Comments for Van Cooten Voices

Comment on Annie Jones by Jasmin Jones

Jasmin Jones — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 04:05:06 +0000

Hello, David Jones is my direct ancestor (of 5 generations). I can confirm that the unnammed baby boy born on the voyage ‘Silver Eagle,’ is my Great-Great Grandfather, Sylvester Bright Jones, who was born on the 3rd of June 1882. Presumably his name, ‘Sylvester,’ comes from ‘Silver Eagle.’ It would appear that Sarah and William Van Cooten’s son, Sylvester, was in fact named after Sarah’s Brother, Sylvester Bright.

Comment on Trawling Google Books by rodney

rodney — Fri, 17 May 2024 12:46:05 +0000

It transpires that the edition of “The Royal Kalendar, and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Colonies” referred to is the 1886 edition, and J. Van Cooten is Assistant Master at Elizabeth College in Guernsey. The Elizabeth College Register vol II 1874-1911 lists I. R. Van Cooten as being Assistant Master from 1877 to 1889, so this is John Rhodolphus Van Cooten.

Comment on Book: White Debt by Helen

Helen — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 08:45:50 +0000

Rodney, your father’s comment, “We can’t turn the clock back. It would be almost impossible to remedy the situation lost in history. We should find out the facts of the matter and make sure we learn from our mistakes and create a better world.”, strikes a chord with me. I am a descendant of both slave owners and slaves. Thank-you for your blog.

Comment on Emma Hughes conundrum solved? by Hewes family update – Van Cooten Voices

Hewes family update – Van Cooten Voices — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 01:48:01 +0000

[…] https://vc.id.au/blog2/2007/07/emma-hughes-conundrum-solved/ […]

Comment on Where is Hendrik junior? by rodney

rodney — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 12:07:22 +0000

Also in Oprechte Haarlemse courant 10-05-1800, https://archive.org/details/ddd_010729236_mpeg21 page 3, about a third of the way down.

Indir a iemand met zekerheid weet naricht te geeven van ‘t verblyf, laeven of dood vaneenen HENDRIK van COOTEN, van Demmerary in ‘t Jaar 1794 als Matroos hebbende gediend onder Kapt. Simon Ryntjes, doch in Maart 1795 afgedankt, en zedert zyn verblyf onbekend zynde; word verzogt, zich te adresseeren by den Boekverkooper j. ten Brink Gz., in de Warmoesstraat, over de St. Annestraat, zal daar voor eene belooning genieten. — Zullende gemelde HENDRIK van COOTEN, nog in leeven zynde, vriendelyk ontvangen en gelegenheid gegeeven worden, om naar zyn genoegen te kunnen worden geholpen, wanneer zich denzelven in Persoon of per Missive by gemelden Boekverkooper adresseerd.

If anyone knows with certainty about the residence, life or death of a HENDRIK van COOTEN, of Demmerary in the Year 1794 having served as Sailor under Capt. Simon Ryntjes, but dismissed in March 1795, and his residence is unknown; be requested to address themselves at the book seller J. ten Brink Gz., in the Warmoesstraat, across the St. Annestraat, will enjoy a reward there. — The reported HENDRIK van COOTEN, still alive, will be kindly received and given the opportunity to be helped to his satisfaction, when addressed in person or by Missive by the reported Bookseller.

Comment on Van Cooten Jail Keeper by Who was Alexander Cameron? – Van Cooten Voices

Who was Alexander Cameron? – Van Cooten Voices — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 03:24:11 +0000

[…] ← Van Cooten Jail Keeper […]

Comment on First Van Cootens in Australia? by Van Cooten Jail Keeper – Van Cooten Voices

Van Cooten Jail Keeper – Van Cooten Voices — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 04:39:09 +0000

[…] Australia were Jane Wilson nee Van Cooten arriving in Melbourne in 1852 with the Wilson family (see First Van Cootens in Australia? for more details), and John Hughes Van Cooten arriving in late […]

Comment on Where was J. B. Edward’s Jewellers Shop by rodney

rodney — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 23:26:47 +0000

In reply to Lyndall Calcraft. Hi Lyndall, J.B. Edwards was a Bendigo jeweller in the late 1890s to at least the 1920s. He was a manufacturer as well as an importer/retailer. I'd love a photo of the box and cufflinks. Are there any markings on the cufflinks that indicate maker or origin?

