Difference between revisions of "MRP: Sir Nicholas Crispe will"

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Sir Nicholas Crispe will

Editorial history

27/02/12, CSG: Created page

Abstract & context

Sugested links

To do

(1) Check the transcription

(2) Follow up Sir Nicholas Crisp's proposal that a sluice be constructed at Deptford to hold two hundred ships^[1]

Images

Sir Nicholas Crispe, engraving, from a painting, undated

Sir Nicholas Crispe's mansion, Faulkner, circa 1839

Image credits & copyright information

(1) 'Sir Nicholas Crispe, from a painting in the Earl of Leicesters collection,' engraving, undated, anon, reproduced in Thomas Faulkner, The history and antiquities of the parish of Hammersmith (London, 1839), op. title page^[2]

(2) 'Brandenburgh house,' ?engraving, ca. 1839, anon, reproduced in Thomas Faulkner, The history and antiquities of the parish of Hammersmith (London, 1839), p. 278^[3]

Transcription

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Nicholas Crispe of Hammersmith in the County of Middlesex Knight and Barronett

In due and serious consideration of ?humane frailty and mortality That is the great XXXX for every man once to dye Doe hereby ordaine and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following And therefore ffirst and in all humility and devotion of a Contrite heart I heartely begg meritts of my alone Saviour JESUS CHRIST and though I have beene a most greivous sinner and most Prodigall sonne yet my steddy hope is in Christ That for his sake God my most mercifull Creator will not ?cast of the ?Bowells and compassion of a ffather upon which confidence I cast myselfe into his armes AMEN. AMEN. Lord Jesus in hope in that last moment of tyme att my departure to ?render up my soule with Comfort in the mercyes of God the ffather through the meritts of God the sonne in the Love of God the holy Ghost And humbly pray that most blessed and glorious Trinity our God to prepare me for and preserve me in that hower of my dissolution and make me waite every moment when my Change shall come and in my Change to receive me into that Rest which he hath prepared for all them that love and feare his name soe ?Amen Lord Jesus Amen FOR my ffaith I dye as I have lived in the true Orthodox Profession of the Catholicke ffaith of Christ ?foreshewed by the Prophetts and preached to the world by Christ himselfe his blessed Appostles and their Successors and a true member of his Catholicke Church within the Comunion of a Liveing part thereof the present Church of England as it now stands established by Lawe

WHOMSEVER I have in the last degree offended I heartily aske God and them forgiveness and whosever have offended me I pray God forgive them and I heartily doe And I hopeand pray that God will forgive me many great and greivous Transgressions against him Amen Amen

I LEAVE my body to the Earth whence it was taken in full assureance of the resurrection of it from the Grave att the last day This Resurrection I constantly beleive my deare Saviour JESUS CHRIST will make happy to me his poore servant the cause of my soe long shortnes of breath to be helpfull to my Posterity that are troubled with the same Infirmity AND I order and appoint that my Executo:rs cause my heart to be Imbalmed And to be put into a ?funall urne made of the hardest stone and ffastned XXXX placed upon a ?Pillar of the best and hardest Black Marble to be sett up in Hammersmith Chappell neare my Pew the place I soe dearely loved And I appoint my body to be put into a Leaden Coffin and laid in a vault in S:t Mildreds Church in Breadstreete in London That I made for my Parents and Posterity Which Leaden Coffin I appoint to be put into a Stone coffin to be covered with a stone And that there be noe other funerall Pompe att my buriall than that my wife Children and Grandchildren have
mourning

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MOURNING And the servants of my owne family that shall be of my househould att the tyme of my death And noe other charge but my Three Trumpetters with my owne Trumpetts attend my body to the Grave with my Cornett and a Ledd ?horse in Black And abother with my best Saddle and furniture give particular ?nature by a ?Tickett to all my noble ffreinds kindred and relations That on such a day at such an hower from such a place my body shalbe carried to be interred and that all that come haveing nothing but a Branch of Rosemary and presented to all of the better quality of my Effigies with my Armes impressed upon vellour or other Parchment and in Paper with this inscription THI IS THE EFFIGIES OF S:R NICHOLAS CRISPE KNIGHT AND BARONET WHO FFIRST DISCOVERED AND SETLED THE TRADE OF GOLD IN AFFRICA AND BUILT THERE THE CASTLE OF CORMENTINE BY WHICH HEE LOST OUT OF PURSE ALSONE A HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS ABOVE ALL RETURNES FROM THENCE) I not doubting but my Nation (when I am dead) will make Compensation or amends to my family for soe great a service done to my Country att my soe great losse which will be better understood in the future

