Hi Paul, I know this is a long shot but am hoping you might get back to this page. Although not directly related to the Bootes/Boots family, I do have some oral history of my family related to Fred Boots and his family. It seems Fred and Mrs Boots (previously Boitano/Boytano) were well know to my Grandfather Harry Cuthbert and his wife Hanna Dunlop, and would often spend time with them at their dairy farm in Wattle Flat in South Australia in the early 20th century. Most stories and reminiscences are from my mother who remembered them well (mother passed away in 1997). The Boitano's/Boots had the farm next to my Grandparents, and my mother was always raised believing the Boitano's/Boots were her cousins, something Harry Cuthbert insisted upon. I am just starting to look at these connections: Harry's parents were Charles and Mary Ann (nee Beall) who came out from England in 1876 to South Australia, and the story goes somebody knew the Boots in England. Also, apparently Fred Boots may have been in the Merchant Marine with Harry Cuthbert. Both Boitano and Cuthbert received soldier settlements post WW1 which is why they had neighbouring farms in Wattle Flat. Mrs Boots had very bad eyesight, and mother spoke of one incident where Mrs Boots thought she was applying toothpaste to her teeth but it was black shoepolish! There was a definite connection between Cuthbert-Boitano-Boots.
kind regards
An
