Ancestry of Rupert Murdoch

compiled by Michael J Wood


The following material on the immediate ancestry of Rupert Murdoch should not be considered either exhaustive or authoritative, but rather as a first draft.

This report is by Michael J Wood. The contribution of the undersigned is that of HTML-izing Mr. Wood's report.





William Addams Reitwiesner

wargs@wargs.com


Ancestry of Rupert Murdoch
1 Keith Rupert Murdoch, publisher, b. 11 March 1931 in Melbourne, Vic., Australia, naturalized as a U.S. citizen on 4 Sept. 1985
m. (1) ... 1956, div. ... 1960
Patricia Booker
m. (2) ... 1967, div. ... 8 June 1999
Anna Maria Torv, b. Glasgow, Scotland, 30 June 1944, dau. of Jacob Torv and Sylvia Braida. She remar. Oct 1999 William Mann. Now [2005] known as Anna Maria Murdoch-Mann. Director of News Corporation Ltd 1990-98.
m. (3) on board the yacht "Morning Glory" on the Hudson River in New York Harbor, 25 June 1999, as her second husband
邓文迪 (in English, "Wendi Deng"), b. ... 1968 in 徐州 (in English, "Xuzhou"), 江蘇 (in English, "Jiangsu"), 中华人民共和国 (in English, "China"), (she had previously m. 1990, div. 1992, Jake Cherry, b. 1937)

