Person Page - 5

     Minnie died. Minnie was born in 1872. Ref. No. 1872/4782.

     Nina died. Nina was born in 1889. Ref. No. 1889/9231.

     Edna was born. She married Alexander Albert Whitaker at Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia, on 1 November 1947. Edna Halstead Clough died.

     Esther was born at Armagh, Ireland, in 1847.^1,2 She married John McDowall the Elder at Victoria, Australia, in 1874.³ As of 1874,her married name was McDowall.³ Esther Maria Cochrane was registered to vote in 1909 at Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia. She was engaged in Home duties and lived at 7 Regent St. Elsternwick.⁴ She was registered to vote in 1914 at Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia. Esther was engaged in home duties and lived at 7 Regent St. Elsternwick.⁵ She resided at Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia, on 27 October 1924, 37 Regent Street.⁶ She made a will at Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia, on 27 October 1924. Her will provided legacies for her three children. James was to have the use and benefit of all her real estate and residue, proceeds from sale of personal estate absolutely during his life. Following the death of James, her daughter Edith Maud Colechin was to receive Fifty pounds and the balance was to be given to her son John McDowall. John was also the executor.⁶ She was buried on 15 December 1924 at Brighton, Victoria, Australia; Esther was age 77 and had resided at 37 Regent st Elsternwick. Cause of death was Intesttinal Obstruction and Heat Failure.⁷ Esther died on 24 December 1924 at Brighton, Victoria, Australia.⁸ Esther's will was probated at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on 19 January 1925. The municipal value of the real estate was 800 pounds and was unencumbered .⁶

     Morton was born. He married Edith Maria McDowall at Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, in 1910.² Morton Leslie Colechin died in 1973 at M* tel, Victoria, Australia.³

     Isabel was born at Greenock, Scotland, in 1849.¹ She married Harrison Hill in 1872. Reg. No. 1056 born London. Isabel died in 1877.¹

     Sydney was born at Korumburra, Victoria, Australia, in 1912. He died.

     Isabella died. Isabella was born.

     Annie was born in 1872.¹ She married James Horatio Nelson Hamilton at New South Wales, Australia, in 1904. Annie and James were cousins because their mothers were sisters..^2,3 Annie died on 2 June 1956.³

     Arthur was born at Clophill, Bedfordshire, England, on 28 October 1850.^1,2 He was baptized at Clophill, Bedfordshire, England, on 2 January 1851. .^3,2 Arthur was listed in a directory at George Street, Waterloo, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in 1902. He was living at 94 George Street Waterloo, the property which had been given him in his mother's will. This was the address of his grandfather Richard Crispin from at least 1879 until his death in 1884..⁴ Arthur died in 1939 at New South Wales, Australia.The index notes his parents as Richard and Louisa Crispin.⁵

     Claude died. Claude was born in 1887. Have no evidence that this is correct father. Taken from BDM index.
Mother was Isabella Couch.
1887 Reg.No. 12876.¹

     Elizabeth was born at Rokeby Street, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, on 9 February 1860.¹ She was the informant.² She resided at Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, on 25 June 1875, 12 Vere Street.³ She married William Ennis on 11 October 1880.⁴ Elizabeth died on 5 September 1921 at age 61.⁵ Her body was interred on 17 September 1921 at Carlton, Victoria, Australia, at Melbourne General.⁶

     Emily was born at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 29 October 1853.^1,2 Emily died on 7 January 1855 at age 1.²

     Emily was born at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in 1861.¹ She married William Pearson Rev. at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in 1887. Add will of father.² Emily died in 1938. The Crispin Fleming Family Tree notes death as 15 November 1933. There is no death of Emily Jane Pearson in 1933. The index entry in 1938 lists father as William..³

     Ernest was born in 1878.^1,2 Ernest died on 2 June 1944.^2,3

     George was born at Luxeuil Franche Comte, France, on 26 March 1830.¹ George died before 1840.

