Ancestors of Henry Byrd Cheek

Generation No. 1

1. Henry Byrd Cheek, born 08 Mar 1830 in Bedford Co., VA; died 10 Jan 1908 in Roanoke, VA. He was the son of 2. William P. Cheek and 3. Nancy D(owdy?) Creasey. He married (1) Amarilla Jane Mayhew 26 Jan 1860 in Bedford Co., VA. She was born Bet. 1830 - 1835 in Bedford Co., VA, and died 17 Nov 1890 in Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA. She was the daughter of James Mayhew and Nancy Young Lewis. He married (2) Mary Rose Belle Ashwell 13 Dec 1893 in Bedford Co., VA. She was born 18 Aug 1857 in Bedford Co., VA, and died 06 Jun 1930. She was the daughter of Daniel Callohill Ashwell and Nancy Victoria Payne.

Notes for Henry Byrd Cheek:
Comments by great-great-great-grandson Bryan S. Godfrey, who used his record to join Sons of Confederate Veterans in 1996:

I am seeking better documentation for his birth and death, due to conflicting information. Kenneth E. Crouch's (his great-grandson's) booklet "Saints and Black Sheep" said he was born in 1838 and died in 1918. His gravestone (apparently not erected until 1929, due to being a Confederate veteran, after his grandson Delbert Overstreet applied for one from the U.S. Government) and "28th Virginia Infantry" said he was born 8 March 1830 and died 10 January 1908, in Roanoke. Uncle Delbert's 1929 application for the grave marker, which I found on ancestry.com, says he died 12 February 1910. A letter to my great-great-grandmother Lucy Cheek Overstreet, his daughter, from one of her sisters, circa 1903, indicated they were planning to put him in the Soldier's Home at Roanoke. I was unable to locate his obituary in the Roanoke or Bedford newspapers when I searched assuming 1908 was the date of death. I need to search the February 1910 issues as well. Census records seem to indicate he and Amarilla were born around 1834 instead of 1830.

In the Civil War, he enlisted 1 March 1862 at Bedford as a Private and Regimental Teamster with the 28th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army, sustaining a gunshot wound 30 August 1862 in the Second Battle of Manassas. He was hospitalized until October 1864; was absent 1 December 1864. He is erroneously listed as Henry B. Cheer in the book "28th Virginia Infantry."

More About Henry Byrd Cheek:
Date born 2: Aug 1834
Died 2: 12 Feb 1910
Burial: Cheek-Lewis-Lansdown-Mayhew plot, Rt. 722 (Wilson's Church Road) north of Rt. 24 (Shingle Block Road), Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA
Census: 1900, His second wife's first husband's mother, Agnes Overstreet Stevens, age 75, listed in their household, and all others in household were Stevenses. He was able to read and write, listed as Harry Check, born Aug 1834, farm owned, residing in Otter District.
Ethnicity/Relig.: Methodist-member of Wilson's United Methodist Church, Bedford Co., VA
Military 1: Civil War-enlisted 1 Mar 1862 at Bedford--Private and Regimental Teamster-28th Regiment, VA Infantry, Confederate States Army--gunshot wound 30 Aug 1862 in 2nd Battle of Manassas; hospitalized until Oct., 1864; absent 1 Dec 1864.
Military 2: In "28th Virginia Infantry, " he is quoted as saying that guns were scarce during drills, so men generally used broomsticks or cornstalks to represent rifles. The Patty Lane Rifles departed for Lynchburg with 72 men in late May 1862.
Military 3: In the book "28th Virginia Infantry, " his name is erroneously spelled Henry B. Cheer. Also in the book he is quoted as Harry B. Cheek recalling that the Patty Lane Rifles (his company) drilled on weekends on the muster ground at Chestnut Fork.
Military 4: 28 May 1862, Cheek's regiment departed on the train from Lynchburg to Manassas Junction, where it saw action in the First Battle of Manassas, a southern victory.
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Bef. 1903, near Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA; believed to have been born in this area also. Died in Roanoke, VA. In letters between his daughters around 1903, one mentioned the possibility of putting him in the Soldiers Home there. He died in Roanoke.

More About Amarilla Jane Mayhew:
Burial: Cheek-Lewis-Lansdown-Mayhew plot, Rt. 722 (Wilson's Church Road) north of Rt. 24 (Shingle Block Road), Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA (grave unmarked)
Comment: Her name has been listed also as Mary Ann Mayhew.

Generation No. 2

2. William P. Cheek, born Abt. 1798 in Bedford Co., VA; died 10 Dec 1881 in Bedford Co., VA. He was the son of 4. ? Creasy/Creasey? and 5. Susanna Cheek. He married 3. Nancy D(owdy?) Creasey 21 Dec 1818 in Bedford Co., VA.
3. Nancy D(owdy?) Creasey, born Abt. 1798 in Bedford Co., VA; died Aft. 1881 in Bedford Co., VA. She was the daughter of 6. Vernon "Byrd" Creasey and 7. Mary Dowdy.

Notes for William P. Cheek:
The Marriage Record of Henry Byrd Cheek and Amarilla Jane Mayhew lists the groom's parents as Robert and Nancy Cheek and the bride's parents as James and Nancy Mayhew. William Cheek's death record only records his name as William Cheek. He is usually listed in the records as William P. Cheek, so I do not know how Bobby came to be his nickname or why he is listed as Robert Cheek on his son's marriage record. Robert and Nancy Cheek were also listed as the parents of Sarah A. Hogan when she married Jesse Newman.

MY EFFORTS TO DETERMINE THE ORIGINS OF WILLIAM P. CHEEK FROM 1992-2008
Bryan S. Godfrey

William P. Cheek's 1881 death record lists his parents as Thomas and Susan Cheek. I have not been able to find any other records of this Thomas Cheek in the Bedford County census, land, will, and court records, nor have I ever located a marriage record for a Thomas Cheek and wife Susan. In his 1973 Overstreet-Cheek genealogy booklet entitled "Saints and Black Sheep," my grandfather's first cousin, Kenneth E. Crouch (1924-1995), began his Cheek section with Thomas and Susan Cheek, then listing William P. ("Bobby") Cheek, born about 1798, as their son, and then showing nine children of William P. Cheek and his wife, Nancy D. Creasey.

In 1992, when I located and photocopied in the Library of Virginia a Cheek genealogy by Miss Menifee Reed Cheek (1891-1975) entitled "Cheek Family: First Cheeks to America and Kentucky," I was confident I could trace back my Cheek lineage one more generation, since she begins her lineage with William Cheek, a schoolteacher who was born in London, England, in 1728, had settled in Bedford County, Virginia, by 1780, and had sons named Henry, Thomas, and John. The fact that he settled in Bedford, and that the names William, Henry, Thomas, and John run in my Cheek family, convinced me this William (who is referred to in Cheek websites as "London William" or "William the schoolteacher") was the father of my ancestor Thomas. Miss Cheek's book only dealt with the descendants of William's son Henry, who settled in Adair County, Kentucky, giving no mention of what became of Thomas and stating that John died in his youth of a spider bite.

However, while researching in the Cheek file of the Bedford Museum in 1998, I discovered a Cheek family printout, contributed by an anonymous person, which stated that William the school teacher's son Thomas went to North Carolina and was the Thomas L. Cheek who married Penny Reese on 14 October 1785 in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. This same printout also states that Menifee Reed Cheek thought Thomas went to Charleston, South Carolina, but that this may have been a misunderstanding for the southeastern corner of North Carolina. She did not state this in her genealogy, and I am curious as to her source for that claim.

Fortunately, though, since Menifee Reed Cheek did not show much research on the Virginia generations and mainly began the biographies with the Henry Cheek who went to Kentucky, her speculation about William's son Thomas settling in the Carolinas could have been an error. In implying that William the schoolteacher had three sons by his first wife (a Lindal) and one son (Nicholas) by his second wife (a Ross), she was incorrect, because he apparently had several more sons and daughters. Moreover, there is fairly sufficient evidence that this is the same William Cheek who, on 7 June 1799, received a land grant of 140 acres on the waters of Elkin Creek in Wilkes County, North Carolina (that part soon becoming part of Surry County, North Carolina, where he wrote his will 24 March 1802). Miss Cheek apparently did not know about her immigrant ancestor moving to North Carolina, as she only mentioned his residence in Bedford County, Virginia. Thus, it seemed likely she was capable of being mistaken in assuming the Thomas L. Cheek listed in the 1790 Census of Craven County, North Carolina, was the son of William the schoolteacher. Since William Cheek's first wife was a Lindal, and there was a Thomas Cheek in the 1790 Census of North Carolina whose middle initial was L in a time when middle names were still rare, maybe Miss Cheek made an assumption based on this. There was another Cheek family in Beaufort County, North Carolina, which adjoins Craven County, so Thomas L. Cheek may be of that lineage instead, which, according to Cheek DNA test results, originated with the Cheeks in Essex County, Virginia (formerly known as Rappahannock County, but not identical with the present Rappahannock County in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley).

There is more circumstantial evidence that my ancestor William P. Cheek, who apparently lived in the Body Camp section of Bedford County, Virginia, was from the family of William Cheek "the schoolteacher," and that William the Schoolteacher is the same William Cheek who settled in Surry County, North Carolina. According to Bedford Deed Book 4, page 288, William Cheeke bought 200 acres from Nathan Turner in 1772, adjacent to land of James Turner, who is also an ancestor of mine. I do not know the location of the land, but since the Turners settled along Goose Creek, about a couple of miles southwest of Body Camp along present-day Route 122, this close proximity to where my Cheeks resided is circumstantial evidence of my descent from William the schoolteacher. Secondly, several Cheek genealogy websites list William the schoolteacher as having at least seven children, including a daughter Stelly or Telly. Bedford County marriage bonds show the marriage of Stelley Cheek to Edward Vest on 15 July 1794, listing John Creasey as surety and showing consent of Will Cheek, father of Stelley. This connection with John Creasey is significant because my ancestor William P. Cheek married John Creasey's granddaughter, Nancy D. Creasey, in 1818. In the 1802 Surry County, North Carolina, will of William Cheek, he made his son John executor and mentioned six children by his first wife, Thomas, Henry, Susan, Tella (Fella? or Stelley?], Millia (William?), and Elizabeth. The will was witnessed by John Cheek and Nicholas Cheek. The names in this will, and the fact that William Cheek of Bedford sold his 200 acre property in Bedford County on 29 April 1794, show that this is probably the same William Cheek who received a land grant in Surry County, North Carolina, five years later and wrote his will there in 1802.

I have not determined whether my ancestor William P. Cheek had any siblings, but since I found a John P. Cheek estate inventory in the 1845-47 Bedford County records, and he and William P. were the only Cheeks (spelled Cheak) listed in the 1820 Bedford census, I suspect they were siblings. William's daughter Nancy also had the middle initial P, and needless to say, I have not determined what it stands for. It appears that all the later Cheeks in Bedford County, mainly in the Body Camp vicinity, descend from William P. Cheek and Nancy Creasey Cheek. Many are buried at Wilson's United Methodist Church on Route 722 (Wilsons Church Road) and at the Cheek-Lewis-Mayhew-Lansdown family plot a short distance away on the same road near its intersection with Route 24 (Shingle Block Road). From a newspaper article on the history of this church, William and/or his wife Nancy were early members.

The Cheek site on Rootsweb, contributed by Cheek genealogy author Jeff Williams, lists William the schoolteacher's son Henry as having a son William P. Cheek, born in 1799 in Montgomery County, Virginia, before Henry and his wife Jane settled in Kentucky. If he did have P for a middle initial as did my ancestor of the same name who was born around the same time, then this is further circumstantial evidence that my William P. Cheek was a nephew of Henry.

Hoping direct-male-lineage DNA comparisons between my Bedford Cheek cousins and the descendants of Henry Cheek of Kentucky would confirm a connection, I sought out several Cheek relatives from 2007-08. But even if there were a match, it would not prove my ancestor Thomas was a son of William and Elizabeth Lindal Cheek. But even without the DNA tests and in spite of the earlier suggestions that William's son Thomas went to North Carolina, I was convinced that my Bedford Cheeks do descend from William the schoolteacher and his first wife, Elizabeth Lindal. It is still possible that my Thomas Cheek left Bedford County and settled elsewhere while his sons William and John remained there, since Thomas has not been found in any of the Bedford census records, but he is probably not the same Thomas who married Penny Reese in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1785, unless this Thomas returned to Bedford and later married a Susan or Susanna.

Since the 1785 Virginia Census listed both a William Cheek and a Richard Cheek in Bedford County, it is possible they were related and maybe there were indeed two Thomases, one a son of Richard and one a son of William. However, the name Richard has not been used in later generations of the Cheek family of Bedford, yet the name William has been very common.

Admittedly I was biased in trying to establish my connection to William and Elizabeth Lindal Cheek, even though it would only extend my Cheek ancestry back one more generation, because of William's reputation as an expert mathematician and teacher and the extensive records on their family in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and also because a prominent descendant of their son Henry Cheek, Joel Owsley Cheek (1852-1935) of Nashville, Tennessee, founded Maxwell House Coffee. Another descendant of Henry Cheek who was from Nashville, Leslie Owen Cheek, Jr. (1908-1992), became a renowned art professor in Virginia, transforming the art department of the College of William and Mary, my alma mater, and making unprecedented contributions to Richmond, Virginia's place in the art world. His wife, the former Mary Tyler Freeman (later Mary Tyler McClennan 1917-2005), was a daughter of the famous Richmond newspaper editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Douglas Southall Freeman (1886-1953), whose ancestry is also rooted in Bedford County, Virginia.

The website moonzstuff.com has a section on an extensive Cheek YDNA testing project, which has identified two main groups of Cheek families in the southern United States, that of "London William Cheek the Schoolteacher" and that of John Cheek of Old Rappahannock County, Virginia. In 2008, I found a patrilineal descendant of my William P. Cheek's son, William H. Cheek, who was willing to submit to a YDNA test. Unfortunately, his YDNA does not have one of these lineages for a match. Another Cheek descendant should be tested to validate the results (perhaps a descendant of my ancestor, William P.'s son Henry Byrd Cheek), but for now I cannot help but wonder whether William P. Cheek was an illegitimate son of a daughter of William of London, perhaps Susan, as I have not been able to locate any marriages for a Susan Cheek. The above circumstantial evidence would make a nonrelationship between the two families a peculiar coincidence, and my theory of a possible illegitimacy might explain why I have located a Susannah Cheek in early 1800s Bedford Census records but have not located any Thomas Cheeks in Bedford County records of that period. Perhaps London William's son Thomas really was the Thomas L. Cheek of Craven County, North Carolina, and a maternal uncle of William P. Cheek, and that the listing of William P's father as Thomas in his 1881 death record was an error or made up by a survivor but his mother's maiden name, rather than married name, was Susan Cheek. More records need to be searched to determine the background of William P. Cheek and whether he might still be related to London William in spite of the non-matching YDNA between their descendants.

