Great Hanging at Gainesville, Cooke Co., TX - 1862

Trial of John M. CRISP

To: CRISP Researchers (before CRISP-L)
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 05:41:38 -0500
From: gamara@mail.utexas.edu - Joanne Walsh

From: George Washington Diamond's Account of the Great Hanging at Gainesville, 1862 printed by Texas State Historical Assn 1963

NOTE: George W. Diamond was a newspaper editor and publisher. He was visiting his brother in Cooke Co and was asked by the court to write a full account of the "Peace Party Plot" and the trials of the conspirators. The original records of the court were turned over to him to be used as the basis of his chronicle.

pp. 73-74

"Trial of John M. Crisp {footnote says he was a blacksmith} for disloyalty and treason

Eli Thomas sworn {footnote says Thomas was a physician born in Ohio in 1823 - was hanged as one of conspirators}

[Witness] John M. Crisp swore me into a secret organization having for its object the reconstruction of the old Constitution and Union. He gave me the sign, grip, and password.

Crisp, himself, when brought before at before the Court, admitted that he had been initiated into the organization. Pending his trial, he addressed the Court the following letter:

Fully believing this to be the last time that I will be permitted to communicate with the Honorable tribunal by which I am to be tried, I adopt this method to do so; and for this reason: Having never before been brought before a Court, and my natural disposition and constitutional powers being so framed, the presence of that august body has the effect to scatter my mind. And while in your presence I cannot collect my thoughts, I will now make in writing these further statements in behalf of my injured Country:

Some time in the month of August, 1862 Dr Thomas and Parson Baker, came to my shop; and being there a short time, went out and seated themselves some distance from me. They returned and requested me to initiate him (Thomas), I understanding him to mean, to enter as a member into the Secret institution to reinstate the old Constitution, I refused, pointing to Baker, [and] told him to get Baker to do it. Thomas laughed, and said no; but for me to do it. I told him I was awkward but would do the best I could. Not having a regular form of oath, I framed one, in like manner, as I have stated before your Honors heretofore; giving him the signs, grip, and password. Parson Baker and myself, about one week before the above stated time, were initiated by Dr McCarty. McCarty told Baker he could initiate also.

A few days after this I was informed that each member had the right to initiate his neighbor. I have initiated six persons, in all, towit: Sam'l Crisp, H. J. Essman, Eli Hinkle, I. M. Baily, Mansell Baily, and Dr Eli Thomas. I suppose Essman and Hinkle are not yet arrested. Dr Thomas informed me that he had initiated an old man, by the name of Parson Howard.

I desire to explain one other thing, which I named to one of your honorable body just as I left the jury room. James Harryman came to my house the day before I was arrested and informed me that they had held a secret meeting, and said that Capt. Garrison, or Lock, had been to a Mr Love's in the Chicasaw [sic] Nation and had initiated him; and that he had plenty of powder that the order could have whenever they wanted it. And now, I acknowledge my wrong and implore you that while examining the testimony I have given, if I have, or seemed to quibble, I pray you to remember the situation of my mind, and deal with me in mercy.
John M. Crisp

After being condemned, he again addressed the Court as follows:

Gainesville, Oct. 18th 1862
To the Honorable Court
now in session, at Gainesville:
Whereas, through the mercies of Almighty God, and the Court, my life has been prolonged to the present time, I greatly desire the patience of the Court, yet a little longer.
I hope the Court will condescend to hear my imperfect petition and offered obligations to my injured country. I do not expect to influence you; but implore you, for mercy - that my life may be spared.
First, if in your wisdom and mercy you see fit to spare my life, and I ever again show any signs of not being true to our Southern Confederacy, then I will not plead for mercy any more; but will submit my life, to pay the forfeit.
Secondly, I desire to be placed under the watch-care of some of our truest and best Southern men, that they may from time to time examine my conduct; and if they find any thing wrong, report me forthwith.
Thirdly, I am willing and anxious at any time to do any thing in my power to sustain the independence of our Country. And forthly, if we can have any correct of the future by the past, I would refer your honorable body to Capt. Roff, Harry Howeth, W. B. Magill, Joseph Martin, Wm. West, and Charles Hibert, and let them say what my actions have been heretofore in giving aid to the volunteers. I now submit by begging your forgiveness for the wrongs which I may have done; and I promise you that if my life is spared, I will never commit wrong again.
John M. Crisp

He was hung in accordance with the sentence of the Court and, no doubt from the record before us, died a much better man than he had lived."

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To Crisp group, I apologize for any typos. I typed this on email and don't have spell check. Hope you find it of interest.

Joanne Walsh

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Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 11:48:49 -0500
Subject: Explanation of Great Hanging

I have sent this to some before but it explains more about what happened at Gainesville.

The following is an excerpt from the foreword of George Washington Diamond's Account of the Great Hanging at Gainesville, 1862 published by the Texas State Historical Assn. in 1963:

"A Unionist "Peace Party Plot" aimed at revolt against the Confederate government in Texas was discovered in September, 1862, in the North Texas area including Cooke, Grayson, Wise, Denton and Collin counties. Prompt action by local authorities broke up the organization in October, 1862. Following a declaration of martial law in Cooke County, a "Citizens Court," or jury, of twelve men composed of army officers and civilians was formed at Gainesville. It found thirty-nine of the participants guilty and sentenced them to be hanged for conspiracy and insurrection. Three other prisoners who were members of military units were permitted trial by court martial as they requested and were subsequently hanged by its order."

