Crapster Family Bible

The following is a transcript of the family Bible of Rev. William Thomas Crapster (d. 5 Feb, 1879 at Lisbon, Howard Co., MD.) His widow Ellen A. (nee Warfield) moved to Mono Co., CA, with her three surviving children and married her 1st cousin Capt. Richard Gassaway Watkins, native of MD. Capt. Watkins was a veteran of the Mexican American War in which he lost one leg.

The Title page of the Bible states, in part:

COLLINS'S STEREOTYPE EDITION

******************************************

THE

HOLY BIBLE

CONTAINING

THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

*****************************************************************

STEREOTYPED BY B. & J. COLLINS, NEW YORK

******************************************************************

The title page of the Bible is signed and dated by Rev. CRAPSTER as follows:

Wm. T. Crapster 1876. ---

The following is an exact copy of what is written in the "Family Record"

MARRIAGES.

William Thomas Crapster and Ellen A. Warfield were married May 5, 1864
Martin H. Shields and Florence W. Crapster were married Monday April 11th 1887.
Channing Wm. Crapster and Alice May Davis were married Nov. 6th 1889.
Charles H. Taylor and Emma W. Crapster were married Nov. 7th 1889.
The three above named were children of William T. & Ellen A. Crapster.
Richard G. Watkins and Ellen A. Crapster widow of Wm. T. Crapster were married Nov. 23rd 1884.

BIRTHS.

In the Town of Liberty, Frederick County Md. Basil Crapster was born 9th Oct 1787.
Harriet Crapster, daughter of Vachel & Ann Dorsey was born December 26th, 1792.
Harriet Crapster, daughter of Gassaway & Ruth Watkins was born
Mrs. Ellen A. Crapster, daughter of Mr. Wm. R. Warfield, and wife of Wm. T. Crapster, was born October 4th, 1838.
Anna Maria Crapster was born October 28th , 1810.
Abraham Crapster was born March 8th, 1813.
Harriet Dorsey Crapster was born April 19th, 1815.
John Gassaway Crapster was born October 3d 1817 and departed this life May 28th 1854.
James Crapster was born November 24th, 1818.
Rudolphus Washington Crapster was born June 6th, 1820.
Gustavus Warfield Crapster was born April 5th, 1822.
William Thomas Crapster was born February 29th, 1824.
Thaddeus Crapster was born April 14th, 1826.

BIRTHS.

Channing Wm. Crapster, son of Wm.T. & E.A. Crapster was born Feb. 20, 1865,at 20 minutes past 9 o'clock, P.M.
Florence Warfield Crapster, daughter of Wm.T. & E.A. Crapster, was born Oct. 21st, 1866, about 1 o'clock, A.M. ___
James Harvard Crapster, son of Wm.T. & E.A. Crapster, was born March 13th, 1868. at 15 minutes of 11 o'clock, A.M.
Emma Watkins Crapster, daughter of Wm.T. & E.A. Crapster, was born April 1, 1869, at 8 o'clock, P.M. ___
Raymond Channing Shields, son of Martin H and Florence W. Shields was born atLittle Antelope Valley Mono County California at 10 1/4 o'clock pm April 16th 1889
Lela Fern Shields, daughter of Martin H. & F.W. Shields, was born Feb'y 19th1891 at 20 minutes past 5 o'clock A.M.
Cecil Romant Shields, son of Martin H. & F.W. Shields, was born March 22nd 1894 at 20 minutes to 7 o'clock A.M.
Son of Martin H. & F.W. Shields was born March 23rd 1888. at 3 o'clock. buried sameday.
Vemba Taylor, daughter of Charles H. & Emma W. Taylor was born Nov. 7th 1890.
Howard Le Roy Taylor son of Charles H. Emma W. Taylor was born Feb'y 4th 1892
Glennwood Walker Taylor son of Charles H. & Emma W. Taylor was born Dec. 3rd 1893 -
Hazel Vera Shields was born at 3.15 P.M. - June 27th 1896 -
Sylvia Sadie Shields was born Jan. 1st 1899 at 11.25 P.M.
These two are daughters of Martin H. & Florence W. Shields.

DEATHS.

Harriet Crapster, daughter of Vachel & Ann Dorsey died August 3d, 1815.
Harriet Crapster daughter of Gassaway & Ruth Watkins died April 7th 1830.
Mrs. Harriet Crapster - third wife of Mr. Basil Crapster died January 6, 1876.
James Harvard Crapster, son of Wm.T. & E.A. Crapster died July 1868.
William Thomas Crapster, son of Basil & Harriet Crapster died February 5th, 1879. Wednesday about 5 o'clock
son of Martin H. and Florence W. Shields was born dead March 23rd 1888 Anna Maria Crapster died July 12th, 1831.
Harriet Dorsey Crapster died July 6th, 1816.
James Crapster died March 8th, 1843.
Glennwood W. Taylor - son of Charles H. & Emma W. Taylor died Nov. 29th 1894 in Antelope Valley, Mono Co., Cal.
Florence W. Shields Died Oct 13, 1925 at 5 o'clock P.M.
Martin H. Shields Died Nov. 12, 1933 at 4 A.M.
Sylvia S. Faber died Nov. 18, 1935 at 7 P.M.

Note: there are three VERY important items listed in Rev. Crapster's FamilyBible:
1. The Bible lists all three of Basil Crapster's wives. The fact that All three of his wives were named "Harriet" has caused a lot of research problems over the years. The Bible also states their death dates so we now know for certain that Basil's three wives were as follows:
1st wife - Harriet Dorsey, daughter of Vachel and Ann Dorsey.
2nd wife - Harriet Watkins, daughter of Gassaway and Ruth Watkins.
3rd wife - Mrs. Harriet Rooker
2. The Bible lists the names and dates of Basil's children. By comparing them>with the death dates of the "Harriet's" we now know for sure which Harrietgave birth to which of Basil's children.
1st wife - Harriett Dorsey was the mother of Ann Maria, Abraham and Harriet Crapster.
2nd wife - Harriet Watkins was the mother of John Gassaway, James, Rudolphus Washington, Gustavas Warfield, William Thomas and Thaddeus Crapster.
3rd wife - Mrs. Harriet Rooker - no children with Basil Crapster.
3. The Bible confirms that Harriet (Watkins) Crapster, wife of Basil Crapster,was the daughter of Gassaway and Ruth Watkins. With this Family Bible Record

Contributed by Richard Warfield Faber, Jr., of San Juan Capistrano, CA