     Harriett was born at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 14 September 1863.¹ She married Charles John Hamilton at New South Wales, Australia, on 14 March 1883.² Harriett died on 14 September 1906 at age 43.³

     Jane was born at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 16 March 1853.¹ She was baptized in the at Parish of North Sydney on 17 August 1853. . The minister was Francis Tuckfield..² As of 1871,her married name was Hendy (Hendy).³ She married Benjamin Hendy at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1871.³ Jane died in 1882 at Alfred Hospital, East Prahran, Victoria, Australia.⁴

     Jenny died. Jenny was born at Revelstoke, Devon, England, before 28 May 1788. Jenny daughter of John and Joan Crispin was baptized at Revelstoke, Devon, England, on 28 May 1788. .¹

     Jessie died. Jessie was born in 1889. Have no proof of connection to this family. Mother was Isabells Couch..¹

     John was born at Revelstoke, Devon, England, before 6 January 1749. The ancient parish of Revelstoke has now become part of the parish of Noss Mayo, south east of Plymouth, and can be located by looking for Stoke Point on present day maps. The reason for the original isolated position is not certain.There may have been an earlier settlement which disappeared due to cliff erosion. The settlement may also have been part of a defensive stockade intended to protect the coast from the Danes during the 9th century. The name Revelstoke probably derived from the middle English 'reafful' or disturbance and 'stock' or stockade. However it may also mean a cattle farm belonging to the Revels who were lords of the manor in the reign of Richard 1. Richard Revel was the sheriff of Devon during the reign of Richard 1.

The church was built on a cliff overlooking Stoke Bay and is now accessible only through a private caravan park. There is quite a spectacular view over Stoke Bay. It is possible the church itself is of Saxon origin. A charter of 1225 gives the first written evidence of the existence of a church, but historian W.G.Hoskin describes it as early 14th century with a South aisle and porch in the 15th century style. In 1840 the church was badly damaged in a storm and parishioners began to use the Chapel of Ease at Noss Mayo for services. In 1882 Edward C.Baring, Lord Revelstoke, built a new church at Noss Mayo and the chapel at Stoke gradually fell into ruin. In the 1960's heritage conscious residents began an appeal to enable major repairs to be done. When I found the church in 1991, the slate roof and sections of walls were in the process of restoration. The Revelstoke church is now called the church of St. Peter the Poor Fisherman. Open-air services are sometimes held during the summer. This was the church where John Crispin was baptized and where he married Joan Tucker..¹

John Crispin son of Thomas and Sarah Crispin of Revelstoke was baptized at Newton Ferrers, Devon, England, on 6 January 1749. The baptism was also recorded in the Revelstoke register. There was another baptism for a John Crispin about this time in Newton Ferrers, but the choice of Thomas and Sarah for the given names of the children of John and Joan Tucker points to this as being the most likely.^1,2

He and Joan Tucker were married by Rev. John Boulton, the minister of Plympton Mary on on 12 April 1774 at the Church of St Peter, Revelstoke, Devon, England, following the calling of banns. John and the witness Richard Crispin, were able to sign the register. John and Joan were both recorded as being sojourners in the parish.³

John was registered to pay Land Tax at Revelstoke, Devon, England, in 1781. From 1780 he was charged tax of 6 shillings and 2 shillings as the occupier of Longs Tenement and Passage Acre which were leased from Mary Long. In 1783 he also paid paid tax as the occupier of "Pikes" which belonged to James Toms. In 1786 he was registered as the proprietor of Passage Acre, and the Longs tenement was then owned by Peter Perring esq.. In 1788 his wife Joan was listed as the taxpayer and John was a tax collector.⁴

John was licensed as an innkeeper at Revelstoke, Devon, England, in 1788. George Davis, a victualler from Holbeton acted as surety. The location of the village inn is not yet known although there is still a small cottage named CRISPIN'S COTTAGE set almost astride the road winding through from Noss Mayo. After John's death, the license was taken over by his widow Joan Crispin. until her remarriage in 1792.^2,5

John died before 28 April 1789 at Revelstoke, Devon, England.^3,2 He was buried on 28 April 1789 at Revelstoke, Devon, England. His widow Joan was left to care for the young family. Sarah would have been 14, Nicholas 10, Thomas 8, William 6. Mary 4, Richard (possibly 2) and Jenny just 12 months. Following the death of John, his widow, Joan would have needed to find a means of income for her family. She seems to have continued to live at the Inn and in 1791 applied for a license in her own name. The new licence was registered in 1791, William Phillips of Holbetan, victualler acting as the surety. In 1792 she remarried. NOTE:- the 1841 and 1851 census for Revelstoke list Crispin families continuing to live in Revelstoke.^3,2

