LIST PROOF OF HIS BIRTH DATE
Proof that George was the son of Nicholas Cress is provided in Chancery Court Case N.S. 64, Summers vs Summers, Augusta County, Virginia. (SV-1878.3) See also Gallia Co., OH Deed Bk 11, pages 72-3.
1798 George Cress listed on Wythe Co., VA tax list (but he was only 11 yrs old!) Perhaps he was listed as the oldest male if his father, Nicholas was already dead. (SV-837) Note: this is probably his Uncle George Cress Jr. prior to his move to KY
1800 George listed on Wythe Co., VA tax list but this is probably Nicholas’ brother, George. (SV-579)
Married in 1803 in NC according to SV-152 pg 213 & SV-404 pg 9; 63
LIST MARRIAGE INFO from 1812 War bounty
Note: Ancestry.com Search of 1810 NC census for CHESTIFER; CHESHFER; CHESTEFEN AND CHESHFEN showed only: John CASTEPENS and John CASTEphens in Surry Co. there is also a Christpher Cheatham in Guildford Co., NC
1810 VA Search (Ancestry.com) shows a Christopher CHEFFER (or CHEFFEN) living in Washington Co.
They did not marry in Montgomery Co., VA (see mar. index in SV-697)
Edgar’s evidence of a N. C. marriage in 1803 appears solid by what research??
1810 Wythe Co., VA Census (Ancestry.com): George Grace (sic) 16-25yrs; 1 Male <10yrs (David); 1 Female <10yrs (Nancy) and 1 Female 16-25yrs (Nancy) listed near family of John Grace (sic). (SV-1665)
War of 1812 government record (Microcopy 131, Roll 23) says they were married May 11, 1803 in N. C. Further down the page says “On 13 Dec. 1871 Nancy Cress said she was married by Chestifer/Cheshfer/ Chestefen or Cheshfen, Esqr. in N. C. at house of same about 11 May 1803.” On next page is says “2 Jan. 1857, State of Tenn., Claiborne Co., Nancy Cress aged 69, widow of George Cress who died 17 Sept. 1855, Whitley Co., KY; married in N. C. 11 June 1805 by one Thos Testarnant a Justice.” (SV-404 pg 63)
1810 NC Census (Ancestry.com): Not found.
Is this him?? 1810 VA Census (Ancestry.com): George Grace (sic) 1-1--/1-1-- next door to John Grace (--1--/--1--)
Could he have been living with Samuel Williams the guardian of him and his siblings??
Jan. 1810 He bought 1 Rifle Gun for $8 from the estate sale of Nicholas Cress in Wythe Co., VA. (SV-836)
1812 - Why is he not mentioned in the list of claimants to estate of his grandfather, John Summers Sr.? (SV-356 page 2)
He served in the war of 1812 from Monroe Co., VA (now WVa) and recieved bounty land of 80 acres under an Act of 1850 which he never received but his widow did in 1855 and sold it. National Archives reference W3643. (SV-1878.3)
1812 War: He enlisted as a Pvt in Capt. Julian Magagnos’ company of Infantry attached to the 5th regiment of VA Militia commanded by Col. Francis Preston from 7 Oct 1812 to 13 Nov. 1813. Then he transferred to artillery. His bounty land application says he served as a Pvt. in Hamilton Shields co. and Capt. Charles W. Lewis’ co. from 9 Nov 1813 until discharged 10 March 1814. He also enlisted from 14 Feb. 1815 to 4 March 1815. (SV-404 pg 59)
War of 1812 Records (Ancestry.com): George Cress; 5 Regiment VA Militia; Private; Roll Box: 49; Roll Exct: 602; OR George Cress: Battalion of Art’y (1813-1814) VA Militia; Private; Roll Box: 49; Roll Exct: 602. (SV-1410)
1813 He was living in Monroe Co., WVa. (SV-404 pg 59)
1819 VA Land Grant: George Creas, 23 Oct. 1819 for 100 ac. on water of S. Fork of Holston in Rye Valley (corner with Wissman & John Creas). Wythe Co. (SV-1679)
1820 Wythe Co., VA census: George Cress, aged 26-45yrs with wife aged 26-45yrs, 4 males <10yrs (James, Henry, Andrew, Geo Wash.); 1 male 10-16 (David); 1 male 16-26 (who? brother Joshua?); 1 female 10-16 (Nancy or Sarah Jane?). (SV-209 & 404 pg 59, SV-578 & SV-579 & SV-1665)
1824 George “Crace” & wife Nancy of Wythe and David Crace & Ury of Carter Co., TN sold to John Crace (Wythe) for $550 a 160 acre tract in Rye Valley, Wythe Co., VA, it being the same land purchased by Nicholas Crace, their father; Wythe Book 9 pg 671. (SV-832)
Wythe Co., VA Court Orders: June 1827 George Cress was paid $5.00 for killing one old wolf. (SV-1652.2)
1830 Wythe Co., VA Census: George Crouse (sic) 40-50 yrs; 1 Male 20-30 yrs (David); 3 Males 15-20 yrs (James W, Henry & Hiram?); 1 Male 10-15 yrs (Geo Washington); 2 Males 5-10 yrs (Jacob & Nathaniel); 1 Female 30-40 yrs (Nancy aged ~40); 1 Female 15-20yrs (Nancy); 2 Females <5 (Catherine & Elizabeth?). (SV-149 pg 111; SV-404 pg 59 & pg 724 & SV-1664)
Note: Smyth Co., VA wasn’t formed until mid 1832 so when he lived in Wythe co. in 1820 & 1830 it could have been an area that later became part of Smyth Co., VA.
