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CRISP Research Letter
Robert M. Crisp
Fayetteville, AR
June 23, 1989
Dear Friends:
Over the past few years I have had the good fortune to correspond with many people
interested in CRISP research. While many people research their immediate ancestors,
I became interested primarily in the CRISP name and have spent most of my time
collecting CRISP information. Since so many persons have helped, I thought I would
put together some of my notes and send it to the many people who have been willing
to share with me.
I keep all my data on a computer which is also my profession: I am Professor of Computer
Science Engineering at the University of Arkansas. Therefore, it’s been easier to maintain
data and retrieve data this way. I use an IBM computer and use the LDS or Mormon
software package called PAF version 2.1. This system allows me to load families,
marriages, and notes about individuals. Thus, I can get a printout of all the descendants
of a particular person, a family group, list of marriages, etc. In addition, the PAF software
has a function called Research Data Filer (RFD). This is very much like a set of Electronic
Index cards, but the power of the computer can be used. For example, I can call for all
“marriages” in “Texas”. At this point I have about 2500 persons loaded into the CRISP family
file and a good stack more that haven’t been added yet. I also have about 1500 entries in
the RDF file, primarily births and marriages. Most of these entries were obtained from the
LDS IGI file.
In collecting CRISP research, most of it goes to either a dead end or to a partially proven
relationship. It appears that many CRISP were some of the first pioneers to move into
new areas and records are weak. Therefore, this note is directed to some of the dead
end persons and the persons with weak proof as to ancestor. You should know that I
tend to follow my academic standards of proof and am probably pretty hard in this sense.
As an example, the 1850 census lists all persons in a household by name but does not
show relationship to the head of the household as later censuses did. Therefore, if a
James Crisp, age 18, is in the family of a John Crisp, age 50, the census does not say
James is a son of John although the odds are quite high that he is. But, he could be a
nephew, younger brother, etc. And, there are instances where this happened. My only
point is that if some other possibility exists, then we don’t have absolute proof. A
similar problem occurs in deeds, marriage witness, etc. If there are two William CRISP
of age in same area and a William CRISP is a witness to a deed, then which of the
two is it? I bring this up because I think sometimes assumptions have been made
when there is in fact some doubt.
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Starting any discussion of the CRISP ancestors nearly always wants to start with the
William CRISP of Edgecombe, Martin, & Pitt Counties, NC, who left a will dated 1783
naming 18 children and “last” wife Frances. He names children by first (or earlier)
marriage(s) as: John, William, Bray, Mary md. a WILKINSON, Ann md. a ROSS,
Sarah md. a EDMONSTON, Susannah md. a PRESCOTT, and Martha md. a FLAKE.
The will names children by last wife Frances as: Jesse, Samuel, Benjamin, Ezekiel,
Francis (male), Elizabeth md. a LITTLE, Winniefreid md. a GIBBS, Lydia md. a
WHITFIELD, Isabel md. a WHITLEY, and Seeley md. a BULLOCK.
There has always been some difficulty in determining time frames on this William. Since
the will is dated 1783 and all female children were married, then they were probably all
born before about 1763 using 20 years for marriage. And with 18 children, the births
would be spread over at least 25 to 30 years. This would put the first born back to the
1730’s at least. I have one record which seems to tie down a birth date. A newspaper
record on the death of Jesse CRISP is listed in “Deaths/Marriages Edgecombe Co.,
Tarboro, NC Newspapers” (975.646) in LDS Library, Salt Lake City, UT, as died 27 Jul
1831 in his seventy-first year. This would put his birth year as 1760 or 1761. In William’s
1783 will, he lists children by last wife and names them in mixed sex order and Jesse is
listed next to last before Ezekiel. If they were listed in order of birth then others born
before 1760 except Ezekiel. All females in will have married names, so were old enough
to be married by 1783. My guess from this is that William had first 8 children from about
1720 to 1740 and last 10 children from abt. 1740 to early 1760’s. It would also put
William’s birth date back around 1700.
