My cousin, David Pitman, allowed me to copy the following postcard that belonged to his mother Elwyn. The postcard is from someone called Annie to Mr. W. Thomas, who was Elwyn’s (and also my father’s) great grandfather. I presume the … Continue reading →
I wondered if Madame Camille Cornwell had any descendants who may have been interested in the transcription of Jessie Van Cooten’s journal of her lessons with Madame. Quite a comprehensive picture of her adult life can be pieced together from … Continue reading →
Jessie Miriam Van Cooten was born in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, on 30 December 1890. She was the youngest daughter of John Hughes Van Cooten and Elizabeth (nee Berry). John Hughes Van Cooten arrived in Brisbane aboard the “Indus” on 20 … Continue reading →
I’ve had an autosomal DNA test on Ancestry since 2019, although I tested earlier with FamilytreeDNA and the Geneographic Project. I find the Ancestry ThruLines feature very useful in exploring matches, and I’ve been gradually trying to confirm the relationships … Continue reading →
A recent blog posting I came across recently listed some sources of free online genealogy and history books. I had a search for “Van Cooten” at The Digital Public Library of America and came across this cartoon contained within the … Continue reading →
William Berry is a very common name, and at first glance we have very few clues as to his origin in Scotland. His death certificate says that he was born in Burse, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and that his father’s name was … Continue reading →
I referred in an earlier post to the sale of the Berry House. Elizabeth Berry married John Hughes Van Cooten at her father’s residence, Berry House, Ipswich, on 22 Jul 1880. The marriage certificate lists her parents as being William … Continue reading →
In an earlier post I mentioned that I had lost track of Emma Hewes‘ first husband Henry William Hewes. Subsequent research revealed that he had been a baker or confectioner, had become bankrupt in 1848, and died in 1858. Ancestry … Continue reading →
I posted some years ago on John Lucius Van Cooten‘s partner Emma: https://vc.id.au/blog2/2007/07/emma-hughes-conundrum-solved/ https://vc.id.au/blog2/2007/07/emma-hewes/ https://vc.id.au/blog2/2007/08/hugheshewes-update/ https://vc.id.au/blog2/2007/08/hugheshewes-update-2/ A lot has happened since then. Building on information supplied by descendants of Margaret Hughes Van Cooten I have been able to extend … Continue reading →
I was surprised, and intrigued, to be contacted in 2019 by Thomas Harding, who had come across the transcripts of the John Smith diaries that had been transcribed by my parents Graham and Merle Van Cooten, and was interested in … Continue reading →