My Grandfather Story - Lan Kaigan (蓝恺干)
My clan genealogy book or 族谱 Zupu spans over 800 years, all the way back to the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD). I am Generation 27 within the Zupu. I found that out when a fellow 蓝 shared with me a page from the Zupu that mentioned my grandfather.
That page was a revelation, because until then, I have been told that my grandfather was the oldest son. The Zupu clearly shows that he was the third son. Apparently, the family had forgotten his two older brothers because they takehad chosen not to leave their ancestral home in Dabu to come to Malaysia and Singapore.
My grandfather was 18 when he followed his father and uncle to Malaysia/Singapore. On that journey were a few other younger brothers.
The other surprise was that my grandfather, in his generation, was listed twice. I originally wondered if it was a mistake or if someone else was given the same name.
That was debunked when I found out from a National Archives oral testimony that not only was he was the third son of my great-grandfather, but was also the adopted eldest son of his uncle.
According to the Zupu, my Great-grandfather had 22 sons. The daughters were not listed.
From another source, I found out that through his first wife, he had 9 sons and 2 daughters; his second wife had 5 sons and 3 daughters and his third wife had 8 sons and 2 daughters.
None of the daughters were listed in the Zupu.
Generation 25 – Sons of 蓝灏贤 Haoxian
# | Name | Birth | Birth Location | Other Info |
1 | Yaogan / 尧干 堯幹，賢長子，生民國癸丑七月初七寅時。 | 1913, Jul 7 | China | |
2 | Yinggan / 迎干 迎幹，灝賢次子，生民國子三月初九。娶射躲何氏，生民國乙卯。葵坑黃 | 1912, Mar 9 (Need to verify. Is there a mistake?) | China | Listed as 2nd son, but birth year is one year earlier than first son. |
3 | Kai Kon / 恺干 愷幹，賢三子，過嗣以賢，生民國丙辰九月廿七日子時。 | 1916, Sep 27 | China | This is my grandfather. He was taken away by the Japanese during the Japanese occupation. His final hours was recorded by a survivor, LAM Thye Mee 蓝大美 who stood trial with him but was not executed. He was also adopted by Haoxian’s younger brother Hanxian |
4 | Qianggan / 强干 強幹，灏賢四子，生民國戊午九月十七○娶黄坭排丘氏，生民國丁巳。 | 1918, Sep 17 | China | He told his life story to the National Archives in 1981. There are 15 reels of about 30 minutes in all – Reel 1 of 15 |
5 | Tonggan / 通干 通幹，灝賢五子，生民國辛酉七月廿三日子時。 | 1921, Jul 23 | China | |
6 | Nangan / 楠干 楠幹，賢六子，生民國癸亥五月初四子時。 | 1923, May 4 | China | |
7 | Pugan / 溥干 薄幹，顏賢七子，生民國甲子六月廿四卯時，娶黨溪吳氏， 鐵幹，灝賢八子，生民國乙丑二月初三子時。 | 1924 June 24 | China | |
8 | Tiegan / 铁干 鐵幹，灝賢八子，生民國乙丑二月初三子時。 | 1925 Feb 3 | China | |
9 | Not listed | |||
10 | Henggan / 恒干 恒幹，灝賢十子，生民國年間。旅居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
11 | Ang’gan / 昂干 昂幹，賢十一子，生民國辛未正月卅，旅居新加坡。 | 1931 Mar 18 | Singapore | |
12 | Meigan / 楣干 楣幹，灏賢十二子。僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
13 | You’gan / 有干 有幹，灏賢十三子。僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
14 | Nenggan / 能干 能幹，灏賢十四子·僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
15 | Jiangan / 坚干 堅幹，賢十五子·僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
16 | Jinggan / 井干 井幹，灝賢十六子，生於一九三六年十二月十四日·新加坡中正中學高中畢業，娶海南文昌黃佩珍， 生二子：長昌兒，次彥兒·僑居新加坡。 | 1936, Dec 14 | Singapore | |
17 | Ronggan / 荣干 榮幹，灏賢十七子·僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
18 | Zhonggan / 中干 中幹，灏賢十八子·僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
19 | Yigan / 毅干 毅幹，灏賢十九子。僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
20 | Chaogan / 超干 超幹，灏賢二十子。僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
21 | Wen’gan / 文干 文幹，賢廿一子。僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore | |
22 | Sungan / 荪干 蓀幹，灏賢廿二子。僑居新加坡。 | Not Listed | Singapore |
My Grandfather was also adopted by his uncle, Hanxian, who was Haoxian’s younger brother.
Generation 25 – Sons of 蓝以賢 Hanxian
- Khoy Kon / 恺干 （My grandfather）
- Zaigan / 再干
- Lian’gan / 联干
- Jiegan / 接干
The next blog will share how my grandfather ended up being adopted by his uncle Hanxian.
