The CRISPE Family of Groton and Watertown in Massachusetts

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BENJAMIN CRISPE (abt 1610 - 1683) of Watertown m. Bridget Unknown
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MARY CRISPE, wife of William Green
MERCY CRISPE, wife of Robert Parish


First Generation

BENJAMIN CRISPE (abt 1610 - 1683) of Groton and Watertown

Parents:

Benjamin Crispe was born about 1610, based on depositions. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He died in Watertown in 1683. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He married first Bridget Unknown by 1636. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] She died in Groton about the time of King Philip's War, perhaps as a result of the raid on Groton. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He married second Joanna (Goffe?) Longley after 29 Nov 1680. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] Joanna, the widow of William Longley, Sr. died on 18 Apr 1698 in Charlestown. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

Benjamin was a mason.

Benjamin came to New England in 1631. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He first lived in Watertown. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He moved to Groton in 1666. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He moved back to Watertown in 1681. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

Anderson [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] says, "A 'Mr. Crispe' came on the Plough in 1631 and settled briefly at Watertown, the same year and place where Benjamin Crisp is first seen. This is suggestive, but may be mere coincidence."

A Massachusetts Bay record, dated 22 March 1630/, say, "It is ordered, that Beniamyn Cribb, John Cable, & Morris Trowent shall be whipped for stealing 3 pigs of Mr. Ralfe Glovers". [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] Benjamin Crispe deposed in 1656 that 25 years ago he was a servant of Major Gibbons. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] This suggests to Anderson [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] that this record for Benjamin Cribb is in fact for our Benjamin Crisp: a servant caught behaving badly with other servants. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

Benjamin Crispe is on the 6 May 1646 list of freemen. [Ref]

Benjamin was granted twenty acres in Great Dividend in Watertown, 25 July 1636. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He was granted three acres of plowland on 28 FEb 1636/7 and three acres of meadow on 26 Jun 1637. He was granted a 64-acre farm on 10 May 1642. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

On 25 September 1666, Benjamin Crispe of Watertown, mason, and Bridget Crispe, his wife, sold land to Thomas Boyden of Groton. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

On 13 April 1681, the Watertown selectmen ordered that Benjamin Crispe have "the charge of the meeting house committed to him to sweep and ring the bell and what else is needful to be done to fasten the doors and windows when the exercise is done". [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

Children of Benjamin Crispe and Bridget Unknown

  1. Elizabeth Crispe was born on 8 (11) 1636 in Watertown. [Ref] She died on 28 May 1681. [Ref] She married George Lawrence on 19 Sep 1657 in Watertown. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] George married second Elizabeth Holland on 16 Aug 1691. [Ref] George and Elizabeth Crispe had a large family. [Ref]
    some descendants of Elizabeth Crispe
  2. Mary Crispe was born on 20 (3) 1638 in Watertown. She married William Green.
  3. Jonathan Crispe was born on 29 (11) 1639 in Watertown. [Ref] He was a soldier in King Philip's War. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He died before 25 Oct 1680, when his father administered his estate. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]
    Jonathan was an original proprietor of Groton. [Ref, p. 26]
  4. Eleazer Crispe was born on 14 (11) 1641 in Watertown. [Ref]
  5. Zachariah Crispe was a soldier in King Philip's War. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] He had an illegitimate child with, but did not marry, Mary Stanwood. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]
  6. Mehitable Crispe was born on 21 Jan 1645/6. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]
  7. Mercy Crispe married Robert Parish.
  8. Deliverance Crispe was born about 1650, based on a deposition. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe] She married William Longley, Jr. of Groton by 1674. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

Second Generation

MARY CRISPE

Parents: Benjamin Crispe and Bridget Unknown [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

Mary Crispe was born on 20 (3) 1638 in Watertown. [Ref] She married William Green by 1661. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

MERCY CRISPE

Parents: Benjamin Crispe and Bridget Unknown [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

Mercy Crispe married Robert Parish on 11 Apr 1667 in Chelmsford. [Ref, entry for Benjamin Crispe]

References

Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. Vol. 1-3. Boston, MA, USA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995. Entry for Benjamin Crisp.

Leavitt, Emily W., "Descendants of George Lawrence," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 46, 1892, 149-151.

Paige, Lucius, R., "List of Freemen, " New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 3, 1849, 89-96, 187-194, 239-246, 345-352.

Pulsifer, David, trans., "Records of Boston," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, various issues.