My Recent Takes: November 2018

1. Background

Patriarch Koh Kim Hin (KKH) left Tong'an, Fujian, China around 1867 and landed in Labuan. He was 19. A few years later he relocated to Sandakan where in 1872 he established his firm of Kim Eng Watt, a few years ahead of the arrival of William Pryer, the founder of Sandakan, who set up the British North Borneo administration in 1878.

An ads of Kim Eng Fatt Bros. in the June 1 1927 issue of the British North Borneo Herald

In 1894, he was appointed the 2nd Kapitan China of Sandakan, an honour and responsibility which he held until his death on 8th April, 1910.

KKH's three wives bore him 6 sons and 6 daughters. In addition, he adopted 2 sons, during the early years after marrying his first wife Lim Sui. His second wife Sun, was the mother of 5 of his biological sons and all the biological daughters. His third wife Ann Tan gave him his last biological son. Ann Tan also adopted 2 daughters. (See the KKH Family Chart below.)

(Click to enlarge chart)

Highlighted in yellow - Koh Peck Tat and Wife Khoo Nyuk Ying

The descendants of KKH in this clan-gathering post are from the lines of his third son (or his first biological son) Koh Peck Tat, and his eldest grandson Koh Soon Watt. (See Family Chart of KPT below.)

(Click to enlarge Chart)

Members of Koh Soon Watt Family are highlighted in yellow

2. Pictures of Clan Gathering

1927

Matriarch Lim Sui passed away on 11 June that year. KKH's children and grandchildren and their spouses gathered to mark the occasion. The 3rd wife of KKH, May Tan is seen in this picture seated 5th from left. The photo was taken outside the premises of Kim Eng Watt & Brothers at 8-9, The Praya, Sandakan.

1932

It was the Diamond Jubilee year for the firm of Kim Eng Watt (later Kim Eng Watt Brothers). The firm put up a grand show to jointly celebrate its Diamond Jubilee and Chinese New Year at the Hokkien Club on 10th February.

The event was discribed in the March Issue of the BNBH, part of which shown below.

It was a time for merry making and photograph taking. Alas, no family group photo was passed down. Perhaps one day, one will turn up in the family albums of a distant Koh relative.

2011

Skip a few decades, and we were in the 21st Century as we gathered for the Chinese New Year for 2011. These are the great grand, great-great grand, and great-great great grandchildren of KKH, with the then matriarch Ho Siew Kin.

2018

Sadly Matriarch Ho passed away on 20th November 2018. It was time for family gathering and activities again. And of course, some group photos.