2012 update: The closest 25-marker YDNA matches to the patrilineal descendant of William and Nancy's son William H. Cheek are to three men whose earliest traced patrilineal ancestor was Thomas Creasy (1827-1862) of Sumner County, Tennessee, whom census records indicate was born in Virginia. There are many more matches to persons with other surnames, especially on 12 markers, including to someone whose earliest patrilineal ancestor was Phillip Delano, ancestor of the mother of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. A descendant of a brother of William H. Cheek needs to be tested to make sure William P. Cheek fathered William H., but the results so far seem to suggest that William P. Cheek may have been fathered by a Creasey rather than a Cheek, and that he therefore married a cousin, since his wife was Nancy D. Creasey. It seems probable that he was illegitimate and took the Cheek surname from his mother instead of his father, and the possibilities seem to narrow down to William and Elizabeth Lindal Cheek's daughter Susanna as his mother since a Susan Cheek is listed as his mother in his 1881 death record. It would also be desirable to test Creaseys in the Bedford area whose lineages can be traced definitively back to John Creasey (Nancy's grandfather) or his probable brother Thomas Creasey, and see if they match male-line descendants of at least two sons of William P. Cheek. Indeed, Creaseys and Cheeks must have lived adjacent to one another in the Creasey Mill Creek and Body Camp vicinities of Bedford County, for they intermarried over and over and were in contact with one another through the generations, beginning with John Creasey acting as a surety for the 1794 marriage of William Cheek the Schoolteacher's daughter Stelley to Edward Vest. Therefore, it seems plausible that a daughter of William Cheek the Schoolteacher had a non-marital liaison with a Creasey, by whom she had a son William P. Cheek and perhaps others, and that her brother Henry Cheek also had a son William P. Cheek born around the same time as this William. This William P. Cheek, in turn, married Nancy Creasey in 1818, perhaps unaware that he was fathered by a close relative of hers, and later their daughter Susan Ann Cheek and son Isaac Newton Cheek would also marry Creasey cousins.

Even though William P. Cheek's death record shows parents as Thomas and Susan Cheek (but Thomas' name is very difficult to make out), a similar situation occurred in my stepfather's ancestry that makes me wonder whether this is the same situation here. My stepdad had a great-grandfather named Robert Dallas Rowe (1848-1928) of Gloucester County, Virginia. On his 1874 marriage record, his parents' names are listed as Richard and Mildred Rowe. I was unable to locate any Richard Rowes of that time period in Gloucester. Robert's 1928 death certificate lists his father as Richard Hall, not Richard Rowe, and his mother's maiden name as Mildred Rowe. Therefore, it appears he was out of wedlock and took the Rowe surname from his mother, something he may have been trying to conceal when he got married during the Victorian age by giving his father the same surname he had. So if this occurred in this instance, it very well could have been the case with William P. Cheek's death record--one of his family members may have reported the actual father's first name, perhaps knowing who he was, and made it appear his father was Thomas Cheek when in actuality Cheek could have been his mother's maiden name. As with finding no Richard Rowes in Gloucester, my inability to find Thomas Cheeks in late 1700s or early 1800s Bedford records makes this a possibility. Susan Cheek, daughter of William, had a brother Thomas Cheek, but he is likely the Thomas L. Cheek who settled in Craven County, North Carolina before 1803.

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Message posted to Facebook, 19 April 2020:

Yesterday my Grandfather O's second cousin on the CHEEK side in Roanoke (his mother [Frances Cheek Dyer] being a Cheek who was the last first cousin of my Great-Grandfather Overstreet and died 4 years ago at 98), whose mother was also related via HARRISes, granted me access to his Ancestry DNA results. I'm fortunate someone in my grandfather's generation (albeit younger than my mother) did this test, and when I looked up his paternal ancestry before posting a tree of his ancestry, I discovered his father was a HOGAN descendant. The facts that on ThruLines alone he matches 19 descendants of other children of William Cheek (1728-1802) "the schoolteacher" b London, England; settled Bedford Co., VA; d Surry Co., NC, and my mother matches about 10, and both have over 200 matches to CREASEY/CREASY descendants, yet YDNA of a Cheek cousin did not match YDNA of proven male-line descendants of William the Schoolteacher yet matches some Creasys, that my great6-grandfather John Creasey was a surety for the 1794 Bedford marriage of William's daughter Stelley to Edward Vest ( the first of numerous contacts or marriages between Creaseys and Cheeks in Bedford), that William's daughter Susanna appeared in bastardy records as early as 1784 and therefore had other illegitimate children, seem to corroborate my theory that my great4-grandfather William P. ("Bobby") Cheek (1798?-1881), whose 1881 death record appears to list parents as Tho's and Susan Cheek ( but the first William's son Thomas L. Cheek appears to have settled in Craven Co., NC before 1785), who married Nancy D. Creasey in 1818, ancestors of later Cheeks in Bedford, was fathered by a Creasey/Creasy (therefore he married a relative, hopefully not his half-sister LOL), took the Cheek surname from his mother, and was a grandson of the first William, whose son Henry Cheek (1769-1838) of Adair Co., KY also had a son William P. Cheek (1799-1852) born around the same time. A male-line descendant of the latter William of Kentucky also matches this cousin of mine on the autosomal test, and it is from that branch that Joel Owsley Cheek (1852-1935) of Nashville, TN, founder of Maxwell House Coffee, and the Richmond, VA art professor Leslie Owen Cheek (1908-1992), who married a daughter of famous author Douglas Southall Freeman, were descended. The fact that Susanna was probably the only child of William who remained in Bedford after he settled in NC and the rest of his children went to KY, NC, TN, or IN adds credence to these results because the matches are less likely to be descended from other Bedford families and related other ways. This cousin's matches to other likely descendants of William Hogan and Mary Mills of Louisa Co., VA also add to my theory that we Bedford Hogans descend from that line, which would give us a royal descent through the CLOPTONS of New Kent Co., VA. And, he matches some descendants of Samuel JORDAN and Elizabeth FLEMING of New Kent Co. and Goochland Co., VA, suggesting William Creasy of Goochland and Fluvanna Counties, almost-certain father of Thomas and John Creasey who were ancestors of the Bedford Creasys/Creaseys, married a daughter of theirs (and there were 2 Caroline Fleming Creaseys in our lineage, plus a Fleming Creasy and a Jordan Creasy). But I would not add that to a family tree without explanation that it is probable but uncertain. Furthermore, he, like my mother, matches numerous descendants of Alexander MAGRUDER of Prince George's Co., MD, helping substantiate our ancestor Isabella Magruder? Henry, grandmother of my great6-grandmother Jemima Lucas MAYHEW, was a daughter even though she was not named in his will. He does not match nearly as many Magruder descendants as my mother, helping corroborate my theory that my grandfather's triple ancestor George WILLIS, not an ancestor of this cousin, married another granddaughter of Isabella Henry, meaning my mother and her father would descend from James Lucas and Mary? Henry 4 ways and hence be Magruders 4 ways too. And this was a DNA test for which I did not have to pay or to request!

More About William P. Cheek:
Burial: Probably Cheek-Lewis-Lansdown-Mayhew plot, Rt. 722 north of Rt. 24, Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA (grave unmarked). Most of his family are buried there, including his son Henry.
Cause of Death: Paralysis
Census 1: 1830, Listed as William P. Cheek. The only other Cheek in the Bedford Census was Susannah, possibly his mother whose name was listed as Susan in his death record. A Susannah Cheek, possibly his sister, married George Welsh 14 Oct 1833 in Bedford Co., VA.
Census 2: 1840, The fact that a male and a female between 80 and 90 years old were living in his household indicates they could be his parents or mother living with them. No record of his supposed father, Thomas Cheek, has been found in the records of Bedford Co., VA.
Census 3: 1860, Listed as Wm Chuk in Southern Revenue District of Bedford Co., VA as a shoemaker; personal estate valued at $100. Presumed wife Nancy (N. Chuk) age 62; 4 presumed children still in household.
Ethnicity/Relig.: Apparently he and/or his wife Nancy were among the early members of Wilson's United Methodist Church on present-day Route 722 near Body Camp. Many of their descendants are buried in its cemetery.
Event: 11 Oct 1843, William P. Cheek was a surety for the marriage of William J. Creasey to Margaret Newman. a brother of Nancy Creasey Cheek and a son of Bird Creasey. William J.'s daughter Minerva married Isaac Nute Cheek.
Occupation: Farmer, shoemaker
Residence: Body Camp area of Bedford Co., VA

Notes for Nancy D(owdy?) Creasey:
E-mail sent by Bryan Godfrey to Creasey relatives and family researchers, 7 May 2020:

Now that Missy Creasy Mills Early has reconnected with me, the one who sent me a large Word document on the Bedford Creaseys around 2003, largely based on William Murlin Creasy's 1931 document with updates, I wanted to write to my fellow Creasey cousins or researchers at once. Some of you have recently seen the below remarks on Facebook or emails. I know this is long-winded like my emails and Facebook posts tend to be, but I hope this facilitates research among others. Feel free to forward to others interested.

I had long deemphasized or avoided the Creasy-Creasey side of my family because of the conflicting statements and undocumented assertions in earlier genealogies that have been perpetuated on the Internet. But if some of my below suppositions are correct, our ancestry may lead back to some interesting families and connections.

To begin with, I am convinced all Bedford Creaseys/Creasys descend from either my great6-grandfather John Creasey (died circa 1825) or from Thomas Creasy (died circa 1803), and that they were brothers, even though William Murlin Creasy showed John as a nephew of Thomas. It appears that most who spell the name Creasey descend from John, whereas those spelling it Creasy descend from Thomas, but correct me if I'm wrong. I believe John and Thomas were sons of William Creasy, Jr. of Goochland/Fluvanna Counties. Because John and Thomas were about the same age, and their children or later offspring intermarried with one another, and their family intermarried so much with the Dowdy family, the family trees would seem more "even" and "neater" if Thomas and John were brothers rather than uncle-nephew. It seems the reason why John was listed as a son of a William II and Thomas a son of William I was because of deed book records in Albemarle and Fluvanna in which the names of William I's children were verified. They were: John, Elizabeth, William, Jordan, Pleasant, Susan, Archibald, and Ransom. Maybe no Thomas was found, hence it was assumed John and Thomas of Bedford were not brothers. However, Judy Creasy of Fluvanna in her 1786 will named son William Creasy and sisters Sally Johnson and "Caroline Fleming Woolderg." I have wondered whether this means her son William was illegitimate, or perhaps she was a Creasy and her husband was also. I have determined that Caroline was the first Caroline Fleming Creasy, known as Fleming, who married John Wooldridge in 1783 in Campbell County (the second Caroline Fleming Creasey (1821-1901), who married Amon Updike, was a granddaughter of John Creasey, more later). It is possible that the records pertaining to children of William I refer to another John besides my ancestor John of Bedford. The one who had all those children may be a different William Creasy, perhaps the son of Judy, but we need to check these land, will, and deed records in Albemarle, Goochland, and Fluvanna for ourselves.

If we assume John and Thomas were brothers, then it appears that the William Creasy who died circa 1803 in Campbell County, wife Betheniah, was a brother of theirs. His will mentions no children, but he mentions Jesse Creasey, probably Jesse son of John (father of Caroline Fleming Creasey Updike), and William Woolridge, probably his nephew also, giving credence to John and William being brothers of Caroline and Judy above.

Another item perpetuated in the genealogies is that John Creasey married Elizabeth Woodson Bugg, daughter of William Bugg and Susanna Woodson of "Shores," Fluvanna County. The fact that the first William Creasy had land near Benjamin Woodson in Goochland/Fluvanna/Albemarle, and DNA matches do suggest a Woodson descent or connection somewhere, but I had questioned Elizabeth Woodson Bugg being the wife of my ancestor John for years because a Bugg genealogy written by a Dr. Brochu shows Elizabeth as born around 1756. Therefore, she could not have been the mother of my great5-grandfather Bird Creasey or the other children of John Creasey if they were getting married in the 1790s. Judge Jenkins, included here, who initially suspected he had Creasey connections but if I recall he later disproved it, had theorized to me several years ago that because John, Thomas, and William Creasy all had dealings with the Edmund Franklin family, that they were brothers and their wives were sisters, daughters of Edmund and Elinor Hodges Franklin of Campbell and Bedford. Indeed, John had children named Edmund and Eleanor, and Thomas had sons named Franklin and Owen. William Creasy's 1803 Campbell will was witnessed by Owen and Robert Franklin. In the 1985 Virginia Updike genealogy, under Nathaniel Bennett Updike (son of Amon and Caroline), letters in his possession were quoted, one from T.C. Creasy in which he states one of his great- or great-great-grandmothers was a Franklin. We know Thomas' wife was Judy or Judith, and so it seems safe to list her as Judith Franklin, and the wife of John Creasey was probably her sister but we have no first name for her. The name Judy seems to have occurred in both the Creasey and Franklin families. Its occurrence in the Creasey family in generations preceding Thomas' children, along with the occurrence of Jordan and Fleming as first or middle names, leads me to my theory below about families that intermarried with our early Creasy generations prior to the move to Bedford.

