Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sandilands Street
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Sandilands Street or Lebuh Sandilands is located between Jalan CY Choy and Jalan Gurdwara, at the last parallel street of the triangular precinct. It is after the 7th main parallel street, Cecil Street. It is not the shortest parallel street within the 7 Street Precinct, located just after two of the shortest parallel streets, Nanking Street & Herriot Street.
The street was named after G. M. Sandilands, a British trader who co-founded Lorraine, Sandilands & Co. in Penang in 1830s. It was the first British trading firm in Penang.
The Chinese however called it kau-tiau-lor(9th Street, 九條路). Ironically, it is not actually the 9th street from Prangin Canal, which should be Herriot Street, and Nanking street is the 8th street. Sandilands Street should be the 10th street from Prangin Canal. May be Nanking Street was built only after the 7 main street, Herriot Street, and Sandilands Street had built, much earlier. That is also the reason why Nanking Street, together with Peking Street was named after a place.
At the corner with Bridge Street(now Jalan CY Choy) is the Seng Ong Beow(城隍廟), and the said Southern end of Bridge Street is also called seng-hong-biau-lor(城隍廟路0 bu the local Chinese. The temple is commonly called Ghost Temple, where the ghost marriage ceremony were took arranged there.
Ang Bin Hoey Triad Society was found by Filipino Chinese Hockkien, Teoh Teik Chye in October 1945. Its headquarter was at Sandilands Street. At the end of December 1945, it was moved to 55, Maxwell Road . The ABH was dissolved in May, 1946, but it continued its activities underground as secret society.
There were Sandilands Street or Road all over the world; Sandilands Road in Singapore(located at Serangoon Gardens), Sandilands Street in South Melbourne, Sandilands Street in Glasgow, Scotland. Are they named after the same Sandilands family from Scotland?.....
G. M. Sandilands or George MacFarlane Sandilands( b ? - d 1880)
Not able to obtain the background of G.M.Sandilands, his partner John Buttery was historically more famous. G.M.Sandilands or George MacFarlane Sandilands, was Justice of Peace(JP), Penang merchant & Members of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements.
1830 - John Buttery Company
John Buttery Company established in 1830 in Penang. John Buttery come to Penang earlier and set up business, as sole-proprietorship.
1851 - Lorrain Sandilands & Co(1851-1862)
In this year, Lorrain Sandilands & Co. in which the partners were G. M. Sandilands in Penang, and John Buttery in Singapore(?). Mr. Walter Scott Lorrain was in Glasgow( Pg 672,An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore 1902). The firms godowns extend in an unbroken block from Beach Street to Weld Quay.
Note: Walter Scott Lorrain or W. S. Lorrain was the founder of 2nd Singaporean English newspaper, The Singapore Free Press in 1835. Ironically he was also the one who bought the Singapore Chronicle(1st English newspaper in Singapore) but sold to Penang Scottish merchant James Fairlie Carnegie. The group set up the Singapore Free Press as a rival to the Singapore Chronicle.
Lorrain Sandilands & Co should be established earlier than Messrs Sandilands, Buttery & Co. Suspected there were error in reporting the year. Lorrain Sandilands & Co still reported in the list of agent for Lloyds from 1851-1858 (ref: A code of signals for the use of vessels employed in the merchant service(1851), by Captain Frederick Marryat; The universal code of signals for the mercantile marine of all nations. With a selection of sentences adapted for convoys, and a system of geometrical signals(1854), by G B. Richardson; The universal code of signals for the mercantile marine of all nations(1858), by Frederick Marryat, G. B. Richardson)
1859 - A branch was established in Singapore at Malacca Street
1862 - Sandilands & Co(1862-1863)
Walter Scott Lorrain retired, the name of the firm changed to Sandilands & Co
1863 - Sandilands, Buttery & Co.(1863- 1970)
Mr John Buttery joined in 1863 as partner, the name changed again to Sandilands, Buttery & Co. The firm of Messrs Sandilands, Buttery & Co. was established at Pinang in 1863 by Messrs John Buttery and G. M. Sandilands, both of Glasgow, on the site of the present Government buildings. The partners commenced business as East India merchants with an office in Glasgow, but transferred in 1875 to London.
1866 - Daniel Gilchrist was working with John Buttery & CO., London(Post office Glasgow directory 1866, by william mackenzie, pg 154). The office was at 4, Victory Building, West Region Street, Glasgow(Post office Glasgow directory 1866, by william mackenzie,Pg 95), John Buttery's residence was at 12, Kew Terrace, Glasgow.
1875 - office at Glasgow moved to London
1876 - The Directory of Singapore 1876 reported that John Allen was also the partner. But the name remained Sandilands, Buttery & Co.. Sandilands was in Europe, the other partners were in Penang
1877 - Sandilands Buttery and Co, partners were George MacFarlane Sandilands(in Europe), John Buttery(in Europe), John Allan (in Penang). Branch at London, John Buttery & CO., 17 Trinity Square, Tower Hill, London(pg 100, Singapore Diectory 1877)
He was Justice of Peace and magistrate(pg 61, Singapore Directory 1877)
1879 - Sandilands still stationed in Europe
1882 - Appointed as member of Legislative Council of Strait Settlement London Gazette Issue 25109 published on the 19 May 1882. Page 6 of 60; Downing Street, May 18, 1882. THE Queen has been pleased to appoint George Macfarlane Sandilands, Esq., and William Henry Macleod Read, Esq., to be Members of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements.
1883 - GM Sandilands attended the Legislative Council meeting on 6th July 1883(Straits Times Weekly Issue, 19 July 1883, Page 11), 28th September 1883(The Straits Times, 2 October 1883)
Lorrain WS and Co.— And at Penang and Singapore, merchants. Walter Scott Lorrain, George Macfarlane Sandilands, John Buttery. Debts received and paid by George Macfarlane Sandilands at Penang, and A Allan at Singapore, 24th March 1883(source: THE SCOTTISH COMMERCIAL LIST, by SEYD AND CO.). The A Allan should be John Allan?
1888? - Sandilands was stated died at Hampstead in 1880, which is wrong; as even in 1883 he was still active in business. The year need to be confirmed.
Sandilands Buttery and Co Ltd
Sandilands Buttery and Co Ltd had its origins in Lorrain Sandilands, which was established in Penang by George MacFarlane Sandilands and Francis Currie Lorrain in the 1830s. It was the first firm of British traders in Penang. In 1856, the firm started business in Singapore. Later, a branch was established in Singapore in Malacca Street in 1859. Following Lorrain's retirement in 1862, the firm was renamed Sandilands and Co. The following year, it changed its name to Sandilands Buttery, when John Buttery of Glasgow was admitted as a partner.
1894 - Mr John Allan died. Mr. Alexander Kay Buttery or A.K.Buttery(b 10-3-1870), who was born in Glasgow and educated at Charterhouse(left 1886) and King's College, London, joined the office in Mark Lane and came to the East in 1894. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, of the committee of the Turf Club, and of the Pinang Association, a member of all local clubs, a Justice of the Peace, and was formerly a member of the Municipal Council. He is a well-known patron of the turf, owning the horses Diamond Star and Evening Star, which did so well in 1906. His private residence is at "Highbury," Perak Road.
In 1920, the firm set up a branch at Medan, Sumatra for trading, as well as serving as rubber estate agents. Subsequently, offices were set up in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Port Swettenham.
In 1946, Sandilands Buttery was acquired by Henry Gardner and Co. Ltd of London but continued to operate under its own name.
In 1972, Henry Gardner merged its activities with British Metal Corporation Ltd, and Sandilands Buttery traded as a member of the Amalgamated Metal Corporation Group. In the mid-1970s, Sandilands Buttery became Jardine Sandilands and subsequently was renamed Jardine Marketing Services in the late 1970s.
(extract from http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1252_2007-12-24.html)
Sandilands Buttery was the appointed agent for Ayer Putuh Estate in Penang, owned by Brown Estate, the David Brown family business. The estate was an orchard cum rubber plantation, located at today's Reservoir Garden Estate, a residential estate in Air Itam, Penang. The Ayer Putih Estate in Ayer Itam was leased to the late Mr Lim Chean Hock [1871-1924].Mr Lim Chean Hock was a general merchant, operating from a shop along Beach Street, Penang.
Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources by Arnold Wright, Published 1908 p. 793:
The firm of Messrs Sandilands, Buttery & Co. was established at Pinang in 1854-55 by Messrs John Buttery and G. M. Sandilands, both of Glasgow, on the site of the present Government buildings. The partners commenced business as East India merchants with an office in Glasgow, but transferred in 1875 to London. Early in the history of the firm Mr. John Allan was taken into partnership. After the death of Mr. Sandilands, at Hampstead, in 1880 and of Mr. Allan in 1849, the firm consisted of J. Buttery, James Gibson(b 1856-d 1936), Arthur George Wright, Daniel Gilchrist and A. K. Buttery, the last named two being at Pinang. The London offices are No. 5, Mark Lane, and there is a branch at Singapore.
G.M.Sandilands was reported died in 1880 at Hampstead, but in 1883 he still attend Legislative Council meeting in Singapore. The year may be wrong. John Allan(b1836? - d 1894) died in 1894 at the age of 58, not 1849.
Glasgow Herald, 28 September 1894 reported :Allan at 3 St Andrews Square, Surbiton, Surrey, on 27th inst, John Allan, of London and Penang
James Gibson was a Municipal Commissioner of Georgetown, appointed from 10-11-1893 to 31-12-1894.(Government Gazette 10-11-1893,Straits Times Weekly Issue, 14 November 1893, Page 6).
The Straits Times, 1 October 1924, Page 10 reported Mr. Daniel Gilchrist, of Aberdeen Park. Highbury, N., formerly of Penang and Singapore, left property of tho value of f31,146. He must had passed away prior to 1924.
References/related articles:
1. Sandilands Buttery and Co. Ltd(2005), b Chia, Joshua Yeong Jia, National Library Board Singapore
2. Seng Ong Beow, http://www.penang-traveltips.com/seng-ong-beow.htm( a picture of the temple can be seen in the website)
3. An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore(1902),by Charles Burton Buckley, Printed by Fraser & Neave, limited, 1902 pg 672
Herriot Street
Herriot Street
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Herriot Street or Lebuh Herriot is one of the parallel streets after the Prangin Canal, the 8th street. It was shorter than the earlier 7 streets after Prangin Canal, it lies after Lebuh Cecil. It connects McNair Street to Jalan Gurdwara (Brick Kiln Road), and lies between Nanking Road and Sandilands Street.
Herriot Street or Lebuh Herriot was named after Stuart Herriot, British merchant who wrote the petition of the Capitan China, Chung Keng Kwee, and others in 1872, asking for British intervention in Perak after the Larut Riots. The Chinese however called it peh-tiaû-lor(8th street,八條路).
Stuart Herriot was in Penang from 1830s until 1877, when he died in Penang.
Stuart Herriot(1812-1877)
Stuart Herriot (25 April 1812, Swinton & Simprim, Berwickshire – 21 Feb 1885 in Penang, Malaysia) was a Penang trader since the 1830s. Stuart Herriot, of Armenian descent, was born on 25 Apr 1812 in Swinton & Simprim, Berwickshire. He was christened on 5 Jun 1812 in Swinton & Simprim, Berwichshire. He died on 5th May 1877 in Penang, Malaysia. He was buried in Penang.
The ancestral home in Scotland
Berwickshire is a maritime county in the south-east of Scotland, bounded on the north by the German Ocean and the county of Haddington (Eastlothian), on the east and north-east by the German Ocean, on the south by the river Tweed, which separates it from the English county of Northumberland, and on the west and south-west by the counties of Edinburgh (Midlothian) and Roxburgh. The county derives its name from the ancient town of berwick, formerly the county town.
"SWINTON, a parish ,containing a post-office village of its own name, in the Merse district of Berwickshire. It is bounded by Fogo, Edrom, Whitsome, Ladykirk, Coldstream, and Eccles ... The present parish of Swinton comprehends the ancient parishes of Swinton and Simprin, which were united in 1761." from the Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, edited by John Marius Wilson, 1868.
Swinton is a small village in the Scottish Borders. It is in the former county of Berwickshire, around 5 miles (8.0 km) south-east of Duns, and 3 miles (4.8 km) north-west of the Anglo-Scottish border. A parish church was built and still stands today. In 1843, the Free Church of Swinton was built, but in the 1900s the spire was removed and it became the local village hall.
Here are some figures showing the population through time (for Swinton+Simprim):
* 1755 - 494
* 1791 - 898
* 1801 - 875
* 1811 - 866
* 1821 - 919
1850
Stuart Herriot had been in partnership with a George Stuart, probably a relative of his mother, as Stuart & Company, merchants & agents. This must have failed. In 1850 the Court of Directors of the East India Company discharged Herriot's insolvency. The London Gazette Issue 21149 published on the 1 November 1850. Page 3 of 30 carried the following notice:
East India-House, October 30, 1850.
THE Court of Directors of the East India I Company hereby give notice, that they have received a Calcutta Gazette, containing the undermentioned notice, filed in the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors at Prince of Wales' Island, by Insolvent applying for his discharge, under the provisions of the 11th Victoria, cap. 21 : Stuart Herriot, heretofore trading in copartnership, at Prince of Wales' Island, with one George Stuart (now residing in Europe), as merchants and agents, under the style and-firm of Stuart and Company. Date of Gazette containing notice, September 4, 1850. James C. Melvill, Secretary
The Straits Times, 22 June 1852, Page 3. Page 3, still have advertisement on his business
1868
The Straits Settlements Association
There was also a Penang Branch (formed the 28th April 1868): Chairman, L. Navine ; Committee, J. Allan, A. Gentle, H. J. D. Padday, S. Heriot ; Hon. Secretary,
Stuart Heriot.
1872
Herriot was a literate leader who wrote a petition of Chung Keng Quee & 44 Others, written this 26th day of September, 1872 by Stuart Herriot.
1873
He was a Penang municipal commissioner. Straits Times Overland Journal, 31 December 1873, Page 6 reported that Government Gazette dated 26-12-1873 announced his appointment as Municipal Commissioner in 1874 for 3 years(1874-1876)
1874
He was also one of 10 shareholders of Pinang Gazette. He wrote for the gazette until April 1874, when a legal action was taken against him by the Asst Colonial Surgeon. He has close relationship with the Acheh people, and often write about them.
1877
He passed away. But some said in 1885, the year 1877 was confirmed with evidence from the tombstone and newspaper from Melbourne, Australia.
Stuart Herriot and Catherine Anthony (4 October 1804 in Penang – 4 October 1859 in Penang) were married in Penang, Malaya. Catherine Anthony was daughter of an Armenian, AA Anthony (http://www.amassia.com.au/ArminMalaysia.htm). AA Anthony is the founder of AA Anthony & Co, established 1840, located at 56, Beach Street, Penang. The partners as at 1877 were Michael Arratoon Anthony and Joseph Manook Anthony(AA Anthony passed away in 1873). The two rich Armenian brothers in Penang, Michael Arratoon Anthony and Joseph Manook Anthony were the close mining partners of the Cheah family. They also became partners in Perak mining companies during the 1860s and 1870s.
