Myth-busting! To address often repeated hearsay that Chung Keng Quee died in 1898, was born in 1821 and came over when he was 20 years old, none of which claims are ever supported with any robust evidence, I present the obituary that appeared in the Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle on 13th December 1901, the morning after Chung Keng Quee died (12th December 1901). The same piece, very mildy modified to indicate it had been sourced from the Pinang Gazette was republished in the Straits Times, China Mail and other papers. According to the obituary, likely written by Chung Ah Yong or Chung Thye Phin:
1. Chung Keng Quee died on the evening of 12th December 1901 (not 1898 or any other year).
2. Was 74 years old at the time of his death, not 80, not 85 and therefore,
- there was no scroll presented to him on his 75th birthday -- he did not live that long
- he was born in 1901-74 =- 1827 not1821, not 1829 or any other year
3. According to the meticulous records of the 增城縣志 i.e Zengcheng Xian Zhi or Zengcheng Chronicles or Zengcheng Annals, Chung Keng Quee arrived here in 1841. 1841 minus 1827 = 14. He was 14 years old when he arrived here If we take the information from the Pinang Gazette obituary he was 16 when he arrived meaning he arrived in 1843 compared to the info given by the Zengcheng Xian Zhi. Both, however, are still pretty much further away from the 20 years old age, that we can probably trace to Kuang Kuo Hsiang's often criticized Bingcheng San Chi 1958, Sin Chew, Singapore or Hong Kong.
Extracted text and copies of the Pinang Gazette and China Mail included.
Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle
13th December 1901
Page 2
Death of Cheang Keng Kwi
We regret to announce the death of Cheang Keng Kwi, Capitan China of Perak, which took place last night at eleven, at his residence in Church Street, after an illness Lasting only a few days. The deceased was 74 years of age, 56 of which he has resided in the Straits, having first came here when he was 16 and worked in the Perak Tin mines, from which position he has gradually arisen to a place of wealth and influence in the Straits. He made a considerable fortune in his early days in the Perak Tin mines and farming, every dollar of which he lost when the disturbance first broke out in Perak. He rendered much assistance in the suppression of the outbreak. He held the Perak Farms for the past twelve years. The mines he owned at the time of his death were ten, and the aggregate number of coolies employed was 15,000. For many years he occupied the position of member on the Perak Council, but resigned some two years. He has been most liberal with his money and was patron of nearly every local institution. To the Free School extensions be recently contributed some $12,000, and to the Brothers School $6,000. When the troops were withdrawn from the Settlements and the question of the Volunteers was mooted, he offered to give a Maxim gun for the purpose, which was said would cost £500. The offer was, however, refused by the Government. He was an owner of property in the Settlements and the Native States to an immense extent, and also holds property in Hongkong, which in the aggregate is supposed to be worth $10,000,000. It is stated that in Beach Street alone his property is valued at one and a half million dollars. The deceased leaves a wife, ton sons, and five daughters, 2) grand-children, and four great grand-children. The date of the funeral las not been fixed yet, but it is understood that he will be buried in his plantation at Mount Erskine.
China Mail [Hongkong]
30th December 1901
Page 2
DEATH OF CHEANG KENG KWL
A Millionaire's Career.
The death of Cheang Keng Kwi, Capitan of Perak, a millionaire, took place at Penang on the 12th instant, after an illness lasting only a few days. The deceased, says the Penang Gazette, was 74 years of age, 56 of which he had resided in the Straits, having first come here when he was 16 and worked in the Perak tin mines, from which position he gradually rose to wealth and influence, He made a considerable fortune in his early days in the Porak tin mines and farming, every dollar of which he lost when the disturbances first broke out in Perak. He held the l'erak Farms for the past twolve years. The mines he owned at the time of his death were ten, and the aggregate number of coolics employed was 15,000. He was most liberal with his money and was patron of nearly every local institution. To the Free School extensions be recently contributed some $12,000, and to the Brothers' School $6,000. When the troops were with drawn from Penang and the question of the Volun-teers was mooted, he offered to give a Maxim gun for the purpose, which it was said would cost £500. The offer was re-fused by the Government. He was an owner of property in the Settlements and the Native States to an immense extent, and also held property in Hong-kong, which in the aggregate is supposed to be worth $10,000 000. It is stated that in Beach Street, Penang, alone, his property is valued at one and a half million dollars. The deceased leaves a wife, ten sons, and five daughters, 20 grand-children. and four great grand-children.
