With the recent swearing in of elected county officials, Gloucester’s Circuit Court Clerk Cathy Dale kept a tradition alive, employing one of the county’s 19th century Bibles for the ceremony.

As part of her duties, Dale is the custodian of three Bibles, the oldest of which is still in use to this day.

“I always use the oldest one,” she said.

An 1883 King James Bible made its most recent public appearance on Dec. 20 as incoming members of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors, Gloucester County School Board and constitutional offices took their oaths of office at the colonial courthouse by Dale herself. Each newly elected or re-elected official placed their left hand on the 1883 Bible while taking the oath.

“The previous clerks, they always used that Bible,” said Dale.

This Bible was presented in 1894 to then Clerk of Court Samuel B. Chapman by Gen. William B. Taliaferro. Chapman served as clerk from 1887 until his death in 1896.

According to documents provided by Dale, Chapman was born to Henry Chapman and Sarah C. Bristow in 1827. Before serving as Clerk, Chapman was the Woods Cross Roads postmaster, a merchant, a farmer and a representative in the state legislator. He was married to Harriet Bates Davis and they had at least five children.

Gloucester County also has a Bible from 1887 that is held together with rubber bands, just like the 1883 edition. “I’d love to restore the covers,” said Dale.

The county also owns an 1894 Bible that contains only the New Testament.

Dale has a special connection to the 1883 Bible as she was sworn in with it for the first time by Jeffrey W. Shaw, presiding judge for Gloucester Circuit Court, in December 2020.

Now, Dale makes sure to take exceptional care of the Bibles as they have all reached at least 130 years of age.