Comment on Where was J. B. Edward’s Jewellers Shop by Lyndall Calcraft

Lyndall Calcraft — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 23:11:37 +0000

I have found some cufflinks in a box marked J B Edwards and was interested in their heritage.
they belonged to my late Grandfather.
they are gold with a heart connected by a chain to what looks like two hands clasped

Comment on John Van Cooten leaves Demerara by rodney

rodney — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 12:27:46 +0000

Hi Steven,
Thanks for the pointer. Since I have posted this I have learnt a bit more about John Van Cooten, and the Smithers. Are you a descendant? Have you done a DNA test. Feel free to reply by email.

Comment on John Van Cooten leaves Demerara by Steven

Steven — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 11:19:34 +0000

Hi,
see: http://writinguptheancestors.blogspot.com/search/label/Henry%20Keene%20Smithers for the wife; and for her father, see Wilkins, Charles. The South Wales Coal Trade and Its Allied Industries from the Earliest Days to the Present Time. United Kingdom: D. Owen and Company, Limited, 1888, p.164 Available in google books

Comment on Slave emancipation by Deborah Hughes

Deborah Hughes — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:20:31 +0000

I would like to know if you have more information on an individual named Bastiaansen from Holland. He is described as: “Mixed East Indian breed. Married with half-indian woman and works as assistant” on a list of Demerara planters from the 1700s which Rodney Van Cooten published on the internet. I would like to know when Bastiaansen arrived in Demerara, where he lived in the Netherlands, the plantation on which he worked and the name of his employer. I would also like to know what Bastiaansen´s first name was, the name of his wife and whether or not she was Amerindian. Finally, the list of Demerara colonists includes an Edward Hughes that was born in 1799. I would like to know where you found Edward Hughes´s date of birth and if you have any other information on this individual and other instances of the names Hughes or Marsden in British Guiana. Thank you.

Notes from your site:
Demerara Planters 1785 (vc.id.au), settlers to the Directors of the Dutch West India Company in several cities in Holland. The copy referred to at this site is held at central archives of the City and Province of Groningen. The settlers complain in the letter about their problems during the fourth Anglo-Dutch war (1780-1784). During this period, Essequibo and Demarary was occupied by the English and the French. After the war the colonies were returned to the Dutch West India Company. However, the company set up an new governor, and took the ancient right of the planters away.

Comment on First Van Cootens in Australia? by Kay

Kay — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 16:30:05 +0000

In 1818 (on dau Jean’s BC) Hilbert Vancooten was a medical student in Glasgow. I can find no record for him graduating from Glasgow University.

Comment on Annie Jones by Peta Jones

Peta Jones — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 07:53:54 +0000

Hi! Just discovered you as I was interested in the route my grandfather’s sailing ship took to get to Maryborough…he was Annie’s brother, Francis Henry Jones. He lived to be 97, died in Dunedin, NZ. Very sad to read that my Great Aunt had died so young. Thank you for putting up my history as well…cousins by marriage I suppose. 🙂

Comment on About by Marlyn ClARKE

Marlyn ClARKE — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:20:44 +0000

My ancestor John Christopher Reuter born in Demerara is on your site.I am a direct descendent,but am unable to go back further in time. Do you have any suggestions on further research.

Comment on Not just Van Cootens by bev

bev — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:19:04 +0000

My great grandmother (Anna Van Kooten)’s grandfather was a planter named Van Kooten in British Guiana. Her father was named Johnny Van Kooten and he was the product of a black woman (slave, free woman, who knows) and the Van Kooten planter. His father sent him to India to become a trained pharmacist and once he finished his training he returned to Guiana and opened up his own pharmacy.