The tomb stone found in Northam Road Protestant Cemetery Penang, clearly stated that he passed away on 5th May 1877 in Penang at the age of 65. A picture of his grave can be seen at http://www.penang-traveltips.com/stuart-herriot.htm. But some reported he died on 21-2-1885(http://www.amassia.com.au/ArminMalaysia.htm) His wife, Herriot Catherine, who passed away on 4-10-1859 was also buried at the same cemetery. Unless there are two Stuart Herriot during the period in Penang.
In a newspaper The Argus, Melbourne dated 18-9-1877, Tuesday; there was Death announcement that " Stuart Herriot died on 5th June at Penang , East Indies. Stuart Herriot, son of the late Robert Herriot( of Whltsome-hill,Berwickshire, Scotland, and uncle of Francis Herriot(b 1836 - d 1923) of this city". (source: http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5937848). Whitsome is a small rural parish on the Border between Scotland and England, in Berwickshire, Scotland, close to Swinton, birth place of Stuart Herriot. This confirmed the actual date of death may be close to 5-5-1877, the date in the tombstone at the Northam Road Protestant Cemetery Penang. The error was in the month(June vs May), and the year should be confirmed 1877.
The family
Stuart Herriot is the descendants of John (Very Auld Yin) HERRIOT, he is the 6th generation.
Robert HERRIOT(T)+ was born on 29 May 1781 in Fogo. He died on 28 Aug 1831 in Whitsome Hill. He was a farmer, tenant of Whitsome Hill. He changed his name in protest to HERRIOTT after brother Alexander inherited, as did his father(James Herrriot b 1759-d 1832, Robert was the 2nd son of James Herriot).
Robert HERRIOT(T)+ and Barbara STUART were married on 12 Apr 1808 in Whitsome & Hilton, Berwickshire. Barbara STUART (daughter of James STUART) was born in 1790 in "Raecleuch", Berwickshire. She died in 1852 in "Lamden". Robert HERRIOT(T)+ and Barbara STUART had the following children:
+44 James(8) HERRIOT(b 1810- d1905),born in Swinton & Simprim, BerwichshireHe emigrated from UK to Assam. Frances Louisa Classon IRVINE+ were married on 17 Jul 1835. Frances Louisa Classon IRVINE+ (daughter of Col. William IRVINE+ and Matilda) was born in 1807 in UK. Wife & family left him in 1853, going to Adelaide, S. Australia(Adelaide was found in 1836 by Capt Francis Light's son, Colonel William Light). She immigrated on 23 Jul 1853 to Adelaide from Calcutta (clipper"Frances Henty") "and family". She died on 20 Mar 1887 in Gilles Plains, Adelaide, S. Australia at home. She was living in Kensington, Gilles Plains. Her parental family were present in Adelaide and Tasmania. Father of Francis Herriot, Melbourne/Adelaide. Australia.
+45 Stuart HERRIOT( b 1812- d 1877).Born in Swinton & Simprim, Berwickshire
46 Robert(3) HERRIOT(b 1813 - d?) was born on 21 Nov 1813 in Swinton Hill, Berwickshire. He was christened on 24 Dec 1813 in Swinton.
+47 Agnes Scott HERRIOT(1815-1892).
+48 John(5) HERRIOT(1817-1866).
49 Janet Thomson HERRIOT(b 1820 d?) was christened on 19 Feb 1820 in Swinton & Simprim, Berwickshire. She was born in 1820. She died ?infant.
50 Barbara SCOTT HERRIOT(b 1821-d ?) was born on 21 Oct 1821 in Swinton Hill, Berwickshire. She died ?infant.
+51 Robert(1) HERRIOT(b 1823-d 1865).
+52 Catherine Selby HERRIOT(b 1825- d 1895).
53 Mary Ann Margaret(b 1828 - d?) HERRIOT was born on 23 Jan 1828 in Swinton Hill, Berwickshire.
54 Janet Morrison HERRIOT.
+55 Kate HERRIOT(b 1831 - d ?).
(source: http://www.bompa.org.uk/Herriots/b373.htm#P373)
Catherine died on 4 Oct 1859(age 26 years). She was buried on 6 Oct 1859 in St George Church, Bishop street, Penang(now demolished), and the remains had been exhumed and buried in the mass grave of Western Cemetery, Penang.
Arratoon Road(二條暗路) between Burma Road and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah(formerly Northam Road) was named after Arratoon Anthony(d 1863) (also written Arathoon and Aratoon). Arratoon Anthony had arrived in Penang in 1819. The Anthonys were among the Armenian diaspora that settled in Shiraz in Persia, and then moved to Bombay and Calcutta before coming to Penang. Some of them have moved to Singapore and Australia.
His son A.A. Anthony(d 1873), father in law of Stuart Herriot, was the Armenian merchant who founded the A.A. Anthony Co. in 1830. The company dealt in shipping and insurance, and securities was one of the company's many businesses. The stockbroking business of A.A. Anthony Securities is still around today, although it has been bought over by others. Anthony Anthony Arratoon( d1873), the father in law passed away 06/12/1873 in Penang.
Mrs AA Anthony,mother-in law, Mariamjan, who died on 7-5-1890(73 years) was also buried at Northam Road Cemetery, Penang.
Many of his family members are buried at the Northam Road Protestant Cemetery.
Two of the brother in law, sons of AA Antony were buried at Northam Road Cemetery, Penang:-
(i) Michael Antony Arratoon(b 2-8-1841 Calcutta - d 15-7-1878 Penang). eldest son
(ii)Seth Antony(died 20th Nov 1895, aged 45 years), forth son
The son of Stuart Herriot, Stuart Robert Anthony Herriot died on 21-2-1885 at young age of 25. He was buried at Northam Road Cemetery, Penang.
http://www.bompa.org.uk/Herriots/b466.htm#P466
Harriot Street in Penang was named after Stuart Herriot.
Related articles
1. Stuart Herriot, http://www.penang-traveltips.com/stuart-herriot.htm
2. Asal mula konflik Aceh: dari perebutan pantai Timur Sumatra hingga akhir kerajaan Aceh abad ke-19(2005),by Anthony Reid, Yayasan Obor Indonesia, 2005(pg 145 to 146)
3. The Petition of Chung Keng Quee & 44 Others, written by Stuart Herriot; http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Petition_of_Chung_Keng_Quee_%26_44_Others
4. Descendants of John (Very Auld Yin) HERRIOT, http://www.bompa.org.uk/Herriots/index.htm
5. The Armenian Church of Penang , http://armeniansinasia.org/2008/11/30/the-armenian-apostolic-church-of-st-gregory-the-illuminator-penang/
View Larger Map
Herriot Street or Lebuh Herriot is one of the parallel streets after the Prangin Canal, the 8th street. It was shorter than the earlier 7 streets after Prangin Canal, it lies after Lebuh Cecil. It connects McNair Street to Jalan Gurdwara (Brick Kiln Road), and lies between Nanking Road and Sandilands Street.
Herriot Street or Lebuh Herriot was named after Stuart Herriot, British merchant who wrote the petition of the Capitan China, Chung Keng Kwee, and others in 1872, asking for British intervention in Perak after the Larut Riots. The Chinese however called it peh-tiaû-lor(8th street,八條路).
Stuart Herriot was in Penang from 1830s until 1877, when he died in Penang.
Stuart Herriot(1812-1877)
Stuart Herriot (25 April 1812, Swinton & Simprim, Berwickshire – 21 Feb 1885 in Penang, Malaysia) was a Penang trader since the 1830s. Stuart Herriot, of Armenian descent, was born on 25 Apr 1812 in Swinton & Simprim, Berwickshire. He was christened on 5 Jun 1812 in Swinton & Simprim, Berwichshire. He died on 5th May 1877 in Penang, Malaysia. He was buried in Penang.
The ancestral home in Scotland
Berwickshire is a maritime county in the south-east of Scotland, bounded on the north by the German Ocean and the county of Haddington (Eastlothian), on the east and north-east by the German Ocean, on the south by the river Tweed, which separates it from the English county of Northumberland, and on the west and south-west by the counties of Edinburgh (Midlothian) and Roxburgh. The county derives its name from the ancient town of berwick, formerly the county town.
"SWINTON, a parish ,containing a post-office village of its own name, in the Merse district of Berwickshire. It is bounded by Fogo, Edrom, Whitsome, Ladykirk, Coldstream, and Eccles ... The present parish of Swinton comprehends the ancient parishes of Swinton and Simprin, which were united in 1761." from the Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, edited by John Marius Wilson, 1868.
Swinton is a small village in the Scottish Borders. It is in the former county of Berwickshire, around 5 miles (8.0 km) south-east of Duns, and 3 miles (4.8 km) north-west of the Anglo-Scottish border. A parish church was built and still stands today. In 1843, the Free Church of Swinton was built, but in the 1900s the spire was removed and it became the local village hall.
Here are some figures showing the population through time (for Swinton+Simprim):
* 1755 - 494
* 1791 - 898
* 1801 - 875
* 1811 - 866
* 1821 - 919
1850
Stuart Herriot had been in partnership with a George Stuart, probably a relative of his mother, as Stuart & Company, merchants & agents. This must have failed. In 1850 the Court of Directors of the East India Company discharged Herriot's insolvency. The London Gazette Issue 21149 published on the 1 November 1850. Page 3 of 30 carried the following notice:
East India-House, October 30, 1850.
THE Court of Directors of the East India I Company hereby give notice, that they have received a Calcutta Gazette, containing the undermentioned notice, filed in the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors at Prince of Wales' Island, by Insolvent applying for his discharge, under the provisions of the 11th Victoria, cap. 21 : Stuart Herriot, heretofore trading in copartnership, at Prince of Wales' Island, with one George Stuart (now residing in Europe), as merchants and agents, under the style and-firm of Stuart and Company. Date of Gazette containing notice, September 4, 1850. James C. Melvill, Secretary
The Straits Times, 22 June 1852, Page 3. Page 3, still have advertisement on his business
1868
The Straits Settlements Association
There was also a Penang Branch (formed the 28th April 1868): Chairman, L. Navine ; Committee, J. Allan, A. Gentle, H. J. D. Padday, S. Heriot ; Hon. Secretary,
Stuart Heriot.
1872
Herriot was a literate leader who wrote a petition of Chung Keng Quee & 44 Others, written this 26th day of September, 1872 by Stuart Herriot.
1873
He was a Penang municipal commissioner. Straits Times Overland Journal, 31 December 1873, Page 6 reported that Government Gazette dated 26-12-1873 announced his appointment as Municipal Commissioner in 1874 for 3 years(1874-1876)
1874
He was also one of 10 shareholders of Pinang Gazette. He wrote for the gazette until April 1874, when a legal action was taken against him by the Asst Colonial Surgeon. He has close relationship with the Acheh people, and often write about them.
1877
He passed away. But some said in 1885, the year 1877 was confirmed with evidence from the tombstone and newspaper from Melbourne, Australia.
Stuart Herriot and Catherine Anthony (4 October 1804 in Penang – 4 October 1859 in Penang) were married in Penang, Malaya. Catherine Anthony was daughter of an Armenian, AA Anthony (http://www.amassia.com.au/ArminMalaysia.htm). AA Anthony is the founder of AA Anthony & Co, established 1840, located at 56, Beach Street, Penang. The partners as at 1877 were Michael Arratoon Anthony and Joseph Manook Anthony(AA Anthony passed away in 1873). The two rich Armenian brothers in Penang, Michael Arratoon Anthony and Joseph Manook Anthony were the close mining partners of the Cheah family. They also became partners in Perak mining companies during the 1860s and 1870s.
The tomb stone found in Northam Road Protestant Cemetery Penang, clearly stated that he passed away on 5th May 1877 in Penang at the age of 65. A picture of his grave can be seen at http://www.penang-traveltips.com/stuart-herriot.htm. But some reported he died on 21-2-1885(http://www.amassia.com.au/ArminMalaysia.htm) His wife, Herriot Catherine, who passed away on 4-10-1859 was also buried at the same cemetery. Unless there are two Stuart Herriot during the period in Penang.
In a newspaper The Argus, Melbourne dated 18-9-1877, Tuesday; there was Death announcement that " Stuart Herriot died on 5th June at Penang , East Indies. Stuart Herriot, son of the late Robert Herriot( of Whltsome-hill,Berwickshire, Scotland, and uncle of Francis Herriot(b 1836 - d 1923) of this city". (source: http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5937848). Whitsome is a small rural parish on the Border between Scotland and England, in Berwickshire, Scotland, close to Swinton, birth place of Stuart Herriot. This confirmed the actual date of death may be close to 5-5-1877, the date in the tombstone at the Northam Road Protestant Cemetery Penang. The error was in the month(June vs May), and the year should be confirmed 1877.
The family
Stuart Herriot is the descendants of John (Very Auld Yin) HERRIOT, he is the 6th generation.
Robert HERRIOT(T)+ was born on 29 May 1781 in Fogo. He died on 28 Aug 1831 in Whitsome Hill. He was a farmer, tenant of Whitsome Hill. He changed his name in protest to HERRIOTT after brother Alexander inherited, as did his father(James Herrriot b 1759-d 1832, Robert was the 2nd son of James Herriot).
Robert HERRIOT(T)+ and Barbara STUART were married on 12 Apr 1808 in Whitsome & Hilton, Berwickshire. Barbara STUART (daughter of James STUART) was born in 1790 in "Raecleuch", Berwickshire. She died in 1852 in "Lamden". Robert HERRIOT(T)+ and Barbara STUART had the following children:
+44 James(8) HERRIOT(b 1810- d1905),born in Swinton & Simprim, BerwichshireHe emigrated from UK to Assam. Frances Louisa Classon IRVINE+ were married on 17 Jul 1835. Frances Louisa Classon IRVINE+ (daughter of Col. William IRVINE+ and Matilda) was born in 1807 in UK. Wife & family left him in 1853, going to Adelaide, S. Australia(Adelaide was found in 1836 by Capt Francis Light's son, Colonel William Light). She immigrated on 23 Jul 1853 to Adelaide from Calcutta (clipper"Frances Henty") "and family". She died on 20 Mar 1887 in Gilles Plains, Adelaide, S. Australia at home. She was living in Kensington, Gilles Plains. Her parental family were present in Adelaide and Tasmania. Father of Francis Herriot, Melbourne/Adelaide. Australia.
+45 Stuart HERRIOT( b 1812- d 1877).Born in Swinton & Simprim, Berwickshire
46 Robert(3) HERRIOT(b 1813 - d?) was born on 21 Nov 1813 in Swinton Hill, Berwickshire. He was christened on 24 Dec 1813 in Swinton.