Note that Thomas and John appear to have been brothers of Caroline Fleming Creasy Wooldridge, that John's son Jesse later had a daughter with the same name, that Thomas' son Franklin had children named Jordan and Fleming, and that the names Jordan and Fleming Creasy have apparently been found in Fluvanna or Albemarle records. Charles Fleming (died circa 1717 in Henrico or present-day Goochland) and wife Susanna Tarleton had a son John who married Mary Bolling, descended from Pocahontas, and they had a daughter named Caroline Fleming who married James Deane. The occurrence of the name Caroline Fleming in the Creasy family would suggest a connection to the Charles Fleming family. His daughter Ursula married her first cousin, Tarleton Woodson, son of John Woodson (died circa 1715 Henrico) and Judith Tarleton. The name Charles also occurs in the Creasy family. The name Judith occurs in the Tarleton, Fleming, and Creasy families. As for the occurrence of the name Jordan, well, Charles Fleming and Susanna Tarleton also had a daughter Elizabeth Fleming who married Samuel Jordan, who died circa 1719 in New Kent County. Samuel was a son of Thomas Jordan and Margaret Brasseur, Quakers of Nansemond County (present-day Suffolk, VA), Margaret of Huguenot descent. I am attaching a chapter on the Jordans from "Adventurers of Purse and Person," and it states that Elizabeth and Samuel Jordan may have had another child besides Charles, Matthew, Sarah, and Samuel Jordan, Jr. This seems to suggest that the father of John and Thomas, William Creasy, married a daughter of Samuel Jordan and Elizabeth Fleming. This would account for the later occurrence of the names Fleming, Jordan, Caroline, Judy, etc. in the Creasy family.

I have submitted my DNA to both Family Tree DNA and Ancestry.com for autosomal testing, and also submitted a sample from my mother to the latter, and a Cheek second cousin of my grandfather did also and has given me access to his results. I submitted a tree of his ancestry. He and my mother have matches to many descendants of the above Tarleton, Jordan, and Fleming families and do not show being related other ways. One of you has matches to numerous Woodsons, and that could be due to early marriages with Woodson relatives, not necessarily a direct descent from the Woodson family, but it's still possible we have a Woodson descent too.

One of the other mysteries I have been working on, ancillary to the Creasey family, is the origin of my Bedford Cheek family. It appears all later Bedford Cheeks descend from my great4-grandfather William P. ("Bobby") Cheek (1798?-1881), listed as Robert in some records, who married Nancy D. Creasey in 1818, daughter of Bird Creasey and Mary Dowdy and granddaughter of John Creasey and William Dowdy, Sr. An earlier William Cheek (1728-1802), born in London, England, came to Bedford County as a schoolteacher before 1772, later settled after 1794 in Surry or Wilkes Co., NC, and had children who for the most part settled in North Carolina, Kentucky, or Indiana. Genealogies of his family have made no mention of the Cheeks remaining in Bedford. William P.'s 1881 death record appears to list parents as Thomas and Susan Cheek. William "the schoolteacher" had a son Thomas and a daughter Susanna, as well as a daughter Stelly whose 1794 Bedford marriage to Edward Vest was witnessed by John Creasey. But William the Schoolteacher's son Thomas has been listed in genealogies as the Thomas L. Cheek who died in Craven Co., NC circa 1815. When I found a descendant of my William P. Cheek to do a YDNA test in 2008, he matches several Creasys but no other Cheeks, and did not match proven male-line descendants of William b 1728. So I was forced to conclude that the listing of my William's father as Thomas was probably an error, and that he was probably an illegitimate son of William's daughter Susanna. Several Cheeks married in Bedford in the early 1800s that I can't connect with either William--Susanna m George Welsh 1833 (surety was William P. Cheek), Dudley m Susannah Craine 1809, John P. Cheek m Patsy Coleman 1819, Corbin Cheek m Betsy Stiff 1803. I have found a bastardy record in which Susanna Cheek paid a fine for a bastard child in 1784. If she had one illegitimate child, she probably had more and was probably the mother of William P. Cheek and the others listed above. She probably remained in Bedford after her father and siblings went to North Carolina. Her brother Henry had a son William P. Cheek (1799-1852) born around the same time as my William P. Cheek, and the name Henry occurs in both families.

Because of the common names between William P. Cheek's family and the family of the earlier William Cheek, and the fact that John Creasey was surety for the marriage of the first William's daughter Stelly, it would be coincidental if the two families were unrelated. Indeed, autosomal DNA results seem to suggest they were, because my mother matches several descendants of at least six children of "London William" and my grandfather's second cousin matches even more, about fifteen so far on ThruLines alone.

Why am I including all the above Cheek information in an email concerning Creasys? Well, YDNA results seem to suggest my great4-grandfather William P. Cheek was fathered by a Creasy/Creasey, and autosomal DNA results seem to corroborate my theory that he was an illegitimate son of William the Schoolteacher's daughter Susanna. More than likely the father of William P. Cheek was either a son of John Creasey or of Thomas Creasy, but it could have been either John or Thomas as well though they would have been approaching their sixties. That and the 1794 marriage of Stelly Cheek were probably the first of many connections between Creaseys and Cheeks. The fact that my mother and this cousin have hundreds of matches to Creasey descendants seems to show they have more than one line of descent from the Creasey family. Hopefully Bird Creasey did not father William P. Cheek, for it would mean William married his half-sister! It's possible William never knew he was a Creasy.

Another item I have researched is the connection of Col. David H. Creasy (1809?-1891), from whose heirs my great-great-grandparents, Berry Zone Overstreet (1863?-1934) and Lucy Henry Cheek Overstreet (1861-1958), purchased part of his extensive tract on Difficult Creek in Bedford County after 1902, the house being a log cabin built in 1800 that was lived in by Zone and Lucy's grandson, the Bedford historian/genealogist/writer/civic leader/reporter Kenneth Elwood Crouch (1924-1995), and not sold out of the family until after his death. Col. Creasy was apparently a wealthy landowner whose landholdings extended throughout the Chestnut Fork area, maybe as far as Quaker Baptist Church. His parents' names have not been found, and he was not listed in any Creasy wills. Because records indicate that Franklin Creasy and Sidney Newman's children Florentine and Washington are buried in the Creasy-Overstreet-Crouch Family Cemetery in front of the home, in unmarked graves, and David had a daughter Florentine, I have concluded that Col. David H. Creasy was a son of Franklin and Sidney and a second cousin of Nancy Creasey Cheek whose granddaughter Lucy later lived there.

I apologize for how long this has turned out, but I hope this guides others in their research, and I welcome any leads or developments you all may have. If you or your relatives have done autosomal DNA tests, I encourage you to search for matches to Tarleton descendants, as all Tarletons appear to descend from Stephen Tarleton of New Kent, whereas there are many unrelated Fleming and Jordan families. I would also analyze the ancestry trees of your matches to descendants of those families, and if you want to share your DNA results with me, I will be glad to analyze. I hope to do some actual courthouse or library research on Creaseys once this pandemic passes.

Sincerely,

Bryan

More About Nancy D(owdy?) Creasey:
Burial: Probably Cheek-Lewis-Lansdown-Mayhew plot, Rt. 722 north of Rt. 24, Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA (grave unmarked)
Residence: Bedford Co., VA

Children of William Cheek and Nancy Creasey are:
i. Mary T. Cheek, born Abt. 1820 in Bedford Co., VA; died Aft. 1879; married Henry Dowdy 22 Jan 1841 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1815; died Aug 1888 in Otter River District, Campbell Co., VA.

More About Mary T. Cheek:
Census 1: Listed as age 60 with husband Henry Dowdy age 65 in Otter District, Bedford Co., VA. No children or others listed in household.
Census 2: 1860, Listed as age 39 in Southern Revenue District of Bedford Co., VA with husband Henry Dowdy, age 45, and George Crouch, age 12.

More About Henry Dowdy:
Comment: His death record lists his birthplace as Campbell Co., VA, parents as Billy and Bettie Dowdy. Uncertain if they were identical with William Dowdy, Jr. and Elizabeth Creasey. He is not listed in William's will.

ii. William Henry Cheek, born Oct 1822 in Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA?; died Aug 1902 in Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA?; married Susan "Frances" Lewis 04 Jan 1845 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1829 in Bedford Co., VA; died 29 Mar 1898.

More About William Henry Cheek:
Burial: Cheek-Lewis-Lansdown-Mayhew plot, Rt. 722 (Wilson's Church Road) north of Rt. 24 (Shingle Block Road), Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA
Census: 1860, Bedford Co., VA. Occupation mechanic. Value of real estate $300, value of personal estate $200.
Military: Civil War--Company B, 28th Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army
Probate: 25 Aug 1902, Bedford Co., VA
Will: 12 Aug 1887, Bedford Co., VA Will Book 31, p. 122

More About Susan "Frances" Lewis:
Burial: Probably Cheek-Lewis-Lansdown-Mayhew plot, Rt. 722 (Wilson's Church Road) north of Rt. 24 (Shingle Block Road), Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA

iii. Stephen Cheek, born Abt. 1825 in Bedford Co., VA; married Matilda A. Booth 21 Dec 1850 in Franklin Co., VA; born Abt. 1835 in Franklin Co., VA.

More About Matilda A. Booth:
Comment: Kenneth E. Crouch in "Saints and Black Sheep" lists her name as Wilzie Booth; John and Molly Shumate Lee Family website lists her as Matilda

iv. Thomas J(efferson?) Cheek, born Abt. 1827 in Bedford Co., VA; died Bet. 1856 - 1860; married Lydia S. Hogan 19 Dec 1851 in Bedford Co., VA.
v. Callohill M. Cheek, born Abt. 1830 in Bedford Co., VA; died Jun 1850 in Bedford Co., VA.
1 vi. Henry Byrd Cheek, born 08 Mar 1830 in Bedford Co., VA; died 10 Jan 1908 in Roanoke, VA; married (1) Amarilla Jane Mayhew 26 Jan 1860 in Bedford Co., VA; married (2) Mary Rose Belle Ashwell 13 Dec 1893 in Bedford Co., VA.
vii. Sarah Ann Cheek, born Abt. 1832 in Bedford Co., VA; died 26 Feb 1890 in Bedford Co., VA; married (1) Milton Edward Hodges 24 Mar 1851 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1828 in Franklin Co., VA; died 27 Jun 1862 in Civil War; married (2) ? Hogan Aft. 1862; married (3) ? Aft. 1862; married (4) Jesse M. Newman 20 Nov 1879.

Notes for Sarah Ann Cheek:
The following marriage record suggests that Sarah was married to a Hogan in between her marriages to Milton Hodges and Jesse Newman:

http://genforum.genealogy.com/pinnix/messages/33.html

Sarah A. Hogan, daughter of Robert & Nancy CHEEK, married Jesse M. Newman, son of Garaitt & Hanna Newman, on November 20, 1879.

More About Sarah Ann Cheek:
Nickname: Sallie

More About Milton Edward Hodges:
Military: Civil War--enlisted in Capt. Alexander Jordan's Company B, 4th Regiment Heavy Artillery, later known as Company E, 34th VA Infantry. Wounded 1 Jun 1862, died 27 Jun 1862.

viii. Susan Ann Cheek, born 09 May 1836 in Bedford Co., VA; died 06 May 1915 in Bedford Co., VA?; married David M. Creasey 14 Mar 1867 in Bedford Co., VA; born 08 Feb 1831 in Bedford Co., VA; died 31 Aug 1921 in Bedford Co., VA.

More About Susan Ann Cheek:
Burial: Quaker Baptist Church, Chestnut Fork Road (Route 722), Bedford Co., VA

More About David M. Creasey:
Burial: Quaker Baptist Church, Chestnut Fork Road (Route 722), Bedford Co., VA

ix. Nancy P. Cheek, born Abt. 1838 in Bedford Co., VA; died 15 Jan 1879 in Otter District, Bedford Co., VA.

More About Nancy P. Cheek:
Cause of Death: Pneumonia
Comment: Apparently never married

x. Isaac Newton Cheek, born 1842 in Bedford Co., VA; died 1868 in Bedford Co., VA; married Minerva Jane Creasey Bef. 1868; born Abt. 1847 in Bedford Co., VA; died 1905 in Bedford Co., VA.

Notes for Isaac Newton Cheek:
The following is quoted from page 86 of "Bedford County Virginia Heritage 1754-2003":

Otis Alexander Cheek was born in Bedford County, Virginia on November 27, 1899. Arriving at the end of the century that marked over 100 years of the Cheek family living in Bedford County.

William P. Cheek, b. abt. 1798 in Bedford County was the son of William Cheek [incorrect--the first William Cheek was probably his maternal grandfather] and farmed in the Body Camp section of the county. He married Nancy D. Creasey in 1818. She was the daughter of William J. Creasey and Martha Witt Creasey [incorrect--Bird and Mary Dowdy Creasey]. There were nine children born to this family that worked and planted the soils of Bedford County...

The grandfather of Otis Alexander Cheek was the Confederate Civil War veteran Isaac Newton Cheek, who served in Co. G, 28th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Pickett's Division. After the war Isaac married Minerva Creasy in Bedford County on Jan. 30, 1867. Within two years Isaac was dead, maybe from a wound carried home from the war. One son was born to this union to carry on the Cheek name.

Charles Nathaniel Cheek, b. August 19, 1869. He was raised on the Creasy farm in Bedford and married Emma C. Howell Ayers a widow, the daughter of Alexander Fewell Howell and Lavina Newman Howell of Bedford County...

More About Isaac Newton Cheek:
Burial: Cheek-Lewis-Lansdown-Mayhew plot, Rt. 722 north of Rt. 24, Body Camp, Bedford Co., VA
Comment: In the 1850 Bedford Co., VA census, a Jesse N. Cheek is listed in William P. Cheek's household, age 8. This is probably Isaac Newton Cheek, and perhaps his first name was later changed from Jesse to Isaac.
Medical Information: Fair complexion, dark hair, blue eyes
Military: Civil War--enlisted 1 Mar 1862 at Bedford as a Private in Company G, 28th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army--absent, sick 10 Aug 1862-Feb 1864 in Richmond hospital with debility, WIA Jun 1864, shot in right hand
Nickname: Nute

xi. Nathaniel Cheek, born Abt. 1845 in Bedford Co., VA; died 20 Sep 1862 in Bedford Co., VA.
xii. Devreanna Cheek, born Abt. 1846 in Bedford Co., VA; died 20 Sep 1862 in Bedford Co., VA.

More About Devreanna Cheek:
Cause of Death: Typhoid fever

Generation No. 3

4. ? Creasy/Creasey? He was the son of 8. John Creasey or Thomas Creasy? and 9. ? Franklin?. He married 5. Susanna Cheek.
5. Susanna Cheek, born Bef. 1770 in Amherst Co. or Bedford Co., VA?; died Aft. 1829 in Bedford Co., VA?. She was the daughter of 10. William Cheek and 11. Elizabeth Lindal.

