1820 Wythe Co., VA census: John Cress aged 26-45yrs; with wife (26-45), son under 10yrs (Peter), 4 daughters <10yrs (Eliz.; Catherine; Milley & Sally), and daug. 10-16 (Mary Ann “Polly”) (SV-209 & 261, SV-578 & SV-567 & SV-1665)
1837 He purchased for $1 from John & Eliz. Cress 150 acres in Smyth co., VA on the South Fork of the Holston River. (SV-477)
1840 VA census: Living in Smyth Co. aged 20-30; 1 girl <5 (??); wife 20-30 (Celia was then ca 22 yrs). (SV-657)
1847 He or Peter (ID No. 8973) bought 105 acres in Smyth Co. with Wm Halsey (SV-203)
1848 He or Peter (ID No. 8973) bought 6 acres on Cress Creek (SV-203)
1849 He and Celia Cress of Smyth Co., VA sold to William Halsey for $15 for 6 acres on Cress’ Creek in Smyth co., VA. (SV-477)
1850 census: Aged 35, living in Smyth Co., VA with: wife, Celia 32; Remember J. 9; Wm. F. 7; Martha A. 5. (SV-252 & SV-584 & SV-661)
1854 Peter & Ceily Cress of Smyth Co., VA sold to Loftin K. Lambeth 150 acres in Rye Valley on South Fork of the Holston River in Smyth Co., VA for $1,036. Reference to Summers’ place and Nelson’s. (SV-477)
1860s Bev says he left Smyth Co., VA in a hurry because his son, William was on the side of the Union. (SV-707) However, several of his children were born in KY before 1861 but perhaps it was his Union sympathies prior to the Civil War that caused him to moved to KY.
1860 Morgan Co., KY (Ancestry.com): Peter Cress (48, born VA) with Cely (44) and kids: Jane (18); William (17); Martha A. (14); Malvina (11); Benjamin (4) and Salina (1). (SV-403)
During the Civil war, there was so much tension that they abandoned their 300 acre farm and floating on a flatboat to Pendleton Co., KY to re-settle (SV-184)
1870 KY Census (Ancestry.com): He is not listed.
Aug. 1870 John Cress’ will leaves him a “tract of land on which he lives.” He was made Executor or the will. The will probate states that in Aug. 1870, Peter is not a resident of the Commonwealth. (SV-252 & 416 & SV-404 pg 432)