Looking for James Tasker convict South Hinksey

[juddee]

Looking for any information on James Tasker who was tried at the Berkshire Assizes and  transported to Van Diemans Land now Tasmania in 1820 for 7 yrs for stealing a pig.  He was a farm labourer and 35yrs old when he sailed for Australia.  Upon completion of his sentence he married Mary Smythe from Enniskillen in 1831 and never returned home.  As he was 35 (birth c.1785 father possibly William) in 1820 there is a strong possibility he was already married with a family.  His native place was listed as both Oxford City and Buckinghamshire on his papers so this has proved a big headache trying to find him. Is there someone who can point me in the right direction?
Juddee
PS Have just discovered he was residing in the parish of South Hinksey at the time of his offence which may make him a little easier to trace

[nellie d]

I'm afraid that I can't be of much help at the moment, but I do know of a TASKER family living in Kennington, which is the next village on from South Hinksey. I'll ask my mum if she knows anything...she lives in Kennington and I think the local history society might cover S Hinksey as well.

Nellie

[nellie d]

Judee
Sorry, this just came from my mum.

"No luck, I.m afraid.There are no Taskers at all registered for a baptism,
marriage or burial in the South Hinksey, Sunningwell or Radley parishes (among
which Kennington used to be shared) between 1770 and 1860.
1820 in too early for the full censuses which did not start until 1841,
although there is one of a sort for 1801.
The indexes for Jackson's Oxford Journal do not cover 19th century so would
not include a crime committed in 1820. Finding a report - if there was one -
would involve searching through the copies of the paper on microfilm in the
Centre for Oxfordshire Studies. It would not take too
long for the one year.
There may be an account in the local Reading paper of the time; but that would
mean a search - also on microfilm - in Reading Public Library.
No member of the Oxfordshire Family History Society is researching the name of
 Tasker according to the list of interests they issue. I have been surprised
at how infrequent the name occurs around hear. The only one I spotted was at
Witney in 1765. His name was James but he was a
miller. (He was having a dispute over the use of the River Cherwell).
Still, interesting looking"

Good luck though

Nellie

[juddee]

Hi Nellie,
Thank you for your help and would you please thank your mum again for taking the time to try and track down my elusive ancestor,  I am very grateful for what she has done even though nothing  was found     It is people like you and your mum who make RootsChat what it is - a fabulous site where friends go out of their way to help each other when they can. 

Do you know if the library and/or the centre would carry out a search for me or do you have to do it in person?  He was tried 28 February 1820 so it should be easy to find a report if one was made.  I just need one little clue - perhaps he was the black sheep of the family     Who knows??

Merry Christmas to you both
Juddee

 

[nellie d]

It was a chap called Richard who knows my mum through a local history group that did all the work...we can't take the credit...

Nellie