Barking and District Historical Society

Sir Crisp Gascoyne  (1700-1761)
Brewer and Lord Mayor of London (1752)

Bill George

Crisp Gascoyne was born in Chiswick in 1700 and died, aged 61, on 28th December 1761 in London and is buried in Barking, Essex. He was the youngest son of Benjamin Gascoigne  (1660-1731) and Anne  Crisp (born 1664) and was born, according to William Frogley, on 1st August 1700 and baptised on 26th August 1700.  He married Margaret Bamber (1702-1740) on 2nd  July 1723 at Layston, Hertfordshire. She was the daughter and co-heiress of Dr. John Bamber (1667-1753), a wealthy physician of Mincing Lane, London and owner of Bifrons, Barking. Crisp and Margaret were blessed with several children.  

His daughter Ann Fanshaw, assumed the role of Lady Mayoress due to  the earlier death of her mother. Her splendid silk dress, embroided with hops and  barley to represent her father’s brewing interests is held by the Museum of London. Crisp was knighted on 22nd November 1752. He was also a verderer of Epping Forest. Crisp’s great wealth allowed him to buy large estates in Essex, including the Ilford Hospital Chapel.

Crisp Gascoyne  is noted for the trial of Squires and Wells, two women who were convicted of kidnapping one Elizabeth Canning.  He overthrew the verdict and consequently had his  coach windows smashed and his life threated. Crisp Gascoyne was ultimately vindicated.

He wrote his will on 20th December 1761 and died barely a week later on 28th December 1761. Crisp was  buried on 4th January 1762 in the north aisle of Barking Church where there is a large monument, attributed to Roubiliac,  with an inscription, erected by his four surviving children.

Here rests the Remains of Sr. CRISP GASCOYNE Knt.
Alderman, Sheriff, and Lord Mayor of the City of LONDON:
Who on the 28th of December 1761 Aged 61 Years died.
Distinguished by that Honour, Reverence and Esteem,
Which will ever attend the Memory of an Upright and Active Magistrate;
In him the Innocent found Protection,
Guilt it’s Punishment, and Poverty a Friend;
Possessed of a lively Wit and sound Judgment,
Mirth and Prudence ever were his Friends.
Happy in his Faith and comforted by his Works,
He felt, but feared not his approaching Fate.
Publick Charity reveres his Memory, and Private Friendship laments his Fall.
He was benevolent to his Neighbours,
Affectionate to his Children, and useful to his Country.
By MARGARET Daughter of JOHN BAMBER M.D.
He had two Sons and Two Daughters, who with unfeigned filial Piety
have erected and dedicated this Marble, to the memory of the best of Parents.

Adjacent is another splendid monument, erected to the memory of Dr. John Bamber, which is adorned with a fine white marble bust of him. Oil portraits  of Crisp Gascoyne and Dr. John Bamber are displayed in Hatfield House.

Crisp Gascoyne’s granddaughter Frances Mary Gascoyne (c1806-1839) married in 1821, James Cecil, Marquis of Salisbury. Their children took the hyphenated surname Gascoyne-Cecil. One of their offspring Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil (1830-1903), 3rd Marquis of Salisbury, was three times Prime Minister between 1885 and 1902, and noted for his “splendid isolation” foreign policy.

Frogley writing about the Gascoyne family in his manuscript history of Barking, notes (page 221) “…there are two families of similar names but differently spelt – viz Gascoyne & Gascoigne. The Barking family spelt their name Gascoyne only. I am surprised that a Board School at Barking is wrongly spelt – Gascoigne Schools, & Gascoigne Road.”