Comment on Australian Newspapers on line by Van Cooten Voices

Van Cooten Voices — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:21:12 +0000

[…] Australian Newspapers on line […]

Comment on Dr John fails to front by marlene wilson

marlene wilson — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:12:56 +0000

Do you have further info on the Van Cooten store at Howard – ownership from 1943?Marlene

Comment on Annie Jones by marlene wilson

marlene wilson — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:09:02 +0000

I have now searched this marvellous site! Claude HenryVan Cooten d. 13 dec 1888[F] John Hughes[M[ Eliz. Berry Why couldn’t I find his birth? Marlene

Comment on Annie Jones by marlene wilson

marlene wilson — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 02:33:40 +0000

Ps Do you know where John Hughes Van Cooten was born c 1856? Thank you Marlene

Comment on Annie Jones by marlene wilson

marlene wilson — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 02:31:21 +0000

WJF Van Cooten remar. in Brisbane in 1920 to Lucy Frost. Who took over the Howard store when A.E. died in 1943?AE was married to Jane Pollard my husband’s relative- but they had no chn. What happened to Benj. Francis?Van Cootens store is run today by Trevor Whitby. Hoping you can assist Best wishes Marlene

Comment on William Eaton Rusher by Ethel Kearns, nee Rusher

Ethel Kearns, nee Rusher — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:56:04 +0000

I have read with great interest your posting on 3 March 2008. William Eaton Rusher’s great-grandfather was John Rusher of Oxfordshire. John Rusher is my g-g-g grandfather. I can send you, by email, quite a great deal of William Eaton Rusher’s background history.
Regards, Ethel Kearns

Comment on About by rodney

rodney — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:01:06 +0000

Thanks for tip on this, John. I’ve had a closer look at the birth certificate and you are right – what I’ve read as a “d” really is an elongated “s”.

Comment on About by John Gardner

John Gardner — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:51:44 +0000

You refer to a birth at Bendington, near Wallingford. I have a birth certificate too, bearing the same place. I came across your blog when I was trying to find out where it is. After a complete lack of success, I looked more carefully at the certificate, and realized that it says Bensington. “s” in the handwriting looks like a “d”.
Refer to http://www.oldtowns.co.uk/Oxfordshire/bensington.htm and you will find that Bensington is longhand for Benson. Now I know Benson near Wallingford, and that makes sense to me at last.

Regards,

John Gardner

Comment on About by Piet Bess

Piet Bess — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:22:45 +0000

Thank you for putting up this website. I am a descendant of Charles Parker Massiah and Frances Culpeper listed in your the database of personages linked to your site. I live in Berkeley CA near where their daughter lies buried in Oakland.
The newspaper articles on the site are particularly interesting, describing the legal and commercial affairs of my ancestor Alleyne Culpeper.

Comment on Physician reveal thyself! by Van Cooten Voices » Dr John fails to front

Van Cooten Voices » Dr John fails to front — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:02:37 +0000

[…] mentioned in a previous post that I needed to consult the medical directories for the UK. I have since browsed the State Library […]

Comment on The Will of Anna Maria Van Cooten by rodney

rodney — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:37:14 +0000

I’m a little unsure of the copyright issues here, so I haven’t put a scan of the will on line. From a graphology point of view, the copy of the will that I have is a registered copy, so it is in the hand of some unknown scribe, rather than Anna Maria herself.

Comment on The Will of Anna Maria Van Cooten by Carole Rule

Carole Rule — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:00:44 +0000

As a graphologist I am always disappointed when I read about someone’s handwriting and there is no image. But I can see you have been really diligent in your search on Anna Maria.

Comment on John Van Cooten leaves Demerara by Van Cooten Voices » Physician reveal thyself!

Van Cooten Voices » Physician reveal thyself! — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:22:20 +0000

[…] mentioned before that John Van Cooten was a […]