+47 Agnes Scott HERRIOT(1815-1892).
+48 John(5) HERRIOT(1817-1866).
49 Janet Thomson HERRIOT(b 1820 d?) was christened on 19 Feb 1820 in Swinton & Simprim, Berwickshire. She was born in 1820. She died ?infant.
50 Barbara SCOTT HERRIOT(b 1821-d ?) was born on 21 Oct 1821 in Swinton Hill, Berwickshire. She died ?infant.
+51 Robert(1) HERRIOT(b 1823-d 1865).
+52 Catherine Selby HERRIOT(b 1825- d 1895).
53 Mary Ann Margaret(b 1828 - d?) HERRIOT was born on 23 Jan 1828 in Swinton Hill, Berwickshire.
54 Janet Morrison HERRIOT.
+55 Kate HERRIOT(b 1831 - d ?).
(source: http://www.bompa.org.uk/Herriots/b373.htm#P373)
Catherine died on 4 Oct 1859(age 26 years). She was buried on 6 Oct 1859 in St George Church, Bishop street, Penang(now demolished), and the remains had been exhumed and buried in the mass grave of Western Cemetery, Penang.
Arratoon Road(二條暗路) between Burma Road and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah(formerly Northam Road) was named after Arratoon Anthony(d 1863) (also written Arathoon and Aratoon). Arratoon Anthony had arrived in Penang in 1819. The Anthonys were among the Armenian diaspora that settled in Shiraz in Persia, and then moved to Bombay and Calcutta before coming to Penang. Some of them have moved to Singapore and Australia.
His son A.A. Anthony(d 1873), father in law of Stuart Herriot, was the Armenian merchant who founded the A.A. Anthony Co. in 1830. The company dealt in shipping and insurance, and securities was one of the company's many businesses. The stockbroking business of A.A. Anthony Securities is still around today, although it has been bought over by others. Anthony Anthony Arratoon( d1873), the father in law passed away 06/12/1873 in Penang.
Mrs AA Anthony,mother-in law, Mariamjan, who died on 7-5-1890(73 years) was also buried at Northam Road Cemetery, Penang.
Many of his family members are buried at the Northam Road Protestant Cemetery.
Two of the brother in law, sons of AA Antony were buried at Northam Road Cemetery, Penang:-
(i) Michael Antony Arratoon(b 2-8-1841 Calcutta - d 15-7-1878 Penang). eldest son
(ii)Seth Antony(died 20th Nov 1895, aged 45 years), forth son
The son of Stuart Herriot, Stuart Robert Anthony Herriot died on 21-2-1885 at young age of 25. He was buried at Northam Road Cemetery, Penang.
http://www.bompa.org.uk/Herriots/b466.htm#P466
Harriot Street in Penang was named after Stuart Herriot.
Related articles
1. Stuart Herriot, http://www.penang-traveltips.com/stuart-herriot.htm
2. Asal mula konflik Aceh: dari perebutan pantai Timur Sumatra hingga akhir kerajaan Aceh abad ke-19(2005),by Anthony Reid, Yayasan Obor Indonesia, 2005(pg 145 to 146)
3. The Petition of Chung Keng Quee & 44 Others, written by Stuart Herriot; http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Petition_of_Chung_Keng_Quee_%26_44_Others
4. Descendants of John (Very Auld Yin) HERRIOT, http://www.bompa.org.uk/Herriots/index.htm
5. The Armenian Church of Penang , http://armeniansinasia.org/2008/11/30/the-armenian-apostolic-church-of-st-gregory-the-illuminator-penang/
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Jalan CY Choy(Bridge Street)
Jalan CY Choy（崔耀才路）
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Jalan CY Choy was formerly Bridge Street(過港仔直街,过港仔), named after the Anson Bridge over the Prangin Ditch and the Sungai Pinang Bridge over the Pinang River, which it links. It starts from the cross road junction with Jalan Pantai(Beach Street),Jalan Lim Chwee Leong(Lim Chwee Leong Road-林萃龍路, formerly Prangin Road -港仔墘), the area is called Sia Buai bansan(杜尾万山). The road then cross the Anson Bridge straight to the Sungai Pinang bridge where it joins with Jelutong Road(日落洞路)at the bottom apex of triangular land called The Seven Streets Precinct.
Before Jelutong Expressway was built, it was once the main road from the city to east coast of Penang island, the former yellow bus(or Boon Siew Bus) route from Jelutong, Glugor, Relau, Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas, Teluk Kumbar, to Balik Pulau.
The new name Jalan CY Choy(崔耀才路) is named after C. Y. Choy（崔耀才）, the last Mayor of George Town (1964-1966). The Chinese however divided it into 3 parts, namely
(i) North (Beach St) end - Kòe-káng-á(過港仔), which literally means Past the Prangin Ditch or Anson Bridge. It can also means out of the city limit(note: the old city limit at the historical time, today the area is already within the city limit). Koe-kang-a means cross the prangin river. "koe" means crossing ,"Kang-a" means small river. The sound however slowly become koe-kang-kia. Sia buai(杜尾)- part of the Beach Street from Malay Street to Prangin Road, which means "at the end of the society or city", with the Anson bridge as the landmark or border stone of the city limit. The place within the bridge/Prangin river/Prangin Road(港仔墘) was the port/city, after the bridge or Prangin river/Prangin Road was beyond city limit.
Note: Penang old people also called Province Wellesley with the name "koe - kang"(過港),literally means crossing the port(槟城海港), means go to the mainland. "kang"(港) broadly speaking may means port e,g hai-kang(海港)and in a narrow meaning of river e.g. small river or stream is called kang-a or kang-kia(港仔). But I do not know why koe-kang(過港)(narrow meaning crossing the river) was not use for Jalan CY Choy or Bridge Street..... but use broadly as crossing the port to the mainland for the name of Province Wellesley....
(ii)Middle - Pang-lông(枋廊)which literally means sawmill. There used to be sawnmill here, some of the old sawnmill can still be seen.
(iii)South (Jelutong Rd) end - Sêng-hông-biō-lor(聖王廟路/城隍廟路), which literally means City god temple road. The landmark of the place is seng-hong-bio(城隍廟)
But overall the main road it is called Kòe-káng-á -ti -lor(過港仔直街)which means cross the port straight road ; in short koe-kang-a(過港仔) and slowly become koe-kang-kia; and now in English CY Choy Road(崔耀才路)become more popular for the younger generation as they are able to speak English, and "koe-kang-a" become difficult to pronounce for them. The trend may be reversed now......
City God Temple(城隍廟)
At the corner with Sandilands Street is the Seng Ong Beow(城隍廟), and the said Southern end of Bridge Street is also called seng-hong-biau-lor(城隍廟路) by the local Chinese Hockkian as seng-ong-biau-lor(聖王廟路), which literally means sacred king temple road, which is wrong the actual should be seng-hong-biau-lor(城隍廟路). Chen-huang(城隍) means gods who take care of cheng-giang(城牆),the Chinese city wall used to protect towns and cities. Today in modern term it is gods of the city or town. These gods are deities in Chinese mythology, who are responsible for the affairs of the city. Chéng-huáng-mià(城隍廟), means city gods temple. Only city of district level can have cheng-huang-mia or city god temple. In Hockkien it should be se -hong-biau, the se is city or town(城), not "seng"(聖) which means sacred; the "hong"(隍) is not "ong" which means king(王); I do not know why from city god temple, it become sacred king temple; may be it is easier to pronounce in their dialect for working class people. Locally the temple is commonly called Ghost Temple, where the ghost marriage ceremony were arranged and take place there.
城隍廟是祭祀城隍的廟宇。在中國文化中，城隍是城池守護神，其前身是水庸神。城隍廟並不是每個城市都有，只有縣治以上層級的城市才設有城隍廟。城郭，又稱為城池，詞中的「郭」指城牆，是中國、韓國等東亞國家古代的軍事防禦建築。為保護百姓生命財產安全，築城是東亞國家的傳統.
The Swampy Land Reclamation seafront
Outside the Seven Streets Precinct, after Jalan CY Choy(formerly Bridge Street), toward the seashore are the area with many timber houses on the swampy land. These streets are normally end with the words Ghat or Gat in Malay. Ghat being a Hindi word meaning a broad flight of steps leading down to a riverbank or seashore. The area was formerly swamps, and reclaimed during the period from 1880-1904. The latest development has however come to the area after the opening of Jelutong Expressway.
GAT LEBUH NOORDIN 土桥尾
GAT LEBUH PRESGRAVE 三條路網寮
GAT LEBUH MACALLUM 五條路填地
GAT LEBUH CECIL 七條路填地
GAT LEBUH SANDILANDS 八條路網寮 - not a metaled concrete road, but swampy route to the Chinese village to the sea front
Choy Chooi Yew, C Y Choy or 崔耀才(b 1907? - d 1980)
To know the background of CY Choy, you need to know the history of Labour Party(as a founder), City Council election(when he was a Mayor of Georgetown) and the state election in Penang(as an independent state assemblyman for two terms). But there is little information on his personal background. Mr C.Y. Choy was the 3rd Mayor of Georgetown. He was the few Penang politician who is respected and loved by Penang people.
City Council Election 1957-1967
1951
The first Labour Party was formed in Penang on 15-5-1951, with the support of Colonist government
1952
Pan Malaya Labour Party was formed on 26-6-1952. The Regional Labour Paties of the Penang, Selangor, Perak, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Singapore and Saberkas from Kedah were the founding members.
1953
In 1953, sixteen intellectuals including D.S. Ramanathan, Tan Phock Kin(陈朴根), N. Patkunam, Lee Kok Liang(李国良), C.Y. Choy, Tan Chong Bee(陈宗美)and V. Veerapan from the Fabian Society of Penang joined the PMLP(Pan-Malaya Labour Party). The Fabian Society is a British intellectual socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. PMLP was formed on 26 June 1952, formed from the amalgamated membership of the Regional Labour Parties from Penang, Selangor and Singapore. They were mainly Indian and Malay from civil service unions, English educated union members of MTUC(Malayan Trade Union Congress),they were mainly Indian and Malay from civil service unions. There was another group of English educated radicals from MDU(Malayan Democratic Union)formed in 1945, satellite of MCP(Malayan Communist Party) with anti-colonist struggle. The radicals students from University of Malaya were the another source of membership for PMLP.
1954 - On 5 June 1954, the PMLP took the new name of the Labour Party of Malaya (LPM). With the election of Lee Moke Sang as its Chairman, the LPM proclaimed itself a political organization to unite the workers and peasants of Malaya and struggle for a united, independent and democratic nation.
1956
On the eve of Merdeka, LPM gained from the Chinese school students’ movement and the national workers’ movement; the organizational collaboration between an emerging Socialist Youth League and the Pan-Malaya Union of General Workers; and cooperation with Partai Rakyat (founded in December 1955).
CY Choy was elected City Councillor in 1956
1957
On 1 January 1957, George Town became a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first town in the Federation of Malaya to become a city, and the only city in Malaya/Malaysia until Kuala Lumpur was granted city status in 1972.
In August 31st 1957, Malaysia was formed, and independence from Britain.
In December 1957 City Council Election, there were 5 seats available for election where the councillors had completed their terms. Out of 5 seats, Labour Party won 4 seats, Alliance 1 seat. Labour Party had total 9 seats thus controlled the City Council. The five originally elected councilors were D.S. Ramanathan, Tan Phock Kin, C.Y.Choy, Sabapathy and V David. Ramanathan’s tenure of office was only for a year. He was however reelected together with three other new councilors, Lim Kean Siew, Ooi Thiam Siew, and Lee Kok Liang.
The party won eight out of the nine contested seats, a result that strengthened the party’s multi-ethnic mass base in Penang. The first Mayor of George Town was Cllr D. S. Ramanathan 南玛纳旦(Labour Party). The December 1957 local polls, the Socialist Front (SF) – a coalition of the Labour Party of Malaya (LPM) and the Party Rakyat Malaya (PRM) officially registered on 26.8.1958 – had gained enough seats to take over the Penang City Council. The low-cost housing projects People’s Court in Cintra Street and Kampong Selut scheme in Jelutong were the project under Socialist Front City Council.
The state election in May, SF won 7 seats, the state assemblyman included Lim Kean Siew(林建寿)，Tan Phock Kin(陈朴根)，CY Choy(崔耀才) & D.S. Ramanathan(蓝玛纳旦). Alliance won 17 seats, and formed the state government with Wong Pow Nee as Chief Minister.
1958
Socialist Front (SF) – a coalition of the Labour Party of Malaya (LPM) and the Party Rakyat Malaya (PRM) officially registered on 26.8.1958. An alternative multiracial alliance against the Alliance of UMNO, MCA and MIC.
The first mass arrest of political opponents took place only a little more than a year after Merdeka, on 1 October 1958, with the detention of 109 persons.
1960
After the end of the Emergency in 1960 as the Internal Security Act (ISA)1960 was introduced to allow the government to continue the practice of detention without trial. SF leaders and members were frequent victims of the ISA throughout the 1960s.The detentions of Ishak bin Hj. Mohammad, Abdul Aziz bin Ishak and Datuk Kampo Radjo on untried charges of setting up a government-in-exile during Konfrontasi with Indonesia were attempts to repress the Malay Left.
1961
1961 City Council Election, a new system was introduced under Local Government Election Act 1960 (LGEA). There were 15 seats. Labour Party won 14 seats, the only seat left was won by MCA's Mr David Choong, the brother of All England Champion Eddy Choong. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿) become the 2nd Mayor, D. S. Ramanathan, who was the President of Labour Party(1955-1958)resigned from Labour Party, joined MIC(he was elected under Alliance/MIC ticket in 1964, become an Exco of the State government).
1963
In 1963 City Council Election, the United Democratic Party(民主联合党)newly formed in 1961 by Dr. Lim Chong Eu 林苍佑), and People’s Action Party led by Lee Kuan Yew were providing strong challenge to the Labour Party. Labour Party won 9 seats, Alliance 5 seats, UDP 1 seat, over 15 seats. Mr C Y Choy was elected as Mayor of Georgetown City in 1964, the third Mayor (1964-1966). But the Labour Party lost the 1964 State and Parliament election. They only won two state seats won by 许平城 & 陈福兴（1940—1989）. They even lost the opposition leadership to United Democratic Party(民主联合党). Mr Lim Kean Siew(林建寿)however won the Parliament seat for Datuk Keramat, which he won in 1959, 1964 for continuous two terms. D S Ramanathan, former Chairman of LPM and the first Mayor of Penang, peeved with the party by 1963, accused the SF-controlled City Council of corruption and malpractices.
Malaysia was formed on 16th September 1963.
