"On the evening of May 13, 1861, General Benjamin Butler and 1,000 Union soldiers arrived at Baltimore's Camden Street Station by train. Under the cover of a thunderstorm, they fortified Federal Hill to ensure the city of Baltimore remained under Union control, after the Pratt Street Riot less than a month earlier."
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Crisp Family Papers, MS 3107, 1831-1856
Finding Aid to the Crisp Family Papers, MS 3107, 1831-1856
H. Furlong Balwin Library, Maryland Historical Society
Collection summary
Title Crisp Family Papers
Creator Crisp Family (Fairfield, MD)
Call number MS 3107
Inclusive dates 1831-1992
Bulk dates 1831-1856
Extent 10 folders
Abstract Various financial documents relating to the Crisp Family Estate including, deeds, letters, licenses, and bills.
Administrative summary
Repository
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Historical Society
201 W. Monument St.
Baltimore, MD 21218
Access restrictions No restrictions.
Use restrictions Permission to quote must be received in writing from the Special Collections Librarian.
Provenance Gift of Mrs. Ottillie Crisp Habercam (descendant of the Crisp Family); Summer 2012
Accession number 2012 – 067 - LIB
Processing note The collection was processed and finding aid created in the summer of 2012 by Ben Koshland.
Biographical Note
In the mid 19th century, the Crisp family owned a large portion of land on what is now Wagner’s Point, just east of Fairfield, Maryland. In 1849, following the death of the family patriarch, Richard O. Crisp (?-1849), the estate was divided amongst his widow, Mary Ann, and their four sons, Richard Owen (1828-1881), Nicholas Ian (1828-?), Frederick Grafton (1836-?), and Robert Owen (1840-?). This property included the family farm outside of Fairfield, three town houses in Baltimore on the southwest corner of Broadway and Lombard St., and twenty-five slaves. According to the 1850 census, the Crisp farm was estimated at $16,000. In 1857, Richard Owen Crisp II was credited with funding and building the ‘Long Bridge’ over the mouth of the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River.
Son of Frederick Grafton Crisp, Rear Admiral Richard Owen Crisp (1861- 1951) served for 40 years in the Coast Guard. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War where he saw action as an ensign aboard the Wisdom. He also received national merit for his actions saving the members of the shipwrecked U.S. Tacoma in 1914.
Scope and Content
The collection is broken into 3 series based on grouping of similar content. Series 1: Deeds, Leases, Etc. consists of deeds regarding the family property, court petitions, inventories of family assets, and guardian’s accounts (1831 – 1856). Series II: Letters contains letters between the Crisp family members mostly in reference to family business (1852 – 1856). Series III: Licenses, Bills, Etc. contains both official and non official bills and receipts for purchases made by various family members (1848 – 1855). Series IV: Miscellaneous contains all papers added to the collection by subsequent family generations as well as items in need of conservation (1863 – 1992). All items within Series I – III are arranged base upon importance assigned by Rear Admiral Crisp’s personal inventory of the collection. Items within Series IV are arranged chronologically.
Series I: Deeds, Leases, Etc
Folders I-II
Series II: Letters
Folder III
Series III: Licenses, Bills, Etc.
Folders IV-VII
Series IV: Miscellaneous and Conservation
Folders VIII-X
Container List
Contents | Span Dates | Box | Folder |
Series I: Deeds, Leases, Etc. |
|
|
|
Deed to Broadway Houses | 1856 | 1 | 1 |
Richard Crisp’s Estate Inventory | No Date | 1 | 1 |
Richard Crisp’s Debt Inventory | No Date | 1 | 1 |
Petition to Orphan’s Court for Cutting Wood | 1854 | 1 | 1 |
Petition to Orphan’s Court for Education Finances | 1854 | 1 | 1 |
Agreement to Build Houses on Broadway |
| 1 | 1 |
Division of Slaves Between Family | No Date | 1 | 1 |
Second Guardian’s Account Papers (F.G. Crisp) | 1853 | 1 | 1 |
Second Guardian’s Account Papers (R.F. Crisp) | 1853 | 1 | 1 |
Second Inventory of Crisp Estate | 1851 | 1 | 1 |
Estate Distribution Papers | 1851 | 1 | 1 |
Finance Balance Sheet on Purchase of Fairfield Lands | 1836-1838 | 1 | 1 |
Description of Fairfield Lands | 1836 | 1 | 1 |
Estate Papers of Margaret Lowry | 1831-1834 | 1 | 2 |
Estate Distribution Papers of B. Owens to M. Lowry | 1835 | 1 | 2 |
|
|
|
|
Bill Against Richard Crisp | 1842 | 1 | 2 |
Bill Signed by William Lowry | 1838 | 1 | 2 |
Order for Payment by Thomas Kemp |
| 1 | 2 |
Receipt from William Lowry | 1835 | 1 | 2 |
Receipt from James Phillips | 1838 | 1 | 2 |
Receipt from William B. Harrison | 1835 | 1 | 2 |
Receipt from Thomas H. Kemp | 1836 | 1 | 2 |
Series II: Letters |
|
|
|
Letter to Mr. Crisp | No Date | 1 | 3 |
Letter Regarding Tuition | 1852 | 1 | 3 |
Letter from Emilie Statzell to M.A. Crisp | 1852 | 1 | 3 |
Letter Regarding Strawberries | 1852 | 1 | 3 |
Letter Regarding Peach trees | 1846 | 1 | 3 |
Letter from John Mallalieu | 1854 | 1 | 3 |
Letter from J.E. Wilson | 1856 | 1 | 3 |
Letter from J.B. Valiant | 1854 | 1 | 3 |
Series III: Licenses, Bills, Etc. |
|
|
|
Licenses for Center Market & Fells Point Market Stalls | 1853 | 1 | 4 |
Bill Against William Crisp | 1849 | 1 | 4 |
Gas Bills | 1854-1855 | 1 | 4 |
