Born May 1836 KY according to 1900 census. (SV-164)
1870 census indicates he was 31 years old. (SV-713)
SV-277 claims he was born dead and another James was born in 1840!
1840 Lee Co., VA Census (Ancestry.com): Henry Cress (20-30) with wife (20-30) and 2 sons (<5 yrs) living next door to Samuel Parsons.
1850 KY Census (Ancestry.com): Henry Cross (sic) (34 VA) living in Dist. 1, Perry Co. with wife, Nancy (29 VA) and 6 kids: James (10 KY); William (9 KY); Perry (8 KY); Barbary (7 KY); Elvina (5 KY) and Charlotte (1/12 KY).(SV-83 & 113 & 134)
1860 KY Census (Ancestry.com): Jas Cress (22 VA) living in Dist. 1, Perry Co next door to Henry Cress.
This census indicates he was born in VA
Civil War: Barbara’s story (SV-404 pg 348) claims he was at home on Cutshin Creek abt 1863 when Confederates invaded.
1870 VA census: Living in Gladeville (renamed Wise in the 1920s) in Wise Co. aged 31 with Lavina 28; John 8 (KY); Henry 6; Levi 4; William 2; Jerusha 8/12. (SV-713 & SV-715)
1880 VA Census: James J. Cress living in Wise Co., VA aged 42 with wife, Lavina (aged 38), and kids:
John 18 yrs b. VA
Henry 15 yrs b. KY
Levi 14 yrs b. KY
William 13 yrs b. KY
Derusha 10 yrs b. KY
Elihu 6 yrs b. VA
Enoach 3 yrs b. VA (SV-200 & 249 & 314 & SV-576)
Dec. 1889 He and Lavina sold 277 poplar trees (24 & 30+”) from 300 acres to Hiram Sibley of Rochester, NY for $206. (SV-297)
Aug. 1891 James J. and Melvina Cress sold 212 acres to Matthias Templetone for $430. (SV-297 J/491)
1900 VA Census (Ancestry.com): James Cress (May 1836 VA) Coalminer living in Gilley, Wise Co. with wife, Melvina (Jan 1840 VA); married 42 yrs; 13 kids, 8 living with: son, Larken (May 1882 VA), coal miner. (SV-164)
Sept. 1903 He and Lavina; Martin Shepherd; Samuel Shepherd & Elihu Shepherd sold a chunk of land to Elihu Cress for $400. (SV-297 Q/495)
It says he was living in Leslie Co., KY
Feb. 1906 He was living in Wise Co., VA (SV-297 Perry deed 19/337)
1910 VA Census (Ancestry.com): James Cress (85 KY) living in Richmond, Wise Co. with wife, Melvina (69 KY). (SV-166 & SV-1432.12)