Issue:
By first wife:
A.        Prudence Murdoch, b. 1958 in Adelaide, South Australia, m. Alasdair Macleod, Times Newspapers CEO
Issue:
a.        James Macleod b. 1991 in the UK
b. Angus Macleod b. 1993 in the UK
c. Clementine Macleod b. 1996 in the UK
By second wife:
B. Elisabeth Murdoch, b. 22 Aug 1968 at Sydney, NSW, Aus., television executive, manager of Fox TV in USA
m. (1) Los Angeles, Cal., 10 Sept. 1993, sep. 1998, Elkin Kwesi Pianim, b. 1970 in Ghana, son of A ... Kwame Pianim and Cornelia ...
m. (2) 18 Aug 2001, as his second wife, Matthew Rupert Freud, b. 2 Nov 1963, chairman of Freud Communications, son of Sir Clement Raphael Freud, b. 26 Apr 1926, writer, broadcaster, caterer, Member of Parliament 1973-87, son of Ernst Freud and grandson of Sigmund Freud, one of the founders of psychoanalysis
Issue:
By first husband:
a. Cornelia Pianim, b. 1994 in New York
b. Anna Pianim, b. 1997 in London
By second husband:
c. Charlotte Freud, b. 17 Nov 2000
C. Lachlan Keith Murdoch, b. 8 Sept 1971 in London, England, publisher, New York Post since 2000, television executive
m. 27 May 1999, Sarah O'Hare, model, b. 31 May 1972 in England
Issue:
a. Kalan Murdoch, b. Nov 2004 in Sydney, NSW
D. James Rupert Murdoch, b. 13 Dec 1972 at Wimbledon, Surrey, England, Chief Executive Officer, British Sky Broadcasting since 2003
m. Kathryn Hufschmid
Issue:
a. Anneka Murdoch, b. April 2003 in Hong Kong
By third wife:
E. Grace Helen Murdoch, b. 19 Nov. 2001 in New York
F. Chloe Murdoch, b. 17 July 2003 in New York
PARENTS
2 Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch, b. 12 Aug 1885 at a'Beckett St., West Melbourne, Vic., d. during the night of 4/5 Oct 1952 at Cruden Farm, Langwarrin, Vic., journalist, newspaper proprietor [ADB 10: 622-7]
m. 6 June 1928 at Scots Church, South Yarra, Vic.
3 Elisabeth Joy Greene, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, AC, DBE, b. 8 Feb 1909, living 2005, charity worker, philanthropist.
GRANDPARENTS
4 Patrick John Murdoch, b. 10 June 1850 at Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, emigrated to Australia 1884, d. 1 July 1940 at Auburn, Vic., Presbyterian minister [ADB 10: 628]
m. 5 Jan 1882 at Cruden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
5 Annie Brown, b. 1856, d. 1945
6 Rupert Greene of Melbourne, merchant
m.
7 Marie Grace de Lancey Forth, b. at Dwaroon, Warrnambool, Vic.
GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
8 Rev. James Murdoch, Minister, Free Church of Scotland
m. 23 Sept 1828 at Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire [IGI]
9 Helen Garden, b. 11 April 1826, bapt 11 May 1826 at Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire [IGI]
10 George Brown, Presbyterian minister
m.
11 May ------
14 Robert de Lancey Forth, d. 23 Apr 1890 at Warrnambool, Vic.
m. 7 July 1877 at Keilambete, Terang, Vic.
15 Anne Thomson Ware, b. 1 Dec 1855 at Koort-Koort-Nong, near Camperdown, Vic.
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
18 Francis Garden
m.
19 Helen Young
28 Frederick Henry Alexander Forth, b. 11 Feb 1808, Army Officer, Lt. Gov. in the West Indies, Member, Legislative Council of Hong Kong, lived in Tasmania in 1830s and 1840s, probably d. there c. 1876.
m.
29 Caroline Jemima Sherson, b. 9 Mar 1810, bapt 28 Dec 1810 at St Marylebone, Middx [IGI], probably d. 1878 in Tasmania.
30 Jeremiah George Ware, b. 21 July 1818 in London, England, d. 22 Oct 1859, bur. Camperdown Cemetery, Vic.
m. 4 June 1851 at Hobart, Tasmania
31 Anne Young McRobie, b. 13 July 1833, at ... , Tas., d. 19 June 1867 at Warrnambool, Vic., remar. James William Manifold Aitken
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
36 William Garden, b. 1770, d. 1806, land surveyor
m.
37 Eliza Logie, b. 1770
56 Nathaniel Parker Forth, b. 27 July 1744 at Ludlow, Shropshire, d. 28 April 1809 in Paris, Lord Chamberlain to King George III, Minister Plenipotentiary to the Courts of Versailles and Madrid
m. (2) 25 Aug 1804 at Paris, France
57 Eliza Petrie, b. 5 Aug 1784, bapt 26 Oct 1784 at Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, India [&c], d. 26 May 1864 in London [she m2. Alexandre Jean Denis Rouen des Mallets (1779-1871)]
58 Robert Sherson, prob. b. early 1770s, d. 1842, of the Indian Civil Service, living at Nottingham Place, Middx at date of will 1 Mar 1842, proved at London 15 Apr 1842 [PROB11/1961, f. 331]
m. 22 May 1798 at Fort St George, Madras, India,
59 Catherine Taylor, living 1842
60 Jeremiah Ware, b. 18 Mar 1793 at Chesham, Bucks, emigrated to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) 1822, d. 9 Aug 1878 in Tasmania
m. (1) 14 Apr 1814 at St Albans Anglican Church, London
61 Mary Brooks, b. prob. at Hadnall, Bucks, d. 27 July 1858 in Tasmania
62 William McRobie of Hobart Town, flour miller, b. 1799 at Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland, d. 9 June 1877 at Koort-Koort-Kong, Camperdown, Vic., [Ancestral File]
m. 13 July 1832 at Hobart Town, Tas. [IGI]
63 Anne Young Thomson, b. c.1803 in Scotland, d. 19 June 1867 at Warrnambool, Vic. [IGI]
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
72 John Garden
m.
73 ------
74 Rev William Logie, b. 1750, laird and sheriff-clerk in Kincairdshire
m.
75 Eliza Forbes, b. 1750
112 Capt. Samuel Forth, Sovereign of Langford, b. 1691, d. 1761
m.
113 ------
114 John Petrie, senior merchant at Calcutta in the 1780s, who in England is said to have lived at Gatton Park, Surrey, b. (place unknown) 1742, d. 1792
m. 11 Nov 1779 at Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, India
115 Anne Keable
116 Robert Sherson, b. 1736/7, buried 13 Jan 1821 at Fetcham, Surrey aged 84, apothecary, doctor of medicine and botanist. Will dated 2 Feb 1819, proved with 3 codicils at London 22 Mar 1821 [PROB11/1641, f. 189b]
m.
117 Mary ------ , b. 1737/8, buried 18 May 1815 at Fetcham, Surrey aged 77, as "wife of Robert, M.D., of Bridge House, Fetcham".
122 George Brooks, of Hadnall, Bucks.
m.
123 ------
124 William McRobie, of Scotland
m.
125 Jean or Jane Hall, of Scotland
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
150 Rev. ------ Forbes, minister at Stonehaven
m.
151 ------
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
7/GREAT-GRANDPARENTS






NOTES






1 -- In 1998 he was made a Knight of the Papal Order of St Gregory the Great (KSG), but because this is not a British honour, he is not styled "Sir" in England. In 1984 he became a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).



