Family background
George Crispo was born in 1816 to his porter father, George, and mother Mary. He married Christiana Powell on 21 October 1839 in Southwark in London, England. Crispo arrived in Sydney on 25 February 1840 aboard the bounty ship, Earl Grey, as an assisted immigrant, and carpenter and joiner. At some point, Crispo and his wife travelled to New Zealand, as on 27 April 1845, they and their two children, Christiana and George, arrived in Sydney (aka Port Jackson) from Auckland, New Zealand. The couple lived at ‘Chelsea Cottage’ on Chelsea Street, Surry Hills (Redfern).
Crispo died at 29 Bourke Street, Redfern, the residence of his son George, on 21 March 1893 and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.
Occupation & interests
George Crispo was a builder and established his own company, George Crispo and Son at 15 Bourke Street, Redfern from about 1870.
Local government service
George Crispo was elected an alderman of Redfern shortly after the municipality was proclaimed on 11 August 1859. An advertisement published before the 1860 election notes Crispo ‘was second to no one in the Council for ability, judgement, and candour. Nothing discreditable could be brought against Mr Crispo’. Crispo lost his seat to William Kennedy, 54 votes to 34. He was elected again in February 1864, serving until 1866.
References
‘Family Notices’, Empire, 5 June 1863, p. 1 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63132670
‘Borough Elections’, 2 February 1870, The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13199914
‘Amusements’, Evening News, 22 March 1893, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113732948
‘Family Notices’, The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 1 April 1893, p. 684 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162193755
Sydney Metropolitan Cemetery Records, Society of Australian Genealogists, Section OG, Row 4