Who's Who ca 1910 - look up please?

[LDW]

Has anyone got access to Who's Who in the early years of the 20th century?

If so, can anyone tell me if there is an entry for Major General Francis Gibson COTTER, Royal Marines, b. 1857 Corfu, d. 1928 Johannesburg? And especially if it gives the name of his mother?

Thanks!

Brief timeline:

1857: born Corfu
1876: joined Royal Marines
1881: Lt RMSI, on board HMS Achilles
1882: served Egypt
1884-1885: served East Sudan
1891: Captain in the RML Infantry, Portsea Island, Landport
1891: married Rose Martha Anson CARTWRIGHT
1899: arrived Perth, WA aboard 'The Royal Arthur'
1901: Lieut Colonel Royal Marines, 1 Broad Park Villa, Whitchurch, Tavistock
1911: Major General Royal Marines, 7 Riviera Terrace, Exeter Road, Dawlish
1928: died Johannesburg

[barryd]

I found nothing new on Francis Gibson Cotter but his wife Rose was born Limehouse, London. Daughter of Anson Cartwright, a clergyman and wife Rose. By 1881 the Cartwrights were living in Teignmouth, Devon and Rose (the daughter) was possibly married there in 1891. Rose (Cartwright) Cotter may have died in 1943, Surrey and both she and her husband may have English wills. Could FGC's father have left a will? That could give relationships!

[LDW]

Could FGC's father have left a will? That could give relationships!

Nice idea - but no luck.

It's a pig, this one. FGC's father was John COTTER, and he remarried after the death(?) of FGC's mother. All surviving records relate to the second marriage.

No marriage cert found for FGC's mother and father, no birth cert for FGC or his brother. John COTTER was an adjutant in The Buffs* (3rd Regiment of Foot/Royal East Kent Regiment), and all three events took place in the Mediterranean, the boys being born in Malta and Corfu.

* Yes, he of 'Steady The Buffs' fame. Perhaps I'll post in the army forrum and see if anyone knows owt there.

[jorose]

http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/ObituariesdeathnoticesetcfromtheLimerickChronicle/1857/
 - death notices here have notice for Jane Maria Cotter, d. 1857, wife of Ensign and Adjutant Cotter, 3rd Buffs in Limerick garrison, dau of Edmond Hickey.

There's also an Isabella Cotter's death in 1864, aged 13, who is listed as daughter of Lieut/Adjutant Cotter, and who from her likely date of birth may be the daughter of John and Jane Maria.

[barryd]

I found nothing new on Francis Gibson Cotter but his wife Rose was born Limehouse, London. Daughter of Anson Cartwright, a clergyman and wife Rose. By 1881 the Cartwrights were living in Teignmouth, Devon and Rose (the daughter) was possibly married there in 1891. Rose (Cartwright) Cotter may have died in 1943, Surrey and both she and her husband may have English wills. Could FGC's father have left a will? That could give relationships!

[LDW]

http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/ObituariesdeathnoticesetcfromtheLimerickChronicle/1857/
 - death notices here have notice for Jane Maria Cotter, d. 1857, wife of Ensign and Adjutant Cotter, 3rd Buffs in Limerick garrison, dau of Edmond Hickey.

There's also an Isabella Cotter's death in 1864, aged 13, who is listed as daughter of Lieut/Adjutant Cotter, and who from her likely date of birth may be the daughter of John and Jane Maria.

Oooo! This is very exciting - thank you!

[barryd]

I thought I had access to Who's Who for 1928 and prior to that but I was mistaken. But there was an entry in Who Was Who for 1928 with Maj. Gen. Francis Gibson Cotter born 12 June 1857 (no place given) son of Maj. J. Cotter (no mother given), died 24 September 1928. This was confirmed by the Probate Register which gave his death date 24 September 1928 and his address as Kilcarberry, Doveton Road, Parktown West, Johannesburg. The place Kilcarbery is in Dublin, Ireland so he may have had some link to there. He only left 38 pounds in England so it looks like he was not planning to come back.

[LDW]

jorose and barryd:

Fantastic - thank you v v much. We have filled out a whole bunch of empty spaces in our records.

Hooray for RootsChatters!

[mshrmh]

There are some entries in the London Gazette:

Lieutenant in 1876:
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24364/pages/5067/page.pdf

Brevet rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1900:
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27237/pages/6253/page.pdf

Major-General in 1910:
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28447/pages/9393/page.pdf

There were also results from online versions of the Navy List, which may also fill in his career.