April 1830 Gallia Co., OH: John Cress and George Cress gave power of attorney to Joshua Cress to collect monies from Henry Cress, executor, of estate of Geo Cress, deceased. (SV-288) Note: The latter Geo Cress is most likely his grandfather.
April 1830 Wythe Co., VA Court Orders: “Power of attorney from George Cress and John Cress to Henry Cress.” (SV-1652.4)
Between 1830 and 1840 he moved from Wythe Co. to Lee Co., VA (SV-152 pg 213)
Feb. 1835 Lee Co., VA Deeds (Book 7 pg 48): George Cress of Smyth Co. bought land from John Bailey & Nancy, his wife: $200 for 50 acres on Crab Orchard Creek. (SV-1566)
By 1835 They were living in the Crab Orchard part of Lee Co., VA. (SV-404 pg 314)
1838 George & Nancy Cress of Lee Co., VA sold to William Halsey for $400 a 100 acre parcel in Smyth Co., VA on the headwaters of the South Fork of the Holston River bordering land owned by John Cress. Was this him or George Washington & Nancy Cress ?? (SV-477)
Is this him or his son?? Feb. 1840 Lee Co., VA Deeds (Book 8 pg 339): George Cress bought land from John Garrison Jr (both of Lee Co.) for $8 for 8 acres. (SV-1566)
He and his wife moved with their son George, to Whitley Co., KY (SV-149)
1840 VA census: Living in Lee Co.: 1 Male 50-60 (George, aged 53); 1 Male 15-20 (Jacob C.); 1 Male 10-15 (Nathaniel); 1 Female 50-60 (Nancy Reed Cress, aged 51 yrs); 1 Female 10-15 (Elizabeth or Catherine); 1 Female 5-10 (Granddaughter or Catherine?) (SV-404 pg 725)
Is this him or his son?? Aug. 1841 Lee Co., VA Deeds (Book 8 pg 383): George Cress bought land from Elisha Cox & John M. Crabtree (all of Lee Co.) for $65 for 500 acres on S. side of Little Black Mtn on waters of the Big Crab Orchard (Borders land of Geo Cress). (SV-1566)
1844 (Lee Co., VA Land Book 3, pg 555) George Cress Senior assignee of John C. Olinger by virtue of Virginia Land Office Treasury Warrant No. 12801 dated Jan. 10, 1837. Enters 100 acres of land in Lee Co. on the waters of the North Fork of the Powell river on a water called Moses Creek. (SV-799)
1847 He is listed on Whitley Co., KY tax list (SV-267)
1850 George Cress purchased grant for 300 acres on Wheeling Creek in Whitley Co., KY. (SV-304 pg 1067)
1850 Whitley Co., KY Census (Ancestry.com): Geo Cress (65 VA) living in Whitley Co., KY with Cynthia Cress (28 TN), Jane Rose (11 KY) & Vincent Rose (9 KY). Are they grandkids?? (SV-269)
Oct 1850 He was awarded a land grant of 300 acres in Whitley Co., KY which might explain why he was living there and his wife was living in Claiborne co., TN. (SV-404 pg 60)
1850: 3 of his sons are living in Claiborne Co., TN along with his wife. (SV-404 pg 9)
1860 TN census (Ancestry.com): Not found.