The earliest date where I have found a record of a William CRISP is in Bertie Co. area of NC
on 24 July 1728 where a William CRISP is a witness to a deed from John HOBSON of Cashi
to Francis HOBSON (Bertie Co. Deeds, in LDS Lib., SLC, UT). Maybe even more interesting
and mysterious is a deed (same source) in which Francis HOBSON gives to William CRISP
200 a. “for love good will and affection...for my loving friend William CRISP....” The logical
connection would seem to be that Francis HOBSON was giving land to his son-in-law.
However, Francis HOBSON has a will and does not name anyone connected to CRISP.
Several possibilities exist and you can make them as well as I can. A John HOBSON
receives 190 a. from the Lords Proprietors “due for importation of persons @ 50 A/person” in
1723. One guess (that I like) is that HOBSON’s were friends of CRISP and paid for their trip
to U.S. in return for CRISP working for HOBSON for a few years and HOBSON gave land to
CRISP. Only a guess? Many people have looked for roots of William and to date I’ve seen
nothing concrete. There are CRISP in early Virginia but again the connection cannot be made.
There is an early Benjamin CRISP in Mass. with wife Bridget. Benjamin had sons including a
Jonathan. Some have tried to connect William to Benjamin through Jonathan. But, Jonathan
was supposed to have died in King Phillip’s war abt. 1680, and I can’t see William born that
early. Jonathan had brothers: Mehitable and Zechariah but I don’t have any additional
info. on them. Since William is an ancestor to
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thousands of persons, his roots are of great interest. But nothing to date that I’ve seen
holds up.
There are a few other small pieces of info. which appear to be linked to William CRISP.
William CRISP and Frances CRISP deeded land to Samuel Singleton, 9 Aug 1746, 30 pds.
for 200 a. (Bertie Co., [NC] Deeds, p. 197, LDS Library, SLC, UT). The compiler of this
book inserted in parentheses the following: “(There is no mention that Frances CRISP is
wife of William CRISP. The general rule is...wife of...)”.
At a court on 10 May 1748 at Cashy Bridge, Bertie Co., NC, “A deed of sale was proven
from Francis Crisp” (Hathaway’s Journal of NC Hist. and Gen.).
William Crisp deed to Francis Crisp, 1779, NC, Pitt Co., BK. F, p. 509. This could be
William’s son, Francis, who was however dead at time of will in 1783.
These items make one wonder if a male Francis Crisp was with William in early NC,
possibly a brother. All these references to Francis or Frances certainly could be his last
wife (or son for later dates). But the question exists. And, we can’t be certain all of these
are William died 1783. It could be another William, particularly possible would be his
son William.
Several people have given William CRISP died 1783 the middle name Mansil (spelled
several different ways). The primary source of this conclusion is a deed from Ezekiel
CRISP to Godfrey Stanceill, 1787, Martin Co., NC of “part of tract taken up by William
Mancil CRISP”. In this deed he does not say my father as is often the case. This had
bothered me since I first saw it for several reasons. One is that practically nobody other
than German immigrants had middle names until about the Rev. War period. I have
never seen a documented middle name for any of William’s 18 children so middle names
were not given to his children unless we just don’t know them. And, while the name
Mansil (my grandfather’s name was Mansil) is used by many CRISP, I have never seen
a proven case of it appearing in any of the descendants of the 10 children of William
and Frances. Another item is a deed from Nathan Stancil to Whitdon Andrews, Pitt Co.,
N 302, 1796, describing land as beginning at William Mansil Crisp corner. Prescott
CRISP and wife Susanah sold dower to William Manuel (Mansil?) CRISP in Edgecombe
Co., NC, 1810. My guess is that William Mansil CRISP is not the William CRISP died
1783 and the name Mansil was used to distinguish between the two. There are other
deeds of this early William where they say my father or my grandfather. I am not sure.
But, I don’t accept Mansil as the proven middle name of William CRISP, died 1783.
