BRANCH 3 III CHERIAN (Kunju) Born 1810. Residence at Morkulangara, the north eastern part of central town (Kavala) and near the S.B. College, Changanacherry. The house was situated in a plain single plot of six acres of land facing east towards a branch road reach- ing the M.C.Road. The old fashioned house was very spacious with ara (wooden granary), pura (house), nalukettu (projection to four sides), nadumuttam (central or inner courtyard) and padippura (wooden gate with a tiny roof of tiles). It was in this plot that the famous Ruby Rubber Works was later installed by Kunchamma Marattukalam and his brothers. When Ruby Rubber factory was developing, Ruby Thommachan demolished this ancient house and in its place a modern concrete building was constructed. Kunju and his younger son Joseph (Kunjappi, the younger) lived in that ancient house until their death. Unlike his brothers, he resorted to farming only, that is, he had no business orientation. He cultivated in lump-sum or on a large scale paddy, coconut, rubber, spices and etc. and thereby earned a lot of income and attained a high social status. This status was exposed in his amazing flocks of cattle as buffalos, cows, sheep and etc. maintained and protected for the sake of his large scale agricultural efforts. This ancestral attachment and interest towards agriculture shown by this forefather can be seen perpetuated in his succeeding generations. He was one among the top most land lords of the town at that time; having 80 plots of land in addition to the vast areas of paddy fields. Among his contempo- raries was a famous land lord in Changanacherry Known as Rajappan Muthalali, Son of the Famous Land Lord Muthupattar (A Brahmin). It was a telling truth that Kunju was at par with Rajappan Muthalali as a land lord. Only five rupees tax payers were eligible to vote for the Praja-Sabha (peoples assembly) of the erst- while Travencore Kingdom. Kunju was one among the few who enjoyed this vot- ing right which was bequeathed to his next generation. Kunju was handsome and gigantic in appearance. He had an honourable position in society. It was said that he possessed a very strict and serious exterior. He was able to tackle all social problems cropping up in the locality around him with an exceptional commanding power and enlightenment. At first he married Mariamma, daughter of Ouseph, Arackal house, Kavalam, Kuttanadu. On her death, he married Thresia, Karthikapallil house, Vettithurthu, Changanacherry. It was Thresia's second marriage too. She was first married to one Mathai, Kootummel, Changanacherry. It is noteworthy that her only daugh- ter in that marriage was married to Kunjachan (Kaniyamchira Kunjachan), the elder son of Kunju in his first marriage. Children: Two sons and two daughters in the first marriage; and one son and two daughters in the second marriage. Ex- pired 1899. -:oOo:- III A1 SCARIA (Kanianchira Kunjachan) Born 1831. Residence at Poovakkattuchira, Morkulangara; keeping the tradition he built a house with ara, pura, and padippura. He inherited vast landed proper- -141- ties and paddy fields. Thus he devoted his life to agriculture. He became im- mensely rich. He was less talkative; very bold and daring. He married Annamma, daughter of Mathai, Koottummel, as already mentioned above. Children: One son and seven daughters. Expired 1918. III A2 OUSEPH (Ouseph) Born 1854. Residence at Mattom, western part of Kavala, close to St. Mary's Cathedral and the present police quarters. Then, there was an already built house of his father. He was a farmer. He had as his share, nine plots of land. Also he possessed six acres of paddy fields in Paral area. He started a busi- ness in hill produces with Pala and Ponkunnam centers and achieved good progress. He was known for his shrewdness and hard working nature. He first married Aley, the sister of the famous Pullukat Kunjommachan. On her death he remarried Mariamma, Chakkalayilaya Nalukandathil family, Kurumbanadom. This Mariamma was first sent in marriage to the family of Kattakkayam, Pala. Chil- dren: One son and one daughter in the first marriage; and four sons and four daughters in the second marriage. Expired 1922. III A3 OUSEPH ( Kochukunjappy) Born 1858. Residence at family house (Tharavadu) at Morkulangara. He was known as Morkulanagara Kochukunjappy. He inherited abundant landed proper- ties and paddy fields. Moreover, be bought additional lands of his own. He was handsome, tall (more than 6 feet) but lean and healthy. He was short tempered and adventurous that there were stories of his intimidating or physically attack- ing opponents. He was very strict and serious in nature that even his sons never dared to speak in his presence. In order to maintain his status and public re- spect and to achieve his desired objectives he did not hesitate to spend lavishly even by selling his landed properties. Also he dared to go to the extent of even disposing of his considerable gold stock for