Ox Horn Lane' for its distinctive curved shape.

Join us as Raymond Goh and Charles Goh (The Goh Brothers)  bridge the gap between these tomb inscriptions and the physical map of old Singapore, uncovering how the estate of a pioneer trader helped shape the very land we walk on today.

First, let us take a look at the tombs in Botanic Gardens.  They are located here:-

 

 

 

2. From a map from NAS (dating 1860 to 1870), the area was marked ‘FOR MILITARY RESERVE’. -  http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/f96669fc-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad

 

 

3. That the Economic Gardens was originally acquired by the Govt for Military Use has not been reported yet.

 

4. This fact was also reported in the News on 2^nd April 1857, where the Govt bought a hill near the Bukit Timah road, about 4 miles from town for a military post.

 

 

5. As shown in the NAS map below, 4 milestones is right where the Economic Gardens was.

 

 

6. From SLA, we managed to find the land book, detailing the acquisition of the burial grounds for a Public Purpose.

 

7. The land book showed that the tomb was located in Grant no 1012, General no 5127. It stated that the land was granted in 1851.

(You can see under Name of the Parties Registered Bankruptcy of Koo Cheng Cheok)

 

8. This correspond correctly to the NAS map we found. The burial ground Grant no 1012, lies within Grant 34, General 219.

 

 

9. The burial ground lies correctly inside the Economic garden.

 

 

 

10. The land book refers to private deed Vol 5 number 45. (attached). In the Deed, it requested that anyone with claims to this land to appear before the 11 July 1887 to stake their claim.

 

11. Mr See Ewe Lay, came forward as Trustee for the bankruptcy of Koo Cheng Cheok

 

12. Koo Cheng Cheok bankruptcy was already mentioned in the news dating to 1883 where See Ewe Lay as Head Shroff of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporatin , was appointed as Koo’s trustee.

 

Please note that Koo Cheng Cheok partner name should be Tan Hock Choon (mispelt as Tan Hock Soon here) 

 The Straits Times, 19 August 1889, Page 2

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13. From the news, we learn that Koo Cheng Cheok had a business partner named Tan Hock Choon.

 

14. We then learn that Tanjong Pagar Plaza, wheere Raymond Goh and Charles Goh  used to grew up in, was built over the land once owned by Koo Cheng Cheok & Partner Tan Hock Choon

 

15. The street was called Cheng Cheok Street.

 

 1954 map of Singapore

Due to the shape of the road, Cheng Cheok Street was also known as Gu Kak Hang "牛角巷" Ox Horn Lane

PM Lee at Cheng Cheok Street (off Tanjong Pagar Road) during his tour of Tanjong Pagar Constituency (NAS Archives, 1968 file photo)

16. Actually, base on the private deed Vol 18 no 166, There was actually 2 streets names, which combined both partners Cheng Cheok & Hock Choon names. The streets were actually named Cheng Hock Street and Choon Cheok Street.  We believed these two inital street names were taken from  both partner Koo Cheng Cheok and Tan Hock Choon  names and later just the road became just Cheng Cheok Street

 

 

Basically based on the deed, the two partners has bought the land and subdivide it into numerical allotments to be sold off.

\Back to the burial ground in Botanic Gardens 

17. From what I have written, we know the burial ground was carved out from Grant 34 General 219.

 

18. We know that the Govt acquired the land in 1857. We know that later on it was to be used as an Economic Gardens, as in 1887 the Govt acquired the burial plot as well.

Now know ye the said Collector doth hereby make

and publish this his award in writing of and concern-

ing the said matters as follows, that is to say, he

doth award and determine that the sum of Dollars Five

hundred ($500.) is the amount of compensation to

be paid by the Government for the ownership of the

said piece of land to the person interested therein, and

that the person interested therein is the said See Ewe Lay

as Trustee in Bankruptcy for the estate of Koo Cheng

Cheok.

Therefore we can be sure that Koo Cheng Cheok was the original owner of the land and See Ewe Lay as his trustee lay claim to the award

Does Koo Cheng Cheok has any interest in the tomb?

The answer is a surprisingly yes !

In the tomb of Wee Hui Shi and his wife Simani,  one of the sons of his daughter Holland was actually Koo Cheng Cheok (name translated from the tomb inscription).

The daughter Holland would have married either a brother of Khoo Cheng Tit (the other tomb in the Botanic Garden,  or a close relative as the children generation name are the same.

See 

https://tombs.bukitbrown.org/2019/09/blog-post_4.html

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Joint research by Raymond Goh and Charles Goh.. research ongoing