I desire my worthy kinsman M:r Andrew Crispe ffellow of Corpus Christi College in Oxford doe that last service for me as to Preach my funerall Sermon appointing him mourning and M:r [Blank in original document] Durham my deare ffreind to doe the office of my buriall To whome I alsoe appoint mourning and Tenn pounds a peece in money And I desire my Executors and Trustees to Collect my Papers together of my doeing and proceeding in that business of Affrica and to deliver them to my said Cosen Andrew Crispe who at his convenience I desire to draw such a Narrative as he and my Executors and Trustees shall think fitt to be put in Print and Published praying them to requite his paines fully therein

And as to my worldly Estate I have considered of the nature thereof ?which consist in Lands some ffreehold some Coppyhold some Estates for XXXX ?some for yeares A great part of my said lands att present being in severall persons Trust for me my heires Executo:rs and assignes And I haveing alsoe severall Interests in the ffarme of the Customes and Subsidies A?Allome and ?Copperas & the Office of Collector of the Subsidies and customes Outwardes for Three lives ?to ?take effect after the death of S:r John Wolstenholme and of and in diverse and sundry other things and proffitts of severall natures And considering that after my decease great partes thereof will require Care and vigillance rightly to manage the same Therefore and to the end that my Trustees and Executors may understand what my Estate and rights consist in I DID heretofore by Indenture dated the Eight and Twentieth day of ffebruary In the yeare of our Lord One Thousand Six hundred Sixty ffoure grant and convey and directed all persons interested in trust for me to convey and assure unto my deare wife and to my Two sonnes John and Thomas Crispe all such Lands and hereditaments And all other Interests and proffitts belonging unto me either in Law or equity And my XXXX being that all my Estate both reall and personall and all ?meanes of Interests and proffitts whatsoever I have or belongs unto me or that any other person or persons are seized possessed or interested of for me in Trust shalbe duely and Legally setled and vested in my said wife and Two sonnes their Executo:rs and assignes I DOE therefore confirme the said Indenture and all Eszazes therein granted or made And I doe hereby give and bequeath unto my said wife and my Two sonnes their heires executors and assignes All my Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments whereof I am seized or interested on ffee for life for yeares or any other s Estate whatsoever And I doe direct and appoint all persons who are interested of my lands Tenements or hereditaments in trust for me or possessed or interested of any proffitts office or other thing whatsoever Doe alsoe duely and legally grant and assigne their whole Interest therein and every part
thereof

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THEREOF unto my said Wife and Two sonnes And to the intent that my said Wife and Two sonnes shalbe inabled to performe the trusts in them reposed and declared by this my last Will I DOE MAKE my said wife and my said Two sonnes John and Thomas Crispe Executors thereof

YET NEVERTHELESS my said wife and Two sonnes shall stand seized possessed and Interested of all and every the lands Tenements and hereditaments offices proffitts and other things granted or conveyed unto or to the use of my said wife and Two sonnes by the said recyted Indenture or given unto them by this my last will in Trust as followeth:

ITEM I doe hereby declare my meaning to be that my said deare wife from and after my decease shall have and retaine Six hundred pounds the yeare for her life the same to be paid unto her Quarterly (viz:t) upon the Annunceation of the blessed Virgin Mary the Nativity of S:t John Baptist the ffeast of S:t Michaell the Archangell and the Nativity of our Lord God by equall portions the ffirst payment to begin upon the ffirst of the said ffeasts which shall happen next after my decease And I doe direct my said Trustees duely to pay the same out of the ffirst of the proffitts which shall arise out of my whole Estate they are intrusted with

AND I doe hereby further declare my Will to be And I doe bequeath into my said Wife Two Thousand pounds which Two Thousand pounds I leave to the discretion of my said wife to dispose of to such of her Children and Grand Children one or more of them as she shall by her last Will direct or appoint

AND I alsoe give unto my said Wife for her life soe much of my dwelling house in Charterhouse Yard London as I did lately use for my selfe and ffamily

AND I doe further give unto my said Wife All my Lynnen which I have in any of my houses

Notes

Hammersmith mansion house of Sir Nicholas Crispe

Sir Nicholas Crispe built his mansion house in Hammersmith in XXXX.

