My
book 'A Penniless Boy, Chew Joo Chiat' will be launched on 29th
July 2017 at the Marine Parade Public Library. It has been a long
journey since March 2008 when I started to trace my roots, Chew Joo
Chiat who was also my great grandfather.
The
first stage of my journey was at the Lee Kong Chiang Reference
Library.
Besides books, periodicals, journals and other printed matters, it had digitised newspapers on microfilms from early 1800 onwards. I made many discoveries about him. An article in The Straits Times 11.02.26 stated:
Besides books, periodicals, journals and other printed matters, it had digitised newspapers on microfilms from early 1800 onwards. I made many discoveries about him. An article in The Straits Times 11.02.26 stated:
“A
striking example of the resourcefulness of the Chinese of making a
fortune in Malaya, writes a correspondent, is recorded in the life
Chew Joo Chiat ......
He
was a Hokien and landed at Singapore from Amoy, some 50 years or
more, a penniless boy..............” Chew's life story is a
rags and riches story.
The
book title 'A Penniless Boy, Chew Joo Chiat' is from the newspaper's
article. I also discovered that Chew Joo Chiat was a jack of all
trades. He was a housing developer, a planter (rubber, coconut and
spices), a tin miner, a trader, a banker and many others.
From
the library I moved on to the National Archives of Singapore (NAS).
There were books and micro films too. I found building plans of shops
and dwelling houses submitted to the building authority by Chew Joo
Chiat. I also listiened to the recordings from past Joo Chiat
residents at the Oral History Centre.
The
search for my roots also took me to the Nanyang Chew Clan Association. It has moved from
Chinatown to Lorong 24A Geylang. I talked the clerk in charge, who
told me that all the records were lost when the clan association moved to
Geylang. My visit there was in vain.
Ho
San Kong Hoey is at 574A/576A Geylang Road. Its large signboard is
facing the main road behind a bus stop. Every Sunday morning on my way to
the church at Geylang, the bus I was on passed the premises, not
knowing that it had connection with my roots until I visited Chew Joo
Chiat's grave. On top his tombstone were two large Chinese character
禾山
(HoSan)
which was the name of his village in China.I
went to Ho San Kong Hoey to sign up as a member. The association had
conducted tours to Xiamen. I interacted with the members and learned
from them that the village had merged with Xiamen when Xiamen city
expanded. All the villagers had been resettled to another location.
Ho San village had been replaced by highrise buildings. A road named
Ho San Road was there to indicate the site of the village.
The journey to my roots
In
2015 I visited Xiamen with my wife and my younger son. From the hotel
we took a taxi to Ho San Road. Ho San village had indeed disappeared.
On both sides of the road were tall buildings with shops on the ground
floor. The residents were from other areas and did not know the
history of the place. Xiamen was my last destination and it concluded
the search for my roots. See more...
.....http://mychewjoochiat.blogspot.sg/search/label/Xiamen
The
book A Penniless Boy, Chew Joo Chiat is a record of my journey to my roots. The
aim is for all Chew Joo Chiat's descendants to know their roots and heritage in Singpore.
3 comments:
Congratulations! Finished reading your book. Enjoyed it very much. Can see that you have spent a lot of time and effort in your research. Your style of writing is simple but effective. We look forward to more such work from you. Thank you.
Thanks Peter for your comments.
Hello Philip, thank you for sharing your history and findings on this blog. They are very enriching! Is there anyway I can contact you for insights to the history of Katong? Thank you!
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