Family history - Tok Bak's side

Arwah Tok Sarfan

Arwah Tok Halimah

Dear Arwen,

The above are pictures of Tok Bak's parents. I interviewed Tok Bak for his family history just so that it will be remembered.

Tok Sarfan, born in 1857, came to Tanah Melayu from the island of Jawa in the year 1901. He was 44 years years old. In Tanah Melayu, he settled down in Ulu Tiram, Johor. He was a mandur and a pendekar. He is very skilled in the Malay martial arts of silat. Apparently, he was much feared as he was respected.

He married 11 times. There was a story that even when he had his eye on a married lady, he will be able to convince the married lady's husband to divorce the lady so that he can marry her. However, he had no children from the first 10 wives until he finally married Halimah Othman. Tok Halimah was born in the year 1904, which makes their age difference to be 47 years. Tok Halimah was probably 15 years old when they married and that makes Tok Sarfan 62 years old. Doesn't that just make your head spin?

Together, they had 11 children but only 6 survived. Their first born was whom I called Pak Long Jhom. He was born in the year 1920. Tok Sarfan had his first born when he was 63 years old. After Pak Long Jhom was born, there were 5 children but none survived for long until my aunt - Chik Kham was born. Then came my dad, your Tok Bak. Then his younger siblings came; whom I call Cik Peah, Cik Midah and Cik Rahman.

Your Tok Bak was born in 1940, which makes his age gap from his eldest brother to be a 20-years difference! The youngest child, Cik Rahman was born in 1951 and if you do the maths - it means that Tok Sarfan was 94 years old when he had his last child! This fact just blew over my head when I first thought about it.

Tok Sarfan passed away in 1962. He was 105 years old. Tok Bak was 22 years old and that means Cik Rahman, the youngest child was only 11 when the father passed away. So sad. He lived a long life but he didn't get to see his grandchildren.

Tok Halimah lived till she was 78 years old. She passed away in 1982 at the Gurney house. I was about 7 years old. I do remember her a bit but we weren't  close.