Ellis Crispe (1562–1625) was a merchant, alderman and Sheriff of London. Early life He was born in Marshfield, GloucestershireThe New England Historical and Genealogical Register, : Volume 52 1898, page 108 the son of Thomas Crispe and Elizabeth Steward. He was baptised on 23 May 1562. He was married to Hester (née Ireland) and had eight sons including Nicholas, Samuel and Tobias and three daughters, including Elizabeth. Career He had house in Bread Street and was a member of the Salters Company. He has been described as 'one of the richest merchants in Jacobean London'.History of Parliament An investigation by the alum Commissioners found that around 1609, Crispe, his son Nicholas, and others, had produced deceptive accounts of the amount of alum produced by them in Yorkshire.Draft of a report by the alum Commissioners This resulted in a case in the Court of Exchequer.National Archives The dispute was settled by agreement the following year.National Archives
Crispe was a substantial investor in the East India Company. Greenwich Hearth Tax: Sir Nicholas Crispe When the company received a revised charter from James I in 1609 , Crispe and his son Nicholas were among the named company members. In 1617, Crispe had bought a further £400 worth of stock in the company from William Temple, a transaction that Sir Alexander Temple claimed to be fraudulent.British History Online There was a second dispute between them a few years later concerning £600 of East India Company's stock which Crispe said stock had been conveyed to Temple without the knowledge of the Company's Court. The company's records show that in 1621 Crispe transferred £666 of stock to his son, Nicholas.
Along with his brother, Crispe paid for the alms houses in his home town of Marshfield.Ledger stone survey - St Mary the Virgin, Marshfield In 1624, a sermon by Thomas Gataker was dedicated to Crispe and his brother, Nicholas.The Christian mans care Crispe was made an alderman of the City of London in 1625.
Death He died on 3 November 1625St Mildred's Church, Bread Street shortly after being elected Sheriff and is buried in St Mildred, Bread Street. His lengthy will was proved on 7 November 1625 at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. In his will, he made bequests to the poor of Bread Street, the town of Marshfield and the Officers of the Salters' Company.The Endowed Charities of the City of London, 1828, p. 209
Crispe's widow, Hester, subsequently married Walter Pye.History of Parliament References