In his book One Hundred Years of the Chinese in Singapore by Song Ong Siang published in 1923, there’s a passage in Chapter XXI, around page 568, where he discusses domestic customs among the Straits Chinese (Peranakan) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“It was not uncommon in those days for a Chinese gentleman
to have his principal wife and also one or more secondary wives, all living
under the same roof in apparent harmony.”
These arrangements were often harmonious and socially
unremarkable. By the early 20th century, however, Western education and
Christian influence were gradually reshaping family norms among the Straits
Chinese elite.
For Tan Piah Eng, as a Straits Chinese (Peranakan Baba) he too had more than one wife. In this page, we name four of them (there are others) and their descendants. Of these, Mdm Chua, Mdm Chan, Mdm Oh all got along well with each other and Mdm Chan and Mdm Soh also lived in the same house (at Kampong Soopoo and later at Bedok Kampong)
Thanks to Peter Pak and his blog “Rojak Librarian” and to
his grandson Yap Teck Gim and his family (Teck Gim’s grandmother is Mdm Sim
Khuan Neo) for their assistance in this list.
Mdm Sim Khuan Neo (aka Mama Siam due to her Thai origins)
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| Above photo courtesy of Rojak Librarian, and Yap Teck Gim & family |
Daughters: Tan Hoon Phian Neo, Tan Yang Neo, Tan Hock Neo, Tan Onn Neo, Tan Chwee Neo
Passed away at age 48 on 26 October 1932, and interred at Bukit Brown Cemetery
Mdm Chua Lye Neo (aka Mama Pesek)
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| 1937 photo with her granddaughter Tan Bee Neo. Photo all rights reserved. |
Son: Tan Kim Kee
Grandchildren: Tan Eng Guan, Tan Bee Neo, Tan Lee Neo
Mdm Chan Ah Siew
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| 1957 photo with (from left) Kim Suan, Nellie, Mary and her soon-to-be husband, and Lee Neo (granddaughter of Mdm Chua). Photo all rights reserved. |
Daughters: Teo Geok Neo (Annie), Tan Mary, Tan Kah Eng
(Nellie)
Passed away at age 72 on 19 December 1969, interred at Tse
Tho Aum Temple at Sin Min Drive (previously at Upper Changi Road)
Mdm Oh Kim Soh (aka Mama Blakang)
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| 1952 photo at her Kampong Soopoo residence. Photo all rights reserved |
Mdm Oh had no children, passed away at age 53 on 12 October 1960, buried at Hock San Teng Cemetery in Jalan Tiga Ratus. Her body was exhumed in 1979 due to development needs and she now lies at rest at the Yishun Columbarium
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| 1958 wedding tea ceremony at Bedok Kampong of Mary, daughter of Mdm Chan (foreground) and Mdm Oh next to her, signifying their closeness. Photo all rights reserved. |
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| 1950 family photo taken at Kg Soopoo. Seated from left: Tan Kim Kee, Tan Piah Eng, Tan Kim Seng, Poh Peng Yam (husband of Tan Hock Neo). Standing from left: Unidentified, Tan Kim Siang, Edward (son-in-law of Tan Yang Neo), Tan Kim Suan, Tan Kim Swee Photo all rights reserved. |