1965
There was internal struggle in SF, Ooi Thiam Siew was not happy over the appointment of CY Choy as Mayor. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿)resigned from Labour Party, and the two PRM councillor chose to align with him. SF's seat reduced to 6. He was elected in Dec 1965 as the 4th Mayor with the support of Alliance and UDP. SF lost control of the council, and CY Choy should have complete his term as Mayor for 3 years from 1964-1966, but was removed in Dec 1965. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿)was however not able to function as Mayor, as City Council was later took over by the Chief Minister under City Council of George Town (Transfer of Functions) Order 1966, passed by Parliament on 27th August 1966. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿) must be the most unhappy man. So CY Choy become the last Mayor of Georgetown until 1966. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿)later passed away in 1968 due to car accident.
Singapore left on 9 August 1965, and become independent nation.
1966 The end of City Council Election
In 1965, the federal Government suspended local elections as a result of the Indonesian Confrontation. In response to allegations of maladministration and misconduct, a Royal Commission of Enquiry was set up and the functions of the City Council were temporarily transferred to the Chief Minister of Penang by the City Council of George Town (Transfer of Functions) Order 1966. A Royal Commission of Enquiry into set up by the Federal Government under Senator Athi Nahappan, reporting in 1968, recommended the restoration of elected local councils, but this was never carried out. That is how Penang lost the City Mayor.
Chief Minister, Wong Pow Nee, who immediately constituted a commission to inquire into the allegations brought forth by Ramanathan, although he had professed that he could offer no evidence for them. On 1 July 1966, three days before the commission was to commence its probe, Wong Pow Nee announced that the State Government would take over the functions of the City Council. The commission completed its inquiry in November 1967 and found that “although there were irregularities and inefficiencies in the council’s administration, there was no hard evidence of outright bribery”.
In 1965, key SF leaders, such as Chairman Hansul bin Abdul Hadi, Secretary-General Tajuddin Kahar and Assistant Secretary-General Tan Kai Hee were arrested to foil a demonstration called for 13 February, the SF’s Human Rights Day, to commemorate the second anniversary of Ahmad Boestamam’s internment.
After Singapore’s separation from Malaysia on 9 August. Within the SF, the LPM and Parti Rakyat diverged, principally over the issue of official language. In December, Parti Rakyat resolved to break away from the SF while Lim Kean Siew announced that the coalition would end on 16 January 1966. At this juncture, internal quarrels terminated the SF’s control of George Town City Council and LPM lost a most important political platform.
1966 -Radicalization intensified
An Anti-US Imperialism Campaign resulted in the mass arrests of cadres, members and supporters. The LPM Central Secretariat called an Extraordinary National Delegates Conference on 24–25 September 1966 that resolved to expedite ‘anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, anti-feudalism and anti-Malaysia’ struggles.’ While combining ‘mass struggle’ with ‘constitutional struggle’, the Conference placed the former ahead of the latter as a strategy to wrest political power.
1967 - 17th April(Mon), CY Choy as Secretary of Labour Party, Penang Division was facing summon of two charges on (i) Kept a Press for the printing of documents without license from the Minister of Home Affairs at the Bridge Street Headquarter, on Oct 15th 1966, and (ii) for printing newspaper Berita Buroh, collection of stories about Vietnam War, and 73 song sheets(The Straits Times, 18 April 1967, Page 5).
1968 - The Kedah Division’s call for a boycott of the 1969 General Election was endorsed on 29 September 1968 by an Enlarged Central Committee Meeting.
On 3-12-1968, C Y Choy issued instruction on behalf of Labour Party Headquarter, to all elected representatives, city councilors, state assemblyman, and Parliament Member that they are to resign en bloc before 31-12-1968.
1969
On 1st April 1969, CY Choy announced in the press conference that Labour Party will boycotted the 1969 election on 10th May 1969.
Gerakan(民政党) led by Dr Lim Chong Eu won the Penang state election. Dr Lim become the chief minister.
May 13th incident after election
September 1969, an accord of understanding was reached between LPM’s Lim Kean Siew and Dr. Rajakumar and Parti Rakyat’s Kassim Ahmad and Syed Husin Ali to hold to ‘scientific socialism’, ‘working class solidarity’ and ‘the unity of the people of all nationalities’ against ‘chauvinism and narrow nationalism’.
1972 - Three years later, in September 1972, the Registrar of Societies deregistered the LPM on account of its failure to submit annual reports for several years.
1973 - CY Choy continued to serve the people despite having no official position and Socialist Front was deregistered. As an independent politician with no political party link, using only a simple typewriter, he continued his community service. he gained the respect of the local community who are mainly working class people, and many are illiterate. They called him " The father of Hawkers(小贩之父)".
1970s - The independent state assemblyman
1974 - Mr CY Choy, now aged near seventy, contest in Pengkalan Kota state constituency. He won the seat with more than 5,000 majority, a record for an independent candidate. This is history in the state election for independent candidate.
(1974年，当时已经年近七十的崔老先生在被易名彭加兰哥打区的州议席提名竞选，结果以5千多票取胜，崔耀才以独立人士赢得州议席的壮举，可说是槟城历年来的第一位).
崔耀才从政脚踏实地，在民间特别是彭加兰哥打区享有崇高的声誉。由于当时的彭加兰哥打区选民大都是中下阶级，其中很多都是不识字或不熟悉政府部门的小贩及小市民，当时崔耀才就是拎着打字机，在选区走动，选民一有需要他就马上用打字机为他们写信，寄出去。虽然崔耀才一心一意为民服务， 不过却常遭到市议会职员的刁难，因此加强了崔耀才重出政坛的决心。
1978 - He won the state election in 1978 again(1978年，崔耀才再次蝉联该区州议员)
1980 - Mr CY Choy passed away on 26-9-1980 age of 73
(1980年崔先生不幸过世， 彭加兰哥打区选民就这样失去了一位好代议士). 由于崔耀才对州内小贩贡献良多，槟州小贩联合会为了感念他，特别成立了崔耀才教育基金(The C.Y.Choy Memorial Education Fund) ，用作鼓励小贩子女的奖助学金。
In the by election after the death of CY Choy, the seat was won by Lim Kean Siew of MCA, a former Labour Party leader.
Related articles
1. City god, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_god
2. Restoring the Third Vote, reclaiming our democracy, http://www.aliran.com/index.php?id=1398:restoring-the-third-vote-reclaiming-our-democracy&option=com_content&catid=102:2010-4&Itemid=45
3. The Labour Party of Malaya, 1952–1972, http://www.aliran.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=846:the-labour-party-of-malaya-19521972&catid=75:200810&Itemid=10
4. Singapore: the unexpected nation(2008),by Edwin Lee Siew Cheng, Edwin Lee,published by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
5. RIDING THE STORMS : RADICALISATION OF THE LABOUR PARTY OF MALAYA,PENANG DIVISION, 1963 – 1969(2002), by Tan Kim Hong,
6. 左翼运动旗手陈福兴(2009), by 谢诗坚, http://www.hc-global.org/n/topic/topic_01.php
7. 风云五十年: 马来西亚政党政治(2007), by 唐南发, Published by Prometheus Enterprise
View Larger Map
Jalan CY Choy was formerly Bridge Street(過港仔直街,过港仔), named after the Anson Bridge over the Prangin Ditch and the Sungai Pinang Bridge over the Pinang River, which it links. It starts from the cross road junction with Jalan Pantai(Beach Street),Jalan Lim Chwee Leong(Lim Chwee Leong Road-林萃龍路, formerly Prangin Road -港仔墘), the area is called Sia Buai bansan(杜尾万山). The road then cross the Anson Bridge straight to the Sungai Pinang bridge where it joins with Jelutong Road(日落洞路)at the bottom apex of triangular land called The Seven Streets Precinct.
Before Jelutong Expressway was built, it was once the main road from the city to east coast of Penang island, the former yellow bus(or Boon Siew Bus) route from Jelutong, Glugor, Relau, Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas, Teluk Kumbar, to Balik Pulau.
The new name Jalan CY Choy(崔耀才路) is named after C. Y. Choy（崔耀才）, the last Mayor of George Town (1964-1966). The Chinese however divided it into 3 parts, namely
(i) North (Beach St) end - Kòe-káng-á(過港仔), which literally means Past the Prangin Ditch or Anson Bridge. It can also means out of the city limit(note: the old city limit at the historical time, today the area is already within the city limit). Koe-kang-a means cross the prangin river. "koe" means crossing ,"Kang-a" means small river. The sound however slowly become koe-kang-kia. Sia buai(杜尾)- part of the Beach Street from Malay Street to Prangin Road, which means "at the end of the society or city", with the Anson bridge as the landmark or border stone of the city limit. The place within the bridge/Prangin river/Prangin Road(港仔墘) was the port/city, after the bridge or Prangin river/Prangin Road was beyond city limit.
Note: Penang old people also called Province Wellesley with the name "koe - kang"(過港),literally means crossing the port(槟城海港), means go to the mainland. "kang"(港) broadly speaking may means port e,g hai-kang(海港)and in a narrow meaning of river e.g. small river or stream is called kang-a or kang-kia(港仔). But I do not know why koe-kang(過港)(narrow meaning crossing the river) was not use for Jalan CY Choy or Bridge Street..... but use broadly as crossing the port to the mainland for the name of Province Wellesley....
(ii)Middle - Pang-lông(枋廊)which literally means sawmill. There used to be sawnmill here, some of the old sawnmill can still be seen.
(iii)South (Jelutong Rd) end - Sêng-hông-biō-lor(聖王廟路/城隍廟路), which literally means City god temple road. The landmark of the place is seng-hong-bio(城隍廟)
But overall the main road it is called Kòe-káng-á -ti -lor(過港仔直街)which means cross the port straight road ; in short koe-kang-a(過港仔) and slowly become koe-kang-kia; and now in English CY Choy Road(崔耀才路)become more popular for the younger generation as they are able to speak English, and "koe-kang-a" become difficult to pronounce for them. The trend may be reversed now......
City God Temple(城隍廟)
At the corner with Sandilands Street is the Seng Ong Beow(城隍廟), and the said Southern end of Bridge Street is also called seng-hong-biau-lor(城隍廟路) by the local Chinese Hockkian as seng-ong-biau-lor(聖王廟路), which literally means sacred king temple road, which is wrong the actual should be seng-hong-biau-lor(城隍廟路). Chen-huang(城隍) means gods who take care of cheng-giang(城牆),the Chinese city wall used to protect towns and cities. Today in modern term it is gods of the city or town. These gods are deities in Chinese mythology, who are responsible for the affairs of the city. Chéng-huáng-mià(城隍廟), means city gods temple. Only city of district level can have cheng-huang-mia or city god temple. In Hockkien it should be se -hong-biau, the se is city or town(城), not "seng"(聖) which means sacred; the "hong"(隍) is not "ong" which means king(王); I do not know why from city god temple, it become sacred king temple; may be it is easier to pronounce in their dialect for working class people. Locally the temple is commonly called Ghost Temple, where the ghost marriage ceremony were arranged and take place there.
城隍廟是祭祀城隍的廟宇。在中國文化中，城隍是城池守護神，其前身是水庸神。城隍廟並不是每個城市都有，只有縣治以上層級的城市才設有城隍廟。城郭，又稱為城池，詞中的「郭」指城牆，是中國、韓國等東亞國家古代的軍事防禦建築。為保護百姓生命財產安全，築城是東亞國家的傳統.
The Swampy Land Reclamation seafront
Outside the Seven Streets Precinct, after Jalan CY Choy(formerly Bridge Street), toward the seashore are the area with many timber houses on the swampy land. These streets are normally end with the words Ghat or Gat in Malay. Ghat being a Hindi word meaning a broad flight of steps leading down to a riverbank or seashore. The area was formerly swamps, and reclaimed during the period from 1880-1904. The latest development has however come to the area after the opening of Jelutong Expressway.
GAT LEBUH NOORDIN 土桥尾
GAT LEBUH PRESGRAVE 三條路網寮
GAT LEBUH MACALLUM 五條路填地
GAT LEBUH CECIL 七條路填地
GAT LEBUH SANDILANDS 八條路網寮 - not a metaled concrete road, but swampy route to the Chinese village to the sea front
Choy Chooi Yew, C Y Choy or 崔耀才(b 1907? - d 1980)
To know the background of CY Choy, you need to know the history of Labour Party(as a founder), City Council election(when he was a Mayor of Georgetown) and the state election in Penang(as an independent state assemblyman for two terms). But there is little information on his personal background. Mr C.Y. Choy was the 3rd Mayor of Georgetown. He was the few Penang politician who is respected and loved by Penang people.
City Council Election 1957-1967
1951
The first Labour Party was formed in Penang on 15-5-1951, with the support of Colonist government
1952
Pan Malaya Labour Party was formed on 26-6-1952. The Regional Labour Paties of the Penang, Selangor, Perak, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Singapore and Saberkas from Kedah were the founding members.
1953
In 1953, sixteen intellectuals including D.S. Ramanathan, Tan Phock Kin(陈朴根), N. Patkunam, Lee Kok Liang(李国良), C.Y. Choy, Tan Chong Bee(陈宗美)and V. Veerapan from the Fabian Society of Penang joined the PMLP(Pan-Malaya Labour Party). The Fabian Society is a British intellectual socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. PMLP was formed on 26 June 1952, formed from the amalgamated membership of the Regional Labour Parties from Penang, Selangor and Singapore. They were mainly Indian and Malay from civil service unions, English educated union members of MTUC(Malayan Trade Union Congress),they were mainly Indian and Malay from civil service unions. There was another group of English educated radicals from MDU(Malayan Democratic Union)formed in 1945, satellite of MCP(Malayan Communist Party) with anti-colonist struggle. The radicals students from University of Malaya were the another source of membership for PMLP.
1954 - On 5 June 1954, the PMLP took the new name of the Labour Party of Malaya (LPM). With the election of Lee Moke Sang as its Chairman, the LPM proclaimed itself a political organization to unite the workers and peasants of Malaya and struggle for a united, independent and democratic nation.
1956
On the eve of Merdeka, LPM gained from the Chinese school students’ movement and the national workers’ movement; the organizational collaboration between an emerging Socialist Youth League and the Pan-Malaya Union of General Workers; and cooperation with Partai Rakyat (founded in December 1955).
CY Choy was elected City Councillor in 1956
1957
On 1 January 1957, George Town became a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first town in the Federation of Malaya to become a city, and the only city in Malaya/Malaysia until Kuala Lumpur was granted city status in 1972.
In August 31st 1957, Malaysia was formed, and independence from Britain.
In December 1957 City Council Election, there were 5 seats available for election where the councillors had completed their terms. Out of 5 seats, Labour Party won 4 seats, Alliance 1 seat. Labour Party had total 9 seats thus controlled the City Council. The five originally elected councilors were D.S. Ramanathan, Tan Phock Kin, C.Y.Choy, Sabapathy and V David. Ramanathan’s tenure of office was only for a year. He was however reelected together with three other new councilors, Lim Kean Siew, Ooi Thiam Siew, and Lee Kok Liang.
