ONS: CRISP/CRISPE of Nottingham & London from 1686

I have conducted a local One Name Study for this Nottingham family name which includes London & Leicester connections where proven or known. The connection between Nottingham and London is likely to be one due to trade as gentleman merchant traders, but may also suggest possible older London roots for this family.

Roots currently traced back to John CRISP, gentleman, and his wife Jane who married before 1686. There were CRISP families in Nottingham in the C20th, who may be descendants. The 1881 distribution of the name (above) clearly suggests an East Anglian origin.

Descendants mostly recorded at the Chapel Gate Meeting House, High Pavement, in the City of Nottingham, i.e. mostly Quakers originally.

Notes:
Baptism of John's son, Nathaniel CRISP not in transcripts of High Pavement 1690-1723.
Castle Gate Meeting House was built in 1689, but earliest surviving register dates from 1705. Hence no baptisms for sons Nathaniel and Maidwell.
Notts Marriage Index 1754-1812: no other entries for lateral family members.
There are no CRISP marriages at the church of St Nicholas.

Nathaniel CRISP, the Elder:
The Burgess* Roll for Nottingham records Nathaniel, framework knitter, as enrolled in 1717. His qualification was servitude by serving an apprenticeship to a Nottingham Burgess, enrolment usual taking place upon completion around the age of 21. The Roll indicates that he was allotted a Burgess Part. He was apprenticed to George EATON of Nottingham in 1710, as s/o John of Nottingham, gentleman, deceased, noted as a framework knitter 'of London'**. The indenture was subject to a tax of £6. He does not appear in the Index of Apprentices kept by Notts Archives Office.

[* a Burgess is a Freeman of the borough.]
[** this suggest Nathaniel's baptism may be found somewhere in London]
Source: Society of Genealogists Apprenticeships Index (1710-74; 41/11 1710)

Nathaniel "The Bishop" CRISP:
[Presumed to be the man who married Fanny HORSELEY in 1789]
From "Notes About Notts. A Collection of Singular Sayings, Curious Customs, Eccentric Epitaphs and Interesting Items, Historical & Antiquarian" by Cornelius BROWN, Nottingham, 1874. p.63:

"BISHOP CRISP: This individual was one Nathaniel CRISP, a butcher, who carried on business at the corner of Lister-gate and Broad-marsh. He was the principal baptiser during the famous duckings at Nottingham in 1794, the Leen and the canal served as the Jordan, in which the baptism by immersion took place. The sprinkling process was performed chiefly at the Exchange pump, whilst the spectators sung - "We'll pump upon them till they sing, Upon their knees, God save the King". "The Bishop" was convicted at the Spring Assizes of the following year for his riotous conduct during the ducking season, fined a nominal sum, and imprisoned for six months. He died in May, 1819."

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Name probably derived from personal traits, such as hair character.