Oxford Newspaoers

[jabawak]

If someone lived to be 105 years old would it have been in the paper? My 3rd great grandmother was christened at St Mary Magdalen in 1779. Her name was Sophia Eaton, in 1808 she married James Tasker, in 1820 he was transported to Tasmania and never returned. Sophia married William Gardiner on 8 Oct 1821 but he appears to have died by 1841 census and in 1851 and 1861 census she is called Gardiner. I have recently got in touch with relations who have told me that they have a letter written by Sophias great grandaughter who said that her mother had told her all about a visit from Sophia in aproximately 1878 when she was 100years old and that she had lived til she was 105. Can anyone in Oxford find out for me, I am in Australia and can't find anything online. Thanks Jabawak

[DJFRENCH]

Hi there ,
there has been a posting today about james . i , last year helped a lady in oz about this very family and so i know all these details . However, there is a Sophia Tasker who died in 1890 in Headington Workhouse . We, She ,i think told me that this was Sophia gardiner/Tasker.

Hope to hear from you and link you with Judee.

Dj

[jabawak]

Thankyou Dj for your reply, I am already in touch with Judee, in fact she visited me last month. I am still not convinced that Sophia Tasker that died in Headington workhouse was my Sophia Eaton/Tasker/Gardner. As I said before the lady who wrote the letter was the daughter of my great aunt. In the letter she says her mother remembered Sophia staying with them as a child. My great aunt was born in 1874 and the Sophia Tasker in the workhouse died in Dec 1871, so it doesn't add up. Maybe we'll never know best wishes Jabawak

[DJFRENCH]

Thanks for your reply, Jabawak,

i have emailed the other lady in Oz who is related to the Tasker. It does make sense that it was NOT your Sophia who died in Headington , it would be strange that she revert to her previous name but who knows how the events happened. It's bizarre that she was SO old and coincidence that her names were tie in. Having said that, it is very interesting and i have kept in touch with Annie. I was born in Oxford and will definately investigate for when i visit the oxford records and i think i will phone them too. Have you contacted already ?

The details i had are a little fuzzy now as i had researched so much since then !!!! Has anyone found the birth in the parish records for St Mary Magdalen. The church is still there by the way, it's 1 of the oldest,if not the oldest, church in Oxford. I think i found details that they lived in Friars Alley which is 2 minute walk from the church.

Send me a Pm if you want to ask any other stuff
DJ