The party won eight out of the nine contested seats, a result that strengthened the party’s multi-ethnic mass base in Penang. The first Mayor of George Town was Cllr D. S. Ramanathan 南玛纳旦(Labour Party). The December 1957 local polls, the Socialist Front (SF) – a coalition of the Labour Party of Malaya (LPM) and the Party Rakyat Malaya (PRM) officially registered on 26.8.1958 – had gained enough seats to take over the Penang City Council. The low-cost housing projects People’s Court in Cintra Street and Kampong Selut scheme in Jelutong were the project under Socialist Front City Council.
The state election in May, SF won 7 seats, the state assemblyman included Lim Kean Siew(林建寿)，Tan Phock Kin(陈朴根)，CY Choy(崔耀才) & D.S. Ramanathan(蓝玛纳旦). Alliance won 17 seats, and formed the state government with Wong Pow Nee as Chief Minister.
1958
Socialist Front (SF) – a coalition of the Labour Party of Malaya (LPM) and the Party Rakyat Malaya (PRM) officially registered on 26.8.1958. An alternative multiracial alliance against the Alliance of UMNO, MCA and MIC.
The first mass arrest of political opponents took place only a little more than a year after Merdeka, on 1 October 1958, with the detention of 109 persons.
1960
After the end of the Emergency in 1960 as the Internal Security Act (ISA)1960 was introduced to allow the government to continue the practice of detention without trial. SF leaders and members were frequent victims of the ISA throughout the 1960s.The detentions of Ishak bin Hj. Mohammad, Abdul Aziz bin Ishak and Datuk Kampo Radjo on untried charges of setting up a government-in-exile during Konfrontasi with Indonesia were attempts to repress the Malay Left.
1961
1961 City Council Election, a new system was introduced under Local Government Election Act 1960 (LGEA). There were 15 seats. Labour Party won 14 seats, the only seat left was won by MCA's Mr David Choong, the brother of All England Champion Eddy Choong. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿) become the 2nd Mayor, D. S. Ramanathan, who was the President of Labour Party(1955-1958)resigned from Labour Party, joined MIC(he was elected under Alliance/MIC ticket in 1964, become an Exco of the State government).
1963
In 1963 City Council Election, the United Democratic Party(民主联合党)newly formed in 1961 by Dr. Lim Chong Eu 林苍佑), and People’s Action Party led by Lee Kuan Yew were providing strong challenge to the Labour Party. Labour Party won 9 seats, Alliance 5 seats, UDP 1 seat, over 15 seats. Mr C Y Choy was elected as Mayor of Georgetown City in 1964, the third Mayor (1964-1966). But the Labour Party lost the 1964 State and Parliament election. They only won two state seats won by 许平城 & 陈福兴（1940—1989）. They even lost the opposition leadership to United Democratic Party(民主联合党). Mr Lim Kean Siew(林建寿)however won the Parliament seat for Datuk Keramat, which he won in 1959, 1964 for continuous two terms. D S Ramanathan, former Chairman of LPM and the first Mayor of Penang, peeved with the party by 1963, accused the SF-controlled City Council of corruption and malpractices.
Malaysia was formed on 16th September 1963.
1965
There was internal struggle in SF, Ooi Thiam Siew was not happy over the appointment of CY Choy as Mayor. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿)resigned from Labour Party, and the two PRM councillor chose to align with him. SF's seat reduced to 6. He was elected in Dec 1965 as the 4th Mayor with the support of Alliance and UDP. SF lost control of the council, and CY Choy should have complete his term as Mayor for 3 years from 1964-1966, but was removed in Dec 1965. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿)was however not able to function as Mayor, as City Council was later took over by the Chief Minister under City Council of George Town (Transfer of Functions) Order 1966, passed by Parliament on 27th August 1966. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿) must be the most unhappy man. So CY Choy become the last Mayor of Georgetown until 1966. Ooi Thiam Siew(黄添寿)later passed away in 1968 due to car accident.
Singapore left on 9 August 1965, and become independent nation.
1966 The end of City Council Election
In 1965, the federal Government suspended local elections as a result of the Indonesian Confrontation. In response to allegations of maladministration and misconduct, a Royal Commission of Enquiry was set up and the functions of the City Council were temporarily transferred to the Chief Minister of Penang by the City Council of George Town (Transfer of Functions) Order 1966. A Royal Commission of Enquiry into set up by the Federal Government under Senator Athi Nahappan, reporting in 1968, recommended the restoration of elected local councils, but this was never carried out. That is how Penang lost the City Mayor.
Chief Minister, Wong Pow Nee, who immediately constituted a commission to inquire into the allegations brought forth by Ramanathan, although he had professed that he could offer no evidence for them. On 1 July 1966, three days before the commission was to commence its probe, Wong Pow Nee announced that the State Government would take over the functions of the City Council. The commission completed its inquiry in November 1967 and found that “although there were irregularities and inefficiencies in the council’s administration, there was no hard evidence of outright bribery”.
In 1965, key SF leaders, such as Chairman Hansul bin Abdul Hadi, Secretary-General Tajuddin Kahar and Assistant Secretary-General Tan Kai Hee were arrested to foil a demonstration called for 13 February, the SF’s Human Rights Day, to commemorate the second anniversary of Ahmad Boestamam’s internment.
After Singapore’s separation from Malaysia on 9 August. Within the SF, the LPM and Parti Rakyat diverged, principally over the issue of official language. In December, Parti Rakyat resolved to break away from the SF while Lim Kean Siew announced that the coalition would end on 16 January 1966. At this juncture, internal quarrels terminated the SF’s control of George Town City Council and LPM lost a most important political platform.
1966 -Radicalization intensified
An Anti-US Imperialism Campaign resulted in the mass arrests of cadres, members and supporters. The LPM Central Secretariat called an Extraordinary National Delegates Conference on 24–25 September 1966 that resolved to expedite ‘anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, anti-feudalism and anti-Malaysia’ struggles.’ While combining ‘mass struggle’ with ‘constitutional struggle’, the Conference placed the former ahead of the latter as a strategy to wrest political power.
1967 - 17th April(Mon), CY Choy as Secretary of Labour Party, Penang Division was facing summon of two charges on (i) Kept a Press for the printing of documents without license from the Minister of Home Affairs at the Bridge Street Headquarter, on Oct 15th 1966, and (ii) for printing newspaper Berita Buroh, collection of stories about Vietnam War, and 73 song sheets(The Straits Times, 18 April 1967, Page 5).
1968 - The Kedah Division’s call for a boycott of the 1969 General Election was endorsed on 29 September 1968 by an Enlarged Central Committee Meeting.
On 3-12-1968, C Y Choy issued instruction on behalf of Labour Party Headquarter, to all elected representatives, city councilors, state assemblyman, and Parliament Member that they are to resign en bloc before 31-12-1968.
1969
On 1st April 1969, CY Choy announced in the press conference that Labour Party will boycotted the 1969 election on 10th May 1969.
Gerakan(民政党) led by Dr Lim Chong Eu won the Penang state election. Dr Lim become the chief minister.
May 13th incident after election
September 1969, an accord of understanding was reached between LPM’s Lim Kean Siew and Dr. Rajakumar and Parti Rakyat’s Kassim Ahmad and Syed Husin Ali to hold to ‘scientific socialism’, ‘working class solidarity’ and ‘the unity of the people of all nationalities’ against ‘chauvinism and narrow nationalism’.
1972 - Three years later, in September 1972, the Registrar of Societies deregistered the LPM on account of its failure to submit annual reports for several years.
1973 - CY Choy continued to serve the people despite having no official position and Socialist Front was deregistered. As an independent politician with no political party link, using only a simple typewriter, he continued his community service. he gained the respect of the local community who are mainly working class people, and many are illiterate. They called him " The father of Hawkers(小贩之父)".
1970s - The independent state assemblyman
1974 - Mr CY Choy, now aged near seventy, contest in Pengkalan Kota state constituency. He won the seat with more than 5,000 majority, a record for an independent candidate. This is history in the state election for independent candidate.
(1974年，当时已经年近七十的崔老先生在被易名彭加兰哥打区的州议席提名竞选，结果以5千多票取胜，崔耀才以独立人士赢得州议席的壮举，可说是槟城历年来的第一位).
崔耀才从政脚踏实地，在民间特别是彭加兰哥打区享有崇高的声誉。由于当时的彭加兰哥打区选民大都是中下阶级，其中很多都是不识字或不熟悉政府部门的小贩及小市民，当时崔耀才就是拎着打字机，在选区走动，选民一有需要他就马上用打字机为他们写信，寄出去。虽然崔耀才一心一意为民服务， 不过却常遭到市议会职员的刁难，因此加强了崔耀才重出政坛的决心。
1978 - He won the state election in 1978 again(1978年，崔耀才再次蝉联该区州议员)
1980 - Mr CY Choy passed away on 26-9-1980 age of 73
(1980年崔先生不幸过世， 彭加兰哥打区选民就这样失去了一位好代议士). 由于崔耀才对州内小贩贡献良多，槟州小贩联合会为了感念他，特别成立了崔耀才教育基金(The C.Y.Choy Memorial Education Fund) ，用作鼓励小贩子女的奖助学金。
In the by election after the death of CY Choy, the seat was won by Lim Kean Siew of MCA, a former Labour Party leader.
Related articles
1. City god, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_god
2. Restoring the Third Vote, reclaiming our democracy, http://www.aliran.com/index.php?id=1398:restoring-the-third-vote-reclaiming-our-democracy&option=com_content&catid=102:2010-4&Itemid=45
3. The Labour Party of Malaya, 1952–1972, http://www.aliran.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=846:the-labour-party-of-malaya-19521972&catid=75:200810&Itemid=10
4. Singapore: the unexpected nation(2008),by Edwin Lee Siew Cheng, Edwin Lee,published by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
5. RIDING THE STORMS : RADICALISATION OF THE LABOUR PARTY OF MALAYA,PENANG DIVISION, 1963 – 1969(2002), by Tan Kim Hong,
6. 左翼运动旗手陈福兴(2009), by 谢诗坚, http://www.hc-global.org/n/topic/topic_01.php
7. 风云五十年: 马来西亚政党政治(2007), by 唐南发, Published by Prometheus Enterprise
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
McNair Street
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MacNair Street is located between Magazine Road and Sandilands Street. The thoroughfare in the 7 Street Precinct , it run parallel to Jalan CY Choy and Jalan Gurdruwara, running vertically from north to south, crossing the 2nd street to 7th street, namely Noordin Street(2nd), Presgrave Street(3rd), Tye Sin Street(4th), Macalum Street(5th), Katz Street(6th), Cecil Street(7th).
The Chinese called it " thaû-tiaû-lor- hoai-kei(頭條路橫街)". Hoai-kei means side road or side street, thau-tiau-lor means 1st street, thao-tiaû-lor- hoai-kei means the side road of 1st street or the side road of Magazine Road.
Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair, RA, CMG, FRGS, AMICE(b 1828 – d 1910)
McNair Street of Penang was named after Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair, the acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang between 1881 and 1884. He was in Penang from 1881 to 1884.
After Archibald Anson retired as Lieutenant Governor in 1881, Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair became Acting Lieutenant Governor from 1881 to 1884 and was also the Resident Councillor of Penang in 1884. He retired the same year, in 1884. When urban renewal took place in the Seven Streets Precinct, one of the streets was named McNair Street, named after him.
He was the first Comptroller of Indian Convicts from 1857 to 1873.
Timeline
1828 - McNair, who was born at Bath, England on 23 October 1828. He was the eldest son of Major Robert MacNair, Staff Officer, London.
McNair was educated at King's College London and at the School of Mines. McNair's childhood was filled with the study of geology. Over time he amassed a large collection of metals. He later had this transported to Madras where he was to begin his first job.
India: 1845-1850
1845- became an employee of the British East India Company at the age of 17, Madras(Royal) Artillery on 8th June 1845(source: Allen's Indian Mail, 1846 pg 156); and on 13th Dec 1845 he was Second Lieutenant, (source: The India office and Burma office list, 1851, Great Britain. India Office. Pg 36).
1846 - He was posted to Madras, India, where he became fluent in Hindustani.
1850 - He was employed with his battery in India until 1850. Sent to Europe on medical leave(ref source: Allen's Indian mail, and register of intelligence for British and foreign India, China, and all parts of the East, Volume 8, 1850, pg 422)
Malacca: 1853-1854
1853 - In 1853, McNair was posted to Malacca, Malaya working for the Madras Native Artillery under J.B. Westerhout, who was then the adviser to the government of the Straits Settlement.
2nd Lieutenant McNair was granted extension of leave on 2nd March 1853 for 3 months(source: Allen's Indian mail, and register of intelligence for British and foreign India, china, and all parts of the east. vol. xi.(1853) pg 148)
He was First lieutenant on 13-8-1853(source: The India office and Burma office list, by Great Britain. India Office, pg 48).
August 17th & 24th 1853, East India House, reported that he was permitted to return to their duty(allen's Indian mail, and register of intelligence for British and foreign India, china, and all parts of the east. vol. xi., 1953 pg 530)
1854 - Lt JFA McNair returned to duty(ALLEN'S INDIAN MAIL(1854), by H. ALLEN AND CO., pg 69)
Labuan: 1855-1856
In the 1840s the previously-uninhabited island was proposed as a base for British operations against piracy in the South China Sea. The Sultan of Brunei ceded Labuan to Britain in 1846, and the island became a Crown Colony in 1848. In 1849 the Eastern Archipelago Company became the first of many companies trying to exploit its coal deposits and establish it as a coaling station for the China trade. James Brooke was appointed first commander-in-chief and Governor of the territory. When Lt. McNair posted to Labuan, Hugh Low(b 1824-d 1905)was there, he was first Colonial Secretary (1848-1850), Police Magistrate (1850-1877)of Labuan(some reported he also become the Governor of Labuan from 1866 to 1867). Hugh Low was a keen botanist, and Lt. Mc Nair was a keen geologist, together they collect valuable information for their respective scientific interest.
1854 – The Strait Time announced the departure from Singapore date 26-12-1854, Mc Nair and Mrs Mac Nair, and family were the passengers from Sydney to Labuan(The Straits Times, 2 January 1855, Page 4). When he was posted to Labuan to take charge of the Artillery, he traveled all over Borneo and collected valuable shells which are now in the British Museum.
1855 - Arrived at Labuan
Singapore 1857 - 1861
1856 - Allen's Indian Mail dated 20th March 1856, Lt. McNair qualified as surveyor and civil engineer on Jan 26th, 1856(source: Allen's Indian Mail, and Register of Intelligence for British and Foreign India, China, and All Parts of the East(1856),by wm. h. allen and co., pg 167). He was member of Institute of Civil Engineers, UK(AMICE).