Notes for Susanna Cheek:
Comments by Bryan Godfrey:

It is certain that William and Elizabeth Lindal Cheek, who came from London, England to Virginia in 1754, were living in Bedford County, Virginia by the 1780s, and he later settled in Surry County, North Carolina, after 1794, had a daughter named Susan, and he refers to her by first name only, as Susannah, in his 1802 will in Surry County. It is also certain, based on William P. Cheek's 1881 death record in Bedford County, that his mother's name was Susan, but that record also lists his father as Thomas. It is not certain, however, whether William Cheek's daughter Susan was identical with William P. Cheek's mother Susan, but YDNA mismatches between patrilineal descendants of the first William Cheek and a patrilineal descendant of William P. Cheek, the fact that William's son Thomas is believed to have been the Thomas L. Cheek who settled in Craven County, North Carolina, my inability to find any Thomas Cheeks in the Bedford records, and other circumstantial evidence of a connection between the two Cheek families, makes it likely that William P. Cheek might have been a victim of nonpaternity or illegitimacy and that the listing of Thomas Cheek as his father in his death record could be incorrect. Whether John P. Cheek, Susanna Cheek Welsh, Dudley Cheek, or Corbin Cheek, are siblings of William P. Cheek, is also uncertain. Though it would seem far-fetched and coincidental, it is also possible there was no connection between the family of William Cheek whose first wife was Elizabeth Lindal and that of William P. Cheek who married Nancy D. Creasey and lived in the Body Camp section of Bedford County, Virginia, in spite of the fact that the same names have been used in both families, that they both lived in Bedford, and that Nancy's grandfather John Creasey was surety for the 1794 marriage of William Cheek, Sr.'s daughter Stelley to Edward Vest.

************************************************
http://genforum.genealogy.com/cheek/messages/1760.html

Dorothy Drake DiGioia Date: April 10, 2001 at 15:24:22
of 3549

For anyone out there looking for Bedford Va Cheeks, hope this helps you: Bedford Co Ct House & Bedford Genealogical Soc. - Cheek marriages: July 1797 Edward Vest m. Stelley Cheek; Sept 1797 Henry Cheeke m. Jenny Hancock; Dec 1803 Corbin Chick m. Betsy Stiff; Aug 24, l809 Dudley Cheak m. Susanna Craine; Dec 1818 William P. Cheek m. Nancy D. Creesy; Aug 1819 John Cheek m. Patsy Coleman; Aug 1819 John Cheak m. Susanna Coleman; Oct 1833 Geo Welch m. Susannah Cheek, surety Wm P. Cheek; Dec l840 Henry Dowdy m. Mary T. Cheek, Wm P. Cheek surety; Jan 1845 Wm H. Cheek m. Susan Frances Lewis; Mary 1851 Milton Hodges m. Sarah Ann Cheek, Wm P. Cheek Surety; Dec 1851 Thomas Cheek m. Lydia Hogan; l868 Wm S. Cheek m. Sallie Jacobs

More About Susanna Cheek:
Event: 1784, A Susannah Cheek was recorded in Bedford Co., VA bastardy records as having a bastard child. Although born 14 years later, this gives credence to her being the mother of William P. Cheek, that if she had 1 illegitimate child, she probably had more.

Children of ? Creasy/Creasey? and Susanna Cheek are:
i. John P. Cheek?, born Bet. 1790 - 1800; died Abt. 1845 in Bedford Co., VA; married Patsy Coleman 23 Aug 1819 in Bedford Co., VA; died Abt. 1854 in Bedford Co., VA.

More About John P. Cheek?:
Census: 1820, In the Bedford County Census, John P. and William P. are the only Cheeks shown (both spelled Cheak).
Will: 1845, List of sales recorded in Bedford Co., VA Will Book 12, p. 16; Inventory and Appraisement on p. 17.

ii. Dudley Cheek?, married Susannah Craine 24 Aug 1809 in Bedford Co., VA.
iii. Corbin Cheek?, born Abt. 1785; died Abt. 1839 in Claiborne Co., TN; married Betsey Stiff Dec 1803.
2 iv. William P. Cheek, born Abt. 1798 in Bedford Co., VA; died 10 Dec 1881 in Bedford Co., VA; married Nancy D(owdy?) Creasey 21 Dec 1818 in Bedford Co., VA.
v. Susannah Cheek?, born in Bedford Co., VA; married George Welch 14 Oct 1833 in Bedford Co., VA.

More About Susannah Cheek?:
Date born 2: Abt. 1819
Comment 1: William P. Cheek was surety for her marriage, but because he also had a daughter named Susan Ann, and this Susannah would have been less than 15 years old since William was not married until 1818, Susannah may have been his sister, not daughter.
Comment 2: She may have been William P. Cheek's mother. The fact that 1820 and 1830 census records indicate a George Welch in Bedford between 60-70 years of age gives credence to this couple being older than usual at time of marriage.

6. Vernon "Byrd" Creasey, born Abt. 1774 in Bedford Co., VA?; died Abt. 1830 in Bedford Co., VA. He was the son of 12. John Creasey and 13. ? Franklin?. He married 7. Mary Dowdy 24 Oct 1794 in Bedford Co., VA.
7. Mary Dowdy, born Abt. 1773 in Cumberland Co., VA?; died Abt. 1855 in Decatur Co., TN. She was the daughter of 14. William Dowdy and 15. Lucinda ?.

More About Vernon "Byrd" Creasey:
Name 2: Bird Creasey
Comment: His name is generally recorded as Bird Creasey.

More About Mary Dowdy:
Nickname: Polly

Children of Vernon Creasey and Mary Dowdy are:
i. Judy Creasey
ii. Siner Creasey, born Abt. 1795 in Bedford Co., VA; married Jubal Creasy 04 Mar 1817 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1796; died Aug 1880 in Bedford Co., VA.
iii. William H(undley?) Creasey, born Abt. 1796 in Bedford Co., VA; died 15 Jul 1883 in Bedford Co., VA; married Mary A. Burgantine 21 Jan 1817 in Goose Creek Friends Meeting, Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1800 in Pennsylvania; died Bet. 1870 - 1880 in Bedford Co., VA.
iv. Vernon Byrd Creasey, Jr., born Abt. 1795 in Bedford Co., VA; died Abt. 1831; married Mary Kelly.
v. Martha Creasey, born Abt. 1798 in Bedford Co., VA; married Paschal W. Nance 22 Mar 1819 in Bedford Co., VA.
3 vi. Nancy D(owdy?) Creasey, born Abt. 1798 in Bedford Co., VA; died Aft. 1881 in Bedford Co., VA; married William P. Cheek 21 Dec 1818 in Bedford Co., VA.
vii. Peter Bennett Creasey, born Abt. 1799 in Bedford Co., VA; died 1869; married Lucinda Newman 12 Apr 1825 in Bedford Co., VA.
viii. Jeremiah Logan Creasey, born Abt. 1803 in Bedford Co., VA; died 1869.
ix. Ambrose Ransom Creasey, born 17 Sep 1803 in Bedford Co., VA; died 1869 in Hardin Co., TN?; married Lucinda Newman 12 Apr 1825 in Bedford Co., VA; born 09 Nov 1803.

More About Ambrose Ransom Creasey:
Census: 1850, Listed in Hardin Co., TN

x. John Thomas Creasey, born Abt. 1805 in Bedford Co., VA; died 1902; married (1) Frances Austin Bef. 1830; married (2) Elizabeth Ann Wilkes 25 Oct 1830 in Bedford Co., VA; born 21 Nov 1807 in Bedford Co., VA; died 11 Jul 1835 in Lauderdale Co., AL; married (3) Nancy Beddleton 19 Jan 1836 in Lauderdale Co., AL; born Abt. 1809 in North Carolina; died Abt. 1880 in Holly Springs, Cherokee Co., GA.

More About John Thomas Creasey:
Died 2: 1877, Marshall Co., MS
Nickname: Jack
Residence 1: 1840, Lauderdale Co., AL
Residence 2: 1850, Northern Division, Marshall Co., MS

xi. Mary Creasey, born Abt. 1807 in Bedford Co., VA; married Thomas Newman 13 Jan 1828 in Bedford Co., VA.

More About Mary Creasey:
Nickname: Polly

xii. Lucy Creasey, born Abt. 1810 in Bedford Co., VA.
xiii. Stephen Paul Creasey, born Abt. 1812 in Bedford Co., VA; died 1899 in Decatur Co., TN; married (1) Frances Newman Bef. 1835; born Abt. 1818; died 1854; married (2) Matilda J. Dancer Aft. 1850; born May 1836 in Alabama; died 1912 in Decatur Co., TN.

More About Stephen Paul Creasey:
Burial: Corinth Cemetery, Decatur Co., TN
Census: 1850, Listed in Hardin Co., TN

Generation No. 4

8. John Creasey or Thomas Creasy? He married 9. ? Franklin?.
9. ? Franklin?

Child of John Creasy? and ? Franklin? is:
4 i. ? Creasy/Creasey?, married Susanna Cheek.

10. William Cheek, born 22 Dec 1728 in London, England; died 16 Mar 1802 in Elkin Ridge/Creek area of Wilkes/Surry Co., NC. He married 11. Elizabeth Lindal Bef. 1767 in England?.
11. Elizabeth Lindal, born in England?; died Aft. 22 May 1769 in Bedford Co., VA.

Notes for William Cheek:
The following has been copied and pasted from the following website:
"The Cheek Family of Alleghany County, North Carolina"
www.moonzstuff.com
Compiled by Rebecca Moon
http://www.moonzstuff.com/Cheek/WilliamLondon.html


William Cheek
of Surry County, NC

William Cheek, known to genealogists as "William of London" or "William the Schoolteacher" (to distinguish him from all the other William Cheeks), was born Dec. 22, 1728, in London, England, and immigrated to Bedford Co., VA, in 1754. He died Mar. 16, 1802, in Surry Co., NC. He married (1) Elizabeth Lindal probably around 1765. He married (2) Elizabeth or Susannah Ross. She died after 1802.

Children of William Cheek & Elizabeth Lindal:

Thomas L. Cheek, b. abt. 1765 in VA; d. Dec. 5, 1815, Craven Co., NC; m. Penny REESE, Oct. 14, 1785, Craven Co., NC.
Henry Cheek, b. May 22, 1767 or 1769, in VA; d. Dec. 20, 1838, Adair Co., KY; m. Jane "Jenny" HANCOCK, daughter of William HANCOCK & Ann HILL, Sept. 24, 1797, Bedford Co., VA (b. Feb. 28, 1778, VA; d. 1850, Adair Co., KY). Children: Thomas Cheek (1798), William P. Cheek (1799), Henry Cheek (1802), Elizabeth Lindal Cheek (1804), Pamelia Cheek (1806), Dr. James Hill Cheek (1809), Nancy Cheek (1811), George Hancock Cheek (1813), Silas Cheek (1816), Aaron Cheek (1818), Levi Cheek (1820), John Lindal Cheek (1821), Mary Jane Cheek (1824).
Susannah Cheek.
Stella Cheek, b. Dec. 22, 1769, in VA; m. Edward VEST, July 15, 1794, Beford Co., VA.
Amelia or Permelia Cheek, m. John LONDON; they later moved to Marshall Co., TN. Amelia CHEEK & John LONDON posted a marriage bond in Surry Co., NC, dated Apr. 22, 180-; a final digit "0" appears to have been written in later. The bond refers to North Carolina Governor William Hawkins who was in office from 1811-1814.
Elizabeth Cheek.
Children of William Cheek & Elizabeth or Susannah Ross:

+John Cheek, b. abt. 1781, VA; d. 1850-1860, Yadkin Co., NC; m. Mary ELMORE, daughter of Athanatious ELMORE, Jr., & Susannah PENIX, Sept. 6, 1809, Surry Co., NC (b. abt. 1791; d. 1850-1860).
Nicholas Cheek, b. abt. 1784; d. Aug. 5, 1857, Shelby Co., KY; m. Susannah SUMMERS, May, 20, 1805, Green Co., KY. Children: Henry A. Cheek (1802), Elizabeth Anne Cheek (1810), Granville Cheek (1813), Lewis E. Cheek (1817), Thomas Cheek (1805), Louisa Jane Cheek (1806), Martha Ann Cheek (1826).
+William Cheek, Jr. b. 1790-1800; d. 1830-1840, Surry Co., NC; m. Rhoda MONEY, Mar. 1, 1819, Surry Co., NC (b. abt. 1802; d. 1860-1870).
Pleasant Cheek, b. abt. 1795; d. 1850 in Vigo Co., IN; m. Rhoda WOOD. 4 children incl. Samuel & John of Vigo Co., IN. According to History of Vigo County, Indiana (Chicago: S.B. Nelson & Co., 1891), pp.700-701, Pleasant CHEEK & Rhoda WOOD came to Vigo Co., IN, from Surry Co., NC, in 1844. Children: Samuel B. Cheek (1823), John C. Cheek (1825).
Notes

William Cheek "the Immigrant," also called William "of London" or William the Schoolteacher, is the progenitor of one of two main families of Cheeks in the Southern United States. The other family is descended from John Cheek, Sr., who is found in the records of Old Rappahannock Co., VA, in the late 1600's. William "of London" was probably not related to John Cheek, Sr. Based on the results of the Cheek/Chick DNA Project, William's descendants and the descendants of John Cheek, Sr., do not have a common male line ancestor within the last 500 years, and the chance of a common ancestor withint the last 1,000 is only about 50-50. Click here to read more about the DNA project.

For more information on William Cheek and his descendants, see Jeff Williams' database on Rootsweb. Jeff is also the author of the book The Cheek Family Chronicles, the definitive resource for Cheek family genealogy.

Records

William Cheek of London immigrated to Virginia in the year 1754, according to the book Boarded Passengers to America, Volume 5, by Peter Wilson Coldham.

Wiilliam is mentioned in a biography of Joel O. Cheek of Nashville, TN, which appears in Tennessee, The Volunteer State, Vol. 3, by John T. Moore & Austin P. Foster (Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1923). Joel O. CHEEK was the founder of the Maxwell House Coffee Company. The biography states that Joel Cheek's father, "a native of Kentucky, was a son of William Cheek, who was born in Virginia and who in turn was a son of William Cheek, Sr., who came from England in 1768 and settled in Bedford, Virginia, where he became a freeholder. He was also a school teacher, being a Latin scholar and highly educated man."

