CENTENARIAN’S DEATH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18236, 3 November 1933, Page 4

CENTENARIAN’S DEATH

MRS. F. M. SPEAKMAN LIVED IN FOUR REIGNS (Pur Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day, A woman who lived in the reign of four monarchs of England, Mrs. Frances Mary Speakman, died yesterday at Auckland infirmary at the great age of 102 years. Although confined to bed practically since she was taken to the infirmary in December, 1930, Mrs. Speakman enjoyed comparatively good health tfritil she suffered a stroke a week ago. She retained her faculties to a remarkable degree, but her eyesight had begun to fail. Mrs. Speakman’s husband died over 40 years ago. and she had been entirely dependent on her own resources until granted a small pension four years ago. Born in Appleford, a tiny Berkshire village, not far from Oxford, Mrs. Speakman’s first memory was of the building of a branch railway in the district. She was still in possession of a Bible presented to her 92 years ago. Accompanied by her husband, Mr. William Speakman, she arrived in Auckland by the ship Matoaka in 1859, after a voyage lasting 16 weeks from Gravesend. While the Maori wars were iir progress Mrs. Speakman opened a store at Mechanics’ Bay.