I want to see “my father” used before I accept it.
On MANSIL: Clearly, with the name Mansil used so much, then some connection to
MANSIL appears very likely. Some people have looked to Mass. and other places to
find the Mansil connection. However, there are records which put MANSIL in NC at
the same time and place as William. The LDS, IGI file has a William MANSELL md.
to Mary THERILL, 5 Feb. 1686
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in Ablemarle Co., NC. Hathaway’s Journal of NC Hist. & Gen. and the LDS, IGI file have
daughters born of William and Mary MANSELL: Mary in 1692 and Elizabeth in 1694.
Appearing at a similar place and time is William MANSEL producing his license as an
attorney at a court of Bertie Co., NC, at Cashy Bridge. This is same place but a year
different from the Francis CRISP deed noted above. There are some other references
to William MANSELL in early NC, witness deeds, court case, etc. Given a William
MANSELL at the right time and place in NC with daughters along with William CRISP
makes him a likely candidate for the MANSELL connection.
Now to a discussion of some of the early CRISP and some notes and items I have.
The further I’ve gone, the more diverse it’s become. Instead of coming together,
it’s gone the other way. More persons showing up and not knowing their connection.
Prescott CRISP: I have the LDS census records on Prescott CRISP as:
1810: 310010-14010 and 1820: 310011-41010. The 1810 record has some error since
only 5 classifications were used in 1810. These are in Stewart Co., TN. Also, have
one tax record for Prescott, 1810, Stewart Co., TN. There is a deed from “Edgecombe
Co., NC Kinfolk” in which Prescott names daughters: Nancy LINGO, Sally BREWTON,
Lezenze MARYMON, and Rebacka MOORE dated 1823. In another deed Prescott
and Susannah CRISP deed to Mansil (son) a 4/6 share Wm. CHERRY property making
it likely that Susannah’s maiden name was CHERRY. The deed to Mansil was witnessed
by John W. CRISP. This is the only reference to this “Mansil” I’ve seen and don’t know
the connection of John W. CRISP. There is a deed from Wm. CRISP to Simon
PRESCOTT, 1765, Pitt Co., NC, Bk. C, 255, with Benj. WILKINSON as witness.
PRESCOTT and WILKINSON are both son-in-law names by 1st or earlier marriage of
William CRISP died 1783. However, it is not certain whether this is William, died 1783,
his son, or somehow another William? The only son of Prescott name that I’ve got is
Mansil and I don’t know where he goes?
Jarrott CRISP: The family and descendants of Jarrott CRISP have been researched
fairly well and documented. Morene Denney of Ardmore, OK, is a descendant and
has looked long and hard to find Jarrott’s father. A Jarrott is named in 1811 Will of
mother Elizabeth as only son. I have this info. 2nd hand and reference is Edgecombe
Co., NC, Bk 14, p. 271. Because Jarrott appears in Stewart Co., TN, at same time as
Prescott there is the good possibility that he is a son of Prescott and 1st wife Elizabeth.
But no proof. A grandson of Jarrott does carry Prescott name. My notes have Jarrott’s
wife as Sarah but maiden name unknown.
John CRISP and Margaret of Caswell Co., NC: John Crisp appears in Caswell Co. in
1770’s along with wife Margaret. John and Margaret had, it appears, 6 children. Much
of this line is documented and some is disputed. One of John’s son is also John, born
1769 and md. Janey BURCH. John and Janey had a son John born April 1799. A John
CRISP who obtained an M.D. degree appears in TN and is thought by some to be the
John son of
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John and Janey BURCH. The only link I’ve seen is that Dr. John is married 2nd time in
Caswell Co., NC but nothing that would establish Dr. John CRISP as son of John and
Janey. Dr. John has colorful life, lives in TN, then Texas during civil war. After war, he
moves to Brazil along with some of his descendants. Thus, there are CRISP in Brazil with
U.S. ties. But the roots of Dr. John have not been established in any concrete way that
I’ve seen. Likewise, the original John (md. Margaret) in Caswell Co., NC is a question.
