He is probably the son of George & Nancy Reed Cress. I base this on the fact that George & Nancy had a son, David who was born 1803-1810. David who married Freelove was born ca. 1809 and was having children in Smyth co., VA as early as 1834. George & Nancy Cress were living in Wythe Co., VA in 1830.
He is mentioned in genealogy of SV-252
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)
1840 Census: Living in Smyth Co., VA aged 30-40 (David would have been ca 31 yrs); 1 boy <5 (Phillip); 1 girl <5 (Julia); wife 20-30 (Freelove would have been 31 yrs old). (SV-657) or is this the other David Cress??
1840 He and Freelove sold to George W. Quillen for $84 lands of Richard Williams, dec’d on the South Fork of the Holston River. How had he acquired this land?? So it appears to mean that Freelove was a daughter of Richard Williams. (SV-477)
1847 Bought 23 acres on Iron Mountain at Fox Creek Gap in Smyth Co. (SV-203)
1850 Census: Aged 41, living in Smyth Co., VA; with wife, Freelove (aged 41), and 6 kids: Julia A. (aged 14); William (aged 9); James H. (aged 7); Martha C. (aged 6); Sarah E. (aged 3); Andrew J. (aged 1). (SV-188 & SV-502 & SV-584 & SV-661)
1854 David Cress sold to Abraham Whisman 50 acres in Rye Valley on the headwaters of the South Fork of the Holston river for $40. (SV-477)
1860 VA census: Aged 49, living in Smyth Co. with wife, Freelove, 51; James H. 16; Martha C. 15; Sarah E. 14; Noah F. 7; Phillip L. 4. (SV-585)