Catholic Missionaries, Family Network, Family Stories, John, Hay Seng, Pedro, No Kea, Philip & Cecelia, Phyllis & James, Regina, Mui Liang4 Comments
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A History of Immigrant Roman Catholics and Converts in Early Singapore 1832-1945 by Dr Marc Sebastian Rerceretnam

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After four decades of research and a six-month stint as a National Library Board Researcher in 2018, Dr. Marc Sebastian Rerceretnam has published his book A History of Immigrant Roman Catholics and Converts in Early Singapore 1832-1945. Marc, the great-great-great-grandson … Continue reading A History of Immigrant Roman Catholics and Converts in Early Singapore 1832-1945 by Dr Marc Sebastian Rerceretnam

Anna Lim Ah Keow, Catholic Missionaries, Cecelia, Luan Hong, Joanna Tiang, Joseph Lim Ah Kiap, Low Family, Lucia, Guek Louen, Magdalena Lim Gek Tsu, Maria No Kea, Pedro, No Kea, Victoria No KeaLeave a comment

Pedro Tan No Kea in church records

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Sacramental Records throw up 56 mentions of Tan No Kea / Chen Nu Zhai / Zi  (and another seven of his wife Anna after his demise) in the registers of three MEP churches (Foreign Missions Society of Paris / Mission Estrangers de Paris) churches – the Church of St Joseph (Bukit Panjang/Timah) (opened: 1840s/52), Cathedral of Good Shepherd (opened:1833/47) and the Church of Sts Peter & Paul (opened: 1869/70). Church registers reveal that Pedro had three wives: Sacramental certificates also show that Pedro was not alone in Singapore. In 1856, Chen Nu Zi god-parented forty year old Tan Hoe Liang, … Continue reading Pedro Tan No Kea in church records

Bukit Timah Road, Cecelia & Anthony, Chia Family, David & Regina, Elizabeth & Peter, Francis, Kun Bee, Julia & James, Makepeace Road, Mary & James, Neighbours & Friends, Nora Chia, Pedro, No Kea, Regina & Joseph, Regina, Mui Liang, Theresa Wee, World WarsLeave a comment

255/257 Bukit Timah Road

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The 255 and 257 Bukit Timah Road enclave comprises “Four shop houses and eight barrack houses” as they were called on their 1928 site plan.  It is not clear who commissioned or constructed them but they were owned by David … Continue reading 255/257 Bukit Timah Road

Anna Lim Ah Keow, Catholic Missionaries, John, Hay Seng, Joseph Lim Ah Kiap, Low Family, Magdalena Lim Gek Tsu, Pedro, No KeaLeave a comment

Joseph Lim Ah Kiap & Emerentiana Heng

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Joseph Lim Ah Kiap & Emerentiana Heng were the parents of Magdalena Lim Gek See who married John Tan Hay Seng, the son of Pedro Tan No Kea and Anna Lim Ah Keow in 1868 at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. We have traced nine of their children: Like Pedro and Anna, Joseph and Emerentiana were active in church, god-parented many infants and adult converts and witnessed their weddings. My surmise is that Joseph Lim Ah Kiap and Anna Lim Ah Keow were siblings. Even if not, the two couples were very close friends. Emerentiana Ah Kiap witnessed the … Continue reading Joseph Lim Ah Kiap & Emerentiana Heng

Anna Lim Ah Keow, John, Hay Seng, Joseph Lim Ah Kiap, Low Family, Magdalena Lim Gek Tsu, Pedro, No KeaLeave a comment

Magdalena Lim Gek Tsu (1852-)

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Magdalena Lim Gek Tsu (1852-) married John Tan Hay Seng, son of Pedro Tan No Kea and Anna Lim Ah Keow in 1868 and they had twelve children including my grandfather Francis Tan Khoon Boo. Magdalena was the daughter of Joseph Lim Ah Kiap & Emerentiana Heng. If my surmise that Joseph Lim Ah Kiap and Anna Lim Ah Keow were siblings, Magdalena and John were first cousins. We have traced eight of Magdalena’s siblings: Agnes? (name illegible) baptised on 26 Dec 1850 at St Joseph’s Church, Bukit Panjang; Joanna (1853, Cathedral of Good Shepherd); Matthew Joseph (1856, Cathedral of … Continue reading Magdalena Lim Gek Tsu (1852-)

Family Stories, Francis, Kun Bee, Julia & James, Makepeace Road, Marc & Merete, Pedro, No Kea2 Comments

Chong Tze Chien’s “Peranakan Trilogy”

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Twelve years ago, I didn’t even know my maternal grandpa’s name. My mum shrugged me off each time I asked, as she had painful memories of his dying suddenly when she was still a teen. After interviewing senior relatives, researching Roman Catholic Church archives and old newspapers, I’ve built this blog documenting my findings on my grandpa Francis Tan Khun Boo and his ten siblings. Along the way, I met historian relative Dr. Marc Rerceretnam who in researching his Wee family history, found that his great-grandma Regina Tan was grandpa’s sister and all eleven Tan siblings were grand-children of Teochew … Continue reading Chong Tze Chien’s “Peranakan Trilogy”

Anna & Francis, Li Family, Maria-Lucian, Mang Tien, Ng Family, Pedro, No KeaLeave a comment

Anna Ng Siu Noi (1884-1915) & Francis Li Yong Leng (1883)

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Anna was the third daughter of Victoria Tan and Peter Ng Ah Soi. Anna married Francis Li Yong Leng (1883-) in 1914.  Francis was the son of Joseph Li Kim Sun and Anna Tsia. Their marriage is the second in the Ng family that was witnessed by Paul Khou Yu Tsheng & Maria Lau Guek Meng. Paul Khou was the father of Peter and Rosa Khou who married Anna’s cousins – Mariam and Jacob Tan – respectively. I surmise that Francis was linked to JB Li Kie Sun whose son Thomas Li Chong Lim married Maria-Lucian Tan, the daughter of … Continue reading Anna Ng Siu Noi (1884-1915) & Francis Li Yong Leng (1883)

Joanna Tiang, Pedro, No Kea, Victoria, Choo LanLeave a comment

Nicholas Ng Tscheng Yong (1877-1917) & Agatha Ang Heng Lien

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Nicholas Ng Tscheng Yong (Wee Cheng Yong) was the fourth and youngest son of Victoria Tan and Peter Ng Ah Soi. Nicholas married Agatha Ang Heng Lien (daughter of Benedict Ang Liang X and Zita Ten Tui Ong) on 14 Nov 1905 and we have traced two sons – Lucas (19xx), Peter Ng Peng Siew (1917-) and a daughter Sara Ng Sai Eng (1914). Peter’s  godparents were David and Regina Peter’s godparents while Lucas and Sara’s godparents were Mathilda Thou and Joannes Ng Cheng Koon. When  Sara married Joseph Tan Poh Ju in 1935, her wedding was witnessed by David … Continue reading Nicholas Ng Tscheng Yong (1877-1917) & Agatha Ang Heng Lien