     John was born in at Wellington Street, Saint Luke, at London, Middlesex, England, on 15 August 1824. The birth date is not clear from the film..¹ He was baptized at the parish church at Saint Luke Old Street, Finsbury at London, Middlesex, England, on 29 May 1825. .²

John Crispin emigrated with Richard Crispin on 30 August 1840 at Plymouth, Devon, England. A diary written by the missionary who was also a passenger, records that during the voyage the two brothers attended Sunday school in his group. He also commented that the father was not a church attendee.³ A condition of the arrangement between Richard Crispin and the Australian Agriculture Company was thet the two sons who tarvelled with their father would be given training and employment. John was apparently trained as a blacksmith.

He married Mary Jane Kilpatrick, at Pitt Street, Sydney on 21 May 1849.⁴ The marriage was solemnized by John Fullerton and the witnesses were John's brother William Crispin and Elizabeth Kilpatrick both of Sydney. Elizabeth was probably Mary's sister in law and wife of William Kilpatrick. There is no record of consent required of parents. This would normally indicate that they would both have been over 21 years of age. Nevertheless the stated age for Mary Jane on other documents is inconsistent and as a record of baptism has not been found, her age on marriage is not certain. .> In April 1850 when the first child was born, John resided in South Head Road at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.⁵ As Sarah Churchward Crispin's father, John presented her at her baptism at Parish church of St. James, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 28 April 1850.⁶ In 1850 John worked as a blacksmith in Sydney.⁵ In 1852 John had moved to Riley Street where he was registered to vote.⁷ As Jane Crispin (Hendy)'s father, John presented her at her baptism at Parish of North Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 17 August 1853. The minister was Francis Tuckfield..⁸ He resided at 49 Ryley Street at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 27 April 1856. This was where the eldest son John was born..⁹

Sometime after June 1856 he had moved from Sydney to Melbourne. His brother apparently bought land in the goldfield area and perhaps this was the reason for the move; Melbourne.¹⁰ On 3 April 1857 he was living in Hudson Street at Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Hudson Street.¹¹ On 15 February 1860 John was taken to court by his wife and bound over to keep the peace for two months. He appears to have had a problem with alchohol and was not properly caring for his family. On 7 June 1861 John Crispin and Samuel Williamson pleaded "Guilty" to stealing an anvil, the property of Mr. Robert Huckson, Victoria-parade. The anvil was stolen from the works at the Parliament Houses, and had been sold by the prisoners to a smith named Warren. The prisoners stated that they had been driven to the act by extreme poverty, having wives and families to support, and nothing to give them. Mr. Huckson said that the prisoner Crispin had been in his employ, and was a very good tradesman, but that he had been obliged to turn him away, through his drunken habits. Both prisoners were able-bodied men. Mr. Huckson had himself given Crispin money for the support of his family, and said he should be only too happy to give him constant work if he were a man of steady habits. The Bench addressed the prisoners on the impropriety of their conduct, and on the weakness of the plea raised by them under the circumstances, and, taking into consideration the interests of their families, sentenced them to two months' imprisonment, with hard labour.


In November 1865 John was caught stealing a duck and convicted of larceny. His sentence was 6 months hard labour and he was sent to Pentridge prison. The prison book records that he had been convicted for a simliar offences in 1861 and 1864 and Aug 1865. each time being sentenced to one month hard labour. The record gives a physical decription of John as 5' 8 1/4 ', 10 stone 7 1/2 lbs with fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark eyebrow, a large nose, medium mouth and oval features. He had a scar on his nose and on his chin, several white marks on the back of his neck and the thumb of his left hand was broken. He could read and write. He was 40 years old and had been born in London, coming to NSW as a child. He had moved to Port Philip in 1856 and his wife was currently living in Perry Street, E Collingwood. Life in prison was very hard and he was reprimanded twice for talking - once in the messrom and once when marching. He was approved for discharge on 2 October ?