On May 26, 1772, a deed entered in the records of Bedford Co., VA, indicates that William CHEEKE purchased approximately 200 acres from Nathan TURNER and his wife Agnes. The same property was sold by William and his wife Elizabeth to Jackson ALLEN of Shenandoah County on April 29, 1794.

William Cheek was a loyalist during the Revolutionary War and was arrested for treason in Bedford Co., VA, on Aug. 22, 1780 (Miscellaneous Court papers [pre-1780] filed with the Bedford Co., VA, Clerk). His crime, apparently, was encouraging others to sign an oath of allegience to the British crown. William pled guilty on Aug. 29, 1780, in Bedford Co., VA, and was sent to Richmond for trial. William could have been sentenced to death; fortunately, in Oct. 1780, the Virginia Legislature decided to pardon all persons who had had taken the King's oath, or who had encouraged enlistments in the British service, but who had not commited any other criminal acts, provided they took an oath of allegiance before the last day of Feb. 1781. William understandably complied and his life was spared.

The 1785 Tax List, Bedford Co., VA:
William CHEEK, 8 white persons, 1 black person
Richard CHEEK, 3 white persons, 2 black persons
The 1787 Tax List, Bedford Co., VA:
William CHEEKE, 1 white male 16-21, no black persons, 2 horses, 7 cattle.
1789 Tax List, Bedford Co., VA:
WILLIAM CHEEK, 2 tithes total, no black persons
A descendant of William CHEEK is said to have an old arithmetic book that once belonged to William CHEEK. In it, William wrote a note dated June 22, 1791, saying that he "taught scool in my own house in the County of Bedford, Virginia at the age of sixty two and a half years" and that "God will provide." The current owner of the book is unknown.

William CHEEK sold his 200 acre property in Bedford Co., VA, April 29, 1794.

On June 7, 1799, William CHEEK received a land grant of 140 acres on the waters of Elkin Creek at the "dividing ridge." (Wilkes Co., NC, Deed Book D:803.)

William CHEEK's will is dated Mar. 24, 1824, in Surry Co., NC. However, the date may be incorrect based on documents discovered in the Surry County records by Terry W. Cheek. The will was apparently a nuncupative will, or a verbal will later reduced to writing. On Apr. 14, 1802, William's sons John and Nicholas gave a statement under oath that Wiliam had died on Tuesday March 16, 1802, and that he made his verbal will two days before his death. This means the will should be dated March 14, not March 24.

Will of William Cheek of Surry Co., NC
Dated Mar. 24, 1802; recorded Aug. 1802
Surry Co., NC, Wills, Vol. 3, pp.54-55
Transcribed by R. Moon
Digital image
In the name of God Amen. I WILLIAM CHEAK of Surry County make this my Last will and testament. I resign my soul to its creator in all humble hopes of its future happiness, as is the disposial of a being infinibly good as to my body my will is that it be decently buried.

I hereby make and appoint my son JOHN CHEEK Executor of this my last will and testament.

I do hereby will and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife all my lands tenements stock and household furniture during her lifetime or widowhood and at her death the plantation where she now lives together with the whole tract of land I will to my youngest son PLEASANT CHEEK.

I also will to the rest of my sons and daughters the property that I have already given them one hundred and forty acres of land lying in Wilks County.

My old place I give and bequeath to the six children I had by my first wife THOMAS, HENRY, SUSAN, TILLER*, MILLIA, ELIZABETH.

WILLIAM CHEEK
Mar. 24th day 1802
NICHOLAS CHEEK
JOHN CHEEK

State of North Carolina August Session AD 1802. NICHOLAS CHEEK and JOHN CHEEK the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing.

*Note: "Tiller" is probably a phoenetic spelling of Tillie or Tilla.

More About William Cheek:
Event: 1780, Listed as a prisoner at Bedford Court House along with other suspected Tories.
Immigration: 1754, Probably the same William Cheeke who immigrated from London, England, to Virginia in 1754.
Occupation: 1790, School teacher in Bedford Co., VA
Personality/Intrst: Ws an expert mathematician who could solve difficult problems
Residence: London, England; living in Bedford Co., VA by the time of the Revolutionary War

Children of William Cheek and Elizabeth Lindal are:
i. Thomas L. Cheek, born in Amherst Co., VA or Bedford Co., VA?; died in Craven Co., NC?; married Penny Reese.

More About Thomas L. Cheek:
Comment 1: YDNA tests are needed to establish whether he was related to his likely parents, William and Elizabeth Lindal Cheek, who came from London, England and settled in Bedford Co., VA before the Revolutionary War, and William later settled in Surry Co., NC.
Comment 2: It is known that William Cheek "The Schoolteacher" of London, Virginia, and North Carolina had a son Thomas, but Cheek researchers claim his son is the Thomas L. Cheek who was living in Craven Co., NC where he married in 1785.

ii. Amelia Cheek, married John London Apr 1800 in Surry Co., NC.

More About Amelia Cheek:
Nickname: Millia

iii. Elizabeth Cheek
iv. Henry Cheek, born 22 May 1767 in Amherst Co., VA; died 20 Dec 1838 in Adair Co., KY; married Jane Hancock 24 Sep 1797 in Bedford Co., VA; born 28 Feb 1778; died 1850 in Adair Co., KY.
v. Stelley Cheek, born 22 Dec 1769 in Bedford Co., VA?; married Edward Vest 15 Jul 1794 in Bedford Co., VA.

More About Stelley Cheek:
Comment: John Creasey was surety for her marriage bond. This is circumstantial evidence that she was the aunt of William P. Cheek who married John Creasey's granddaughter Nancy D. Creasey in 1818.

5 vi. Susanna Cheek, born Bef. 1770 in Amherst Co. or Bedford Co., VA?; died Aft. 1829 in Bedford Co., VA?; married ? Creasy/Creasey?.

12. John Creasey, born Abt. 1750 in Fluvanna Co., VA?; died Abt. 1825 in Bedford Co., VA. He was the son of 24. William Creasy III. He married 13. ? Franklin?.
13. ? Franklin? She was the daughter of 26. Edmund Franklin, Jr. and 27. Eleanor Hodges.

Notes for John Creasey:
The information shown herein on the ancestors of Bird and Mary Dowdy Creasey has been copied and pasted from the website of Mrs. Elke Hall, "Ancestors of Bryan David Hall." I am not sure how to contact Mrs. Hall for approval to use her information, for no e-dress or address is supplied on the home page to her website, but I am indebted to her for her information on the Creasey and Dowdy family history prior to the families settling in Bedford County.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/l/Elke-A-Hall/GENE0001-0020.html

374. John Creasy, died 1825 in Bedford Co., VA. He was the son of 748. William Creasy. He married 375. Elizabeth Woodson Bugg.
375. Elizabeth Woodson Bugg.

Notes
It is possible that John Creasy is the John who sold 100 a. of land in Cumberland Co. adj. Col. Richard Randolph on 23 March 1788 to John Woodson of Carter's Ferry in Cumberland Co.

In 1760,10 August, Benjamin Woodson of Albemarle Co. sold to Benjamin Woodson Jr. of Goochland Co. 200 a. in Albemarle, fork of James River, part of a larger tract of 400 a. known as Raccon as by patent will appear; adj. Woodson on Little Raccoon, William Creasy, George Hilton. (Albemarle Records).

Rene Woodson of Albemarle Co. bought from Charles Creasy of same Co. 200 a. bound by lines of a survey made by William Creasy, Sr. to contain 400 a. The bargained premises being the lower 200 of the tract including the plantation whereon sd. William Creasy Sr. now lives on.' in Co. of Albemarle, on both sides of Little Known Creek & was granted by William Creasy Sr. to William Creasy Jr. & by him to said Charles Creasy. 28 Sept 1768, DB 5, p. 72

In1771, Rene Woodson of Albemarle Co. from Jessee Creasy of said Co. 160 a. on both sides of Little Bacon Creek, bounded by lines of Benjamin Woodson, Eliza. Johnson and sd. Rene Woodson in Albemarle Co. 16 Dec. 1771, Albemarle Co. DB 5, p. 490.

In 1756, Benjamin Woodson held a patent for 400 a. in Albemarle Co. on both sides of Cary Creek of the Rivannah River, ajd. William Creasy. (16 Aug.1756, Virginia Land office Patent Book 33m p. 299).

Joseph Woodson of Amelia Co. to Josiah Hundley of same Co. 3500 lbs. of nett inspected tobacco and 2207 lbs. like tobacco. 3 negroes. 1785 (Amelia Co. DB 17, p. 313). (The name Hundley is being used as a first name in the Dowdy family, also Woodson and Cary.)

Goochland Co. records note:
9 Dec 1737, William Creasey, of Goochland Co. to Miles Cary, Gent. of Goochland Co. land in Goochland on south side of North branch of James River and part of the tract whereon William Creasy now lives, being a patent for 400 a. bearing date Sept. 28, 1732, and being the lower moiety or half of all that tract. (DB 3, p. 76).

John's daughter Elizabeth named her first son Cary A. Henry Cary, Gent. from Henrico Co. also bought land in Goochland in 1735 (DB 2, p. 204). He sold land to his son Archibald on 21 Sept 1742 in Goochland, "on both sides of Willis's Creek containing 4122 acres, being part of a larger tract granted to Cary by patent. "

Will of John Creasey, Bedford County, Virginia Will Book 6, page 248:

I John Creasy Sr of the County of Bedford and state of Va being ? in body but of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God, I do constitute, make and ordain this my last Will and testament on manner form following
Item first I recommend my body to the earth to be decently buried and soul into the hands of Almighty God, that gave it to me. Item 2nd my ? and funeral charges to be paid. Thirdly I give all the residue of my properties both real and personal which consists of my interest in a tract of land left me by Will lying in Campbell County on the head of Falling Creek with sundry personal property now in the occupancy of myself and my son David Creasy, to be equally divided between my son David Creasys children and my daughter Anna Creasys after paying my son Edmund Creasey fifty dollers to be paid in twelve months after my decease, and one dollar to Ealoner Dowdy and Elizabeth Dowdy. Having given to my sons Thomas Creasy, Bird Creasy, Charles Creasy, Jesse Creasy, William Creasy, and Edmund Creasy also my three daughters Molly Wilson, Ealonor Dowdy, Elizabeth Dowdy, they all having severally and individually received their legacies, except Ealoner Dowdy & Elizabeth Dowdy which is to be paid one dollar each, and my son Edmund Creasy fifty dollers in twelve months after my decease, as they severally and indivudually stand charged what they have received. Fourthly, I constitute and appoint my son David Creasy my executor, and my daughter Anna Creasy my executor. In testimony thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty ninth day of August in this year of our Lord one thouand eight hundred and twenty.
Sigmed, sealed and acknowledged by the Testator in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses
Jonah Dobyns
James Wilson
William Martin

John X Creasey
his mark

At a Court held for Bedford County at the Courthouse the 28th day of November 1825 This Last Will and testament of John Creasy, Jr (?) was proved by the oath of Jonah Dobyns and William Martin subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste Ja Steptoe

More About John Creasey:
Date born 2: Abt. 1750
Probate: 28 Nov 1825, Bedford Co., VA
Will: 29 Aug 1820, Bedford Co., VA--Will Book F, p. 248

Children of John Creasey and ? Franklin? are:
i. Anna Creasey
ii. Charles Creasey, married Judith Dowdy 29 Nov 1797 in Bedford Co., VA; born in probably Cumberland Co., VA or Dumpling Mountain, Bedford Co., VA.
iii. Mary Creasey, married Samuel Wilson.
iv. William Creasey, died Abt. 1828 in Campbell Co., VA.

Notes for William Creasey:
The following is quoted from William Murlin Creasy's 1932 typescript, "Creasy Family Record":

William Creasy, son of John Creasy, m Elizabeth Hawkins. They had twelve or thirteen children. Do not know the names of all of them. He was probably the William Creasy appointed Lieutenant of State Militia July 1810. (His name was probably William Woodson Creasy for his mother's family name). See Fluvanna County Court Order Book covering dates 1807 to 1811. I am satisfied that this William is the great-grandfather of James A. Creasy of Fluvanna County, and R.L. Creasy of Albemarle County. R.L. Creasy of Charlottesville, Va. writes me under date of Dec. 10, 1929 that this William Creasy came to Fluvanna County from Bedford and he is no doubt the son of John Creasy who moved from Fluvanna County to Bedford and died there in 1825.

Comments by Bryan Godfrey: There was a William H. Creasey who married Elizabeth Mason in 1810 in Bedford County, VA. It seems more likely that he, not the William W. Creasey who married Elizabeth Hawkins and lived in Fluvanna County, was the son of John Creasey of Bedford County, VA. But William Murlin Creasy's typescript placed William H. Creasey who married Elizabeth Mason as a son of Thomas Creasy.

v. Thomas Ransom Creasey, born Abt. 1770 in Fluvanna Co., VA?; died Abt. 1840 in Bedford Co., VA; married Drusilla Dowdy 01 Mar 1792 in Bedford Co., VA; born Bef. 1771; died Abt. 1850.
6 vi. Vernon "Byrd" Creasey, born Abt. 1774 in Bedford Co., VA?; died Abt. 1830 in Bedford Co., VA; married Mary Dowdy 24 Oct 1794 in Bedford Co., VA.
vii. Elizabeth Creasey, born Abt. 1775 in Bedford Co., VA; married William Dowdy, Jr. 29 Jan 1795 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1770; died Bef. 21 Aug 1844 in Dumpling Mountain area of Bedford Co., VA.

Notes for William Dowdy, Jr.:
The information shown herein on the ancestors of Bird and Mary Dowdy Creasey has been copied and pasted from the website of Mrs. Elke Hall, "Ancestors of Bryan David Hall." I am not sure how to contact Mrs. Hall for approval to use her information, for no e-dress or address is supplied on the home page to her website, but I am indebted to her for her information on the Creasey and Dowdy family history prior to the families settling in Bedford County.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/l/Elke-A-Hall/GENE0001-0020.html

186. William Dowdy, born Abt 1770 in VA; died Bef August 21, 1844 in Bedford Co. VA. He was the son of 372. William Dowdy and 373. Lucinda. He married 187. Elizabeth Creasy January 29, 1795 in Bedford Co., VA.
187. Elizabeth Creasy, born Abt 1775 in Bedford Co., VA. She was the daughter of 374. John Creasy and 375. Elizabeth Woodson Bugg.