Some persons have made him the John, son of William, died 1783, and he fits in
terms of dates, etc. The problem is that there is another John CRISP in Burke Co., NC,
parallel to the Caswell John and they can’t both be the John son of William. Indeed,
neither may be.
John CRISP and Janey BURCH also had sons: Clayborn, Jesse and Richard. But a Clayborn
(spelled several ways, usually Claiborne) is listed in LDS records as paying taxes in 1790 in
Caswell Co., NC., and then in Burke Co., NC, in 1820. So there may have been an earlier
Claiborne but the tax record is the only record where one of the Claiborne’s can be
distinguished from the other if two existed.
John CRISP and Janey BURCH also had sons: Jesse and Richard in addition to John and
Claiborne mentioned above. I have nothing on marriage or descendants of Jesse or Richard.
John CRISP (md. Janey BURCH) had a brother Thomas who md. Frances BURCH. To date,
I’ve seen nothing on descendants of Thomas?
Chesley CRISP: This is one of the real mystery CRISP. He appears in western NC and a
Chesley is shown in LDS records as paying taxes in Burke Co., NC from 1790 to 1820.
A Chesley CRISP md. Barbary BATES in Wilkes Co., NC. The census record for Chesley
in 1820 Burke Co., NC, is 430001-21010. So Chesley was born before 1775. With 7
young males in household, then who and where are they? I think a Chesley and a Christy
CRISP who appear in TN in mid 1800’s are likely candidates. In a related item, a Chesley
CRISP is listed in Thomas Beford’s Gent. list of Tithes in Cornwall Parish, VA, in 1764,
but I’ve seen no other record for Chesley in VA. A Chesley CRISP was md. Caswell Co.
in 1827 to Sarah WARREN with bondsman Yearby WARREN and feel certain this is
same Chesley in TN 1850 census 48 years old, with Sarah, 42, and son Yearby. This
is probably Chesley, Jr. But, Chesley, Claiborne and others have shown both Caswell Co.,
NC and Burke Co., NC connections, making one wonder about the possible relationships?
Joel, Micajah, Bennett, Solomon, Hiram, Abel, John, William, Chesley CRISP of Burke Co.,
NC: All these CRISP appear in early Burke Co. records. Joel, Micajah, Bennett, Solomon
and Hiram are thought by some to be the sons of John who, by census records, is older.
I have heard from correspondents that the older John’s wife was Rhoda and that he has
a state militia Rev. War record. None of this can I verify from documents that I have but
would love to see such. I’m not sure there is anything more than the circumstantial support
for John being the father as suggested, and again would love to see more information.
I have one child for
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Joel md. Rhoda (___), 10 for Micajah who md. Polly SUMPTER, 6 for Bennett md. Eliz.
HOLLOWAY, 6 for Solomon md. Elenoir CRISP (a cousin?), and 11 for Hiram md. Nancy
COLLINS. The birth dates range from about 1775 for Joel to 1795 for Hiram. Many people
have put the John CRISP as father of this group as the same John son of William died 1783.
As mentioned earlier, the John CRISP of Caswell Co., NC has also been suggested as
possible for this John. Since I put the early children of William died 1783 as born 1720-1740,
then John would have been at least in 50’s or 60’s when these children were born. Certainly
possible, but where was John when he was 20 to 50? They seem more like grandchildren,
if connect to John son of William. As you can see, there are many questions. Many people
trace roots to these Burke Co., NC, CRISP.
John CRISP md. Cassandra COFFEY: This John was born about 1800 in NC, md. Cassandra
COFFEY, moved to Indiana, had 8 children according to what I have. He has also been
suggested as a son of John and brother to Joel, Micajah, etc. This line is pretty well
documented in a book on James Milton CRISP, a son of John and Cassandra, in the
LDS library. But the book and the research does not establish father for John CRISP.