He was appointed as staff officer, and subsequently adjutant of artillery for Strait district
1857 –
He was transferred to Singapore, to be the private secretary and aide-de-camp to the Governor of the Straits Settlements, who at that time would be Edmund Augustus Blundell.
When the Indian Mutiny started in India in 1857, McNair was appointed Executive Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts in the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore). He was also in charge of Public Works and the Oriental Soul.
McNair studied Hindustani and was fluent in it. This was indeed advantageous as he could converse with the Indian convicts. There were a large number of convicts who were housed in the grounds opposite the present Asian Arts Museum (the former St Joseph's Institution) at Bras Basah Road. He had only one Assistant, a European warden because the petty officers were selected amongst the convicts themselves.
The convicts made tools for use in different trades. The Indian convicts constructed the long roads across Singapore. They helped to build the St Andrews Cathedral and the Government House (the Istana).
1857
In Dec, 1857 he became the Executive Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts in the Straits Settlements, with responsibilities over Penang, Malacca and Singapore. He was also in charged of Public Works and the Jail in Singapore. He succeed Colonel McPherson. His fluency in Hindustani enabled him to converse well with the Indian convicts, some of whom was given charge over the other prisoners as only McNair and his assistant were officers. He documented his experiences in managing prisons in Malaya in the book Prisoners Their Own Warders. as the Executive Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts in the Straits Settlements. He was also in charge of Public Works and the Oriental Goal in Singapore.
He has also a place in our his as the engineer who was in charge for the construction of the Government House (now the Istana) and St Andrew's Cathedral – one of present – day Singapore's landmarks.
1858 - He was promoted to the rank of Second Captain on 27th August 1858(source: Bulletins and other state intelligence, Part 1(1862), complied from London Gazette, pg 839)
1861 - In 1861, McNair went to England and learn photography to take pictures of Indian convicts.
1863 - The Army Gazette dated 17th Nov 1863 from War Office , Pall Mall reported that Second Captain was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1st Sept 1863(source: The United service magazine, Part 3(1864),by H. Colburn, pg 625). He was also with Department of Public Work
1865-1867 England
1865 - He returned to England, and was the deputy governor in charge of public work at working prison. The Army Gazette, War office, Pall Mall dated 10-4-1866 reported Captain JFA McNair was promoted to local rank of Brevet Major in India, on 13-12-1865(The United service magazine,by H. Colburn, 1866; pg 149-150).
Singapore 1867 -1881
1867 - When the control of the Straits Settlements was transferred from the India Office to the Colonial Office, London in 1867. He returned from England to Singapore again in 1867 and accompanied the new Governor, Harry Ord.
He was appointed as the Colonial Engineer on 14-2-1867, his main task was to build the Water Works. There were several failures in this project and finally through his efforts, water ran through the pipes. He was also the Controller of Convicts, and appointed as member of Legislative Council of the Colony. The Legislative Council consist of 10 members plus the Governor of Strait Settlement. The official members included Chief Engineer/Colonial Engineer, The Auditor- General, Chief Justice, Colonial Secretary, Treasurer, & Auditor General. Unofficial Members are Two Members for Singapore, One for Penang, One for Malacca and Clerk of the Council. The Chief Engineer of Strait Settlement was in charge of Public Work in Singapore. Surveyor General and Colonial Engineer was separate appointments until 1870.
1868 - Still a Colonial Engineer and Comptroller of Convicts(source: The Handbook of the year, by G.H. Townsend. 1st year, 1869, Pg 445).
But some source said he was also Colonial Secretary(need confirmation, only clue is that he was also mentioned as member of Executive Council, where one of the official member is Colonial Secretary, and not Colonial Engineer)(source: Dictionary of National Biography, Volume 17(2001), by Sir Leslie Stephen, published by Adegi Graphics LLC, Pg544-545)
1869 - McNair was in 1869 the colonial engineer involved in the construction of Government House in Singapore, which is now called the Istana. Designed and built by the Colonial Engineer, Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair, it was completed in 1869? He was also involved in the reconstruction of St Andrew's Cathedral.
He was a member of Executive Council since 1869( Need confirmation, source: Dictionary of National Biography, Volume 17(2001), by Sir Leslie Stephen, published by Adegi Graphics LLC, Pg544-545). Executive Council consists of 6 official members, which included The Governor, Colonial Secretary, Attorney General,Commanding officer of the Troops, Lt Governor of Penang and Malacca.
Istana(1867-1869)
The Istana is the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. Meaning "palace" in Malay, it is where the president receives and entertains state guests. The Istana is also the working office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. It is located within a large open compound in the otherwise urbanised setting of the Orchard Road area. It was part of the extensive nutmeg plantation of Mount Sophia.
The Istana was built in 1867-1869 on the instructions of Sir Harry Saint George Ord, Singapore's first colonial governor. It was formerly known as Government House. Located within the same compound is Sri Temasek, one of several senior colonial officers' residences in the Istana previously assigned to the Colonial Secretary. Initially it was faced with opposition. Land was acquired 106 acres (0.43 km2) of land from C.R. Prinsep's nutmeg estate in 1867. Construction began later in the year after the design was finalised on March 1867. Government House was completed in 1869, as attested to in a report in The Straits Times on 24 April of that year, "Far better to have a handsome memorial of extravagance to stare us in the face, than a memory of folly, in a half finished, or even badly finished work. Laying all prejudices aside moreover...it must be admitted that the building is a handsome one — the handsomest in a long way in the Settlement and one which will be an ornament to the place long after those who fought for and against it have passed away". The entire Government House, its grounds and auxiliary residences were built by convict labour — J.F.A. McNair supervisor for the construction of Government House, was also, conveniently, Superintendent of convicts.
St Andrew’s Cathedral(圣安德烈座堂)
Designed by George Drumgoole Coleman, the original Saint Andrew's Church was built from 1835 to 1836. The second Church of Saint Andrew was designed by John Turnbull Thomson and built in circa 1842. Rumours of unhappy spirits and damage caused by two lightning strikes in 1845 and 1849 resulted in its closure in 1852 and subsequent demolition in 1855.
Colonel Ronald MacPherson, the Executive Engineer and Superintendent of convicts, designed the new church. To cut costs, construction was carried out by industrially-trained Indian convict labourers and supervised by Major J. F. A. McNair, while W. D. Bayliss was the superintendent. The Right Reverend Daniel Wilson, Lord Bishop of Calcutta, laid the foundation stone on 4 March 1856, and the first service was held on 1 October 1861. The Right Reverend G.E.L. Cotton, who succeeded Daniel Wilson, had the honour of consecrating the cathedral on 25 January 1862. In 1869, it was transferred from the jurisdiction of Calcutta to the Diocese of Labuan and Sarawak and, in 1870, Archdeacon John Alleyne Beckles consecrated it as the Cathedral Church of the United Diocese.
1870 - He was promoted to Major(retired)
1872 - He was appointed as the first head of PWD(Public Work Department) or JKR(Jabatan Kerja Raya)of the Strait Settlement, with office at Singapore (ref: source:www.jkr.gov.my). The control is now cover the three states of Strait Settlement.
In the Memorandum on the Union of Labuan to Strait Settlement dated 1872, specially mentioned that "an officer as Major McNair would be of great assistance to the surveyor in Labuan" by the Governor of Labuan, Pope Hennessy
The Straits Times, 27 April 1872, Page 4, it was reported that "the absence of Major McNair, the Colonial Engineer, There were no lack of engineering talents, Assistant Engineer Capt Innes now acting in MacNair's place.."
1873 - He was both Colonial Engineer and Surveyor General. Note: From "about 1870" to 1920, there was no separate Survey Department in the Straits Settlement.
1874 - The Pangkor Treaty was signed on 20th Jan 1874.It was signed on board the steamer H. M. S. Pluto, of Sir Andrew Clarke (Governor of the Straits Settlements) just off the island of Pangkor, Perak. It recognized Raja Abdullah as the Sultan of Perak, confirmed Ngah Ibrahim as the 'Mentri' of Larut in his district, provided for a British officer (The Resident) to reside at the Sultan's headquarters (at The State's expense), bound the Sultan to follow the officer's advice and stipulated that an assistant Resident would be posted to Larut with authority over the Mentri. J W W Birch was the first Resident and Captain Speedy was appointed as Deputy Resident at Larut. Major Mcnair was also appointed Chief Commissioner for the Pacification of Larut. The parties representing the British at the signing were Major-General Sir Andrew Clarke, the Governor of the Straits Settlements; Mr. Bradell, the Attorney-General; Colonel Samuel Dunlop, the Inspector-General of Police;Mr. A.M. Skinner of the Secretariat;William A. Pickering, officer in charge of Chinese affairs, Frank A. Swettenham, interpreter of Malay from the Land Revenue Office and Major J.F.A. McNair, the Colonial Engineer. Raja Abdullah, Ngah Ibrahim, Capitan Cina Chung Keng Quee were also there.
1875 - McNair was appointed as Chief Commissioner for the Pacification of Larut in Perak. One of his fellow commissioners was Capitan Cina Chung Keng Quee, Swettenham, Pickering, Colonel Samuel Dunlop and Chin Seng Yam..
1877 - pg 36 of Singapore Directory 1877, reported as Colonial Engineer, and member of Executive Council of Strait Settlement & Legislative Council. He was also Surveyor General( pg 41). His office was at North Bridge Road, Singapore.
1879 - he was made a CMG on 24-5-1879 by the British monarchy(The India list and India Office list(1819), by Harrison, published by India Office , Great Britain.
1880(June) - Straits Times Overland Journal, 28 June 1880, Page 6 reported at the meeting of Municipal Council in Singapore, Major McNair was elected as chairman, he was still a Municipal Commissioner in his position as Colonial Engineer. with Major S Dunlop, RA; EJ Wells.
Penang(1881-1884)
1881 - he was appointed Acting Resident Councillor to the Governor of Penang.
1881(Dec) - Straits Times Overland Journal, 26 December 1881, Page 7 mentioned of abolition of Asst Colonial Engineer in Province Wellesley by Major McNair.
1884 – He was officially appointed as Resident of Penang, an appointment he relinquished on medical grounds in the same year 1884 after having served with distinction in the Straits Settlements especially in Singapore. He had also served in several learned societies and at one time even acted as Colonial Secretary in Singapore. He retired on pension on 10-8-1884.
After retirement, he was principally in writing
1903 - His wife Sarah(Lillie) Des Grangos(d 1903), died on 31st November 1903 at Scotia, Preston Park, Brighton(source: The Straits Times, 19 December 1903, Page 4)
1910 - He died on 17th May 1910 in Brighton, UK. He was buried in the town cemetery.
Special Missions
McNair had also undertaken several missions to Siam(Thailand). He visited Siam in 1868, 1874, 1875 and 1878. The King of Siam gave him the title – Order of the White Elephant.
In 1875-1876, he was the officiating Chief Commissioner in Perak, during the disturbance in the state. He also took part in the affairs of Kotah Lamah, on the Perak River, for which he received the medal and clasp. He was also involved in Pangkor Treaty in 1874.
He was special Commissioner to Selangor, to inquary into piracy
Author of books
He was the author of four books, the most famous was(i)Prisoners of their own Warders(1899), the book itself is the history book not only for prison but also the Indian convict history in Singapore and Penang. It is a must read book for colonial history lovers. The other books are: Perak & the Malays(1878) written when he was appointed in 1875, as Chief Commissioner for the Pacification of Larut in Perak, another valuable book for history of Perak; Sarong & Kris(1878); Oral tradition from the Indus(1977), first published in 1977 after he had died. He also wrote articles for Asiatic Quarterly.
Summary
John Frederick Adolphus MCNAIR (1828-1910); entered Madras Artillery 1845; Private Secretary to Governor of the Straits Settlements 1857; Comptroller of Indian convicts in the Straits Settlements 1857-1873; as Colonial Engineer superintended the building of Government House, Singapore; officiated as Lieutenant Governor of Penang 1880-1884; author: Perak and the Malays: Sarong and Kris (1878), Prisoners their own warders (1899).
McNair Street in Penang, and McNair Road in Singapore were named after Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair of the Royal Artillery.
McNair Road, Singapore, is a short stretch of road that lies adjacent to Towner Road, and is accessible via Balestier Road and Serangoon Road. It was named after Major J.F.A. McNair who served as Colonial Engineer and Comptroller of Convicts in the Straits Settlement during the period 1857 - 77. He was responsible for designing the Istana, the oldest part of the Empress Place building, St. Andrews Cathedral, Sri Temasek, The Empress Place Building(皇后坊大厦), and Tao Nan School.
His family
Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair,Actg.Lieutenant-Governor of Penang,Malaysia from(Feb.1881-Aug.1884)& Resident Councillor of Penang from(1884)only.He was born at Bath in 1828.Eldest son of Major Robert McNair,staff officer,London.Educated at King's College and School of Mines.Entered Madras Royal Artillery in 1845.In 1857,A.D.C. to Governor Blundell in Singapore.From 1865-1867 he was in England as deputy governor in charge of public works at Woking Prison.He retired in 1884.He died in 1910.He married 1st to Sarah des Granges Paine and 2nd to Madalena Vallence Williamson.
Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair was twice married, first to Sarah Des Grangos(d 1903) in 1849, daughter of Rev J.Painc, MA. Second time to Madalena, daughter of E.Vallence of Brighton, and widow of Surgeon Major G Williamson, R.A.M.C.
Their issues are:- He had 2 sons and 3 daughters??:
(i)Elizabeth McNair?
Mc Nair's eldest daughter, Elizabeth Alcock McNair(1851-1921)married to Thomas Scott on 5th June 1869 by Rev J.A.Beckles, M.A. at St Andrew Church, Singapore(The Straits Times, 12 June 1869, Page 1). Thomas Scott was the Legislative Council member, he attended the meeting on 31-5-1869. He did not attend the meeting on 7-6-1869.