Faulkner cites Bowack's Middlesex, which provided a description of the house in 1705:

Upon the Thames, adjoining to Hammersmith, though within the limits of the Fulham division, is a noble seat, built by Sir Nicholas Crispe, Bart. a gentleman of unshaken loyalty to King Charles I. It stands at a very convenient distance from the Thames, in a sweet and wholesome air, and has a large spot of ground of several acres inclosed, adjoining to it. The building is very lofty, regular, and magnificent, after the modern manner, built with brick, cornered with stone, and has a handsome cuppola at the top. It contains several large handsome rooms, very spacious, and finely finished. The foundations and walls are very substantial, and the vaults underneath arched in an extraordinary manner. The whole house in building, and the gardens, canals, &c. in making, is said to cost near £25,000.

Some time after the death of the said Sir Nicholas Crispe, this house was sold to Mrs. Margaret Hughes,a lady much esteemed at Court about that time, for her air and beauty, in whose possession it had not remained many years, before she disposed of it again, to Timothy Lannoy, Esq. one of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for this county, and Mr. Treadway, his brother, both Turkey merchants, and gentlemen of known worth, as well abroad as at home. These gentlemen have for many years past lived in this noble seat, and made several other buildings, as dye-houses, &c. for carrying on their business.^[4]

Interestingly, Faulkner describes Timothy Lannoy, one of the house's joint occupants from the mid-1690s till 1718, as a "scarlet dyer". Recent archaeological work by the Museum of London (2001-XXXX) discovered probably brick lined dye vats, but the write up of this work dates them to occupation by Sir Nicholas Crispe. It has been suggested that Crispe used the vats to dye cloth, employing dye wood imported by him from West Africa.^[5]

Crispe's mansion was modified in post-1740 by Lord Melcombe, first known as George Bubb, Esq., and subsequently known as George Doddington, Esq. Melcombe was the son of an apothecary. He purchased the house in 1740 from Leonora, the only daughter of James Lannoy. The building had been in the tenure of the Duke and Duchess of Athol (Faulkner, 1839: 281). According to Faulkner, Lord Melcombe "repaired and modernized the house, giving it the name of La Trappe, and built a magnificent gallery for statues and antiquities" (Faulkner, 1839: 279)

Three plates of the house as modifed by Lord Melcombe, showing the "elevation towards the Thames, the ground plan, and section of the gallery" (Faulkner, 1839: 283). Faulkner includes an engraving of the house in his own work, showing the house from the river Thames (Faulkner, 1839: 278).

Faulkner provides a detailed description of the house was it was "splendidly fitted up by her Highness, the Margarvine [of Brandenburgh-Ansbergh]", following its acquisition from Lord Melcombe:

The state apartments consisted of five rooms, besides the great gallery, the whole of which were filled with a magnificent collection of paintings, and objects of vertu...

In the small dining-room...

The drawing-room was thirty-eight feet by twenty-three feet...

In the state bed-room...

In the drawing-room was a cabinet, containing a large collection of miniatures, ...a silver oval Medallion of Charles the First and his Queen, dug up a few years since, in the grounds near Brandenburgh-house...

The gallery was eighty feet by twenty, it was originally fitted by Lord Melcombe, and floored with marble...

In the dining-room and dressing-room...two Views of Brandenburgh House, and seat in the gardens, by Wigstead...

In the bed-chamber,...

In the hall, ...

Leading from the hall was the conservatory, connecting the house with the apratments adjoining the theatre; this suite contained a billiard-room, a coffee-room, and the library, .... The theatre was erected near the waterside, in a castellated form, resembling an ancient ruin...

In the Memoirs published by the Margravine, we find the following description of the premises: XXX^[6]

Sir Nicholas Crisp's project for a harbour at Deptford, Lysons, 1798

"Project of making a harbour at Deptford.

