Searching for Robert Murdoch Wright

[Mathilde ML]

Hello everybody,
I'm searching information about the painter Robert Murdoch Wright. It seems that he would be born in Kensington (London) in September 1858 and died also in Kensington in June 1926. I found on the FreeBMD : Robert M Wright Age 67 / Distric Kensington / Vol 1a / Page 157 but I would like to know if it is really the painter I am looking for. Is it possible to find more information without buying a copy of the register please ?
Thank you very much for your help.
PS : I'm French and hope you will understand my English

[jorose]

Hi there,

The version of the index on the GRO site confirms this index entry has middle name Murdoch
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp

To see the details you would have to order a copy. English death certificates do not give as much information as French ones, by the way, for example his parents names will not be present.

[mckha489]

From the GRO site linked previously you can his mothers surname before she was married was GRAY

WRIGHT, ROBERT  MURDOCK     GRAY 
GRO Reference: 1858  S Quarter in KENSINGTON  Volume 01A  Page 61
 

There is an extensive tree on ancestry that seems to be correctly researched.

His father died the year after he was born.
In the 1881 census he was described as an art student
In 1890 his mother (Harriet Augusta wright nιe Gray) died and named him as one of the executors and the second name is spelt MURDOCK in that record.   He is said to be an artist.

In 1911 census he is in Oxford. Married. Wife isn’t with him. He signs R. Murdoch Wright.  Portrait Painter

[mckha489]

1921 he is in Somerset. We are limited in what we can tell you from the 1921 census.
His wife is with him

But I think there is a certain amount you can find out without a subscription. Also you can buy the record

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/1921-census

[mckha489]

Studied at Antwerp & Paris according to this

[Neale1961]

The 1881 census shows him as an Art student
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q279-8JNW

1911 census shows him as an artist / portrait painter
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7K4-FZ7

The above links open to a web-site which is free to register and use.

[AlanBoyd]

From information in the 1921 census entry, I deduce that this is an advertisement related to him:

Bristol Times and Mirror, August 13th 1920

Pleasant Country Apartments, vacant Sept, also winter months, – Wright, Glendale, Worle, Som.

and also that the place that he lived would be somewhere on this map view:

http://tinyurl.com/22pmtsc7

in the general vicinity of Lynch Farm and Bay Tree Farm. My bet would be on that small group of buildings at the top of the view on the east side of the road, but I have no direct evidence for that. As you will be able to see from the right hand part of the map view, that whole area has been developed. As far as I can tell from streetview there is a modern convenience store there now.

[AlanBoyd]

Oxford Journal 16th March, 1910

OXFORD COUNTY COURT.

A sitting of the Oxford County Court was held in the County Hall on Monday, before his Honour, Judge Sir Thomas Snagge.

ARTIST'S CLAIM.
Robert Murdoch Wright, artist, The Studio, Gloucester-lane, Oxford, sued R.G. Marks, artist, 1, Highbury grove, London, for work done and materials supplied amounting to £43 9s. 6d.

Mr. A. H. Franklin, who represented the plaintiff, stated that an action was first commenced in the High Court for the recovery of £43 9s. 6d. for work done by the plaintiff for the defendant. A defence was put up, and a counter-claim for £8 10s 6d was made, and the case was sent to this Court. The defendant was not present.

Plaintiff went into the box and stated that the claim was for drawings supplied for the purpose of making lantern slides. Judgment was given for the plaintiff on the claim and counter-claim, with costs.

A 1907 Trade Directory entry has him at this address; and he is found there in the 1911 census, occupation portrait painter, married, (but his wife not present).

[Mathilde ML]

Hi,
Thank you very much to everyone for all that very interesting information. I work for a museum who just buyed a painting by this artist (not well known in France) and we can now add documentation on its work.
As I am found of genealogy and work on my personal family trees, I had this idea to ask you from a little help and I'm very glad and grateful !
Have a good day