Isobel Crichton (Wright) Matson (1915 - 1996)

Born 9 Jun 1915 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of John Nicholson Matson — married 26 Jul 1941 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 8 Mar 1996 at age 80 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

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Biography

Isobel Wright was the granddaughter of William Smith and Janet Smith whose daughter Irene went to live with the Crichton-Smiths. She was the first woman to graduate from University of Canterbury Law School in 1938.

Barrister and solicitor. NZ Rhodes scholar for 1938 attended Oriel College Oxford. John and Isobel were living at 21a Crichton Tce, Cashmere in 1981, Electoral Roll No. 128 and 129 respectively.

Notices

TO CONTINUE LAW STUDIES. - Sydney Morning Herald. Tuesday 10th May 1938. ^[1] MISS ISOBEL WRIGHT, LL.B of Christchurch, who is staying with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Crichton Smith, of Wahroonga, before she sails in the Strathallan for England. Miss Wright, who is only 22 years of age, was recently admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. She will go to Oxford University to continue her studies, and expects to be away about two years.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 128, 2 June 1939. ^[2] Oxford "Blue" for Tennis. Since her arrival in England last October to continue her study of law at Oxford University, Miss Isobel Wright, Christchurch. has had several academic successes, states the Christchurch "Press." In November she won the coveted woman's law scholarship, and a recent English mail brought news of her success also in the field of sport. Early in May she was awarded her "blue" at Oxford for lawn tennis, and was picked to represent Oxford in the Oxford University women's match against Cambridge, on May 15 and 16. She has also been appointed treasurer of the Oxford University Women's Lawn Tennis Club. Miss Wright is probably the first Christchurch girl to win her tennis "blue" at Oxford. Mrs. C. L. Young, headmistress of St. Margaret's College, received her "blue" while living in England, and she was instrumental in having Miss Wright enter her old college, St. Margaret's Hall. This year Miss Wright was elected president of the Geldart Society, a society comprised of Oxford University women law students.

Barristers to Marry. - Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 13th June 1940. ^[3] Of interest in Sydney is the engagement of Miss Isobel Wright, eldest daughter of Mr. A. F. Wright and of the late Mrs. Wright, of Christchurch New Zealand, and grand daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Crichton-Smith, of Wahroonga, to Mr. John N. Matson of the Colonial Administrative Service, West Africa, son of Captain John Matson, late Indian Army, and Mrs. Matson, of Christchurch. Miss Wright was the first woman barrister admitted in Canterbury, New Zealand, and is at Lady Margaret Hall Oxford, MISS ISOBEL WRIGHT. [Photo] as holder of the Ivy Williams law scholarship. She is president of the junior common room and a tennis "blue". Her fiance took his law degree at Canterbury College New Zealand and went to Oxford as New Zealand Rhodes Scholar. A "greyhound blue" he has twice played Rugby football for Oxford against Cambridge. He enlisted at the out break of war but soon afterwards was drafted to his present post. Miss Wright will remain at Oxford to complete her studies.

Evening Post 5th September 1941. ^[4] On July 26, the marriage took place of John Nicholson Matson, Colonial Administrative Service and Gold Coast Regiment, elder son of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Matson, I.A., (ret.) and Mrs. S. Matson of Oxford, and Isobel Wright, daughter of Mr. A. F. Wright, New Zealand. Mr. Matson was a 1938 Rhodes Scholar for Canterbury College and continued reading law at Oriel College, Cambridge, before leaving for the Colonial Service.

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 129, 27 November 1941. ^[5] Mrs. J. N. Matson, formerly Miss Isobel Wright, of Cashmere, Christchurch, has been appointed lecturer in law at the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth. Mrs. Matson graduated LL.B. at Canterbury University College, Christchurch, and recently completed her law degree at Oxford, passing with honours.

Sources

1. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17463943
2. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?phrase=2&snippet=true&query=Miss+Isobel+Wright&start_date=02-06-1939&end_date=02-06-1939
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17694553
4. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?phrase=2&snippet=true&query=Isobel+Wright&start_date=05-09-1941&end_date=05-09-1941
5. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?phrase=2&snippet=true&query=Isobel+Wright&start_date=27-11-1941&end_date=27-11-1941

• https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search
• Birth - NZ BDM BC 16354/1915.
• Marriage - England BDM Jul-Aug-Sep 1941
• Death - NZ BDM DC 56059/1996
• Link - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G3W1-697