Annotated by Rosie Lim nee Seow, my mother,
who is daughter of Polly who is in middle of photo.
Left to Right
Jubilee, Tan Luck Neo Lilian, Polly, Yeo Boey Neo, Charlie
circa 1908- 1910
Trying to pin point year of photo by year of birth
Jubilee born 1897 : about 11
Tan Luck Neo Lilian
Polly born 1888: so about 10 years old in this photo
Yeo Boey Neo born 1859: 60 years old in this photo
Charlie born 1899: about 9 years old
[Errata: 23 August 2014: Gerald s/o Charlie points that Charlie (medallioned) is younger and next to Luck Neo]
MDM Yeo Boey Neo is Mrs Seow Chye Watt, my great grand mother:
One of her sons Seow Poh Leng was my grand father (he was father to Rosie)Another question: Why were these people together in this picture?
Jubilee, Polly, Charlie are children of Tan Boo Liat (and also children of Khoo Kit Neo)
Tan Luck Neo Lilian is wife of Seow Poh Leng,
(and is also daughter of Tan Soon Toh: Soon Toh was Boo Liat's father)
Yeo Boey Neo is wife of Seow Chye Watt.
Where was the photo taken: looks like NOT a studio picture but at home:
Commisioned photographer? Home job?
Who is NOT in the photo: Seow Chye Watt, Tan Boo Liat
Were these two men behind the camera??
Also not in picture is Seow Poh Leng. Which begs the question again -- why are these people together, or, what situation brings these people together to take a picture. Seow Poh Leng would be an obvious "connector" -- Yeo Boey Neo was his mother, and Tan Luck Neo would be his wife, but I don't know if they would have been married at the time of this picture, which is why it begs the above question. Eerily, he also married Polly later, but the inclusion of Polly and her siblings in this picture is explained (sort of) by the fact that Tan Luck Neo was their Aunt (Tan Boo Liat's half sister).
ReplyDeleteWorked it out at lunchtime today on the back of a napkin...
ReplyDeleteConnector is one of the sons of Tan Kim Ching, namely Tan Soon Toh.
Tan Soon Toh had at least two children, Tan Boo Liat and Tan Luck Neo Lilian.
Tan Boo Liat and Seow Chye Watt must be buddies.
Boo Liat's sister Luck Neo marries Chye Watt's son Poh Leng.
After Luck Neo dies, Boo Liat's daughter marries Poh Leng!
I love the way their kebaya's validate my Peranakan heritage!
ReplyDelete