Rear Adm. William Crispin, Pennsylvania Commissioner

In 1643 Margaret Van der Schure (Jasper) married (Admiral Sir) William Penn (1621-1670). Seven years later, c1650, Margaret Penn’s sister, Anne, married Captain William Crispin.

Like the Penn family, William Crispin (c1610-1681/2) was a merchant; captaining his own ship as he plied international trade, including importing wool from Holland.

During the period of the English Revolution (1640-49) he was a ship’s purser on a number of vessels. He is also reported as being a soldier under Cromwell and rose to be Captain of the Guard. In 1652, during the Commonwealth period, he was appointed command of the Hope.

Under Admiral Penn he became a naval captain and later sailed under the Admiral’s command in attacks on, firstly, the Dutch (1643-44) when he commanded the Assistance (180 men, 40 guns) and then, commanding the “Laurel” ( 160 seamen, 30 soldiers and 40 guns), on the Spanish in the Caribbean as part of Cromwell’s ‘Western Design’

Like Admiral Penn, Captain Crispin was in favour of the return of the Monarchy and conspired against the Cromwellian republican government.

At the time of the Restoration he was living in the important, English-occupied, Irish port of Kinsale ~ probable to be near and work in association with Admiral Penn. He later lived in Kilrush, County Clare, in close association with Admiral Penn, for some 20 years. He may well have been an administrator of English ‘justice’ in the county ~ certainly he will have been awarded for his previous Royalist sympathies and activities. There is no mention that he became a Quaker while in Ireland – though it is an outside possibility.

Captain Crispin died in Barbados en route to be a Commissioner in Pennsylvania (one of three originally appointed) which was the property of the Admiral’s son, the Quaker, William Penn. He was to work with William Penn’s cousin, William Markham, who was the Deputy-Govenor of the colony. Specifically the Commissioners were to negotiate with Native Americans for land to build the city of Philadelphia.

Penn also intended Crispin to act as a Chief Justice in the province: “London, 18th 8th mo. 1681.

Cosen Markham : “… I have sent my Cosen, William Crispin, to be thy Assistant, as by Commission will appear. His Skill, Experience, Industry & Integrity are well known to me, & perticulerly in court-keeping &c ; so that it is my will & pleasure that he be as Chief Justice, to keep the Seal, the Courts & Sessions ; & he shall be accountable to me for it. The proffits redounding are to his proper behoof. He will show thee my Instructions, which will guide you all in the business. The rest is left to your discretion ; that is, to thee, thy two Assistants & the Counsel. . . . Pray be very respectfull to my Cosen Crispin. He is a man my father had great confidence in and value for. . . . William Penn.” The Captain was one of the first purchasers of land in Pennsylvania – buying some 5,000 acres. When Crispin died Penn gifted these lands and the rights to city lots in Philadelphia to Crispin’s nine children. Following the death of her husband, Anne stayed in Ireland with her younger children for seven years. As relations, by marriage, to William Penn, the Crispins became involved in the establishment of the Pennsylvania colony ~ as landowners and administrators. For further information on the Cripin family read: Captain William Crispin, Proprietary’s Commissioner for Settling the Colony in Pennsylvania by Oliver Hough

http://pennsylvaniahistory.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/captain-william...

"The founder of the Crispin family in America was Captain and Acting Rear Admiral William Crispin, of the British navy, who was appointed by his wife's nephew, William Penn, proprietary of the Province of Pennsylvania, one of his comissioners for settling the colony in that Province, but died on the voyage from England. The names of William Crispin's parents are now unknown, but he was undoubtedly born in Devonshire, where a gentle family of the name had been settled since the Conquest, wiht several branches in that and adjoining counties.

No detailed history or pedigree of the family from William Crispin, Baron o fBec, at the time of the Conquest, down to Capt. William Crispin, founder of the American family, is known to exist, though there may be some unpublished herald's visitations of Devonshire, or pedigrees in private possession, that would through much light on the subject. "

-- "Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania" J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1915. Volume 1, pg. 528

Wikipedia: Captain William Crispin (October 3, 1627 – 1681) was one of five Commissioners appointed by William Penn for settling his colony of Pennsylvania, September 30, 1681. He had served in the army under Cromwell. Crispin was also appointed Surveyor General. William Penn appointed Crispin as the first Chief Justice in a letter dated August 18, 1681.

Crispin died at sea near Barbados on his way to Pennsylvania. He was replaced by Thomas Holme as Surveyor General.

Family Capt. William Crispin married twice. First to Ann Jasper, daughter of John Jasper, and sister of Margaret Jasper, wife of Admiral Penn. From this union, there were 4 children.

Silas Crispin (1655 – May 31, 1711) born c. 1655 in London, England; died May 31, 1711 in Dublin, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; married (1)Esther Holme (daughter of Thomas Holme) in 1683 and married (2)Mary Shinn Stockton, widow of Thomas Shinn . Rebecca Crispin, born c. 1656; married (1) Edward Blackfan August 24, 1688 in Sussex, England; married (2) Neheniah Allen 1725. Ralph Crispin, c. 1657 – June 21, 1730; married (1) Anne Millner in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland; married (2) Anna Busted 1682 in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. William Penn granted Ralph Crispin 500 acres of land in Pennsylvania, his portion of "his free gift" Ralph never left Ireland. Rachel Crispin, born c. 1658; married Thomas Armstrong Following the death of Ann Jasper, Capt. William Crispin married (2) Jane Chudleigh (Chidley)and they had 7 children:

James, married between 1687 and 1698 Joseph died as youth Benjamin married between 1698 and 1702 to Alice ____ Jane married to Greenland Lucomb Eleanor. never married Elizabeth died prior to 1702 married between 1698 and 1698 to Hilliard. Amy married Daniel Johnson. William Penn granted James, Benjamin, Jane, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Amy, "his free gift" of 3000 acres of land in Pennsylvania by deed on November 22, 1698. The same deed includes to "Jane Crispin, of Kinsale,, widow of William Crispin." he gave " one half of 3000 acres. This deed is among the papers of the late Daniel Sutter of Mt.Holly, NJ

There is another faction noting the marriage of Capt. Crispin to Rebecca Bradshaw (1631–1660) on September 28, 1652 in St. Dunstan's, Stepney, Middlesex, England. Stating: Captain William Crispin married first, Sept. 22, 1652, Rebecca Bradshaw, the daughter of Ralph Bradshaw and Rachel Penn, who was the sister of Admiral Sir Wm. Penn, and the daughter of Captain Giles Penn, the grandfather of Wm. Penn the founder of Pennsylvania. His son Silas was born of this marriage, and from him are descended the Crispin families of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He married second in 1655 Jane Chudeleigh of Kinsdale, Ireland. From both of these marriages he had numerous children."

"The founder of the Crispin family in America was Captain and Acting Rear Admiral William Crispin, of the British navy, who was appointed by his wife's nephew, William Penn, proprietary of the Province of Pennsylvania, one of his comissioners for settling the colony in that Province, but died on the voyage from England. The names of William Crispin's parents are now unknown, but he was undoubtedly born in Devonshire, where a gentle family of the name had been settled since the Conquest, wiht several branches in that and adjoining counties. No detailed history or pedigree of the family from William Crispin, Baron o fBec, at the time of the Conquest, down to Capt. William Crispin, founder of the American family, is known to exist, though there may be some unpublished herald's visitations of Devonshire, or pedigrees in private possession, that would through much light on the subject. " -- "Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania" J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1915. Volume 1, pg. 528

From: Missy <thunder2@netvision.net.il> Subject: Re: Capt. William CRISPIN Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 10:55:39 +0300

Betty Harris wrote:

Read the data on Crispin with interest. I also descend form Silas Crispiin
and his wife, Mary Stockton. Rear Admiral Wm Crispin m Rebecca Bradshaw

-
Hello Betty and All Crispen researchers:

I have one source that states:

1. Rear-Admiral William Crispin, wife was Miss Anne Japer, Daughter
of John Jasper, and sister of Margaret Jasper (wife of Vice-Admiral Sir William Penn of Mother of William Penn, the Quaker, who was founder of the Province of Pennsylvania),*****source "Keeler Scrapbook Burl. Co. Hist Soc.Vault ..taken from the Genealogical Record Book of the Crispin Family"

Then another that states:

2. ...Captain William Crispin..born in England October 3, 1627.... When William Penn was granted in 1681 the Province of Pennsylvania by Charles II in payment of a debt due Admiral Penn by the English Government, he sent his cousin, William Markham, to Pennsylvania as Deputy Governor to receive the territory from the Duke fo York's representives at New York. He sent Captain William Crispin, the trusted friend and close associate of his father, and his own first cousin by marriage, to Pennsylvania as an administrator.

.......

Captain Crispin started for Pennslyvania in the ship "Amity" the same year, but after nearly reaching the Capes of Delaware, the ship was blown off by contrary winds and put into the Barbadoes, where Crispin died. ..... Captain William Crispin Married first September 22, 1652, Rebecca Bradshaw, the daughter of Ralph Bradshaw and Rachel Penn, who was the sister of Admiral Sir William Penn and the Daughter of Captain Giles Penn, the Grandfather of William Penn, the Founder. His son Silas was born of this marriage and from him are descended the Crispins families of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He married second in 1655 Jane Chudleigh, of Kinsale, Ireland *****Source: Philadelphia Evening Bulletin October the 3rd of 1927.

For Breifness....I did leave out portions. SO my big question is...does anybody else have the input on which wife he was actually married to??

Maybe a Penn researcher would have an idea!

Also I seem to have missed the original posting that started out on this line....I would LOVE to "talk" with other CRISPIN researchers!

Missy thunder2@netvision.net.il This thread:

Re: Capt. William CRISPIN by "Betty Harris" <bharris@inetnebr.com> Re: Capt. William CRISPIN by Missy <thunder2@netvision.net.il> Capt. William CRISPIN by <barilyn@enternet.co.nz> Re: Capt. William CRISPIN by JYoung6180 <JYoung6180@aol.com> Re: Capt. William CRISPIN by "Betty Harris" <bharris@inetnebr.com> Re: Capt. William CRISPIN by JYoung6180 <JYoung6180@aol.com> Re: Capt. William CRISPIN/Patriarch Party by Missy <thunder2@netvision.net.il> Re: Capt. William CRISPIN/Patriarch Party by JYoung6180 <JYoung6180@aol.com> Re: Capt. William CRISPIN by Bill Blackburn <shastabill@snowcrest.net> Re: Capt. William CRISPIN/Patriarch Party by "Betty Harris" <bharris@inetnebr.com> Re: Capt. William Crispin by JYoung6180 <JYoung6180@aol.com> RootsWeb is funded and supported by Ancestry.com and our loyal RootsWeb community. Learn more.