Reden Greenville CRISP md. Ruth HICKLIN: He was born about 1770 in NC, lived in MO and
TX, had 10 children according to what I have. Many MO and TX CRISP are descendants of
this couple. I have some notes which suggest he was also a son of a John CRISP of NC.
William W. or M. CRISP: Born about 1787 in NC, md. Eliz. MATTHEWS, lived in KY and finally
TX where he died about 1856 in Cooke Co., TX. He had 2 sons documented: John Mansil
CRISP and Samuel Mathis CRISP. Samuel had probably at least 15 children by 3 wives,
(maybe more children but some were probably stepchildren?) leaving many descendants in TX.
John Mansil CRISP had only one son, also named John Mansil CRISP, before he was hanged
(or lynched?) in TX as a Yankee sympathizer. Court records on John Mansil before he was
hanged are sad and show the intensity of emotion during the Civil War. William W. or M. is
another where roots are not known. He did use Mansil name in children therefore wanting to
connect him with others who have used this name. He shows some connection to a Peninah
CRISP born about 1773 (I have conflicting information on born date and other information put
her birth in early 1790’s), md. Joseph Cromwell MATTHEWS, had 7 children including a Mansil,
and died in TX. Early census records on William W. or M. indicate 6 children but others not
known for sure by me.
John CRISP and Ruth (___): There are sketchy records on a John CRISP and wife Ruth living
in TN with probable sons: Elias, born about 1816, and John R. born about 1817. John with
Ruth appears in TN 1850 census & gives born in NC about 1767.
Moses P. CRISP: born 1750/1780 records confusing, and died 1839 in Hardeman Co., TN.
Married 1st Susannah (___) and had 2 or 3 sons: William, Mansil, and Ezekiel. The reason
for saying 2 or 3 sons is that the records are not clear as to whether the sons are William
Mansil and Ezekiel or William, Mansil and Ezekiel. William C. lived in Arkansas, had
large, 10
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children, family. The C. appears as Cherry in some records maybe indicating a CHERRY
connection. There were several CRISP-CHERRY marriages in NC by children of William
CRISP died 1783 and Frances (___). The fact that Moses goes to Hardemen Co., TN,
where Mansil CRISP and son Elihu lived points to a possible connection. Moses 2nd wife
Lydia lived next to Elihu after Moses death. Moses and Lydia had children Lucy Jane,
Nancy (probably md. Charles Allen CRISP son of John Rodgers CRISP; John Rodgers
CRISP was son of Mansil [1764-1850]), Gilbert Longstreet (killed himself with own gun in
gunfight), and Moses P. There is a divorce record for Moses sueing Susannah for divorce
in GA, no cause given. Very little information on Moses other than census records, a will,
and a few deeds.
Mansil CRISP: Born 1764 in NC, lived in SC from 1790’s to early 1800’s, then lived Lawrence
Co., TN and Hardeman Co., TN. Evidence points to wife as Margaret RODGERS but no
marriage record. Two sons proven by Bible records: Elihi and John Rodgers. But, Mansil
generally credited with several more children. Tilman, born about 1792, moves along with
Mansil to TN, names son Mansil (my GG grandfather) and circumstantially appears as son
but no direct proof. Another son generally credited to Mansil is William Mansil CRISP md.
Hannah WILSON. He, like Tillman, moved along with Mansil before moving to Texas,
having large (I have 9 children) family, and died in Oregon, 1847, shortly after arrival where
he was supposedly to become the first Governor. One proven son is Elihu Clinton CRISP
md Mary (___), had 9 children. Many pople are looking for Mary’s maiden name and thought
to be BLACK or BLAKE? John Rodgers CRISP also had Bible record, had 11 children by
1st wife Sarah “Sallie” ALLEN, 2nd wife Rebecca WOODY and no children by my records,
and 3rd wife Polly COOK, again no children by my records. The South Carolina CRISP
connection seems to stem from John Rodgers CRISP as he stayed in SC as did several
of his children.