Elizabeth Alcock McNair(1851-1921)married to Thomas Scott.Their issue:- ai)Robert Frederick McNair-Scott(1870-1957)married to Alice Eliza Nystrom.His issue:- bi)Thomas Frederick McNair-Scott(1901-2001)married to Mary Dwight Baker.His issue:- ci)Robert McNair Scott. cii)Carolyn McNair Scott. bii)Alice Irene McNair-Scott(1903-?)married to Rudolph Camerer. biii)Ronald Guthrie McNair-Scott(1906-1995)married to Mary Cecilia Berry.His issue:- ci)Gillian Mary McNair Scott born in 1931.She married to Charles Ivor Mervyn Williams.Their issue:- di)Oliver Mervyn Williams born in 1953. dii)Richard Charles Williams born in 1955. diii)Lucinda Mary Williams born in 1956.She married to Philip Carspecken. div)Samuel Thomas Morgan Williams born in 1959.He married to Isabel Tara Mary Macauley. cii)Thomas Michael McNair Scott(1935-2002) married to Susannah Hodges.His issue:- di)Simon Guthrie McNair Scott born in 1960. dii)Sarah McNair Scott born in 1966. ciii)Alison Linda McNair Scott born in 1936.She married to Laurence Charles Kevin Kelly.Their issue:- di)Rosanna Mary Kelly born in 1964. dii)Rachel Sophia Kelly born in 1965. civ)Valerie Susan McNair Scott born in 1939.She married to Thomas Frank Dermot Pakenham.Their issue:- di)Anna Maria Pakenham born in 1965. dii)Eliza Pakenham born in 1966. diii)Edward Melchior Pakenham born in 1970. div)Frederick Augustus Pakenham born in 1971. cv)Nigel Guthrie McNair Scott born in 1945.He married to Anna Margaret Colquhoun.His issue:- di)Robert William McNair Scott born in 1970. dii)Alastair Nigel McNair Scott born in 1972. diii)David Ronald McNair Scott born in 1973. div)Benjamin Guthrie McNair Scott born in 1976. biv)Beatrice McNair-Scott(1909-?). bv)? McNair-Scott married Patrick Wyndham Murray-Thriepland. aii)Lilian Susan Scott(1871-1887). aiii)Amy Elizabeth Scott(1873-1948)married to Hobart John William Barlee.
iii)Robert Frederick McNair(1851-1857).
iv) ? McNair(1853-?).
v)George McNair(1857).
vi)Grace McNair(1859-?).
vii)Annie Frederica McNair(1863-1913) married to Charles Stringer.His issue:- ai)Alice Mary Stringer(1885-?). aii)Charles John McNair Stringer(1893-?) married ?.His issue - bi) ? Stringer(1926-?). bii)Cedric McNair Stringer married?.
viii)Arthur Wyndham McNair(1872-? )or AW McNair; educated at St Paul School and Balliol College, Oxford, appointed after exam of 1891; arrived 8th Nov 1893 and served in the NW Prov and Oudh as Asst magistrate and collector; Deputy Commissioner, Sept 1898; Joint Magistrate & Asst Commissioner(2nd Grade),May 1902, United Province of Agra and Oudh, Bengal India civil service; married ?.His issue - ai)Jean McNair married to Neville David Watts-Russell.Their issue - bi)Jane Watts-Russell(1936-?). aii)Ian J.G.McNair married to Daphne Margaret Whitworth. His issue - bi ? McNair(1946-?). aiii)Douglas Fenn Wyndham McNair married to Rosemary Dew Monro. aiii)Captain David McNair married to Cyane Hawksley.His issue - bi)Robert Sheridan McNair(1946-?). bii)Marilyn McNair(1947 -?).
References & Related articles
1. 过港仔横街，惠安小菜, 杜忠全,http://penangmedia.com/html/88/325.html
2. My earlier blog article: Penang Police, 12-2-2010
3. Dictionary of National Biography, Volume 17(2001), by Sir Leslie Stephen, published by Adegi Graphics LLC,UK Pg 544-545
4. http://www.livingstreams.org.sg/sac/index.html
5. St. Andrew's Cathedral, http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_25_2_2008-12-01.html
6. Istana Singapore, http://www.istana.gov.sg/
7. The India list and India Office list,India Office(1819), by Great Britain.Published by Harrison
8. Major JFA McNair, The Straits Times, 4 October 1884, Page 11;http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Page/straitstimes18841004.1.11.aspx
9. Sri Temasek, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Temasek
Friday, August 13, 2010
Magazine Road
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Magazine Road or Jalan Magazine(頭條路) - named after the government gunpowder depot formerly there. Magazine is a English term for an item or place within which ammunition(gunpowder and artillery) is stored. It is taken from the Arabic word "makahazin" meaning "warehouse". The weapons themselves are kept in a separate armory(The term may also apply to an area within a building, used for the storage of weapons)for safety and improved security. But it is now difficult to locate the place where magazine depot was once located. The depot is reported by some to be at the site of Gama, which was once a empty field in the late 60s.
The Chinese called it thau-tiau-lor or Ek-tiau-lor(頭條路,1st Road), thau-tiau-lor is more commonly used. This is the first road of 7 parallel roads after the Prangin Canal. At one end is the T junction with Jalan CY Choy, connected by Anson bridge to Beach Street, Ghat Prangin Road, and Prangin Road. At the other end is Goh-Chan-Teng or Magazine Circus, which was formerly a six-roads junction, namely Penang Road, Macalister Road, Dato Kramat Road, Gurdwara Road (formerly Brick Kiln Road),Magazine Road and Gladstone Road. The Malay called it "Simpang Enam", which literally means 6 roads junctions. The Chinese also called it la- chhe-lor(六叉路), "la" is six, "chhe" is crossing, "lor" is road. Now the junction is reduced to five, Gladstone Road had made way for the Komtar development. Magazine Circus had also disappeared.
The Chinese also called Magazine Circus, Go-pha-teng(五葩燈)or go-kha-teng, which literally means 5 arms gaslamps, locatged at the Magazine Circus. It also called it Chhèng-ioh-keng(銃藥間), "cheng" means gun, "i-oh" means powdery substance, "keng" means an enclosed room in the building; chheng-ioh-keng means Gunpowder store or armory. I suspected the gunpowder depot was located at the place where Magazine Circus stood. This was the area where there was convict prisoners and warden presence, and their daily food were met by the Indian Muslim food sellers, which resulted in the origination of Penang famous Nasi Kandar. Magazine depot - convict prisoners - Nasi Kandar; an early food history for Nasi Kandar....
(Nasi Kandar is a popular northern Malaysian dish, which originates from Penang. It is a meal of steamed rice which can be plain or mildly flavored, and served with a variety of curries and side dishes. The rice for a nasi kandar dish is often placed in a wooden container about three feet high, giving it a distinctive aroma. The mobile Muslim Indian( or Mamak) curry rice sellers or hawkers in early Penang days, would kandar [balance] a pole on the shoulder with two huge containers of rice meals. Thus the rice of Muslim Indian is now called Nasi Kandar(rice of balancing). today the dish has become a Malaysian food for all races, food of racial balance and unity. But sadly some current political events had spoiled the delicious food history)
Magazine Road had been in my memory since childhood days, this is the road where the yellow bus(owned by the late Loh Boon Siew) need to pass, and proceed their journey to Jelutong, Glugor. Every weekend our family took the bus from Prangin Road bus station, or McNair Street bus stop in front of the corner coffee shop, to grandmother's house in Bukit Glugor, near Kampong Buah Pala/Kampong Kastam. The Tan Tong Tong singing man was staying at the shop near to the T junction closed to Anson Bridge. From the bus sometime you can see the thin dark skinned singing man playing with his musical instrument. This is the place where during the Chinese lunar calendar 9th month, the "Tow Boe Keong Kew Ong tai tay" temple(槟城头条路斗母宫九皇大帝)or Nine Emperors temple, will be busy with celebration, the vegetarian food stalls will be along the road. This is also the place where many students buying their school uniform, but not me. We were too poor to buy new school uniform during our school days. Our school uniform will added patches each year, until it cannot be used.
I still remember the large red lantern or "teng" maker Mr Lee Ah Hock, the owner of Tua Keat Seng, at 42, Magazine Road. I have talk with the old man personally, and understand the dilemma he faced. He was forced to move out from the area due to development, a interplay of development and heritage again played the force. The last time I visited the shop, he has moved, some old working materials and tengs still remain in the old shop, his workshop. Tan tong tong musical man was staying a few shops away in another row near the bridge, but there is no one to continue his trade. Will Mr Lee Ah Hock's trade continue or lost in time when he retired.....
This is the entrance of the amusement park and the cinema, the sin-man-hui-kong-si(春满园公市). The goh-chan-teng food court(五盏灯小饭中心) just located at the entrance near Magazine Circus, directly opposite Cafe Craven. It was also the road where few of my classmates stayed. This is also the place where the traditional teng produced there. It is also closed to Great World Park(大世界),Shaw Brothers' cinema, one of the busiest amusement park in the city. All these land marks had disappeared for Komtar project during the 80s,sin-man-hui-kong-si(春满园公市)was gone recently... .
The sia-buai bansang(杜尾万山)or Prangin wholesale market was near the street, connected by the Maxwell Road(the road which had been shortened due to Komtar development). Sia-buai was also demolished recently for development.
There were many Chinese association in the street(永定同乡会，惠安会馆，刘氏公会，六桂堂（方，汪，翁，龚，江及洪六姓氏组织），杜尾万山公会，司机公会等华人组织). Hui Aun Kong Hooi(惠安会馆) was established in 1914. Hui Aun is ancestral land for Hockkien from Fujian Province, China. There were many Hui Aun people staying within the area, mainly working class community, mainly construction workers, mechanic,and trishawman. The most outstanding is the Hui Aun female construction workers, who had contribute much to the development of early Penang. One of the famous Hui Aun is the late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew. He started as mechanic and later become a rich man known as " Honda" King. It was reported that he worked as mechanic at a workshop in Rope Walk.
This is the place full of cultural activities, political activities, commercial activities...and even the underground activities of the gangland. It was the hub of typical Penang heritage, especially of working class people. The street should have retained for future generation. At least the lantern man will be able to continue making "teng"(The big lantern that hang at the door front or temple) there.
Talking about recent development of Magazine Road, tears will drop for heritage lovers and city folks. This is the No 1 Road....thau-tiau-lor or Magazine Road. But the fate of the street is not No. 1......
Magazine Road Heritage Row, Penang
Recently we see some rainbow in Magazine Road, a row of heritage houses were restored.
The Magazine Road Heritage Row is a row of ten residential townhouses along Magazine Road.They are often the homes of the merchants and traders whose business take place along the Prangin Canal and the Sia Boey market. The frequent fires sweeping the area necessitated the rebuilding in bricks.The Magazine Road Heritage Row was restored by the family of Datuk Seri Stephen Yeap (who also did the Pinang Peranakan Mansion) at a cost of RM1.8 million, engaging heritage architect Laurence Loh for the job.(Timothy Tye, 2010).
Food at Magazine Road
1. Magazine Road Teochew Porridge
What is the best way to fill up your stomach? Seating? Standing? No, both are WRONG! The best way should be squatting! Please visit http://samlee86.com/2010/03/23/magazine-road-teochew-porridge-penang/ to see how the early Penang working class people take their food. This is a living heritage, try it before it is too late...
http://samlee86.com/2010/03/23/magazine-road-teochew-porridge-penang/
2. Magazine Road Hokkien Mee
Address: Magazine Road
(infront of the Traders Hotel)
Open: 4pm-12midnight
Closed: Wednesdays,Saturdays,Sundays
http://www.penang-online.com/pages/penang-hawker-food/food-at-magazine-road.php
3. Hoe Hock Tien Tang Yen
Address: Jln Magazine
(opposite Traders Hotel), before De Shang Lounge KTV Nite
Open: 6pm-11pm.
Close: Wednesdays and Sundays.
http://www.penang-online.com/pages/penang-hawker-food/food-at-magazine-road.php
Related articles
1. 頭條路古蹟建築物修復落成．丹絨之役林吉祥督軍處冠英歡欣重臨41號, http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2010-05-25&sec=local&art=0525lg02.txt
2. 頭條路甜湯圓(2009),杜忠全, http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/102316
3. 头条路斗母宫的宫史, http://doumugong-penang.org/?page_id=214
4. 过港仔的蒙尘岁月(2008), http://zhongkersze.blogkaki.net/viewblog-82909
5. Magazine Road Teochew Porridge @ Penang, http://samlee86.com/2010/03/23/magazine-road-teochew-porridge-penang/
6.Demolition of shophouses along Magazine Road, http://anilnetto.com/development-issues/demolition-of-shophouses-in-magazine-road/
7. Magazine Road Heritage Row, Penang, http://www.penang-traveltips.com/magazine-road-heritage-row.htm
8. The Last Lantern Maker, http://www.thedigitaltrekker.com/2010/03/the-last-lantern-maker/
9. 老檳城‧老生活：碩果僅存的大吉祥,http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/84008
Noordin Street
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Noordin Street
Noordin Street or Lebuh Noordin, Noordin is a male Muslim name from Nur al-Din (Arabic: نور الدين ),and also surname. It composed of the elements Nur, meaning light and ad-Din, meaning of the faith. The street is however named after an Indian Muslim merchant, Mahomed Noordin Merican, and one of the founders of the Kapitan Kling Mosque, also a Kapitan Kling(a community leader appointed for Indian in Penang).
The Chinese called it ji-tiau-lor(2nd street), the 2nd road after Prangin Canal or Prangin Ditch.
It is within the Seven Streets Precinct, a working class neighborhood, with residents mainly Chinese Hockkien. Noordin Street is the only street in the Seven Streets Precinct named after a Muslim.
lǒ-lǐn ke(罗粦街), "Lo-lin" is the Chinese pronunciation for Noordin and "ke" means street, so called after the business premises of Mr. H.M.Noordin. Noordin street is not called lo-lin street, as the name had been used for Chulia street(part of the street), east of Pitt Street. original street within the Francis Light Grid called Market Street ; Lo-lin-ke(羅粦街), which was named after HM Noordin shop there is earlier than Noordin Street.
Mahomed Merican Noordin (b1778? - d 1870)from India
Mahomed Noordin Merican, who arrived at Penang in 1820, with his mother Fatima and his elder brother, Abdur Cauder Merican, who became the Kapitan Keling. The brother's residence in Penang was at Kampong Kolam( Tanjung Puthukarei).
Mahomed Noordin Merican came to Malaya from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India (but he is not a Chola, as I have earlier reported here, but rather a Turlekan, a people originating from a place in Turkey). The word "Merican" is derived from the word "Mericalayar", which means "people from the sea", to denote their seafaring activities and businesses(Timothy Tye,2008).
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Their ancestral home - Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam District is a coastal district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The town of Nagapattinam is the district capital, lies on the eastern coast, 350 kilometers down south of the State capital Chennai and 145 kilometers east of Tiruchirappalli. Nagapattinam (Tamil: நாகப்பட்டினம் (nākappaṭṭinam) (previously spelt Nagapatnam or Negapatam) is a coastal city and a municipality in Nagapattinam District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District, it was carved out by bifurcating the composite Thanjavur district on October 18, 1991. Other names of the town are Naganadu, Cholakula Vallippatinam and Shiva Rajadhani. Nagapattinam was the major port for Cholas dynasty. Nearby towns include Tiruvarur, Karaikal and Mayiladuthurai.The major language spoken in the Nagapattinam District is Tamil spoken as a mother tongue by Hindus, Christians and Muslims alike. The vast majority of the population are Hindu by religion, with Muslims and Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains.
The town was taken by the British from the Dutch in 1781 (who had been formally brought into the war in 1780). When the Dutch and British reached a peace agreement in 1784, Nagapattinam was formally ceded to the British. It was before the founding of Penang as British colony in 1786.