After 1866 John apparently did not return to the family when he was discharged because he was not present for Sarah's marriage to Archibald McDowall in August 1868. He retirned to NSW. John seems to have left Victoria and returned to NSW. Details given on his death certificate regarding living children indicate that someone in the family circles either knew where he was or were notified of his death..¹²

John died at the hospital on 7 February 1901 at Hay, New South Wales, Australia, at age 76. Cause of death was Cystitus and Asthma. The death was registered by the hospital matron A M Lyne. Information given was that he had been 7 years in Victoria and 52 years in New South Wales. It is interesting to note that John would have been a g granfather by this time because Benjamin Harrison Hill already had two children, Ben and Grace.¹³ His body was interred on 8 February 1901 at the C of E section at of the cemetery at Hay, New South Wales, Australia.¹³

     John was born at 49 Ryley Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 27 April 1856. Birth registered in Victoria on 3 April 1857..¹ John was listed in a directory at 13 Vere St., Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, before 1887. By 1889 John was no longer listed in Collingwood and may have followed his father to NSW..² John died.

     Kenneth was born. Kenneth died on 8 April 1981.¹

     Laura was born at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 26 July 1865.^1,2 Laura died on 6 December 1866 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, at age 1.^3,2

     Mary died. Mary was born at Revelstoke, Devon, England, before 8 May 1785.¹ Mary daughter of John and Joan Crispin of Revelstoke was baptized on 8 May 1785 at Newton Ferrers, Devon, England.¹

     Maude was born say 1876.^1,2 Maude died on 5 February 1877.³ Her body was interred in February 1877 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, at Rookwood Old Methodist|, Section 2A Grave 498.⁴

     Nicholas son of John and Joan Crispin of Revelstoke was baptized in 1779 at Newton Ferrers, Devon, England.¹ Nicholas was born at Revelstoke, Devon, England, in 1779.¹ A Nicholas Crispin was killed by a fall from a horse on 12 May 1791 but there is no age recorded in the Newton Ferrers Parish register.

     Patrick was born at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 31 March 1852.^1,2 Patrick died on 10 February 1853 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.^3,2

     Richard was born at Revelstoke, Devon, England, before 7 March 1787. Richard son of John and Joan Crispin was baptized at Revelstoke, Devon, England, on 7 March 1787. .¹


On 17 March 1789 his father died. Richard was only two years old and it would have been a struggle for his mother to bring up the surviving children. On 29 June 1792 his mother was married to Richard Ferrer. The Land Tax record for 1792 indicates that Richard Ferrer took over the property leases previously held by Joan. Nevertheless the young Richard would have had to fend for himself as soon as possible. Watermills were a viable source of power in Devon and Richard apparently had some training or perhaps an apprenticeship as a millwright. The town of Buckfastleigh was an important wool town situated on the road from Plymouth to London where the road follows the edge of Dartmoor. Because of its proximity to the river Mardle, power for the thriving wool industry was readily available. There would have been work available for millwrights and Richard may have been working there when he met Sarah Churchward. The first entries for a Crispin in the Buckfastleigh registers was for three baptisms of children of a John and Elizabeth Crispin, between 1806 and 1810. Evidence of a connection has not yet been found.

Before 1812 he moved from Revelstoke to Buckfastleigh where he may have found work.²

He married Sarah Churchward at Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, on 2 August 1812.² The parish church where they were married, stood on a hill outside the main town. Sadly, this church which had been the place of worship and of family celebrations for many years, was gutted by fire in 1992. There are a number of Churchward headstones in the churchyard indicating the long association of the family with the town. The first Churchwards had probably moved to Buckfastleigh prior to 1698. A manuscript made in response to the Marriage Duties Act of 1698 lists the 1118 inhabitants of Buckfastleigh and includes three members of a Churchard family, John Churchward, his wife Margarett and son Thomas. These correspond with the first appearance of baptisms for the children of a John Churchward dating from 1698. Subsequent Churchwards living in Buckfastleigh appear to have come from this original family. The family of Sarah's mother had an even longer association with Buckfastleigh. The first entry in the parish register for the Irish family was in 1609. Five of the Irish family were also listed as inhabitants in 1699.