A footnote to the part on Trial of John M. Crisp: " John M. Crisp, a blacksmith, emigrated to Texas, probably by way of Missouri prior to 1860. He was born in Kentucky in 1824."
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Bits & Pieces per Crisp/Matthews

To: CRISP Researchers (Before CRISP-L)
From: Ethel Taylor
Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 14:26:36 -0800

I had received this from Elizabeth Bailey this morning and since we had been talking about the Gainesville hanging, thought this would give a different view than the official one... I found it very interesting. BTW, it's sorta long.

Ethel

>Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 10:45:21 -0500 (CDT)

>From: Elizabeth Bailey
>Subject: Re: Bits & Pieces per Crisp/Matthews
> >Hi Ethel,
> Big family week-end with grandkids, etc. I didn't get a chance to go over what you sent until late last night. Thank you for sending it. I appreciate the trouble you have gone to. I don't know how much I can contribute, but will send what I can and give you the names of some researchers on these lines that I know of.

> Terry Cowan has been working on a Matthew's book for several years and has some info on all of these lines. I just recently discovered him on the net at tc@tyler.net. When I was actively researching these lines a few years ago Terry helped me more than anyone.

> If anyone is interested in the Esman connection there is a William & Bonnie Esman at jman@marshill.com I communicated with them a little last fall. They didn't have much on Bailey, but perhaps they could help someone on Esman.

>I have a few family sheets that I may send by e-mail along with a picture of James M. Bailey & Elizabeth Crisp. I live in the country so this may have to wait until my next trip to town, but I promise that I WILL send them. For right now I am going to send you the following letters as I believe my copies are too poor to copy.

>(Exerpt of a letter to George M. Crisp from his father John Mansil Crisp.)

> > Roswell, New Mixico
> October 20, 1921
> >Dear Son, Daughter and Grandson,
>..........You asked to know about the Crisp relation. They are a numerous relationship but about all who spell their names, as we do, can be traced back to one kinship. - But I have not kept up with their genealogy as well as I should.

> My father, John M. Crisp was born June 23, 1824 - in Kentucky. He had one brother, Samuel Crisp, a famous Christian Preacher. He died on the Colorado River about the year 1896, very old, somewhere in the 90's--Uncle Sam had four sons, one named Green, one Bill, Jim & Bob, two girls, Eliza and Nancy. They mostly live or did on the Colorado River in Texas. Bob and Green are said to be very wealthy. I visited them in the year 1883 Lohn Co., Texas.

> My grandfather's name was William L. Crisp. He was born in KY. About the year 1790 - lived to be 94 years old. Died in Cook Co., Tex. He taught 52 terms of school during his life. He had brothers; (1) Chas. F. Crisp of Georgia, Speaker of the House of Congress for many years. (2) James T. Crisp went to Oregon and served as Gov. for many years. (3) John T. Crisp of Kansas City, Senator of Mo. for a number of years. (4) Reding Crisp, came to Tex. with Grandfather Crisp. He and his two sons, Reding and Carroll settled near Sulfur Springs in Hopkins Co. Tex. and became great landowners and stockmen. Reding had great ranches of cattle and Carroll turned his attention more to raising horses and had several big ranches in western Texas.

> It was Reding Crisp boy Bob that visited us here last week. He is living at Allen Reed, Donley Co., Tex. He has a big ranch joining Ed Johnson's in West Texas. Bob has a brother "Reding" who lives at Clinton, Okla. Also a sister. Carroll married a cousin of your mothers named Minnie Brooks. She is still living at Sulpher Springs, Tex. They have quite a number of children in Tex. and Okla.

> My grandmother on Fathers side was Elisabeth Matthews. She was born in KY and died in Cook Co., age 98 yrs. - I just can remember of seeing her - I forget her father's christian name. She had a brother Mansil Matthews. He was a Doctor, Lawyer, and Preacher. I was named Mansil for him--He helped to draft the Constitution of Texas, and was elected several times to Congress (all the relations will remember Uncle Mansil Matthews.) His daughter was Bill Weaver's mother. His only child was Claud Weaver of Oklahoma City. Bill Weaver was a great lawyer, poet, politician and drunkard. He died of Delirium Tremens at Austin while serving as State Senator. I cast my first vote for Bill Weaver.

> Bill Weaver had a brother Joe, and some more. They own and control the Town of Alvarado, Texas. I was there in the year 1890 and when they found out who I was, they liked to have hugged me to death. They had parties nearly every night. I stayed there and nearly everything I met was a cousin or such--They gave me a high old time.

> Uncle Joe Matthews, another bro. of my Grandmother lives in Somerville Co., Tex. and served as County Judge for more than 20 years in Steal County. He has a son John Matthews who runs a big Dept. store in Glenrose. They are very wealthy--The Milams there are also cousins. They own about ten thousand acres on the Pulaski River and have more artesian wells than you ever saw.

