Family background
William Crispin was born c1828 in Paris, the son of English parents, who had gone from Devonshire, but his early youth was spent in London. In 1839 his family immigrated to Australia and settled in the Hunter River district. He married (1) Sarah Ann Pippin (-1867) 2 January 1851 at St Laurence’s Church, Sydney; (2) Anne Jane Fleming (1837-1891) 28 June 1869 at Bathurst, NSW, and (3) Charlotte Smith (1831-1906) 7 March 1894 at Sydney. He had two sons and five daughters. William Crispin died 29 February 1904, aged 76 years, at his residence 52 Derwent Street, Glebe, and he was interred in the Old Wesleyan Section of Rookwood Cemetery. He left a Will and his estate and assets were valued at £5,688. Crispin lived on Glebe Road, Glebe; also at 188 and 52 Derwent Street, Glebe.
Occupation & interests
William Crispin, after serving his apprenticeship as an engineer to his father in the Hunter River district, came to Sydney, and worked for a few years at his trade. The discovery of gold in California induced him to try his luck as a miner, and after two years of fair success he returned to Sydney where he carried on his business of Consulting Engineer, Agent and Importer at 66 Harbour Street.
Local government service
William Crispin was an alderman on Darlington Council in 1885-1902. He was mayor in 1886 and 1889. He was Returning Officer for several years and he retired in 1903.
References
Consolidation Written Seventeen Centuries ago’, The Methodist, 26 March 1904, p. 4, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155378276
‘Advertising’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 February 1885, p. 3, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13575476
‘Mr W Crispin’, The Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser, 27 July 1889, p.193, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162064909