Hi there,
I am really stumped with this man.
If anyone out there can help me I would be very grateful. These are my facts I have:
Mabel Mary Cookson was married in 1899 in Essex to Alexander Crombie in England. They had a daughter Mary Elizabeth Crombie in 1900 Tendring, Essex. The family emigrated in 1903 to South Africa. In 1906, Alex and Mabel had a son Eric Gerald Crombie who was born in March 1906 in Johannesburg. Alex and Mabel started divorce proceedings in 1905 which was finalised in June 1906. Mabel then remarried to a Major William Charles Hoaten. Eric worked for the SA Customs & Harbours and in 1929 he advised them of his change of name from Eric Gerald Crombie to Gerald Eric Hoaten. Major Hoaten was a major in the BSAP (British Police in Rhodesia). By the time he retired, he was said to have been one of the highest ranking officers in the fledging defence forces.
There is a cutting from a rhodesian newspaper about 1938 that describes the wedding of Mabel and Alex's daughter Mary Elizabeth Crombie to Stuart Clarkson. In it, she is "given away by her step-father Major Hoaten." also "There was no formal reception owing to the health of the brides mother, but some intimate friends motored out to Hillside to the resdent of Captain and Mrs Hough where the cake was cut.. ."
I have searched for any information on this Major Hoaten, but so far nothing has been found.
Please, if anyone can help me, I would really appreciate it.
Kind regards
Jackie