unknown 81 Cameron Street Launceston Tasmania Australia 1 Louisa Martha Manning; 2 Lena Harrington George Clifton, William Alexander Manning, Louisa Rhoda, Florence Ruby, Victor Percy, Harold Arthur, Victor Albert & Ada Martha McRosty

George Coutts was born about 1853 at Clifton, Bristol, and came to Tasmania as a child with his parents Alexander Coutts and Rhoda Vernon. His father died young and his mother married her brother-in-law George Coutts in Victoria.

George married Louisa Manning on 8 Oct 1874 at Chalmers Manse, East Melbourne, Victoria, and she also appears in the Album. Their first three children were born in Victoria: George, 1876-1919; William, 1878-1901 and Rhoda, 1881-1934. The family moved to Launceston where five more children were born: Florence, 1883-1904, Victor Percy 1885-1888, Arthur, 1888-1953, Victor Albert, 1890-1890 and Ada 1892-1910. Four of the children died in Tasmania and were buried in the Charles Street General Cemetery. The remainder of the family returned to Victoria about 1907.

George advertised his Edinburgh Boot Warehouse in the Official Catalogue of the Tasmanian Exhibition of 1891-92. Situated at 88 Brisbane Street, Launceston, he carried the latest styles in boots and shoes from the very best English and Continental manufacturers. He received regular imports every month of footwear by the Orient and other steamers. By 1898 the business had expanded into the shop next door at 90 Brisbane Street. George was appointed as a justice of the peace in 1903 and was a member of the IOOF Loyal Cornwall Lodge and the St John Masonic Lodge No 2.

At the time of Louisa's death in 1919 she and George were separated. A year after Loiusa's death George married his longtime mistress Lena Harrington in St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne. George died aged 79 in 1932 at Carlton, Victoria. See The Examiner 24 Mar 2007, page 35.

Marion Sargent Nov 2006 & Sue Milner Apr 2007