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The Cravens family is part of Harold Hawes' ancestry as shown in the lineage below, which also includes the Harrison family. Both families were originally from Virginia and were well acquainted.
Ahnentafel
1. Harold Hawes2. Ross D. Hawes m. 3. Laura Allen6. Robert Allen m. 7. Sarah Shanks14. Robert Shanks m. 15. Elizabeth Fulmer28. William Shanks m. 29. Hannah CravensAhnentafel
The Cravens Family
The Cravens Family
In 1812, Hannah Cravens was married to Rev. William Shanks. These are Harold Hawes' G2 grandparents.
Along with the Harrisons, the Cravens were prominent settlers of Augusta/Rockingham County, Virginia. As accounted in both text and family tree, the families knew each other very well. Below is a snapshot of the ancestors of Hannah Cravens.
The evidence of the parents of Robert Cravens and his sister Margaret is fragmented. However it seems generally accepted that the parents were Joseph and Rachel. Exerpt from The House of Cravens by Ruth McConathy:
Only the name "Joseph" is found common to any of Robert's sons, (d. 1773), whatever the significance, and it is believed that the Joseph of "Lews Town", in 1709, was likely the father of our Robert. Joseph may have been the immigrant, but more likely he was the son of Richard Craven, the 1690 immigrant of Salem, and Rachael, his wife.
The families are also documented in Settlers by the Long Grey Trail: Some Pioneers to Old Augusta County, Virginia, and Their Descendants of the Family of Harrison and Allied Lines by John Houston Harrison.
Rev. William Cravens
Rev. William Cravens
The father of Hannah (Cravens) Shanks was Rev. William Cravens. In various texts, he is referred to as "The Bold Frontier Preacher", the "Fighting Methodist", and other intriguing names. He must have made quite an impression on those he encountered. The texts all seem to regard him highly. The book Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana: Its People, Industries and Institutions : with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families begins it's chapter dedicated to Rev. Cravens as follows:
On the banks of the Blue river, in Pierce township, on a farm upon which he settled in 18I9, reposes the dust of Rev. William Cravens, one of the most celebrated ministers of his day, or that ever traveled the circuit in this Western country in the first part of the nineteenth century. He was noted for his originality, not only of thought, but in his methods of presentin' his texts and striking his sledgehammer blows against satan and his satellites. He had an extensive acquaintance all over this Western country, having ridden thousands upon thousands of miles during his active life, getting into the byways and out-of-the-way places, where people very rarely ever heard a sermon preached. He had friends among people who had never seen him, but had heard of his mighty power as a preacher, and was dreaded by his enemies who knew him not.
Rev. J. B. Wakeley wrote a book about William entitled The Bold Frontier Preacher: A Portraiture of Rev. William Cravens, of Virginia. Many of the tales within were told to the author by William's son-in-law, Rev. William Shanks.
Among his deeds, Rev. Cravens was the first minister in 1821 of what would become the historic Meridian Street United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. From Great Is Thy Faithfulness: A Bicentennial History of Meridian Street United Methodist Church:
Carrying a Bible, a hymn book, and a collection of religious tracts in his saddlebag, Reverend William Cravens arrived on horseback to the future state capital to minister to those of the Methodist faith. A small class of believers gathered in Isaac Wilson's cabin to greet this new circuit rider, who had been assigned by denominational officials to serve the Indianapolis District. The city's first church would be known by various names: Western Charge, Indianapolis Station, Wesley Chapel, and eventually Meridian Street Methodist Church to reflect its location on Indianapolis showcase avenue.
And from Circuit-Rider Days in Indiana by William Warren Sweet, Professor of History in DePauw University:
In 1821 William Cravens was sent to Indianapolis to organize a circuit . A few Methodist families had settled on White River in the vicinity of Indianapolis, and the conference wisely saw the necessity of the early planting of religion in the center of the new state. Cravens was just the man for the new circuit, zealous, fearless and an indefatigable worker.
In her Notes, Aunt Charlene mentions a "circuit rider" that started a school which became DePauw University. Both William Cravens and his son-in-law, William Shanks, were circuit riders for the Methodist Church. However I have not found any evidence yet that they were involved in establishing the school. DePauw is a Methodist institution and, as evidenced by the segment from Professor Sweet above, includes works both of and by William Cravens in its online information.
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