Colombo Chetty Family Genealogy
WANNIGAKOON, Don Simon de Melho - Family #7008
The De Melho Wannigakoon's
Their recorded ancestry dates way back to 1669 when Don Simon De Mehlo Wannigakoon was born.
He had seven children, John (1729-31), Rev. Philip (1723-90), Johanna (1725-75), John (1727-71), Magdalene (1729-77), Susanna (1733), and Simon (1741-86). Rev Philip Wannigakoon married Magdalene Jurgen Ondaatchi in 1744. They had a family of seven. Christina (1745), Rachel (1748). Susanna (1750), Simon John (1751), Antonia Victoria (1752), Magdalene (1754), and William (1761).
Antonia Victoria married John Carr Arndt in 1765. They had a daughter Magdalene Elizabeth (1786) and a son Bernard Christian Arndt (1799). Both their children married Burghers. Magdalene married twice. Hendrick Steindeker in 1786, and Rev Christian Schrader in 1798. Bernard Christian married Anna Elizabeth de Niese in 1799.
The youngest son of Don Simon De Mehlo Wannigakoon 1696 was Simon De Mehlo Wannigakoon (1741) Mudaliar of Jampettah Street. He had two daughters, Jackoba Magdalene and Anna Julianna Wannigakoon Jackoba Magdalene married Rev Jurgen Ondaatchi. Anna Julianna married William Jurgen Ondaatchi brother of Rev. Jurgen Ondaatchi. She later married Peter Pedro Pieris Aserappa who was previously married to Muttukrishna of India. Anna Julianna was born in 1801 and died seventy years later.
Peter Pedro Pieris Aserappa and Anna Julianna Wannigakoons children were John De Melho (1831) Simon De Melho (1832), Loovis De Melho (1836), Anthony De Melho (1837), and Philip De Melho (1840). All adopted the pre fix De Melho to their names after their grandfather Simon De Melho Wannigakoon.
The descendents of John De Melho and Simon De Melho were prominent citizens of this country.
1 Don Simon de Melho Wannigakoon b:1669
...2 John de Melho Wannigakoon (1729-31)
...2 Rev. Philip de Melho Wannigakoon (1723-90), a celebrated Divine Biblical translator and poet. First Ceylonese to be admitted to the Christian Ministry. Earned him the title of "Rabbi de Melho" for his learning and indefatigable work in the cause of religious education and civilization. Licensed to preach before the age of 21 and officiated in Dutch, Portuguese, and Tamil. Authored several books. + Magdalene Jurgen Ondaatchi, m:1744
......3 Christina de Melho Wannigakoon (1745)
......3 Rachel de Melho Wannigakoon (1748)
......3 Susanna de Melho Wannigakoon (1750)
......3 Simon John de Melho Wannigakoon (1751)
......3 Antonia Victoria de Melho Wannigakoon (1752) + John Carr Arndt m:1765
.........4 Magdalene Elizabeth Arndt (1786) + Hendrick Steindeker in 1786
.........4
2nd spouse of Magdalene Elizabeth Arndt (1786): + Rev
Christiaan Julius Schrader, b:1759, m:2-Dec-1798 at Jaffna
.........4 Bernard Christian Arndt (1799) + Anna Elizabeth de Niese in 1799.
......3 Magdalene de Melho Wannigakoon (1754)
......3 William de Melho Wannigakoon (1761)
...2 Johanna de Melho Wannigakoon (1725-75)
...2 John de Melho Wannigakoon (1727-71)
...2 Magdalene de Melho Wannigakoon (1729-77)
...2 Susanna de Melho Wannigakoon (1733)
...2 Simon de Melho Wannigakoon (1741-86), Mudaliyar of Jampettah Street
......3 Jackoba Magdalene de Melho Wannigakoon + Rev Jurgen Ondaatchi (7000)
......3 Anna Julianna de Melho Wannigakoon b:1801, d:1871+ William Jurgen Ondaatchi (brother of Rev. Jurgen Ondaatchi) (7000)
......3 2nd spouse of Anna Julianna Wannigakoon 1801-1871: + Peter Pedro Pieris Aserappa 1787-1844 (who was previously married to Muttukrishna of India (7007)
.........4 John De Melho Aserappa (1831-1891), businessman and proctor of the Supreme Court in Avissawella. By 1867 he had settled down in Colombo. John De Melho built his home, Zion House, at Maradana Road Borella in Colombo 8. He wished to live in close proximity to the Church, the Hospital, and the Cemetery. St. Lukes Church where he worshipped was opposite his home. The General Hospital was round the corner and the Kanatte Cemetery a short carriage drive away. Selina his wife was a devout Christian. Her example and teaching of the scriptures led to the conversion of a Malayalee employee. Mrs. Aserappa urged the CMS Secretary of the time to start the Church of Ceylon Malayalam Mission to minister to Malayalee converts in Ceylon. Mrs. Aserappas convert — Paul, became an Evangalist in the Malayalam Mission and later, under the influence of the Pentecostal Missionaries from Australia became a member of the Penetecostal Church, going on to found the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission where he is still remembered as Pastor Paul. + Selina Perera