Mansil is credited with probably 4 daughters: Sallie Rodgers, Monima, Margaret and Elizabeth
Hollyfield. Sallie md. Samuel ERWIN, lived TX, and ERWIN’S were an early Texas family
prominent in politics.
Most of the records for Mansil CRISP (1764) are found in Lawrence Co., TN and then Hardeman
Co., TN. Along with Mansil we find references to other CRISP. Betty Gustafson sent me several
pages of notes which included a Maurice CRISP as County Justice and as an Election Judge in
1821 in Lawrence Co., TN. I also have a 1870 census record for a Maurice CRISP in Blount Co.,
TN, age 35, probably a descendant or named for the older Maurice. This is the only record or
reference I’ve seen on Maurice CRISP in early 1800’s. The scary part of these records is that
they could be men who died young but after fathering some children. If so, then it will be very
hard to make the connection with such sketchy records.
Also in Lawrence Co., TN is reference to John CRISP as one of the “pioneers” of Lawrence Co.
in Goodspeed History of TN - Lawrence Co. where it says John CRISP had settled in the county
prior to 1818. (Another John CRISP!) In a list recorded by David CROCKETT in 1818, the
year the county was organized after being created in 1817, are listed next to
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each other John CRISP and Mansil CRISP. (This is the famous Davey CROCKETT and he has
other records associated with CRISP.) In the 1820 census only Mansil CRISP is listed as
001202-01001. This puts two males born before 1775. One, of course, is Mansil born 1764.
But the other male over 45? Then there are the two males 16-26 with Mansil. And one male
16-18. Since the census was taken by Head of Household, it could be Mansil who would be
56 in 1820 was listed as the Head. One can make several guesses as to who the other males
are and John and Maurice are possibilities. The younger males with Mansil are likely sons or
nephews? Up to seeing this, I tended to agree that Mansil was most likely the son of William
CRISP II, son of William, died 1783. A William CRISP is in 1800 census of Laurens Co., SC,
over 45, same time and place as Mansil. But the Lawrence Co., TN notes put Mansil with a
John CRISP, who might also be his father? Mansil died 12 May 1850 as recorded in Elihu C.
CRISP Bible. In John Rodgers CRISP Bible, he says my father died 12 May 1850, but does
not name Mansil.
Earliest record I have of Mansil in TN is 1812 tax list of Giles Co., TN. Probably, he stayed
in same place as Lawrence Co., TN was cut out of Giles and Maury Counties. A William
CRISP is listed in LDS records with tax record in 1812 in Bedford Co., TN. A William and
Tillman are listed 1816 in Maury Co., TN, tax list. I have not seen an 1810 census record
for Mansil. Mansil is in 1830 Hardeman Co., TN, census with record showing:
000001001-100010001. The male in 60’s is consistent with Mansil born date of 1764.
But the younger male in 30’s is a mystery. Mansil appears again in 1840 census of
Hardeman Co., TN, with only a male in 70’s and a female in 70’s. Mansil died in 1850
unfortunately before the census was taken for that year. If Tillman is son of Mansil and
only circumstantial evidence supports this, then Mansil is my CRISP ancestor.
Ansil, Joel, William and Carroll CRISP of KY: These four CRISP appear in the Floyd Co.
area of KY. Generally, they are thought to be sons of Susannah CRISP, the widow of
Abel CRISP. Susannah CRISP has tax records in 1820 & 1830 in Floyd Co., KY. Ansil
CRISP migrates to eastern Arkansas after his marriage to Sarah CRUM in KY. They have
11 children according to my records. Ansil was born about 1793 and probably in KY or
NC. Joel CRISP was born about 1801 in KY and stayed in the Floyd Co., KY, area, had
9 children, wife was Elizabeth (___). William CRISP, born in early 1800’s married Millie
NUNN, had 7 children. Carroll CRISP, born about 1796, married Elizabeth CLICK, had 7
children, lived in Arkansas for a while, then returned to KY. Some people have suggested
that Ansil may be Mansil with the “M” dropped and this is certainly possible. Since I’ve
seen records of an ANSEL family in NC area along with CRISP, then it seems also
possible that this is the source of the name. That these 4 are brothers and sons of
Susannah and Abel CRISP is circumstantial as I have seen nothing to provide direct proof.
