Georgiana's family Bible
In 1986 Valencia Lancaster (1898 – 1996) gave her sixth cousin, my father Rafe de Crespigny, a family Bible that had been in the Champion de Crespigny since 1880.
The Bible had been presented in July 1880 to Georgiana Louisa Margaret (McKerrell) Champion de Crespigny (1850 – 1935), wife of Sir Claude the 4th baronet, by her sister, Letitia. At the time Georgiana was pregnant with her sixth child, Claude Philip, born on 3 August 1880.
Claude de Crespigny and Georgiana had nine children. All their sons were named Claude.
In the Bible on pages set aside for the purpose between the Old and New Testaments, Georgiana, Lady de Crespigny, had added genealogical information about the family, with names and dates of her children and their christenings, godparents, and marriages. Information about deaths and burials was later inserted, probably by her son Claude Philip; some perhaps by Valencia Lancaster, daughter of Cicely and granddaughter of Sir Claude and Georgiana.
In 1928 on page four Georgiana comments sadly that
I have now lost 3 sons, Claude, Vierville & Norman.
Georgiana died 16 February 1935. Her husband died a few months later on 26 June.
Page 1
Our wedding day September 19th 1872
Claude Champion de Crespigny.
born Thursday September 11th 1873
Christened at Christ Church Lancaster Gate.
By Rev Fr Ch de Crespigny – October 25th 1873
Born at 45. Inverness Terrace London.
Died May 18: 1900. Buried at Champion Lodge, Maldon, Essex
Cicely Champion de Crespigny born Monday October 19th 1874
Christened at Christ Church Lancaster Gate. by
Revd F Ch. de Crespigny. December 11th 1874
Born at Bunratty Co Clare Ireland.
Cérise Champion de Crespigny born Monday Dec 6th 1875.
Christened at Christ Church Lancaster Gate.
By Rev F Ch de Crespigny January 19th 1876
Born at Burley Ringwood Hants
Crystal Champion de Crespigny born May 9th Wednesday 1877.
christened at Durrington Church. Wilts. By
Revd C. S. Biddle November 24th 1878
Born at Manor House Durrington Wilts.
Page 2
1878 Claude Raul Champion de Crespigny
born September 19th Thursday
christened at Durrington Church. Wilts
by Revd C. S. Biddle November 24th 1878
Born at Durrington Manor House Wilts
Married 24 June 1913 Violet Rose daughter of Charles Percy Sykes of West Ella, Yorks. Marriage dissolved, 1927. Died at Champion Lodge, Maldon, Essex on May 15th 1941 and was buried there on May 18th 1941
1880 Claude Philip Champion de Crespigny born
at Champion Lodge Maldon Essex Augt 3rd
Christened at Gt Totham Church by
Revd F de Crespigny Nov. 15th. Monday 1880
died May 28th 1939 in the Parish of Marylebone London, buried at Champion Lodge Maldon, Essex, May 30 1939 Commander RN retired, served in Great War 1914-1918, despatches, Croix de Guerre of France.
1927 C. Veirville died at Tanganyika July 16th 1927
1882 Claude Vierville Champion de Crespigny born
Wednesday 25 January at Champion Lodge
Maldon, Essex. Christened March 13th
At Gt Totham Church by Revd F de Crespigny
1911 m. 1st . Mary Nora Catherine d of J. A McSloy – Daughter Charmian
1924 m. 2nd Elspie Madge dau of Rev Frank Salmon
1883 Valerie Champion de Crespigny born Saturday 26th May
at Champion Lodge Maldon. Christened at Gt Totham Church
By Revd P. B. Leigh August 9th 1883
Page 3
1888 Claude Norman Champion de Cespigny
born at Southsea June 14th 1888.
Christened on board the Yacht Malikah.
August the 3rd /88. Portsmouth Harbour
By the Revd Eyre Dalton of the HMS St Vincent
Killed in action September 1st 1914 aged 26
Marriages.
1896 March 19th Cicely married George Granville Lancaster.
1898 Issue. Cicely Valencia. March 26/98.
1899 Claude Granville August 30 1899
1907 March 20. George Granville Lancaster died.
1899 Cerise married the Hon’ble Robert F Boyle. RN.
1902 Issue Vivian Francis born January 9th 1902.
1903 February 19th Moyra Blanche
March 13: Bridget
November Robin Lascelles
1901 Crystal married 18th Dec Capt M B Ffinch
1903 Valerie married Nov 26 1903 Capt. J.R. Smiley
Hugh H. born 14th November 1905.
Page 4
Godfathers & Godmothers
Claude: Mrs McKerrell, R. M. McKerrell & Capt. H de Crespigny.
Cicely: Mr Bentinck, Wm Webb & Revd F de Crespigny
Cerise: Mr Burnetter. Rosalie de Crespigny & P.A. Ch. de Crespigny
Crystal: Countess Bentinck, Mrs Poore & Capt Tufnell Tyrell
C. Raul: Lucy Ch de C, Tyrell Ch de C & Ralph S McKerrell
C. Philip: Agnes Ch de C, Mrs F A Beauclerk & General Godman
C. Vierville: Mrs Townsend, Col Vincent & H. F. Brouncker
Valerie: Mrs S. Hanbury, Georgina de C & Vivien Ch De Crespigny
R.N.
C. Norman: Mrs Miller, Mrs Barrett & Capt A.C. Corry. R.N.
1928 I have now lost 3 sons, Claude, Vierville & Norman.
Vierville’s daughter “Charmian” survives.
Wikitree:
Georgiana Louisa Margaret (McKerrell) Champion de Crespigny (1850 – 1935)
Letitia Augusta Sarah (McKerrell) Mandeville (1851 – 1942) Georgiana’s sister who gave her the Bible
Sir Claude “4th Baronet” Champion de Crespigny (1847 – 1935) Georgiana’s husband
Their children:
Frederick John Champion de Crespigny (1822 – 1887) uncle of the 4th baronet who baptised several of the children and was godfather to Cicely
Cicely Valencia Lancaster (1898 – 1996), daughter of Cicely, granddaughter of Georgiana, gave the Bible to Rafe de Crespigny in 1986. Valencia and my father were 6th cousins but shared a strong interest in Champion de Crespigny family history.
Godparents – most likely people that I have identified so far linked in above list
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This post was first publised at https://anneyoungau.wordpress.com/2024/10/24/georgianas-family-bible/
Family bibles are such treasures! I imagine researching multiple Claude's can present its difficulties at times? Or are they always referred to be their middle names in documents etc?