During Cromwell's usurpation a project was set on foot by Sir Nicholas Crispe, of making a mole at Deptford, for the harbour of 200 sail or more to ride in 17 or 18 feet of water, without cable or anchor. The demesne lands of the manor (being about 200 acres, lying now within the parish of St. Paul) were purchased for that purpose at the price of 6000l. and a considerable sum of money was expended in erecting storehouses, and setting up a sluice. After the Restoration Sir Nicholas Crispe, joining with the Duke of Ormond, the Earl of Bath, and others, who were embarked with him in this undertaking, petitioned King Charles II. to grant them the land so purchased in fee-farm; it was stated in the petition that Sir Nicholas Crispe had formed this project principally with a view of ingratiating himself with the then ruling powers, that he might the better watch a favourable opportunity of bringing about his Majesty's restoration. Sir Charles Harbord, the King's surveyor, to whom the petition was referred, advised his Majesty by no means to grant the land in feefarm, but to offer a lease of 31 years, at a rent of 160l. per annum, with a fine of 2000l. (fn. 20) These terms, it is probable, were not accepted, for it does not appear that the projectors proceeded any farther with their design."^[7]

Inhabitants of London, 1638: St Mildred, Bread Street

"MS. p. 268.

The Signe of the Sheppard being part of Capt. Crispe his house £12/10
The Signe of the Two Black Boyes, being the other part of the said house £ 12/10...

Mr. Crispe £11...

By me Nich. Bradshawe, Rect. eccles.
St Mildred's in Bread Street, London."^[8]

Irish adventure, June 1642

"June 1642

[17 June 1642]

Whereas Sir Nicholas Crispe, Knight, Maurice Thompson, Thomas Chamberlaine,^[9] Gregory Clement, Richard Waring, John Wood, Richard Shute, George Thompson, William Pennoyer, Thomas Vincent, William Thompson, William Willoughby, Thomas Rainsburrough, Samuell Moyer, and Richard Hill, and their Associates, as well out of their pious and charitable Disposition towards their distressed Brethren His Majesty's Protestant Subjects in the Realm of Ireland, who, being brought into great Misery and Distress, are ready to perish for Want of Relief, as also out of their loyal Respect to His Majesty, and Detestation to that Rebellion, and to reduce the Rebels in the said Realm of Ireland to their due Obedience, and (as much as in them shall lie) to prevent and hinder all such Supplies as shall be sent unto the said Rebels, and likewise, by all possible Ways and Means, to assist and help His Majesty's good Subjects there, and to infest, spoil, and waste the said Rebels by Land and Sea, have lately made known, to the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, their voluntary Disposition and Readiness to undertake, by themselves and their Associates, the setting forth and employing of Twelve Ships and Six Pinnaces, with a convenient Number of Land Forces, Horse and Foot (as an additional Increase of their former Adventure), at such Rates and Prices as have been usually allowed for other Ships and Seamen, and formerly entertained by the Lords and Commons, and for such Allowance for Land Soldiers as have been formerly accustomed in other expeditions upon the Sea; which being well approved by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, as a good means to further the reducing of the said Realm of Ireland and the Rebels therein to their due Obedience..."^[10]

John Crisp, ?son of Sir Nicholas Crisp, Woodhead (1966)

"CRISP, John

Co Co Bread Street, 1669-83, 1689-93 Bread Street, 1677, St Mildred Bread Street, 1664, 1679, 1689 (1) SALT, M, 1683 (2) d 6 Jun 1708, bur St Mildred Bread Street (3) f ? Sir Nicholas Crispe, Bt, of St Mildred Bread Street, m ? Anne, da of Edward Prescot (4), mar Anne Page (3) Salter, 1674, merchant, 1677 In partnership with Richard BAGNALL, George POCHIN, Richard SHERWOOD, and Richard YERBURY in a brazil ware- house (5) ? Whig ("rather bad", 1682) (6) Neph of Abraham REYNARDSON (7)