57 has other descendants, such as:

Eliza Petrie m. Alexandre Jean Denis Rouen des Mallets
.Louise Rouen des Mallets m. Charles Terray de Morel-Vindé
 .Jeanne Marie Terray de Morel-Vindé m. Guy de Rohan-Chabot, c de Chabot
  .LOUIS CHARLES de ROHAN-CHABOT, duc de RAVESE (1870-1964)




58 & 59 and 116 & 117:

In his will in 1819 Robert Sherson of Fetcham devised his house at Fetcham to his son "Robert Sherson of Civil Service at Madras". The Fetcham parish register [TS at SoG: SU/R128] records the baptisms of Robert Sherson, b. 22 Oct 1800, bapt 29 Jan 1801, and of Alexander Nowell Sherson, b. 22 May, bapt 18 Aug 1805, sons of "Robert & Catherine of Madras". In an affidavit following the registered copy of the will and codicils he is described as "Robert Sherson formerly of Bridewell Precinct, London, afterwards of Fetcham, Surrey, and late of Bridge House, Leatherhead".

A slim volume, Marriages in the Presidency of Fort St George 1680-1800, ed. H Dodwell, (Madras 1919), p. 61 has: "SHERSON, Robert, Esq, with Miss Catherine TAYLOR, May 22, 1798".

Eighteenth Century Medics by P J & R V Willis (Newcastle upon Tyne, 1988) describes the elder Robert Sherson as "MD, FSA, FRS. Apothecary (Master), Botanist, of Lime street, London [and] Feltham, Surrey" and that he had been apprenticed 12 June 1752 to James Dickson, apothecary for 7 years from 10 December 1751. Apprentices of Great Britain 1710-1762 vol 27 (at SoG), compiled from the registers at the PRO [now TNA], IRl, gives the reference [IR1/] 51/166, and adds that James Dickson was of Lancaster, and that the consideration was £42.

Robert Sherson the elder was also the father of Rev Alexander Kirkpatrick Sherson, 1769/70-1825, who was rector of Buntingford, Herts [Alumni Oxon 1715-1886, p. 1288, and his own will, PROB 11/1700 f. 346]. In 1742 Edward son of William Sherson clerk of Buntingford, Herts, was apprenticed to John Reddall, surgeon, consideration £40. [IR1/16/181]. Alumni Cantab, Part 1 (to 1777), Vol. IV p. 64, says William Sherson was Master of Buntingford School from 1728 until at least 1742, and that his son William b. 1723/4 was also admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge.



62 & 63 have other descendants, such as:

William McRobie m. Ann Young Thomson
.Jane Hall McRobie m. William George Lempriere
 .Charles Lempriere m. Dora Mitchell, sister of 
               Dame Helen Porter (Mitchell) Armstrong, 
               known as Dame NELLIE MELBA (1861-1931), prima donna, 
               herself great-grandmother of 3rd Baron Vestey (b. 1941).










SOURCES CONSULTED AND CITED




Who's Who in Australia 2005 has entries for Sir Rupert Murdoch, his mother, two of his three wives, his three children by his second wife, and one daughter-in-law. See also the English Who's Who.

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 10.

The MURDOCH and FREUD families are in BLG, 103rd edn (2003).

"Crikey Website - The extended Murdoch family" for the descendants of Rupert Murdoch.

The Genealogy of the Garden Family, on http://www.kittybrewster.com/ancestry/garden.html, was found via Google "Garden family".

The WARE family is in Early Pioneer Families of Victoria and Riverina, A Genealogical and Biographical Record, by Alexander Henderson (Melbourne, 1936), pp. 535-545, esp. pp. 544, 535-538.

The FORTH family is in Armorial Families by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (1929), p. 2173.

The familysearch website has also been used, where indicated (IGI, Ancestral file).

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 39:814











William Addams Reitwiesner

wargs@wargs.com