Proposed Change: Harold Gerard Van Cooten (I454): Van Cooten Genealogy

Source Information

Title	Proposed Change: Harold Gerard Van Cooten (I454)
Author	Charlotte Leeson
Date	18 Feb 2025
Email address	cadleeson@gmail.com
SOID	BRO2025001
Source ID	S1224
Text	Proposed Change: Harold Gerard Van Cooten (I454) Tree: Van Cooten Link: http://vc.id.au/gen/getperson.php?personID=I454&tree=vc Description: I am the daughter of Sophia Gray Brown, who was married to Harold when he died. You have a couple of errors on her record - her maiden name was Brown (as well as her second marriage surname!), and she died on 3 July 2018. I can supply her death certificate - I think your information was gleaned from the date her estate was finally settled. I have found photographs from her wedding to Harold, which may be of interest. Please let me know Charlotte Leeson ps I did have some correspondence with you many years ago, but my mother was reluctant to engage (memories too painful, I think) Charlotte ———— Good to hear from you. It WAS odd that my mother ended up with a married surname the same as her maiden name, but there you go! By the way, she was born 15 November 1916 (not 1917). Her mother’s maiden name was indeed Birnie. (Charlotte) My understanding is that she was in hospital being treated for burns to the leg (chip pan accident) when Harold died. I presume a heart attack; he was found in the churchyard I think. I attach some pics of the wedding; I am away from home at the moment, but will forward mum’s death certificate when I get back (early March). I have no idea about relatives; from your website, it appears that both his parents had died by the time of the wedding, so I’ve no idea who the older pair next to Harold in the last photo are. The bridesmaid was Marjorie Campbell, and the old lady next to mum is her mother, alongside her eldest brother Stewart. No idea who the tall gent at the back is. I will also send a pic of Maud Moncrieff painting on my return - she now looks down at us in the dining room (and the eyes are quite scary!) Charlotte Leeson
Linked to Individuals: 2	Charlotte Birnie Sophia Gray Brown

Van Cooten Voices

Proposed Change: Harold Gerard Van Cooten (I454)