He served in the Civil War on the Confederate side. He was captured and imprisoned. Family tradition says that when he was capture after a slave pointed him out to a Union soldier. The family home was ransacked when the Union troops marched through the area. The family only had time to grab a few items and the children and run out to neighbors. Many personal items were lost. Per his granddau Sadie Froom, he lived on the property til she was 13 (1884) and then moved to town. He went to IL to get Elizabeth Hill and her kids when her husband was killed, brought them home to stay with him. They were placed with relatives to raise them. He served in the 3rd Battalion, Valley Reserves, (Augusta County Reserves), C.S.A. For most of his life he farmed in Augusta Co, VA. In 1900, and living in Staunton, VA, he was a 'collector'.

MARRIAGE: Marriage Bond, William Crosby, Amos Crosby, and Rudolph Moyers are held in bond for $150 on May 20 1848, the condition of the above obligation is that a marriage is shortly intended between William Crosby (son of the above bound Amos Crosby) and Sarah Ann Moyers (dau of the Above bound Rudolph Moyers) of Augusta Co. signed William Crosby, Amos Crosby, Rudolph Moyers.
MARRIAGE: Marriage Records William Crosby m. Sarah Ann Moyers by Rev. J. McKendry Riley of the M.E. Church in the County of Augusta near Staunton, VA on the 25th day of May 1848.
MARRIAGE: Newspaper Article On Thur the 25th ult. by Rev. J. McKendree Reily, Mr. Wm Crosby to Miss Sarah Ann Moyers-- all of this county. Staunton Spectator & General Advertiser Jun 7 1848 p 2.

SOLDIER: Civil War, National Archives records. age 45 mustered in Capt. Joseph F. Hottle's Co A 3rd Battalion Valley Reserves, VA C.S.A. Apr 23 1864 at Staunton. He was captured in Nelson Co, VA Jun 11 1864. He was paroled and transferred from Camp Chase Ohio to City Point VA Mar 2 1865 for exchange. He was received by the Confederate Agent for exchange at Beal Ware's or Cox Wharves, James River, VA about Mar 11 1865. Height 5'9". dark complexion, dark eyes, hair. occupation farmer.

OBIT: Staunton Dispatch & News Dec 19 1905 p 1 Mr. Wm Crosby. Death Yesterday Morning of this Aged and Respected Citizen. Mr. William Crosby a highly respected citizen, who for many years had been a familiar figure around Staunton and who always had a pleasant word for his friends when he met them on the street, died yesterday morning at 4 o'clock. Mr. Crosby had been confined to his house only two weeks and even last Friday morning was able to come down stairs to supper. He had been troubled with serious heart spells and this was the cause of his death. He was born and lived all of his life in Augusta County. If he had lived until the tenth of next February he would have celebrated his 85th birthday. His wife, who was Miss Sarah Myers, died 21 years ago. Mr. Crosby served in the confederate army and was confined in camp Chase for many months. The following children survive him: Mrs. Albert Hill (corrected in another obit to Mrs. Henry C Hill), Mrs. William Hupman, Mrs. Albert Keller and Misses Sue, Viola and Augusta and three sons, Mr. John Crosby of Staunton, Mr. Albert G. Crosby of Roanoke, and Mr. Edward Crosby of Chattanooga. The funeral of Mr. Crosby will take place from the methodist church of this city tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock. Interment in Thornrose. (Other obituaries were written I saw at least three in the family bible of William now in the possession of his great granddaughter Jane Crosby Baker of Richmond)

WILL: WB p date Dec 9 1905 probate Dec 22 1905 Augusta Co. (one line will) "I hereby will all my property to my 3 daughters Augusta, Odie and Susan." witnesses Harry Burnett, John Crosby.

They had 11 children Rebecca b 1849, Rudolph b 1852, Mary b 1853, Hester b 1855, James b 1858, Margaret b 1859, William b 1861, Augusta b 1863, Viola b 1866, John b 1868, Albert b 1872