Joseph Wright (1734 - 1797)

Born 3 Sep 1734 in Iron Gate, Derby, Derbyshire, England

Husband of Ann (Swift) Wright — married 29 Jul 1773 in Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire, England

Descendants

Died 29 Aug 1797 at age 62 in Derby, Derbyshire, England

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Biography

Joseph Wright was born in Derbyshire, England.

Notable as a famous painter. Many of Wright's paintings and drawings are owned by Derby City Council, and are on display at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

There are many online descriptions of his life, and there is a family genealogy in 'The Life and Works of Joseph Wright'^[1]

He was the third of five children of Hannah Brookes (1700–1764) and John Wright (1697–1767), an attorney and the town clerk of Derby. Joseph had two brothers, John and Richard, and two sisters, Hannah and Ann Elizabeth. ^[2]

Joseph Wright, bachelor, of St Alkmunds in Derby, and Ann Swift, spinster, of Ault Hucknall, were married by licence at the parish church of Ault Hucknall in Derbyshire on 29 July 1773. Both Joseph and Ann signed their names. ^[3] The allegations made in support of the marriage licence provide little additional information: Joseph was said to be aged over 30, and Ann over 21, but these are unlikely to represent their exact age; they largely demonstrate they were at their own disposal. Ann's place of residence has been changed to Ault Hucknall but it is hard to read the original place (the name seems to end in a "d", and might be Lichfield) or to tell if it has any significance or was a simple mistake. ^[4] Ann (also known as Hannah) Swift was the daughter of a lead miner.

Joseph and Ann Wright had six children, one of whom (the elder Joseph) died as an infant; their second son, John, died at the rather young age of 17 in 1798.

Ann died in 1790.

Joseph Wright died at his house in Derby on 29 August 1797. ^[5] Mr Joseph Wright was buried at the parish church of St Alkmund in Derby on 1 September 1797. ^[6]

His will, dated 4 June 1797, names the following family members:

• son John Wright
• daughter Anna Romana Cade; her husband James Cade, of Spondon, gentleman
• daughter Harriet Wright
• daughter Maria Wright
• son Joseph Wright

The will essentially divides his property equally between his children, and provides trustees and guardians for them. ^[7]

Research Notes

He is not the same person as Joseph Wright (abt.1745-1817) of Wormhill, Derbyshire.

May 2022:- Joseph Wright's Self-Portrait at the Age of About Forty has been unveiled at Derby Museum and Art Gallery, which holds several of his other works.
The painting was accepted in lieu of inheritance tax by the Government and allocated to Derby.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.gutenberg.org/files/66201/66201-h/66201-h.htm
2. ↑ William Bemrose, The Life and Works of Joseph Wright, A.R.A, commonly called "Wright of Derby", "Family Tree" (Project Gutenberg eBook: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/66201/66201-h/66201-h.htm accessed 18 April 2022)
3. ↑ Ault Hucknall parish register of marriages: Derbyshire Record Office: Ancestry Record DerbyshireMarriages #2225410
4. ↑ Diocese Of Lichfield & Coventry: Allegation for marriage licence made by Joseph Wright, 28 July 1773: Staffordshire Record Office: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FSTAFF%2FMARRLICENCE%2F107442%2F1
5. ↑ "Died", Derby Mercury, 31 August 1797, page 4, column 3
6. ↑ St Alkmund, Derby, parish register: Derbyshire Record Office: Ancestry Record 61407 #761624
7. ↑ Will of Joseph Wright, of Derby in Derbyshire, gentleman; proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 20 November 1797: The National Archives of the UK: reference PROB 11/1298 folio 316: Ancestry Record 5111 #266150

• Find a Grave[Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105952906/joseph-wright : accessed 9 February 2022), memorial page for Joseph Wright (3 Sep 1734–29 Aug 1797), Find a Grave Memorial ID 105952906, citing St. Alkmund Churchyard, Duffield, Amber Valley Borough, Derbyshire, England ; Maintained by Ash Montagu (contributor 46804013) .]
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Wright_of_Derby
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Wright-English-painter
• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/joseph-wright-of-derby
• The Art Detectives, Season 2 Episode 2, Derby, BBC.

See also:

• Judy Egerton, "Wright, Joseph, of Derby (1734–1797), painter", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (revised 3 January 2008; Oxford University Press) https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/30044 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-61437488