First number of the Cho clan was Cho Ah Chee the ship's carpenter of 'S.S Indiana' in which Raffles travelled to Singapore in 1819

No.1 Lavender Street was the attap house of Cho Ah Chee the carpenter of the ship 'S.S Indiana' in which Sir Stamford Raffles travelled to Singapore in 1819.

It is believed that Raffles gave the house to Cho Ah Chee in recognition of his services at the time of the founding. The house has been demolished and a small public park has taken its place.

Cho Ah Chee established the Ning Yeung Wei Kuan in South Bridge Road in 1822 probably the first Overseas Chinese Association. He built an assembly hall and a temple for men who migrated to Singapore from the Toi San district of Canton. Cho Ah Chee died in 1830 and was originally buried in Ann Siang Hill. Later his body was exhumed and reburied in the Peck San Teng Cemetery in Thomson Road.

Cho Ah Chee was the first member of the Cho Clan Association. Its headquarters are at 103 Onan Road.