> The Matthews and Milams own and run Glenrose like the Weavers and Matthews do Alvarado.

..........a further history of our people;......

> It is about the sad history of my Father and his Death at Gainsville Tex. 1863- He was a Blacksmith by trade. A devoted member of the Christian Church and a Deacon for many years and he wielded a big influence in his county. In the year 1860, the whole country became arrested as you know from history, over the question of secession. My Father was opposed to seccession and before the election stumped the country against it. He had great influence and a big following but failed to carry the county. As you know cecession carried, but in his zeal for the Union he made many enemies.

> After secession carried the officers of the state were deposed and lawlessness went wild. All over the state and men were shot down and mobbed on every side and property confiscated or stolen on every side without any recourse at law; in fact they had no law---that led to organizations in different sections of the state for the Protection of the lives and Properties of its Members. My Father belonged to one of such organization in which there were about 100 members, most of which were settlers of Cooke Co. and his close neighbors. Nearly all of which had voted against Cecession and were still opposed to fighting against the Union.

> Along Red River on both sides were a bunch of mixed breeds and lawless whites that pretended to be strictly Secish, but refused to join any army, claiming to be "home guard". Over this organization they had as Captain one Hugh Boland, a half breed-. He lived on the northside of the river in the I.T. On the south side of the river lived a renegade from Miss. named Nute Chance . . . They had a considerate organization. This bunch became the terror of the country. A bunch of them would ride up to a man's house, take his horses, cattle and what else they wanted and drove them across Red River to Bolands-- If the man objected they would shoot him down.

> More than a dozen thus lost their lives. This organization, as it was called was the cause of the other bunch organizating - of which my father belonged. Boland and his bunch soon made a raid in our settlement, gathered a big bunch of stock and killed 2 men. One of which was our local preacher.... They started off with their property and my father and about 73 others of the community overtook them and had a scrap with them, capturing the bunch and took them to Gainsville for trial. Meanwhile, some of their bunch went to the confederate camp which was about 25 miles away and brought their whole forces, claiming that the citizens bunch was the bunch that had voted against cecession. And was therefore fighting against the Southern Confederacy. They, therefore, held what they called a court matial trial and condemmed the whole bunch--and without ceremony or time executed the whole bunch of more than 60 men. Thus wiping out a whole community and church. They then proceeded to confiscate their property, even tearing down their houses and taking them away.

> Thus it occurred that my mother, sister (Mary) and myself was forced to loose all our property and go to my Grandfather in Montague Co. without protection or property.

> After the confederacy was whipped the government arrested about 60 of the mob and tried them for murder----but they all proved alibies and failed of conviction.
> But I will say that several of their leaders have bit the dust since.
> Please write soon, to your father.
> J. M. Crisp

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(To R. L. Roberts from Mrs Gene Crisp, Ft. McKavett, Texas )

> April 30, 1990
>Dear Mr. Roberts,
> Mrs Kearney sent your letter on to me. Most of the things you wrote were things we have already.

> The Crisp Family lived at McCullouch Co., Texas on the Colorado River. They had a Ferry of a sort that transported people across the River. This was before the bridge was built. Lohn Texas is North West of Brady Texas. Old S. M. Crisp preached in and around Colman Co. at that time. He did some weddings in 1890 in Colman Co. He must have died while living on the Colorado River because he is buried about a 1/2 mile from the old Steel Bridge - Chaffin Cem.- there was once a small store there. I don't know the name. But its a small comunity that died out after the main road by-passed that area.

> The reason I'm told he wasn't hanged is he was warned of the event and moved his family to safety. I have no idea where they went from there. I know they were in Burnet Co., (can't read) Co., San Saba Co., also Mason Co. Samuel M. had 3 wives and 21 children. First wife was Elizabeth Jane Dudley. They were married in KY. Samuel and Elizabeth Crisp had 8 children. Elizabeth Martha, William M., John, James, Greenville D., Robert (Bob), Thomas, J.N. and Elizza.

> Elizabeth Jane died some time about 1860-1868-because he married his second wife some time around 1868.

> His second wife was Sarah Ann Wright- from this marriage there was 1 child - Nancy Ann. > After the death of Sarah Ann he married Manda Trevenia Stephens. They had a large family also. I've not found their place of marriage yet.
> The A.C.C. Bailey's you wrote about are also related to all of our Crisp.
> I thank you for the information and I will put it with my history.
>I would like to have anything you might find on him (Samuel M. Crisp) Any church papers you may run across.
> > Thanks so much
> > Mrs. Gene Crisp
> Ft. McKavett, Texas
>___________________________________________________________________________________________
> I tried to type as written the best I could. Will send the rest as soon as I can. I believe your best
bet for info may be Terry Cowan & Mrs. Gene Crisp. Please don't forget me if you run across A.C.C.
Bailey. Thanks again for all you sent.

>Elizabeth
> > ********************************************************************
Ethel Taylor Bandon, OR
PERSONAL HOME PAGE: http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Plains/4231/
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This data transcribed by Joanne Walsh & Ethel (Crisp) Taylor