winning a civil court case. It is said he urged his father in his youth to buy for him an elephant. Because of his spending mood and broad lavishness he became bankrupt. A diary was kept by him for entering several important incidents such as the date of birth of his grand children, important events, and ayurvedic medicines for certain compli- cated diseases etc. Married Aley from Cherikattusseril family, Chennamkary, Alappuzha District. She died at the age of 43 of typhoid. Children: Four sons and two daughters. Kunju expired 1943. III A4 f MARIAMMA Sent in marriage to Kuriyikkattu family, Pampady, Kottayam. III A5 f THRESIAMMA Sent in marriage to Panamthottathil family, Kottangal, Manimala. III A6 f ROSAMMA Sent in marriage to the family of Kandamkeril, Market, Changanacherry. III A7 f ELAMMA Sent in marriage to Puthenveettil family, Kurumbanadom. -142- -:oOo:- III A1 B1 CHERIAN (Kanianchira Kutty) Born 1901. Residence: family house at Vezhakkattuchira. Being the only son of his father, he inherited a lot of wealth as land, paddy fields, and moveable prop- erties, gold, household materials and accessories etc. He was mainly a farmer. As Kutty died very young, Rosamma his wife belonging to Nangachiveettil fam- ily, Kainakary had to look after all the family affairs. She was extraordinarily bold, daring, and clever to look after all the family affairs. Their family house at Vezhakkattuchira, having a traditional outlook with old fashioned ara, pura and extended verandha and a beautiful garden in front remained as such a historic monument until it was recently destroyed in a fire accident. It may be noted that at the eastern side wall of the verandha, a beautiful basin was installed inside the wall for keeping holy water and just above this basin a Marthomma cross made of cement. Several famous classical paintings related to Christian faith adorned the front walls. Children: Five sons only. Kutty died in 1941. III A1 B2 f ANNAMMA Sent in marriage to Kollavarathu family, Paippad, Changancherry. III A1 B3 f ALEYAMMA Sent in marriage to Kumbluvelil family, Nedumkunnam. III A1 B4 f MARIAMMA Sent in marriage to Kandramattom family, Thottakkadu. III A1 B5 f KATHREENAMMA Sent in marriage to Purackal family, Pulicunnoo. Her husband was an Advocate. III A1 B6 f THRESIAMMA Married to Outhachan, Kochupurackal family, Kavalam, Kuttanad, owner of the famous “Kavalan Chundan Vallam”. III A1 B7 f MAMY Married to Thommi Vakeel, Changamkeriyil family, Changanacherry. III A1 B8 f CLARA Sent in marriage to Kodukuthiyil family (Srambickal), Muttar. -:oOo:- III A2 B1 CHERIACHAN Residence at Mammoodu – Farmer – A gigantic figure with a strong physique – a well known gymnast, well versed in martial arts. Married Mariam, Koippuram family, Chettipuzha, Kurisummoodu. Children: One daughter only. Expired 1954. III A2 B2 f ROSAMMA (Pennamma) -143- Married to Adv. Dominic, Karipparambil family, Kanjirappally. A famous and eminent person with 22 children in two marriages and Rosamma was his first wife. III A2 B3 ANTHONICHAN Aged 86. Shifted to Edayirikkapuzha from Changancherry. He was a big land owner and efficient farmer – tall and healthy in physique – hard working – Mar- ried Anna, daughter of Kunjappichan, Kadamthodu, Changanacherry. Children: Three sons and five daughters. Expired 30.10.1982. III A2 B4 SCARIA (Kunjachan –otherwise known as Thekkumkattil Kunjachan) Residence at Mammood, a farmer – also business in hill produce. He had a well built physique - Married Philomina, daughter of Kuruvilla, Kunnamkerikalathil, Pallikoottummel. Children: Two sons and six daughters. Expired 22.5.1960. III A2 B5 JOSEPH (Appachan) Residence at Mammood – a farmer – very daring, challenging, and a courageous person. Married Mariakkutty, daughter of Chackochan, Kanjikkal (Prayikkalam), Pulincunnoo. Children: Two sons and one daughter. Expired 31.5.1962. III A2 B6 CHACKOCHAN Born 1903. Residence at Varakunnel, Mammood. A farmer – a man of spiritual- ity – a member of Vincent de Paul charitable society. Married Katherine (Oromma), daughter of Josephkunj, Thekkekara, Kannavatta. Children: Two sons and two daughters. Expired 29.11.2001. Oromma expired on 10.1.1995. III A2 B7 f MAMMY Married to Kariachan, Mukkattukunnel, Kurumbanadam. III A2 B8 f ACHAMMA Married to Pilochan, Vadakkekkalathil, Alappuzha. III A2 B9 f ALEYAMMA Married to Kariachan, Peelianickal, Nedumkunnam. III A2 B10 f THEYYAMMA Married to Philipose, Koladikkalam, Nedumkunnam. -:oOo:- III A3 B1 JOSEPH (Outhachan) Born 1894. He shifted his residence from Morkulangara to Chethipuzha where there were many pieces of family property. In partnership with his brohter-in-law he undertook enormous kopra business by amassing lakhs of coconuts from Changanacherry and surrounding areas. Being the eldest son of a big family having large scale cultivation and allied activities, he had to take up family re- sponsibilities very early in life. Hence, he led a type of hard and difficult life.