.............5 Amelia de Melho Aserappa, born at Avissawella 1845 + Cecil James de Silva Foreman platelayer in the railway. m:1893. His father was a Station Master
................6 Cecil Ernest de Silva (1894) a Inspector of Police, + Gladys Dhanapala of Kurunegala
................6 Amelia Octavia de Silva (1895) + Dr. Arthur Perera LMS
................6 Florence Beatrice de Silva 1897 + S. E. N. Nicholas
................6 John Albert de Silva (1898-1966) Conservator of Forests was educated at Trinity College Kandy and Kebel College Oxford, + Irene Aserappa d/o Ernest Aserappa, a famous cricketer in his day
................6 Mabel de Silva + Dr. D. B. J de Silva, later Medical Superintendent of the General Hospital Colombo
................6 Aileen (Lena) de Silva 1905 + C. E. Simithraaratchi first Ceylonese Principal of Trinity College Kandy
................6 Edward Reginald de Silva (1906) Shell Company + Mary Jayaweera
.............5 John Jeramy de Melho Aserappa (1867-1918) + Anna Maria Timm, a German lady from Hamburg who died during World War 1
.............5 2nd spouse of John Jeramy de Melho Aserappa: + Prudence De Vlesschawwer (1881-1951)
................6 Mary Clementine (Tinica) de Melho Aserappa
................6 Dr. John Jeramy Aserappa MD, d:1946. During World War 2, Dr. John was held by the Germans as a prisoner of war. He worked as a doctor among the prisoners, and contracted tuberculosis whilst a POW
.............5 Edward Peter de Melho Aserappa (1869) qualified as a doctor LRCP LRCS, Provincial surgeon in Ceylon
.............5 Mary Julia de Melho Aserappa (1871-1965) + Lazarus Jayawardene, Registrar of Births and Marriages
................6 May Adelaide (Ada) Jayawardene (1910) + Dr Leslie De Lanerolle
................6 Dulcie Jayawardene (1911) + G. W. Stork
................6 son
.............5 Richard Humbert de Melho Aserappa FCH, b:1874. Qualified in England as an engineer. He joined the Indian Railways, + Hetty Baron. Hetty m:1910 (d/o Edwin James and Martha Baron of London
................6 Richard Edwin de Melho Aserappa (1910-46), Major General of the Corps of Engineers Indian Army + Mary Bird.
...................7 Jennifer Mary de Melho Aserappa MA (1948)
...................7 Lynn Grace de Melho Aserappa (1949)
................6 Hetty Susan de Melho Aserappa (1912)
................6 John Philip de Melho Aserappa (1917), later retired from the Ceylon Civil Service to join the Colonial Civil Service in Hong Kong.+ Wilhelmina (Dutch)
.............5 Fredrick Rudolph de Melho Aserappa 1874-1922 was unfortunately a chronic invalid
.............5
Laura Selina de
Melho Aserappa, born at Zion House,
Borella in 1880 + Edward Charles Bakmiwewa, President of the Village Tribunal
Kurunegala in 1907. There was no issue from this marriage. They adopted Alec
Barrington.
.............5 Christian Victor de Melho Aserappa, the youngest son was born at Zion House. He qualified in England as a doctor. On his return to Ceylon, he was appointed Chief Medical Officer of Health Colombo. + Leilawathie Srinivasam (d/o Balasundum Sirinivasam Bar at Law Inner Temple) at Davids Church Gaya Bihar India in 1919
................6 Harindra de Melho Aserappa (1919)
................6 Ajit Kumar de Melho Aserappa (1921)
................6 Padmini Vannaruha de Melho Aserappa + Capt Malcolm De Costa who served in the Navy in World War 2
................6 Dilkusha de Melho Aserappa(1923) + Senanayake
.............5 Simon De Melho Aserappa (1837-1906). Went to England for his education as a teenager where he qualified as a doctor. Was the first Ceylonese to obtain the degree of MD Edin, where he was a contemporary of Lord Lister. He was the first Ceylonese Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipality. + Emily Julia Wake (1838-1905) in London in 1858 (second daughter of Bishop William Basil Wake). Since Emily Julia was barren, Simon with the consent of Julia, contracted a surrogate marriage
................6 Surrogate daughter Dora Elenor Aserappa (1877-1940) + Dr. S. C. Paul (1872-1942), m:4th of May 1899
...................7
They had six sons and three daughters.
................6 Dora's brother Colin Florian Aserappa (1873-1891) died aged 18 at the eve of his departure to England for his education
.............5
Louvis De Melho Aserappa (1836-37) died
aged one.
.............5 Dr Melhi Aserappa (1837-1868). MA, Glasgow, and a Barrister at Law, practiced at the Batticoloa Courts.
.........4 Simon De Melho Aserappa (1832)
.........4 Loovis De Melho Aserappa (1836)
.........4 Anthony De Melho Aserappa (1837)
.........4 Philip De Melho Aserappa (1840)
[All of the above children adopted the pre fix De Melho to their names after their grandfather Simon De Melho Wannigakoon]