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James (Jim) Coen (1855–1911)

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James (Jim)’ Coen (1855-1911) bricklayer and trade union leader 

Birth: 1855 in South Australia, son of Thomas G. Coen of Dungarvan, Ireland, and Ellen, née O’Rorke. Marriage: 6 July 1879 at Port Adelaide, South Australia, to Mary Ellen Flaherty. They had three sons and four daughters. Death: 16 June 1911 at South Fremantle, Western Australia. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Between 1879 and 1885 he lived in Port Adelaide, where he was married and his children were born. Family then shifted to Victoria, where three children were born and two died between 1886 and 1891. Moved to Western Australia, probably in the 1890s.
  • By 1903 was a bricklayer in Fremantle, WA.
  • Secretary, Bricklayers, Storemen & Packers, Tally Clerks in Fremantle from 1905 to 1911. Secretary of Fremantle and District Trades Hall 1905-1911.
  • WA agent for Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia.

Resources
Obituaries, Westralian Worker (Perth), 23 June 1911, p 2; and Truth (Perth), 17 June 1911, p 11.

Related Entries in NCB Sites

Citation details

'Coen, James (Jim) (1855–1911)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/coen-james-jim-33065/text41227, accessed 28 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1855
South Australia, Australia

Death

16 June, 1911 (aged ~ 56)
Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Cause of Death

pneumonia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
Key Organisations