(1) Directory, 1677, ChWA, St Mildred Bread Street, VBk, St Mildred Bread Street (2) Boyd 30918, SALT, Co Orders, f 461 (3) Boyd 30918 (4) Boyd 30918, 9287, 14350 (5) SBk, Jul-Oct 1674, Directory, 1677, will of Edward SHERWOOD (6) SP/29/418/199, 435/99 (7) Boyd 9286, 9287"^[11]

Possible primary sources

TNA

PROB 11/133 Parker 1-73 Will of Edward Prescott, Salter of All Hallows Bread Street, City of London 05 June 1619
PROB 11/147 Clarke 103-147 Will of Ellis Crispe, Alderman of London 07 November 1625
PROB 11/319 Mico 1-46 Will of Nicholas Crispe of Hammersmith, Middlesex 05 April 1666
PROB 11/331 Coke 108-166 Will of Anne Crisp of Hammersmith, Middlesex 06 October 1669

Possible secondary sources

Bannerman, W. Bruce (ed.), The registers of St. Mildred, Bread Street, and of St. Margaret Moses, Friday Street, London (London, 1912)
- Several records of baptisms to parents named Crispe (presumably relations of Sir Nicholas Crispe, who chose to be buried in the parish of St Mildreds, Breadstreet. He stated in his will that his father was buried in this parish
- Earliest records in the registers are post 1666. Bannerman presumes that the pre-1666 parish registers were burned in the fire of 1666
Faulkner, Thomas, The history and antiquities of the parish of Hammersmith (London, 1839)
- Portrait of Sir Nicholas Crispe, facing title page
Jamieson, Dave (Museum of London Archaeological Services), 'Beady eye on Crisp,' in Hammersmith and Fulham historic buildings group, Newsletter, 16, Spring 2007, pp. 7-8
Zook, George Frederick, The company of Royal Adventurers trading into Africa (Lancaster, PA, 1919)

1. ↑ W. Bruce Bannerman (ed.), The registers of St. Mildred, Bread Street, and of St. Margaret Moses, Friday Street, London (London, 1912), p. vi
2. ↑ Thomas Faulkner, The history and antiquities of the parish of Hammersmith (London, 1839), op. title page
3. ↑ Thomas Faulkner, The history and antiquities of the parish of Hammersmith (London, 1839), op. title page
4. ↑ Bowack's Middx., p. 35 (London, 1705), cited in Thomas Faulkner, Thomas, The history and antiquities of the parish of Hammersmith (London, 1839), fn. a, p. 279
5. ↑ This is the footnote text
6. ↑ Thomas Faulkner, The history and antiquities of the parish of Hammersmith (London, 1839), pp. 283-287
7. ↑ Daniel Lysons, fn. 20 reads: "The circumstances above stated are taken from documents in the Land-Revenue office, obligingly communicated by William Harrison, Esq."Daniel Lysons, 'Deptford, St Paul', The Environs of London: volume 4: Counties of Herts, Essex & Kent (1796), pp. 386-393, viewed 27/02/12
8. ↑ 'St. Mildred, Bread Street,' in T.C. Dale, 'Inhabitants of London in 1638: St. Mildred, Bread Street', The inhabitants of London in 1638 (1931), pp. 156-157, viewed 27/02/12
9. ↑ Thomas Chamberlaine, London merchant. Prior to his knighthood in 1660, sometimes described as Major Thomas Chamberlaine. Relative of, and frequent correspondent in the 1660s with, Sir George Oxenden (1656, Papers sent by Major Thomas Chamberlain to John Thurloe; 29th September 1662, Letter from Thomas Chambrelan to Sir GO; 29th March 1663, Letter from Thomas Chambrelan to Sir GO, London; 29th March 1663, Letter from Thomas Chambrelan to Sir GO, continuation; 8th March 1665/66, Letter from Thomas Chambrelan to Sir GO, Putney)
10. ↑ 'June 1642: 17 June 1642,' in C.H. Firth, R.S. Rait (eds.), 'June 1642: The Ordinance for the Sea Adventure to Ireland.,' Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660 (1911), pp. 9-12, viewed 27/02/12
11. ↑ 'Crisp, John,' in J.R. Woodhead, 'Cade - Cutler', The Rulers of London 1660-1689: A biographical record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London (1966), pp. 42-56, viewed 27/02/12