Squire, John B., Rufus and Harmon CRISP of MO and AR (Arkansas): These 4 appear in
MO census in 1850 around Wright Co., MO. They act like brothers but Squire and Rufus
tend to stay together more and John B. and Harmon stay more together as they both move
to Arkansas. Squire, with wife Marg. PROCK,
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had 8 children and stays in MO. Rufus has conflicting information on birth, ranging from
1816 to 1827, one wife Martha YATES fairly well documented and they have 9 children.
Poor documentation indicates Rufus with a 2nd wife, Rosie WOOLARD, and 4 children
John B. CRISP (the “B” is reasonably certain to be BURCH), has wife Annie (___), born
in SC, and 6 children, including a son Eli Chesley CRISP (Squire CRISP also has son
named Chesley), lived in NW Ark. area in 1860 and seems to disappear in Civil War.
Some of his children appear to be togethr in 1870 census but only use initials for names.
I’ve found no trace of John B. after this and suspect he may have been a Civil War
casualty. Harmon CRISP, born about 1820/25 in TN, has 1st wife Polly Ann HENDERSON,
6 children, and lived in central Arkansas area. Harmon’s 2nd wife was Matilda (___)
and they had 2 children. These 4 CRISP seem to have a BURCH and a CHESLEY
connection with names used. The BURCH connection would want to lead to the Caswell
Co., NC, John CRISP md. Janey BURCH as well as the other CRISP-BURCH marriages
in that area. The name CHESLEY appears several places including as early as 1764 in
Virginia where a Chesley CRISP is listed as a “Tithe” in Bedford Co., VA. Then there is
the Chesley CRISP of Burke Co., NC md. Barbary BATES in 1796 and the Chesley
CRISP md. Sarah WARREN in Caswell Co., NC., in 1827. I’m reasonably sure the
Chesley CRISP md. Sarah WARREN is the Chesley CRISP who appears in TN 1850
census, age 48, with wife Sarah and not the same Chesley md. Barbary BATES. But
the BURCH and Chesley are only possible indicators of the ancestry of these four:
Squire, Rufus, John B. and Harmon. Their roots are unknown to my knowledge at
this point.
A document in the LDS Library in Salt Lake entitled the “Woolard-Crisp-Green” papers
gives some hints about these four. It is hand written and somewhat hard to follow.
It was written by Mary H. GREEN on 8 Jan. 1948 and lists her address as Route 1,
Westville, OK. These notes are the weak documentation about the 2nd wife of Rufus
CRISP: Rosie WOOLARD. Much of the information does check with census records
I’ve seen and other research, but the notes are incomplete and poorly organized.
It has a page where it says “This is a brief history of CRISP family. Lived and raised
children in North Carolina. Sarah Jane Prock. One child Bill Yell Prock. Sarah Jane
Prock md. a man by name of CRISP. This man was born on the ocean coming from
England. These children were born to them. Hiram Crisp, Joe Crisp, Elizabeth Crisp
md. ___ DONE or DANE, Squire Amos CRISP, born 1809, Lena CRISP md. a man
by name of Sam RICHARD (he was killed by Curt Winningham about 1897), Rufus
CRISP md. Rosie WOOLARD of Wright Co., MO. She was his second wife.” The
1809 birth date for Squire is same as 1880 census showing him 71 years old. And
other notes seem to correspond with census and other records. These notes go along
with some other items I’ve seen which indicate an early shipping connection of CRISP.
