Peter Chrisom / Cresham : Short Biography

Peter Chrisom / Cresham 1824

County Galway County Mayo

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Place of migration

Migrated to/Born in USA

Grasping at straws here, admittedly ...

After my dad's dad's people immigrated to the Boston, Massachusetts, USA area in the 1870s-1880s, they eventually settled on spelling their surname as "Chrisom."

But, before that, it appears most often as "Cresham" while they lived in the UK.

Peter Cresham / Chrisom married Margaret Burke in 1851, while they both lived in West Bromwich, Staffordshire. Both listed their place of birth on every ecclesiastical and governmental document as simply "Ireland."

I've calculated Peter's DOB based on the information provided in the City of Quincy, MA Death Register, based on the stated age at death of "69 years, 11 months, 5 days."

Peter and Margaret had either 9 or 10 known children while living in Staffordshire. Reason for uncertainty: all of their children showed "England" as their birthplace - except for one, Bridget, who always insisted she was born in Ireland in 1857 ... this is suspect, because 1) her parents had 4 children born (and, unfortunately, died) before her in England from 1853 - 1854 (documents found show a set of triplet girls + a son for all 4 of them in Staffordshire), and 2) all children born after Bridget were born in England, and 3) I have yet to locate a birth or baptismal record for Bridget in any juristiction or parish. (I have a feeling she may have been "taken in" by Peter and Margaret ... perhaps she was the child of relatives or friends ...?)

Peter's death register also shows that his parents were John Chrisom / Cresham and Bridget Cavanaugh, both born in Ireland.

No official documentation found to date shows a townland, parish, or even a county where either Peter or Margaret were born. And, I have yet to be made aware of any narrative compiled by my family that would provide this information.

However, the Cresham surname (and variants) seems most concentrated (historically, as well as presently) in areas of Counties Galway and Mayo in Ireland. So, I'll (for now) tag Peter under both Galway and Mayo.

I wish I could provide more information, but this is what I have.

Thanks in advance to anyone who might be able to help with this.

Additional Information
Date of Birth	2nd Jan 1824 (circa)
Date of Death	1st Jan 1893	VIEW SOURCE
Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname)	Margaret Burke
Place & Date of Marriage	1851
Number of Children	9 or 10
Number of Siblings	3

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Hello,

I don’t know when this was posted as just joined.

I have a clear line of Cresham’s in my family, my grandfather James Cresham, great grandfather Peter Cresham,born 1864, married to a Margaret.

Sadly, not the same line although I was sidetracked to your Staffordshire Creshams at one point.

Just thought some background may help?

Records show they lived in Beagh, Galway, north of Tuam.

They had the local pub and also a farm.

Peter’s brother, Michael as ‘Crisham’, born 1857 and emigrated alone to USA in 1879, had a large family, died in Cincinnati in 1937.

I have good records of this, and contact with a ‘cousin’ in St. Louis who is great granddaughter of Michael.

You mentioned Boston, my grandmother, Annie Quinn, who later married my grandfather James Cresham, lived and worked in Boston in the 1920s.

I know it’s not a connection, but maybe the geographical link may help?

I cannot find links to your Staffordshire Creshams, but must be some link somewhere! Unusual surname and seems quite localised. Other format I’ve found is Cruisham.
Be lovely to hear from you.

Good luck in your searching!