Notes
William Dowdy and Elisabeth Creasy , daughter of John were married on 29
Jan. 1795, Charles Creasy was surety. They were married by Alderson
Weeks, according to Henshaw's Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy.

Under the Gen. Index to Decedents, Trusts and Wards, Bedford Co., VA
1844: William Dowdy, Sr. Elizabeth Dowdy, widow. Will in Will Book 11,
page 5. Also sales, inventory, appraisal. Same page Jesse Dowdy exec.
Will book 12, his account and inventory.
Index to Deeds, Bedford Co. VA:
1807, Hundley and William Dowdy from Thos. Pullen, DB 12, p. 187, 172 a.
adj. Henry Latham.
1835, William Dowdy, Sr. to Henry Wilkes, Trustee
Will of William Dowdy,
In the name of God Amen I William Dowdy sen. of the County of Bedford a
State of Virginia being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and
memory blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in manor and form following that is to say First
I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all my land being and
lying on the west side of the Dumplin mountain road and adjoining Jacob
Shepherd Hundley Dowdy and others withthe appertainnances thereto during her life time not to be destroyed willfully so as to injure the sle of
said land at the expiration of her time, excluding her from any lot or
part of the balance of my lands. I do also give and bequeath unto my
beloved son Cary A. all my lands except that portion alloted to my wife
in free and full possession so as to make a crop without interruption
after my death for and in consideration of the improvements made by him
on said land after his crop if finished I wish for said land to be sold
at the discretion of my executors and 50 dollar given out of the proceeds
to each of my beloved sons. The balance of which I want equally divided
between each of my children. I also allot to my beloved daughter Suey
one cow and feather bed and furniture to make her equal with my other
daughters donations. I also wish for all the balance of my property to
be sold and after myjust debts is paid and my beloved wifes thirds taken
out to be equally divided amongst each of my children that part going to
my daughter Pheniba who intermarried with John Drewry to go to her a
the heirs of her body forever likewise my daughter ann who intermarried
with Michael Crotty to go to her and the heirs of her body forever. I
also give and bequeath to my granddaughter Sabin also Emily Arthur
daughter of Elizabeth Arthur who intermarried with William Newman one
feather bed and furniture and I hereby appoint my sons Jesse and Cary A. sole executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all
former wills by me made in witness whereof I have herunto set my hand a
seal this 13th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty two.
Signed, sealed, published, declaered by the above named Mr. Dowdy Sr be his last will and testament in the preasants of us who have herunto
subscribed our names as witnesses in the preasance of the testator.
David H. Creasy Wm . X Dowdey Sr.
His mark
Walter B. Dowdey
Hundley Dowdey, Sen.
At a court held for Bedford County the 21th day of August 1844 this last
will and testament of William Dowdey Sr. Deceased was produced in court
proved by the oath of David H. Creasey, Walter B. Dowdey and Hundley
Dowdey, Sr. subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded And
on the motion of Cary A. Dowdey and Jesse Dowdey the executors therein
named who made oath and together with James wilson, Daniel B. Stenvens
and William Wade their securities entered into and acknowledged a bo
the penalty of 3000 dollars conditioned according to law certificate is
granted them for obtaining a probate on said will in due form. Teste R.
C. Mitchell, CBC
Inventory and appraisement of the estate of William Dowdey Sr. Deceased,
taken the 29th day of October 1844 came to $384.93.
Items were sold for $360.84 1/4
Will and inventories in file.

Children of William Dowdy and Elizabeth Creasy are:
i. Cary A. Dowdy, born in Bedford Co., VA; married Judith Overstreet October 26, 1837 in Bedford Co., VA.
ii. Suey Dowdy, born in Bedford Co., VA.
iii. William Dowdy, born in Bedford Co., VA.
iv. Pheniba Dowdy, married John Drury August 25, 1841 in Bedford Co., VA.
93 v. Mary Ann Dowdy, died Abt 1844 in Franklin Co., VA; married Michael Crotty March 05, 1821 in Bedford Co., VA.
vi. Jesse Dowdy, married Susan E. Weeks December 10, 1834 in Bedford Co., VA.



viii. Eleanor Creasey, born Abt. 1780 in Bedford Co., VA; married Hundley Dowdy 05 Dec 1796 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1770; died Aft. 1849 in Bedford Co., VA?.

More About Hundley Dowdy:
Census: 1850, Listed in Southern Division of Bedford Co., VA as age 80 with wife Ellin age 65 and an Amanda Williamson, age 17

ix. Jesse Creasey, born Abt. 1785 in Bedford Co., VA; died Abt. 1839 in Bedford Co., VA; married Elizabeth Hore 09 Apr 1807 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1785; died in Lewis Co., MO.
x. Col. David H. Creasey, born 18 Feb 1787 in Bedford Co., VA; died Abt. 1853 in Floyd Co., VA; married Susannah Newman 23 Oct 1810 in Bedford Co., VA; born 31 Jul 1793 in Bedford Co., VA; died Abt. 1845 in Kentucky?.
xi. Edmund Creasey

14. William Dowdy, born in Cumberland Co., VA?; died Abt. 1795 in probably Dumpling Mountain area of Bedford Co., VA. He was the son of 28. John Dowdy?. He married 15. Lucinda ?.
15. Lucinda ?

Notes for William Dowdy:
http://www.scislaw.com/genealogy/dowdy/branch16.html

Mary (Polly) Dowdy, born Bef 1773 in Bedford Co., VA died in Tennessee;"I'm told that Mary Dowdy Creasy's father was, William R. Dowdy and that her grandfather was John R Dowdy and that her great grandfather was John L Dowdy. Mary was named after her mother who was Mary Reaves"

+Bird Creasy October 24, 1794 in Bedford Co., VA.
See info and descendants of theis family at http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/c/r/e/Albert-A-Creasy/GENE2-0006.html

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The information shown herein on the ancestors of Bird and Mary Dowdy Creasey has been copied and pasted from the website of Mrs. Elke Hall, "Ancestors of Bryan David Hall." I am not sure how to contact Mrs. Hall for approval to use her information, for no e-dress or address is supplied on the home page to her website, but I am indebted to her for her information on the Creasey and Dowdy family history prior to the families settling in Bedford County.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/l/Elke-A-Hall/GENE0001-0020.html

372. William Dowdy, born Abt 1750; died Bef June 1795 in Bedford Co., VA. He married 373. Lucinda.
373. Lucinda.

Notes
Must check out if Dowdy's moved from Spotsylvania to Bedford. On 5 March
1727/28: Thomas Dowdey ordered to serve as road overseer of the road
from the marked states to Germanna.
2 April 1734: John Dowdey was appointed to serve as overseer of road
from Germanna to Mountain Run Bridge in the fork of the Rappahannock
River. (Spotsylvania Co. Road Orders 1722-1734).

Index to Deeds, Bedford Co.: 1835, William Dowdy, Sr. to Henry Wilkes,
trustee, DB 25, p. 186, person. property.
1836, William Dowdy from Abner Cobyns, DB 25, p. 200, 185 1/2 a. on
headwaters of Glady Branch.
1841, William S. Dowdy to Elijah Drewry, Jr. to Thomas J. Phelps and
trustees, DB 31, p. 100, personal property and inventory in estate of
William Dowdy.




Children of William Dowdy and Lucinda ? are:
i. Judith Dowdy, born in probably Cumberland Co., VA or Dumpling Mountain, Bedford Co., VA; married Charles Creasey 29 Nov 1797 in Bedford Co., VA.
ii. Hundley Dowdy, born Abt. 1770; died Aft. 1849 in Bedford Co., VA?; married Eleanor Creasey 05 Dec 1796 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1780 in Bedford Co., VA.

More About Hundley Dowdy:
Census: 1850, Listed in Southern Division of Bedford Co., VA as age 80 with wife Ellin age 65 and an Amanda Williamson, age 17

iii. John B. Dowdy, born Abt. 1770; died Bef. 1833.
iv. William Dowdy, Jr., born Abt. 1770; died Bef. 21 Aug 1844 in Dumpling Mountain area of Bedford Co., VA; married Elizabeth Creasey 29 Jan 1795 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1775 in Bedford Co., VA.

Notes for William Dowdy, Jr.:
The information shown herein on the ancestors of Bird and Mary Dowdy Creasey has been copied and pasted from the website of Mrs. Elke Hall, "Ancestors of Bryan David Hall." I am not sure how to contact Mrs. Hall for approval to use her information, for no e-dress or address is supplied on the home page to her website, but I am indebted to her for her information on the Creasey and Dowdy family history prior to the families settling in Bedford County.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/l/Elke-A-Hall/GENE0001-0020.html

186. William Dowdy, born Abt 1770 in VA; died Bef August 21, 1844 in Bedford Co. VA. He was the son of 372. William Dowdy and 373. Lucinda. He married 187. Elizabeth Creasy January 29, 1795 in Bedford Co., VA.
187. Elizabeth Creasy, born Abt 1775 in Bedford Co., VA. She was the daughter of 374. John Creasy and 375. Elizabeth Woodson Bugg.

Notes
William Dowdy and Elisabeth Creasy , daughter of John were married on 29
Jan. 1795, Charles Creasy was surety. They were married by Alderson
Weeks, according to Henshaw's Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy.

Under the Gen. Index to Decedents, Trusts and Wards, Bedford Co., VA
1844: William Dowdy, Sr. Elizabeth Dowdy, widow. Will in Will Book 11,
page 5. Also sales, inventory, appraisal. Same page Jesse Dowdy exec.
Will book 12, his account and inventory.
Index to Deeds, Bedford Co. VA:
1807, Hundley and William Dowdy from Thos. Pullen, DB 12, p. 187, 172 a.
adj. Henry Latham.
1835, William Dowdy, Sr. to Henry Wilkes, Trustee
Will of William Dowdy,
In the name of God Amen I William Dowdy sen. of the County of Bedford a
State of Virginia being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and
memory blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in manor and form following that is to say First
I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all my land being and
lying on the west side of the Dumplin mountain road and adjoining Jacob
Shepherd Hundley Dowdy and others withthe appertainnances thereto during her life time not to be destroyed willfully so as to injure the sle of
said land at the expiration of her time, excluding her from any lot or
part of the balance of my lands. I do also give and bequeath unto my
beloved son Cary A. all my lands except that portion alloted to my wife
in free and full possession so as to make a crop without interruption
after my death for and in consideration of the improvements made by him
on said land after his crop if finished I wish for said land to be sold
at the discretion of my executors and 50 dollar given out of the proceeds
to each of my beloved sons. The balance of which I want equally divided
between each of my children. I also allot to my beloved daughter Suey
one cow and feather bed and furniture to make her equal with my other
daughters donations. I also wish for all the balance of my property to
be sold and after myjust debts is paid and my beloved wifes thirds taken
out to be equally divided amongst each of my children that part going to
my daughter Pheniba who intermarried with John Drewry to go to her a
the heirs of her body forever likewise my daughter ann who intermarried
with Michael Crotty to go to her and the heirs of her body forever. I
also give and bequeath to my granddaughter Sabin also Emily Arthur
daughter of Elizabeth Arthur who intermarried with William Newman one
feather bed and furniture and I hereby appoint my sons Jesse and Cary A. sole executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all
former wills by me made in witness whereof I have herunto set my hand a
seal this 13th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty two.
Signed, sealed, published, declaered by the above named Mr. Dowdy Sr be his last will and testament in the preasants of us who have herunto
subscribed our names as witnesses in the preasance of the testator.
David H. Creasy Wm . X Dowdey Sr.
His mark
Walter B. Dowdey
Hundley Dowdey, Sen.
At a court held for Bedford County the 21th day of August 1844 this last
will and testament of William Dowdey Sr. Deceased was produced in court
proved by the oath of David H. Creasey, Walter B. Dowdey and Hundley
Dowdey, Sr. subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded And
on the motion of Cary A. Dowdey and Jesse Dowdey the executors therein
named who made oath and together with James wilson, Daniel B. Stenvens
and William Wade their securities entered into and acknowledged a bo
the penalty of 3000 dollars conditioned according to law certificate is
granted them for obtaining a probate on said will in due form. Teste R.
C. Mitchell, CBC
Inventory and appraisement of the estate of William Dowdey Sr. Deceased,
taken the 29th day of October 1844 came to $384.93.
Items were sold for $360.84 1/4
Will and inventories in file.

Children of William Dowdy and Elizabeth Creasy are:
i. Cary A. Dowdy, born in Bedford Co., VA; married Judith Overstreet October 26, 1837 in Bedford Co., VA.
ii. Suey Dowdy, born in Bedford Co., VA.
iii. William Dowdy, born in Bedford Co., VA.
iv. Pheniba Dowdy, married John Drury August 25, 1841 in Bedford Co., VA.
93 v. Mary Ann Dowdy, died Abt 1844 in Franklin Co., VA; married Michael Crotty March 05, 1821 in Bedford Co., VA.
vi. Jesse Dowdy, married Susan E. Weeks December 10, 1834 in Bedford Co., VA.



v. Drusilla Dowdy, born Bef. 1771; died Abt. 1850; married Thomas Ransom Creasey 01 Mar 1792 in Bedford Co., VA; born Abt. 1770 in Fluvanna Co., VA?; died Abt. 1840 in Bedford Co., VA.
7 vi. Mary Dowdy, born Abt. 1773 in Cumberland Co., VA?; died Abt. 1855 in Decatur Co., TN; married Vernon "Byrd" Creasey 24 Oct 1794 in Bedford Co., VA.
vii. Lucreta Dowdy, born Bef. 1775; married George Cannady, Jr. 27 Jun 1796; born Abt. 1773.

Generation No. 5

24. William Creasy III, born Abt. 1725. He was the son of 48. William Creasy, Jr. and 49. ? Jordan?.

Children of William Creasy III are:
i. William Creasey IV, born in Fluvanna Co., VA?; died 1803 in Campbell Co., VA; married Betheniah Franklin?.

Notes for William Creasey IV:
It is uncertain how the William Creasey whose will is quoted below was related to the rest of the Creaseys, but it seems likely he was a brother of John and Thomas Creasey/Creasy who came from Fluvanna to Bedford, and of Caroline Fleming Creasy Wooldridge, since he mentions Wooldridges. It is also apparent that he had no children, and that Jesse Creasey was probably his brother John's son Jesse.