State Taxes | 1847 | 1 | 4 |
State Taxes | 1846 | 1 | 4 |
City Taxes | 1848 | 1 | 4 |
County and Primary School Taxes | 1848-1853 | 1 | 4 |
Receipted Bill for Baltimore Sun | 1849 | 1 | 4 |
19 Freight Receipts | 1854-1855 | 1 | 4 |
Band Book, Fells Point Savings | 1855 | 1 | 5 |
Promissory Note from Richard Crisp | 1838 | 1 | 5 |
Blank Check from Farmers’ and Planters’ Bank | No Date | 1 | 5 |
Fells Point Savings Institution Checks | 1855 | 1 | 5 |
Promissory Note from Charles Ashley | 1851 | 1 | 5 |
Paper Signed by Jos. Harrison about Broadway Houses | 1853 | 1 | 5 |
Paper Regarding Payment for Broadway Houses | 1853 | 1 | 5 |
Bill Rendered With Signature of M.A. Crisp | 1850-1851 | 1 | 6 |
Bill Rendered Against Nicholas Crisp | 1848 | 1 | 6 |
Bill Against Estate of R.O. Crisp | 1848-1849 | 1 | 6 |
Bill Against W.B. Crisp | 1848 | 1 | 6 |
Bill Against Sloop Lowe |
| 1 | 6 |
Bill Against Sloop & Owners | 1846 | 1 | 6 |
Bill Against Estate of Richard Crisp | 1850 | 1 | 6 |
Bill Against F. Grafton Crisp | 1854 | 1 | 6 |
Inventory of Property Division | No Date | 1 | 6 |
Bill Against Richard Crisp for Summoning Witnesses | 1848 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Shingles |
| 1 | 6 |
Debtor & Creditor Account for Crisp Estate | No Date | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Groceries | 1843 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Groceries | 1843 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Slaves | 1834 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Funeral Expenses | 1849 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Medical Services | 1854 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Board & Tuition, | 1854 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Board & Tuition | 1854 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Carting Chests | 1854 | 1 | 6 |
Bill Against Richard Crisp | 1846-1847 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Pump Repairs | No Date | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Work On Broadway Houses | 1849 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Supplies | 1855 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Boots | 1846 | 1 | 6 |
Account of Wheat Sale | 1849 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Carpentry | 1851 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Dry Goods | 1843 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Dry Goods | 1845 | 1 | 6 |
Bill for Cart, Etc. | 1855 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Lumber |
| 1 | 7 |
Bill for Paints, Etc. | 1855 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Slave Stephen Pack | 1846 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Bricks | 1844 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Boots & Shoes | 1853 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Manure | 1845 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Manure | 1842 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Medicine & Medical Attention | 1849 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Family Carriage | 1852 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Marble Door Sills, Etc. | 1847 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Harpers Magazine Subscription | 1854 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Groceries | 1842 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Manure Forks, Etc. | 1844 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Plow Shares | 1845 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Bricks | 1848 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Manure | 1849 | 1 | 7 |
Bill Against Primary School Tax | 1853 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Boots & Shoes |
| 1 | 7 |
Bill for Hat | 1853 | 1 | 7 |
Bill Ascertaining Property Lines | 1848 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Door Bells & Knobs | 1848 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Fro Fees & Postings | 1854-1855 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Paint, Etc. | 1852 | 1 | 7 |
Bill Against R.O. Crisp | 1852 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Medicine & Attendance | 1852 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Hats & Shoes | 1851-1852 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Stockings | 1852 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Pants & Vests | 1852 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Board, Tuition, Books, Etc. | 1852 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Medicines | 1855 | 1 | 7 |
City Taxes | 1848 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Muslin Shirts | 1855 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Granite Bases | 1847 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Fancy Vest | 1855 | 1 | 7 |
Bill for Horse, Carriage, & Travelling | 1853 | 1 | 7 |
Series IV: Miscellaneous & Conservation |
|
|
|
Local Matters | 1863 | 1 | 8 |
Lineage of Crisps |
| 1 | 8 |
Letter from Adm. Crisp to Will | No Date | 1 | 8 |
Letter Confirming Bond Purchase | 1925 | 1 | 8 |
Letter from Adm. Crisp to Will | 1927 | 1 | 8 |
Crisp Papers Inventory | No Date | 1 | 8 |
What’s In Your Name | 1967 | 1 | 8 |
Adm. Crisp Obituary | 1951 | 1 | 8 |
Letter from Marge | 1992 | 1 | 8 |
Unknown Damaged Item |
| 1 | 9 |
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|
|
|