But other sources mentioned that his brother Abdur Cauder Merican or Caudeer Mydin (Mohudeen) Merican, Abdul Qauder Mohideen Merican( b1759 - d1834) was from Proto Novo, Arcots(Tamil: ஆற்காடு); and some even said he was from Thanjavur (Tamil: தஞ்சாவூர் (tañcāvūr)), also known as Thanjai (Tamil: தஞ்சை (tañcāi)) or by its anglicised name Tanjore.
1820 - Left Tamil Naidu, India; and arrived at Penang island with his mother and his eldest brother. His brother Abdur Cauder Merican( b1759 - d1834) was a Kapitan Kling, the community leader appointed to take care of Tamil community in Penang. His brother came earlier to coastal Kedah in 1770. In 1786, he led a group of Tamil Muslim traders from Kedah, together with Koh Lay Kuan, the first Chinese Kapitan; to follow Capt Francis Light to Penang. Captain Francis Light appointed him as Kapitan Kling in 1801, the leader of Indian community in Penang. Kling is the term applied to South Indian. Abdur Cauder Merican was staying in Kampong Kolam or Pool Village. in 1820, Kapitan Kling was 61 years old at advance age, it may be his intention to bring over his younger brother to help in his business. He died in 1834 and buried at Kampong Kolam, Penang.
1834? - succeed his brother as Kapitan Kling when his brother Abdur Cauder Merican passed away in 1834.
1848 - Son MM Noordin was born in Penang
1853 - V M Noordin was established in 1853, in Penang(pg 99, Singapore Directory 1877). VM Noordin or Vappoo Merican Nordin is his eldest son.
1863 - M. N. K. Mahomed Noordin Co was established
1869 - Mahomed Noordin Merican created an endowment in 1869,14 he was probably aware of the state of the waqaf lands
1870 - Mahomed Noordin Merican passed away at the age of 92 in 1870. He however started the Noordin Merican family( or Merican Noordin family) in Penang, where the surname was passed to future generation.
1872 - In the classic legal case of decision by Lord Macnaghten of the Privy Council in Badar Bee v. Habib Merican Noordin (1909) A.C. 615. The appellant petitioned to have it declared that the devise and gifts contained in the 6th clause of the testator's will were void, and that the lands comprised therein and the income thereof being undisposed of belonged to the testator's next of kin. By that 6th clause he gave certain lands in Penang which he directed to be called "the wakkoff of Mahomed Noordin," to trustees for certain purposes. The case had become a source of law for Estoppel. Habib Merican Noordin is the son, Badar Bee may be the daughter.
1879 - He died in 1879, leaving 6 sons and 5 daughters.
He was reported to be a landlord in Penang, holding many shops and houses, and a large estate in Province Wellsley, Noordin estate. He was a Municipal Commissioner and Justice of Peace or JP. He also contributed to built the aquaduct from waterfall to the city(Light Street/Leith Street area). This was the Penang first water supply system, even before the pipe system was used. Even he was a Muslim, he also provide assistance to many Christian institution. The spirit of religion harmony started from the generation. Many of today's generation should be shameful for not following the examples of our city historical figures. Pitt street become street of harmony and Noordin Street was named after his brother.
Mahomed Mashurdin Merican Noordin s/o Mahomed Merican Noordin(b 1848- d 1924)or M.M.Noordin.
Mahomed Noordin Merican's 4th son, Mahomed Mashurdin Merican Noordin, was also known as MM Noordin. He was the proprietor of MM Noordin(Penang and Singapore)
He was English educated at Penang Free School, and had been to Europe 3 times; and two of his children were studied in England. A merchant who export local produces to Europe, India and China.
1848 - He was born in 1848 and died in 1924, in the house called Clifton, in Northam Road.
He was the leader of the Indian Muslim community of George Town. The British authorities made him a Municipal Commissioner and a Justice of the Peace - he was one of the first Muslims to be accorded such an honor. He was also a juror.
Married Siti Kalthum Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Habshee.
MM Noordin was the owner of Noordin Estate at Seberang Prai.
1853 - N.M.Noordin was established in 1853(pg 100, Singapore Directory 1877). M.N.Nordin is located at King Street, Penang. NM Noordin is Naina Merican Noordin, a merchant.
1863 - M. N. K. Mohamed Noordin Co was established.
1867 - Penang Riot
1870 - M.M. Noordin started Koran classes in the Malay, Tamil and Malabari languages(source: Growing Roots: The Story of Tamil Communities in Penang, Penang story project). His father, Mahomed Merican Noordin passed away at the age of 92 in 1870.
1877 - Mahomed Mashroydin Merican Noordin, was a trader at Chulia Street(Pg 24, the 1877 Singapore directory).
1904 - Penang Jurors 1904 list included Mahomed Mashurdin Merican Noordin, merchant; Northam Road.
1913 - Weekly Sun, 18 January 1913, Page 4, M. N. K. MOHAMED NOORDIN & CO., GENERAL MERCHANTS, reported branch located at 86-88, North Bridge Road, Singapore.
1924
Died in 1924, in the house called Clifton, in Northam Road
His children Aladin Merican Noordin(A.M. Noordin) s/o Mahomed Mashurdin Merican Noordin; who married Wan Soo Merican Noordin(born Mohamed). His son Isdin Merican Noordin s/o Aladin Merican Noordin@Wan Noordin(b 1911- d?) or I.M.Noordin( b 14th July 1919), married Rafeah bt Mashohor. I.M.Noordin was a famous jockeys in Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak.
1925
The Straits Times, 16 November 1925, Page 8, Pinang Gazette reported that the 3 large properties belonging to the estate of the late Mr. Mohamed Noordin(or MM Noordin), have been sold to Mr Lim Cheng Teik;-
(i) Marble Hall, between Kelawai Road, Pangkor Road and Burma Road, 722000 sq ft
(ii)Babington Estate, 440,000 sq ft, located at Perak Road
(iii)Suffolk House, a million sq ft, located at Aier Etam Road
Merican Noordin family business
The Singapore directory for the Straits Settlements 1877 Pg 100 reported that M.N.Nordin(should be NM Noordin?) as a sole proprietorship was established in 1863, the firm is an agent for Singapore Steamship Company Ltd.
Mr M.N.Nordin(should be NM Noordin?) is located at King Street, Penang. Another V.M. Nordin also mentioned as merchant, located at King Street, may be the brother.
Mahomed Mashroydin Merican Noordin(MM Noordin), was stated as trader(1877 directory). Mohamed Merican Noordin had died in 1870
1. V.M. Noordin(established in 1853)
Pg 99 reported, partner V.M.Noordin(Vappoo Merican Noordin, should be sole proprietorship, as only one partner was reported). Family members Noor Mohamed Merican was one of the Assistants. The location is Union Street.
2. NM Noordin(Established 1863)
Pg 100 reported NM Noordin(Naina Merican Noordin) was the sole partner, Assistants from family members included Chowta Merican, Caderash Merican. The company was the agency for Singapore Steamship Co Ltd. Located at King Street.
3. M. N. K. Mahomed Noordin Co., established in 1863
The Noordins ran a fleet of ships that called at the ports along the Straits of Malacca, Myanmar, China, India, the Middle East and Europe
The Noordin Family Tomb
The Noordin Family Tomb originally served as the mausoleum for Mahomed Noordin Merican's mother, Fatimah. However, Noordin himself was also buried there when he died in 1870. Noordin Family Tomb at Chulia Street, built in the 1800s by Mohamed Merican Noordin who succeeded to the position of Kapitan Kling after his brother died. His brother was however buried at Kampong Kolam.
At the turn of the century, Mohamed Merican Noordin (a Tamil Muslim who came to Penang around 1820), succeeded Kapitan Kling (or leader of the Tamils) as the most prominent Chulia in Penang. He had a family tomb built for his mother by Indian masons. The vestibule of the tomb accommodated one of the first schools for the Muslim community and he had endowed it with twenty dollars per month "for the learning of English, Hindoostanee, Malay, Tamil, Malabar and the Alkoran" (cited in Khoo, 1993: 73; emphasis added). That Malabar (presumably Malayalam, or Arabi Malayalam-Malayalam written in Arabic script which was popular among Malabar Muslims) was one of the languages being taught and studied in Penang speaks of the importance enjoyed by the Malabari Muslim community in the state during that period.(Professor Suresh Narayanan,2001)
The Noordin Family Tomb originally housed a school called Dunam Pillay. Classes were held there for learning the Al-Quran, Arabic, Malabar, Hindi, Tamil and English were held there. It became a tomb after it was used as a mausoleum to Mahomed Noordin Merican's mother(Timothy Tye,2008).
After standing in a run-down state for decades, the Noordin Family Tomb was recently restored. Now it houses the Galeri Seni Lukis Persatuan Pelukis Melayu Pulau Pinang (Penang Malay Artist Association Art Gallery).
The Merican Noordin family
Mahomed Noordin Merican(b1778? - d 1870) from India. He died in 1879, leaving 6 sons and 5 daughters. His children are Mahomed Mashurdin(MM Noordin), Habib, Nasoordin, Bapoo(may be Vappoo), Naina, Rajadin, Tang Chee Mah, Fatimah Nachiar. (not completed list , source: from one of the family facebook).
Merican Noordin family is a big family now. Mahomed Noordin leant from the Chinese having the surname passed down to the future generation.
1. Vappoo Merican Noordin(VM Noordin)-1st son
Vappoo Merican Noordin(VM Noordin), merchant, Union Street, Pg 27
1874 - Government Gazette dated 26-12-1873 announced Vappoo Merican Noordin will hold office of Municipal Commisioner for 2 years(Straits Times Overland Journal, 31 December 1873, Page 6). He is the eldest son of Mohamed Merican Noordin
Vappoo Merican Noordin, the Indian or Jawi-pekan leader of the Red Flag, together with Che long(Haji Mahomed Noor), Syed Mohamed Alatas( or Al-Attas)in Penang,1879. Their headquarter was at Acheen Street, Penang. He was a merchant in his father's company at Chulia Street.
Government Gazette dated 24-1-1879, announced that Vappoo Merican Noordin was one of the Municipal Commissioner appointed for the year 1879. The others were Mr Foo Tye Sin, Henry de Mornay, and JMR Magalhaens(source: Straits Times Overland Journal, 1 February 1879, Page 1). Vapoo Merican Noordin, a merchant in Chulia Street, and having his residence in Acheen Street, the area under the influence of Che Long. He was a Justice of Peace (as reported in the list in Directory of Singapore 1877 pg 61)
Note: In 1867, after the bloody Penang Riots involving fighting between rival Sino-Malay groups, which also demonstrated the possibility of Sino-Malay cooperation, the British went into overdrive to separate the races. It was better for the Malays and Chinese and Indians not to mix “too much”. It was not long after the incident that an Inspectorate of Police was established (1872), indirect rule through headmen ended in the Straits Settlements and secret societies that operated quite openly were regulated and later disbanded (1885).
His son, Ismail Merican Vappoo Merican Nordin was the member of Kedah state council in 1943. In December 1943, the Siamese authorities made some changes in the administration by re-using British pre-War model. According to the plan, the role of the army in the administration was deleted. By so doing, the Sultan was once again made the Head of State, ruling with the aid of a Siamese advisor. The Siamese authorities also returned the administration of the State to the Montri Sabha Council, formerly known as the State Council.
The following were members of the Montri Sabha Saibur:
Sultan Badlishah President
Tunku Yaakob Deputy President
Hj. Md. Shariff Osman Secretary
En. Kassim Che Ismail Writer
En. Ismail Merican Vappoo Merican Nordin ?
There was another source from internet mentioned Bapoo Merican Noordin, Son of Mohd Nordin and Fatimah, Brother of Naina, Habib, Shabudin, Mohd Nasoodin, Mohd Murshordin, Che Jah, Noor Mohd Nachir, Tang Chee Mah, Mawah Bee, Rajah Bee and Muck Doom Bee. Bapoo may be Vappoo?...
2. NM Noordin, Naina Merican Noordin, merchant , King street pg 27
Neina Merican, JP(Directory of Singapore 1877 pg 61)
Nina Merican Noordin died in Penang, having first made a will dated 16th December 1879, by which he appointed his brother Vapoo Merican Noordin as executor.
Note: Naina, Neina, Nina may be the same person
3. Habib Merican Noodin, trader, Hutton Lane(pg 23, Directory of Singapore 1877)
Bader Bee -v- Habib Merican Noordin [1909] on Law of Estoppel. Where a party could have appealed against an earlier decision of a court, but did not, he would later be estopped from denying that decision. The case was decided by Lord Macnaghten in 1909.
4.Mahomed Nashurdin, 5th clerk, District Office; Bukit Mertajam; Bukit Mertajam, Province Wellesley. He is the 3rd son.(Nasruddin Merican Noordin)
5. Habib Harry Merican Noordin, Son of Mohd Murshordin and Sona (Aarab),
Brother of Aladin, Rajadin, Che Jah, Izadin, , Che Rajah, Noordin and Omar.
Note : may be son of Mahomed Mashurdin(MM Noordin)
Family of Abdur Cauder Merican( b1759 - d1834)
He married with a Kedah Malay princess, Tengku Wan Chik Taiboo or Tengku Maheran, daughter of Sultan Abdullah Mukaram Syah. Their issues are Othman Naina Merican, Othman Sah Merican, Othman Nachiar, Othman Kandoo, Othman Bee Bee dan Othman Wan Niar.
Othman Nina Merican, 5th clerk, Treasury; Transfer Road(the son of Cauder Moheedin Merican(from Singapore Directory, 1877).
Related articles
1. From Malabaris to Malaysians: The Untold Story of Malayalees in Penang(2001), by Professor Suresh Narayanan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, http://penangstory.net.my/indian-content-papersuresh.html
2. Misteri Etnik: Kapitan Keling pengasas masyarakat Jawi Peranakan Pulau Pinang(2010), by Azrul Affandi Sobry, http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/MisteriEtnik_KapitanKelingpengasasmasyarakatJawiPeranakanPulauPinang/Article
3. "Cases heard and determined in Her Majesty's Supreme court of the Straits Settlements, 1808-1884." (1890), by James William Norton-Kyshe, Straits Settlements. Supreme Court, Singapore and Straits Printing Office,Singapore
4. Makam Keluarga Noordin, http://www.penang-traveltips.com/noordin-family-tomb.htm
5. http://alinajosh.blogspot.com/2010/12/merican-noordin-family-history.html. This is the blog of Aladdin @ Alen Noordin, who is the grandson of MM Noordin(1848-1924) and son of Om Noordin(b 1911-d1980)
6. Merican-Noordin-Family, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Merican-Noordin-Family/218309732493?sk=info
7. History of kapitan keling mosque, http://kapitankelingmosque.com/history-of-kapitan-keling-mosque.html
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