Will of William Creasey recorded in Book 2, page 140, Campbell County Clarks Office, Rustburg, Virginia:

In the name of God, Amen, I, William Creasey of Campbell County and State of Virginia, being affected in body, but in perfect mind and memory, thanks to God, calling unto mind the immortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die to make and ordain this my last will and testament. Viz. First of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the direction of my Executors nothing doubting at the general resurrection. I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of understanding such worldly estate whereas it has been pleased God to bless me with. I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form: First, I give to my beloved wife, Betheniah Creasey, the use of my whole estate during the natural life; after her death to Jesse Creasey. Second, one certain bay mare about four years old to William Woolridge. Third, three Negroes by name Okey, Polly, York to be at the disposal of my wife. Item after the death of my wife and Jesse Creasey, my desire is that the whole be sold and equally divided among my brothers and sisters. I do appoint my beloved wife, Betheniah Creasey and John M. Walker and John Davis as my Executors to this, my last will and testament witness my hand and seal this twelfth day of July eighteen hundred and three.
Signed Wm. Creasey (seal)

Signed sealed in the presents of George Martin, Robert Franklin, Owen Franklin.

At a court held for Campbell County September 12, 1803, The within last will and testament of William Creasey, deceased, was proved by the oaths of George Martin, Robert Franklin, Owen Franklin, witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Betheniah Creasey, and John Davis, two of the Executors in the said will named who made oath thereto according to law certificate is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form giving security whereupon they together with John M. Walker and Robert Franklin their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of eight thousand dolars conditioned as the law directs for the said Executors due and faithful administration of the said decedent estate and performance of his will John M. Walker the Executor in the said will named having in open court refused to qualify as an Executor.

Teste R. Alexander Clerk.

More About William Creasey IV:
Date born 2: Abt. 1740

ii. Elizabeth Creasey?
iii. Archibald Creasy?
iv. Jordan Creasy?
v. Pleasant Creasy?
vi. Ransom Creasy?
vii. Susan Creasy?
12 viii. John Creasey, born Abt. 1750 in Fluvanna Co., VA?; died Abt. 1825 in Bedford Co., VA; married ? Franklin?.
ix. Judith Creasey, born Abt. 1750; died Abt. 1786 in Fluvanna Co., VA.

Notes for Judith Creasey:
The following is quoted from William Murlin Creasy's 1931 Creasy typescript:

Will of Judy Creasey

I Judy Creasey of Fluvanna County, Virginia, being weak in body but sound in mind, wishing to settle my worldly affairs do make this my last will and testament, and give unto my beloved son William Creasy my whole estate, but if he should die without Are (sic) or my estate to be equally divided between my sister Sally Johnson, and my sister Caroline Flemen Wolderg (sic). I also wish to have my son William Creasey bound unto Col. Wilson M. Carey and Samuel Smithson Exetors as witness my hand this twenty sixth day of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty six.

her

Judy X Creasey

mark

Witnesses
Samuel Smithson
Elizabeth Heptinstall

At a Court held in Fluvanna County Va. on Thursday the seventh day of June 1787, this will was proved by the oath of Elizabeth Heptinstall a witness thereto and admitted to record, and on the motion of Samuel Smithson one of the executors named therein, who made oath thereto, and entered into bond with Drummond Smithson as security, in the penalty of fifty pounds conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate hereunto in due form.

Teste
John Timberlake C.C.
A Copy Teste
A.S. Haden, Clerk

Comments by William Murlin Creasy:

I have been unable to find just where Judy appears in the family history, however she must have been of some importance somewhere, since there have been Judys in all branches of the family from her time on. Neither have I been able to locate the son William. He may not have lived to maturity or he may have never married. There were many Williams in the family about this period.

Comments by Bryan S. Godfrey:

The Caroline Fleming Wolderg referred to is Caroline Fleming Creasy Wooldridge, wife of John Wooldridge. The name Caroline Fleming Creasey occurs again with a daughter of Jesse Creasey and Elizabeth Hore of Bedford--she was born in 1821 and died in 1901, married Amon Updike. It would seem from the repetition of these names that this Judy and the first Caroline were probably sisters of John and Thomas Creasy who came from Fluvanna to Bedford County, assuming John and Thomas were themselves brothers; William Murlin Creasy showed them as uncle-nephew in his genealogy. Judy's son William may have been illegitimate, which explains why he carried the Creasy surname when his mother was probably the Creasy. The name Judith also occurs with the wife of this Judy's probable brother Thomas, and according to a tradition and naming patterns, she appears to have been a Franklin, with possible parents Owen Franklin and Eleanor Hodges. The fact that John Creasey had a daughter Eleanor and a grandchild with the middle name Hodges might suggest John and Thomas Creasey were brothers and married sisters who were Franklins.

x. Sally Creasy, born Abt. 1750; married ? Johnson.
xi. Caroline "Fleming" Creasy, born Abt. 1760; died 07 Apr 1851; married John Wooldridge 22 Sep 1783 in Campbell Co., VA; born Abt. 1761; died 03 Jan 1846.

More About Caroline "Fleming" Creasy:
Comment: At her marriage, 50 pounds bond was paid and guaranteed by John Wooldridge and Thomas Franklin. Thomas Creasy and Edmund Franklin signed.

26. Edmund Franklin, Jr., born Abt. 1710. He was the son of 52. Edmund Franklin. He married 27. Eleanor Hodges.
27. Eleanor Hodges

Children of Edmund Franklin and Eleanor Hodges are:
13 i. ? Franklin?, married John Creasey.
ii. Judith Franklin, born Abt. 1740; married Thomas Creasy 26 Jul 1756; born Abt. 1736 in Fluvanna Co., VA or Henrico Co., VA; died 1803 in Bedford Co., VA.

Notes for Thomas Creasy:
From the research of Missy Creasy Mills:

Thomas Creasy.1 Born abt 1736 in Bedford County, Virginia. Thomas died in Bedford County, Virginia in 1803, he was 67.4

First record of Thomas is in Albemarle County Virginia, when he sells to William Creasy (probably his brother, William Creasy Jr.) 100 acres of land in 1762. He next appears in Bedford County Virginia, July 23, 1771, when he purchased land (see Bedford County Deed Book D, pg. 116). His will was recorded in Bedford County, dated June 1799, and probated July 25, 1803 (see Will Book C, pg. 6). A miscellaneous note for Thomas is: that Miss Matilda Stinnett, one of Thomas' great grand daughters, wrote that tradition handed down through her mother, who was Judy Creasy, a granddaughter of Thomas, says that the father of Thomas Creasy was named William. It is said that Thomas is the founder of the Bedford County, Virginia branch of the Creasy family. 1

More About Thomas Creasy:
Probate: 25 Jul 1803, Will Book C, p. 6, Bedford Co., VA
Property 1: 1762, Sold 100 acres in Albemarle Co., VA to William Creasy.
Property 2: 23 Jul 1771, Purchased land in Bedford Co., VA, according to Bedford County Deed Book D, p. 116.
Will: Jun 1799, Bedford Co., VA

iii. Betheniah Franklin?, married William Creasey IV; born in Fluvanna Co., VA?; died 1803 in Campbell Co., VA.

Notes for William Creasey IV:
It is uncertain how the William Creasey whose will is quoted below was related to the rest of the Creaseys, but it seems likely he was a brother of John and Thomas Creasey/Creasy who came from Fluvanna to Bedford, and of Caroline Fleming Creasy Wooldridge, since he mentions Wooldridges. It is also apparent that he had no children, and that Jesse Creasey was probably his brother John's son Jesse.

Will of William Creasey recorded in Book 2, page 140, Campbell County Clarks Office, Rustburg, Virginia:

In the name of God, Amen, I, William Creasey of Campbell County and State of Virginia, being affected in body, but in perfect mind and memory, thanks to God, calling unto mind the immortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die to make and ordain this my last will and testament. Viz. First of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the direction of my Executors nothing doubting at the general resurrection. I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of understanding such worldly estate whereas it has been pleased God to bless me with. I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form: First, I give to my beloved wife, Betheniah Creasey, the use of my whole estate during the natural life; after her death to Jesse Creasey. Second, one certain bay mare about four years old to William Woolridge. Third, three Negroes by name Okey, Polly, York to be at the disposal of my wife. Item after the death of my wife and Jesse Creasey, my desire is that the whole be sold and equally divided among my brothers and sisters. I do appoint my beloved wife, Betheniah Creasey and John M. Walker and John Davis as my Executors to this, my last will and testament witness my hand and seal this twelfth day of July eighteen hundred and three.
Signed Wm. Creasey (seal)

Signed sealed in the presents of George Martin, Robert Franklin, Owen Franklin.

At a court held for Campbell County September 12, 1803, The within last will and testament of William Creasey, deceased, was proved by the oaths of George Martin, Robert Franklin, Owen Franklin, witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Betheniah Creasey, and John Davis, two of the Executors in the said will named who made oath thereto according to law certificate is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form giving security whereupon they together with John M. Walker and Robert Franklin their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of eight thousand dolars conditioned as the law directs for the said Executors due and faithful administration of the said decedent estate and performance of his will John M. Walker the Executor in the said will named having in open court refused to qualify as an Executor.

Teste R. Alexander Clerk.

More About William Creasey IV:
Date born 2: Abt. 1740

28. John Dowdy?, died in Cumberland Co., VA?.

Children of John Dowdy? are:
14 i. William Dowdy, born in Cumberland Co., VA?; died Abt. 1795 in probably Dumpling Mountain area of Bedford Co., VA; married Lucinda ?.
ii. John Dowdy, born in Cumberland Co., VA?; died Abt. 1805 in Bedford Co., VA.

Generation No. 6

48. William Creasy, Jr., born Abt. 1700 in Henrico Co., Goochland Co., or Fluvanna Co., VA; died Aft. 1767 in Fluvanna Co., VA?. He was the son of 96. William Creasy and 97. Mary ?. He married 49. ? Jordan?.
49. ? Jordan?, born Abt. 1705.

Notes for William Creasy, Jr.:
The following is quoted from a 1932 typescript, "Creasy Family Record," by William Murlin Creasy, retyped by Lynda Stone Brown of Chesapeake, WV:

William Creasy II. Son of William Creasy No. 6. Albemarle County, Va. See Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers Vol. 3 pg. 109 making reference to Albemarle County Deed Book No. 5 pg. 72, quoting the following record. "Rene Woodson of Albemarle County from Charles Creasy of same county, 20 pounds current, 200 acres bounded by William Creasy Sr. to contain 400 acres including plantation whereon said Creasy Sr now lives in County of Albemarle on both sides Little Known Creek and was granted by William Creasy Sr. to William Creasy Jr. and by him to the said Charles Creasy. Sept. 28, 1768 Deed Book 5 pg. 72. According to the best records and traditions I am satisfied that this William Creasy Jr. was the father of John Creasy who was mentioned among his brothers and sisters in the land deal in Fluvanna County in 1815 and 1819. Deed Book 9 pg. 432 and Deed Book 7 pg. 714 as having inherited land from their father William Creasy and who married Elizabeth Woodson Bugg and moved to Bedford County, Va.

Comments by Bryan Godfrey: I have been trying to substantiate this information, especially whether Elizabeth Woodson Bugg married John Creasey, and if so, whether it was my ancestor John Creasy who settled in Bedford County, VA, father of Bird Creasey. The Fluvanna County, VA will of William Bugg, who married Susanna Woodson, mentioned a daughter Elizabeth W. Creasey, but I have not seen proof that it was John Creasey and that she was the mother of John Creasey's children. Most sources on the Bugg and Woodson families estimate Elizabeth's birthdate as about 1760, yet my ancestor Bird Creasey, assumed to be her son, was born about 1766, so there seems to be a generational impossibility here.

*********************************************************************

E-mail from Judge Douglas T. Jenkins of Hawkins Co., TN to Bryan S. Godfrey, 1 April 2015:

My grandfather's middle name was Creasy. His father, Gale Cleveland Jenkins, was illegitimate, and we have always been told that the father was a Creasy.

My Family Finder (at FTDNA) and Ancestry DNA does, in fact yield Creasy matches - and many many Witt matches. Have you done any DNA testing?

The closest Creasy to my gr gr grandmother on the 1880 census of Hawkins Co., TN is William H. Creasy (1837-1898). This William Creasy is known to have been the father of my gr grandfather's sister, Mary Blanch Creasy - so he is probably the one.

His parents were Matthew and Cassie Ann Witt from Bedford Co., VA.

I have recently started sorting out all the Creasys in Bedford County, Virginia. Most, if not all, of them are descendants of two men I believe to be brothers; however, previous researchers (particularly Wm. Murlin Creasy) did not reach this conclusion.

The two men are (1) Thomas Creasy (ca. 1735-1803) - my ancestor *probably*, and (2) John Creasy (ca. 1739-1825) - your ancestor.

Of particular interest - and from reading the internet this question has plagued previous researchers - who were the wives of the two patriarchs. I found a court record that seems to indicate Thomas' wife was "Judi" (I am assuming short for Judith). I have seen no primary record indicating the given name of John's wife. Do you have such a record?

Regardless of her given name - I have concluded that the previous research is pure speculation, and that Thomas and John Creasy married sisters - daughters of Edmund & Eleanor (Hodges) Franklin. The Franklins lived in Cumberland County, VA from the 1730's until they appear in Bedford Co., VA in the early 1760's - this coincides well with the appearance of Thomas and John Creasy in Bedford County, VA as well.

The naming patterns of the children of Thomas and John Creasy are supportive. John had an Edmund and an Eleanor. Thomas had Franklin, Owen, and Eleanor. (Owen is a frequently used given name in the Franklin family).

Further, the first record of Thomas Creasy in Bedford County, VA that I can find is that he witnessed a deed from Edmund Franklin to Thomas Franklin (of NC) in 1762. Witnesses were Edmund Franklin, Jr. and Thomas Creasy. The next record of Thomas and John Creasy in Bedford County (that I can find) is a bill of sale recorded in the register's office where it looks like Eleanor Franklin (Edmund's widow) is giving some property to her daughters. "Eleanor Franklin to Lucreasy Franklin, Dicey Franklin, and Lucilla Witt. Witnessess: Thomas and John Creasy. 23 June 1767".