There is a record of a letter to George WASHINGTON referring to the ship’s carpenter
CRISP. There is an early NC land record for a Capt. Henry CRISP. And there’s the
Capt. Nicholas CRISP who appears in the earliest, about 1690’s, records of NC as a
rich and prominent member of the early community. To me, this suggests the possibility
that some CRISP were connected to shipping and used this to come to the U.S. In
doing so, they may have been missed on the immigration lists. Just one of the many
guesses in trying to find roots.
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On Nicholas CRISP: If you do research in early NC records you will find a lot on Nicholas
CRISP. He appears often in land records, and served as a member of the first vestry, 1701,
of St. Paul’s Church and later served as Church Warden. In these early times, 1700-1720,
the vestry was in many ways the governing body for the colonial area. However, the CRISP
name ends with the death of Nicholas’ grandson Richard who died as a boy. Nicholas had
a wife, ____ WILKINS, two children, John and Hager. John md. Elizabeth SANDERSON
in 1725. John and Elizabeth had the one son Richard who died before manhood. John
died about 1727 probably shortly before the death of his father, Nicholas, who died in 1727
probably shortly before the death of his father, Nicholas, who died in 1727 and his will
indicates that John is dead at this time. However, through Nicholas’ daughter Hager who md.
George DURANT there are many descendants. The roots of Nicholas are not established to my
knowledge. Many people would like to connect him to Sir Nicholas CRISP of England who was a
merchant.
The question of a link between Nicholas CRISP and William CRISP (died 1783) has been raised.
I have never seen anything that would link one to the other. Nicholas lived in Edenton while
William lived in the area north of today’s Bethel near the interseciton of Edgecombe, Martin,
and Pitt counties. Nicholas was probably at least 25 years older than William. I have not
seen any deeds or other documents to indicate any link between the two. But since the roots
of neither is known, then a possibility exists. I’m inclined to think they are not related in
any close way but cannot verify.
I have tried to discuss some of the CRISP notes in this short note and to identify the various
persons who are deadends or whose links are only weakly identified. I hope this will show
how much mystery still exists about the roots of the CRISP name. I have not tied a single
CRISP above to an immigrant! Neither have I discussed all the CRISP lines on which I
have notes.
Most important of these would be John CRISP md. Ann FARMER of VA. This John CRISP
does have a documented Rev. War record and much of his descendants are documented.
John was the only son of a John CRISP and Jane (___). The older John is an English
immigrant.
Also in VA is a William CRISP and wife Lucy in 1700’s. Their children includes another John
CRISP who md. Milley ALFORD in 1799. It appears that this William CRISP and Lucy also
had a son, William, Jr., and 2 or 3 daughters. I have some scattered notes on these CRISP
and some family groups which may be descendants.
I have spent quite a bit of time this past year obtaining marriage and birth information from
the LDS, IGI file. If you’re not familiar with this system, then I would encourage you to
visit a branch library of the LDS Family History Library which are located all over the
country. They have the IGI file on microfiche and are very helpful (and no charge) in
letting you review these files. I have over 1,000 Crisp marriages now, many of them tied
down, but many are not. Most of the IGI information is after 1800. We continue to hear
about possible access to the LDS records by computer but as yet nothing is available.
If they
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should make some of their records accessible, then I would move quickly to access these.
We are also aware of a private firm which is in the process of making census and birth/
marriage records accessible by computer modem. There will be charges on this and I’m
not sure how much it will be, but could certainly be much faster than the traditional
methods of searching records. However, when we want solid documentation, the
computer may give us the place to look, but most of us will want to see a copy of the
original record and go to the original census records.
I hope this short set of notes will give you some ideas on CRISP ancestry in the U.S.
I am always in hopes that someone may be able to tie down some of the persons I’ve
described here. If you have any documentation on any of these, then hope you will share.
Best regards to all,
Bob
In 1997:
**********************************************************************
* Robert M. Crisp, Ph.D., P.E.
* Professor
* Computer Systems Engineering Dept.
* University of Arkansas
* Fayetteville, AR
**********************************************************************
NOTE: Used here with permission. This information will be updated
by Robert M. CRISP as time permits. 1/9/98
