Many years ago, I made an acquaintance with Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts "Betinna" (Shapard) Plunkett, the great-great granddaughter of Rev. Edwin Ruthven Shapard. She told me a fascinating story about her father Edwin R. Shapard III, a much respected and adored doctor from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. E.R. Shapard III had desired to continue the tradition of passing on the name of Edwin R. Shapard within his family line. As fate would have it, he beget only girls, having no male heir to carry on the family name. Not to be outdone by circumstance, Dr. Shapard creatively named his beloved daughter "Elizabeth Roberts Shapard," thus carrying on at least the initials of "E.R. Shapard" for one final generation!
Bettina has been a wonderful connection to a branch of the Shapard family of which I had not previously known. Over the years, she has followed the progress regarding my research on Rev. Shapard; and, because of her legacy to Rev. E.R. Shapard, she has also been an amazing advocate for the advancement of his story.
One day I received in the mail a most awe-inspiring gift from her. A bible that she had found at her mother's house, dated 1875 and inscribed "Presented to Jane Neely by Rev. E.R. Shapard August 5th, 1876." The bible has a black tooled leather cover that was well-worn, most of the pages have some form of staining and foxing. The bible measures 6 1/4" X 9" and contains the New Testament and Psalms. Unfortunately, it is in poor overall condition, yet because of its provenance to Rev. Shapard, she didn't want it to be lost to history.
The inscription is quite interesting, but who is Mrs. Jane Neely and how is she connected to Rev. E.R. Shapard? In 1869, Rev. Shapard (1838-1889) married Jennie Neely Hall (1849-1910), daughter of Samuel Sumner Hall (1814-1900) and Hadassah Neely (1821-1907). Hadassah was the only child of Willaim Neely (1772-1842) and Jane M. Davis (1798-1889). Therefore, Rev. Shapard presented this bible to his wife's grandmother. Interestingly, Rev. Shapard held a small share interest in the Neely Farm, being the original plantation of William and Jane Neely and then the land upon which Samuel and Hadassah Hall lived for most of their lives. Jane Neely died in 1889 at 91 years old, and is buried along side her husband in the Spring Hill Cemetery at Nashville, Tennessee.
Further in the bible, there is another inscription: "Willia Frances Baker, daughter of Samuel A. and Sallie L. Baker. Born December 1st, 1865. Departed this life November 4th, 1881, age 15 years 11 months 4 days." As of yet, I have not made a familial connection between the Neelys and the Bakers. However, both families resided in Madison Station in Davidson County, Tennessee. Records from the 1800's inform us that Samuel A. Baker (1831-?) married Sallie L. McCance (1838-1888) in 1857 in Davidson County. Their daughter Willia Frances Baker died at the age of 15 and is buried next to her mother in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Davidson County.
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