Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I had noticed Ellen Willmott's maternal grandmother was Ellen Tasker and that set me wondering about the relationship between the Willmott family and Countess Helen Tasker.
I've seen somewhere, unsubstantiated, that Ellen Tasker was born 1807 in Aylesbury, daughter of Charles & Mary Tasker.
Other connections include the following......
If you look at Countess Helen's 1861 census return she is shown as head of household, living at Kendal Villa, High Road, Hammersmith with an elderly cousin Hannah Tasker born 1772 in Knapton, Yorkshire. Hannah died two years later at Kendal Villa and probate was granted to a James Lancelot Foster of Ogleforth, Yorkshire, her nephew.
James Lancelot Foster was born 1809 in York, son of Robert Foster, a tea merchant, and his wife Mary Tasker (1772-1810). According to his 1871 census return James Lancelot Foster was the current Sheriif of York and proprietor/editor of the Yorkshire Gazette. He remained as the publisher of the Yorkshire gazette from 1852 until December 1882 and he died 1883 in Ogleforth.
It's also worth looking at this link.....
https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/warley-holy-cross-and-all-saints/The architect for the new church was Francis William Tasker, cousin of Countess Helen who helped finance the building.
Francis Tasker was born 1848 in Croydon, son of Charles & Sarah Tasker. He has a brief biography here:
http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=201860He died in 1883 and was living at Maryon Hall, Frognal Lane, Hampstead at the time of his death.
According to this article....
https://lesseminentvictorians.com/blog/Francis William was the grandson of the prolific architect John Tasker (1738-1816). I think this may be in error and he was the great-grandson.
A bit more information about John Tasker here.....
https://www.parksandgardens.org/people/john-taskerTasker did a lot of work for Thomas Weld of Lulworth castle. Interestingly John Tasker drew up architectural plans for the main house at Spetchley Park which was built by Robert Berkeley in 1811. Ellen Willmott's younger sister Rosa was later to marry Robert Berkeley's great-grandson, Robert Valentine Berkeley and Ellen herself helped remodelled the park and gardens at Spetchley.
I've looked briefly at John Tasker's will which looks very comprehensive. The main recipients of his estate seem to be his two sons John and Joseph Tasker, the latter presumably the father of Countess Helen Tasker. Joseph Tasker was a wealthy man, leaving around £500,000 on his death in 1861. He was a director of the United Mexican Mining Association which may have been the source of his wealth.
Hopefully John Tasker's will will reveal his connections with Hannah, Mary and Ellen Tasker that I've mentioned above.
Regards,
Chris