Richard and Sarah may have lived in Buckfastleigh for a short time after their marriage. This may be where the first child Sarah was born. Richard was to give information on the death certificate of Sarah that there had been 11 children to the marriage, although in 1869 only 6 were surviving.³ In 1816 Richard and Sarah had moved from Buckfastleigh and were living at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England. where their eldest son was baptised.³

After 1816 he moved from Shepton Mallet to Shoreditch, London. There were other children born to the family between 1816 and 1824 but no baptism has been found. It would seem that the baptism of children was not an important issue for Richard.⁴

On the occasion of the baptism of John at London, England, 1825, Richard's occupation was recorded as a millwright .⁴ In 1825 the family were living in Wellington Street in the parish of Saint Luke.⁵ Family records indicate that two youngest sons, William and George were born in Paris. William was not baptised until 1840 in London, suggesting that Richard had been working in Paris prior to this date.

On 16 July 1840 Richard was engaged by Australian Agricultural Company agents in London, to work as a Millwright in Australia. The Australian Agricultural Company was the second largest company involved in pastoral enterprises in Australia. It was established in 1820 and given a grant of land which initially was to be worked by convicts. CHECK THESE DETAILS. The Australian Agricultural Company which was established in 1824 by Act of Parliament and Royal Charter, was the first public company to be formed in England for the purpose of development of land in Australia. One million pounds was to be raised in capital and the new company was to receive a grant of up to one million acres of land to be used for the production of wool for the English woollen mills. Mr. Robert Dawson, the first Chief Agent for the Company, left England in June 1825 with 80 men, women and children, sheep cattle and horses aboard two ships, the "York" and "Brothers". Eventually headquarters were established on the north shore of Port Stephens.

He emigrated from Plymouth on 30 August 1840 accompanied by his wife Sarah and their two youngest sons, John and William. They sailed steerage on the 409 t. barque William Lushington for Sydney. A diary written by the missionary who was also a passenger, records that during the voyage the two brothers attended Sunday school in his group. He also commented that the father was not a church attendee..⁶ The voyage to Australia was via the Cape of Good Hope which was rounded on 4 December 1841. Christmas and New Year would have been spent somewhere across the Indian Ocean. Richard and his family arrived in Port Jackson on 31 January 1841 having been at sea for 5 months.⁶

Richard was sent to Stroud in the Port Stephens area where he was a millwright for the Australian Agricultural Company. He was to redesign the watermill at Stroud but he did not prove a success. The supervisors of the project were trained soldiers etc. and had no knowledge of running a pastoral establishment. When Richard designed an expensive windmill on Silo Hill near Stroud, they decided that the expense and his charges were unreasonable. His proposal was rejected iin favour of a conversion of the mill to bullock power. Richard became unenthusiastic. Correspondence describes him as unwilling to work and he was dismissed in October 1845. He was 59; millwright.^7,1

In 1846 he moved from Stroud to Sydney where he would have had to find other means of support. His wife Sarah established a boarding house in Kent St. Sydney between King St. and Market St. and Richard would probably assisted in the management;

An advertisement was placed in the Maitland Mercury on 21 March 1851 for Board and Lodging –
Mrs Sarah Cripsin begs to inform the inhabitants of Maitland and the Hunter River District that she has opened s respectable boarding house in Kent St between King St and Market St and invites visitors to Sydney to inspect her accommodation.
March 17th 1851.⁸ Richard became a widower when Sarah died on 21 April 1869.⁹ He witnessed Sarah Churchward's burial at Necropolis, C of E Section A No. 754, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 23 April 1869. ¹⁰.^9,11 Richard been living at at Waterloo, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, before his death in 1874.¹² Richard died on 18 June 1874 at Buckland Street, Waterloo, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Surviving children
Sarah 60
Thomas 57
Robert 55
Richard 52
John 49
William 46.¹³ His body was interred on 21 June 1874 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, at Necropolis, C of E Section A No. 752. The tombstone either has an incorrect date for Richard (15 July 1871) or has been incorrectly transcribed.

Also buried in this grave - Elizabeth Bragg 20 February 1869 age 22.^9,11

Contacts for info on Crispin and Stroud :-
Mrs Bubbles Rowe.
Jesse Gregson 1st 50 years of country?
Parry's diary.