Let me know your thoughts on this subject. Your comments I have read on the internet have made a lot of senses (and some of the Creasy research I've seen is sketchy!)

Doug Jenkins

******************************************************************
Bryan S. Godfrey's Facebook posts, April, 2020:

For my Bedford County CREASEY, DOWDY, and CHEEK relatives, perhaps yet another crazy theory I've come up with, the fourth concerning my Grandfather Overstreet's ancestry in the past 3 years (the others being his Polly White White, Hogan, and Willis/Lucas ancestry, and not including his Updike origins), I now have a plausible explanation for the occurrence of the name Caroline Fleming Creasey twice in the Creasey family. The first Caroline Fleming Creasy (ca 1761-ca 1851) married John Wooldridge of Chesterfield, and appears to have been a sister of the assumed brothers John (my great6-grandfather) and Thomas Creasey/Creasy who came from Fluvanna County to Bedford. Her namesake great-niece, who lived 1821-1901, was the one who married my cousin Amon Updike. The Creasey brothers and sister Caroline appear to have had siblings Judy, Sally, and William, and appear to have been children of William and Mary Creasy of Fluvanna, and land records also suggest William had a son Charles. Because these Creasys had dealings with Lawsons in Goochland and Fluvanna Counties, and Lawsons with Flemings, and Creasys there appeared to live near Flemings, my theory is that William Creasy married Mary Fleming, a daughter of Charles Fleming and Susanna Tarleton. They had a daughter named Judith and a granddaughter named Caroline, as this article shows. It's possible their daughter Mary was omitted because her birth was not found in New Kent records, or occurred after they moved to Goochland. The occurrence of these names in both the Creasy and Fleming families, and their residence near one another in Goochland and Fluvanna, convince me there is a connection. Plus, the Flemings had connections with the Woodsons, another family the Bedford Creaseys are thought to descend from. I hope other Creasey descendants can find time to investigate this during our downtime, and that I find time soon to investigate in courthouses and libraries.

Bryan Scott Godfrey's replies to the above newsfeed:

The more I look at the chronological possibilities, I tend to think the first William Creasey, grandfather of Thomas and John (assuming they were brothers and sons of William Jr.) who came to Bedford, and of Judy, Caroline, and William, was the one who married a Fleming, probably Mary Fleming. This is based on Caroline Fleming Creasy marrying John Wooldridge in 1783 in Campbell County, placing her birth around 1760, rather late for her mother to have been a daughter of Charles Fleming as his children appear to have been born in the 1680s up through around 1705. We know the wife of that William was named Mary. Maybe John and Thomas were born later than 1740.
And it would be even better if the second William married a Woodson! Some sources have listed one of the William Creasys as marrying Mary Woodson, perhaps mere speculation due to them having contacts with Benjamin Woodson.

Sheila Mitchell Romine and other Creasey descendants who have done DNA tests: because Franklin Creasy of Bedford, son of Thomas, had sons named Jordan and Fleming, another scenario is that Thomas's and John's father William Creasy, Jr married a daughter of Samuel Jordan and Elizabeth Fleming, Samuel son of Thomas Jordan and Margaret Brasseur and Elizabeth daughter of Charles Fleming and Susanna Tarleton. If William Creasy, Sr married Mary Fleming, then William Jr married his first cousin. So I would search for DNA matches to Fleming's, Jordan's, Brasseurs, and Tarletons. I definitely feel we have a Fleming descent through one or both of these scenarios, but whether we also have Woodson and Jordan is more questionable.


Children of William Creasy and ? Jordan? are:
i. Charles Creasy
24 ii. William Creasy III, born Abt. 1725.
iii. Thomas Creasy, born Abt. 1736 in Fluvanna Co., VA or Henrico Co., VA; died 1803 in Bedford Co., VA; married Judith Franklin 26 Jul 1756; born Abt. 1740.

Notes for Thomas Creasy:
From the research of Missy Creasy Mills:

Thomas Creasy.1 Born abt 1736 in Bedford County, Virginia. Thomas died in Bedford County, Virginia in 1803, he was 67.4

First record of Thomas is in Albemarle County Virginia, when he sells to William Creasy (probably his brother, William Creasy Jr.) 100 acres of land in 1762. He next appears in Bedford County Virginia, July 23, 1771, when he purchased land (see Bedford County Deed Book D, pg. 116). His will was recorded in Bedford County, dated June 1799, and probated July 25, 1803 (see Will Book C, pg. 6). A miscellaneous note for Thomas is: that Miss Matilda Stinnett, one of Thomas' great grand daughters, wrote that tradition handed down through her mother, who was Judy Creasy, a granddaughter of Thomas, says that the father of Thomas Creasy was named William. It is said that Thomas is the founder of the Bedford County, Virginia branch of the Creasy family. 1

More About Thomas Creasy:
Probate: 25 Jul 1803, Will Book C, p. 6, Bedford Co., VA
Property 1: 1762, Sold 100 acres in Albemarle Co., VA to William Creasy.
Property 2: 23 Jul 1771, Purchased land in Bedford Co., VA, according to Bedford County Deed Book D, p. 116.
Will: Jun 1799, Bedford Co., VA

iv. Eunice Creasey?, born Abt. 1750; married John Witt; born Abt. 1740 in Prince Edward Co., VA?; died Aft. 1821 in Bedford Co., VA.

Notes for John Witt:
Here is someone that agrees with me that John Buckingham Witt was the son of
John Wittt, who was levy free in 1821.

Little Johnny Witt was the orphan, son of Benjamin Witt junior

Wayne Witt Bates
http://www.witts-end.org

Re: Desire info on John Witt the Orphan of Bedford County, VA ca. 1789
Posted by: Edward Witt, Jr. (ID *****5122)
Date: December 06, 2002 at 13:44:26
In Reply to: Desire info on John Witt the Orphan of Bedford County, VA ca. 1789 by Timothy Witt
2293 of 3223 [Go]

Tim. I think I can help. Wayne Witt Bates helped me untangle this knot. You might also want to consult Witt's End, Vol 1, Issue 3 (Sept, 1998). The problem is repetitive use of the same names by the Witts for generations.

Benjamin Witt Sr (d 1774) and MaryAnne Chastain of Buckingham CoVA had, among others, Benjamin Witt Jr (d 1789), John Witt (d after 1821), Lewis Witt (d 1774) and Charles Witt.

John married Eunice Creasy. They moved to Bedford CoVA in 1778 purchasing 200 acres on Little Otter River. Bedjamin Jr (d 1789), Lewis (d 1774) as well as Benjamin Sr's sisters, Sarah Witt Canady and Agnes Witt Key also settled in Bedford Co. Charles remained in Buckingham.

To the confusing part. Benjamin Jr had a son, John (1777-1864). John(d after 1821)& Eunice had a son in 1779 while they lived in Buckingham known evermore as "Buckingham John" or John B. Witt(1779-1864).

Benjamin Jr. died in 1789 and guardianship of his son passed to his brother John (d after 1821). Therefore there were THREE (3) John Witts living under the same roof in Bedford CoVA circa 1790-1800.

Benjamin's brother, John (d after 1821), was called "John", John's son was called "Buckingham John" and the orphan was called "Little Johnnie".

Little Johnnie married Jane White in 1803. Buckingham John married Betsey Beard in 1805 and Elizabeth Goggin Field in 1830. Both served in the War of 1812.

More About John Witt:
Comment: He is sometimes listed as Lewis Witt's son John.
Event 1: 27 Jun 1791, Was named as heir of Benjamin Witt and Marianne Chastain in Bedford Co., VA Deed Book H-P.
Event 2: 1789, Listed as guardian for his nephew John Witt, son of his brother Benjamin Witt, Jr.
Event 3: 1821, Exempted from paying taxes because he was about 65 years of age.
Property: 09 Apr 1778, Purchased 200 acres on the Little Otter River in Bedford Co., VA, according to Bedford County Deed Book 8, p. 186.

52. Edmund Franklin

Children of Edmund Franklin are:
i. Lewis Franklin, born Abt. 1710 in Virginia; died 16 Apr 1770 in Bedford Co., VA; married Jane ?.

Notes for Lewis Franklin:
http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Franklin_Family_of_Campbell_County,_Virginia

The Family of Lewis Franklin of Bedford & Campbell Counties, Virginia (FFRU #1, 1992)

Submitted by Dr. Joseph W. Evans, 6676 Olde Stage Rd., Boulder, CO 80302; phone 303-443-0050 or 303-443-7011. Dr. Evans has more information on collateral lines not included here. Edited for sake of space.

There is no certain record of Lewis Franklin before he appeared in Bedford County, VA circa 1735. He may have come from Henrico County, VA or more likely, Chester County, PA. Lewis Franklin patented at least three parcels of land in Bedford County, VA; in 1749 850 acres including the head branches of Falling River adjoining Edward Nix's line; in 1756, 118 acres on Callaway's Rd. between the two ridges [map coordinates of this property are N 37° 17' 54" W 78° 59' 57" in present day Campbell County, VA]; in 1759, 215 acres on the south side of Dixon's Creek. This land adjoined the Dixon land grant and was located some three miles southwest of Concord, VA on highway 658 and was owned by the Franklin family until 1945, Charles D. Franklin being the last family owner. On 1 Oct 1751 Lewis Franklin conveyed some of his land to Edmund Franklin, "Jr." by "Deed of Bargain." Lewis and his sons amassed large tracts of land in the area, but as of 1988, all of it has been sold. Lewis Franklin married Jane __? [family tradition says her name was Lewis] She died in 1774 and he died in 1770. They both died and are buried in Bedford County, VA, location unknown. [Reference Bedford County, VA Will Book 1, pages 95-96 for the inventory of his estate and Will Book 1, pages 217-218 for his will]. They had at least seven children, as listed below.

More About Lewis Franklin:
Date born 2: Abt. 1715
Died 2: Abt. 1770, Bedford/Campbell Co., VA

26 ii. Edmund Franklin, Jr., born Abt. 1710; married Eleanor Hodges.
iii. Thomas Franklin

Generation No. 7

96. William Creasy, died Aft. 1762 in Fluvanna Co., VA?. He was the son of 192. John Creasey? and 193. Tabitha Pledge?. He married 97. Mary ?.
97. Mary ?, died Aft. 1745 in Fluvanna Co., VA?.

Notes for William Creasy:
The information shown herein on the ancestors of Bird and Mary Dowdy Creasey has been copied and pasted from the website of Mrs. Elke Hall, "Ancestors of Bryan David Hall." I am not sure how to contact Mrs. Hall for approval to use her information, for no e-dress or address is supplied on the home page to her website, but I am indebted to her for her information on the Creasey and Dowdy family history prior to the families settling in Bedford County.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/l/Elke-A-Hall/GENE0001-0020.html

1496. William Creasy. He was the son of 2992. John Creasy and 2993. Tabitha //. He married 1497. Mary //.
1497. Mary //.

Notes

Goochland Co. records note:
9 Dec 1737, William Creasey, of Goochland Co. to Miles Cary, Gent. of Goochland Co. land in Goochland on south side of North branch of James River and part of the tract whereon William Creasy now lives, being a patent for 400 a. bearing date Sept. 28, 1732, and being the lower moiety or half of all that tract. (DB 3, p. 76).

1737 March Court. Thomas Dicin sues William Creasy, Goochland Co. records, Order Book 1, page 165.

1734 William Creasy witnesses for John Creasy in suit of Dudley Diggs (Goochland Co. record order book 1, p. 265).

1746, 12 June: William sells to Thomas Gregg Yarborough 400 a. of land in Albemarle Co., Mary Creasy was privately examined and relinquishes her right of dower in this land. First Court Order Book, Albemarle Co., VA, 1746, p. 120.

In 1756, Benjamin Woodson patented 400 a. in Albemarle Co. on both sides of Cary Creek of the Rivannah River, ajd. William Creasy. (16 Aug.1756, Virginia Land office Patent Book 33, p. 299).

1760, William Creasy witnesses for Benjamin Woodson of Albemarle to Benjamin Woodson Sr. (Valentine Papers, Vol. 3, p. 1809)

1762 Thomas Creasy sells to William Creasy 100 a. of land in Albemarle Co. DB 3, p. 151



Child of William Creasy and Mary ? is:
48 i. William Creasy, Jr., born Abt. 1700 in Henrico Co., Goochland Co., or Fluvanna Co., VA; died Aft. 1767 in Fluvanna Co., VA?; married ? Jordan?.

Generation No. 8

192. John Creasey? He was the son of 384. John Creasey?. He married 193. Tabitha Pledge?.
193. Tabitha Pledge?

Notes for John Creasey?:

The information shown herein on the ancestors of Bird and Mary Dowdy Creasey has been copied and pasted from the website of Mrs. Elke Hall, "Ancestors of Bryan David Hall." I am not sure how to contact Mrs. Hall for approval to use her information, for no e-dress or address is supplied on the home page to her website, but I am indebted to her for her information on the Creasey and Dowdy family history prior to the families settling in Bedford County.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/l/Elke-A-Hall/GENE0001-0020.html

2992. John Creasy, born Aft 1676 in Henrico Co., VA. He was the son of 5984. John Creasy and 5985. Elizabeth. He married 2993. Tabitha /
2993. Tabitha //.

Notes
John appear in Goochland Co. Records in 1734, Dudley Diggs sues John Creasy, Order book p. 225, May 1734, William Creasy is a witness for John Creasy vs. Duidley Diggs. (Goochland record book No. 1, p. 265). John Creasy sells to John Grills in 1746 100 a. of land in Goochland Co. (19 August). John acklowledges this deed which was ordered recorded. Tabitha, wife of said John Creasy (she first being privily examined) relinquishes her right to dower in the land by this deed conveyed which was recorded in Goochland Co. Records,DB 5, p. 170.

John Creasy's homestead was first in Henrico, in 1727, Goochland was formed from Henrico, in 1744 Albemarle was formed from Goochland, and in 1777, Fluvanna was formed from Albemarle.

Children of John Creasy and Tabitha // are:
1496 i. William Creasy, married Mary //.
ii. Charles Creasy.
iii. Jesse Creasy.
iv. John Creasy, died 1793 in Bedford Co., VA.

Children of John Creasey? and Tabitha Pledge? are:
96 i. William Creasy, died Aft. 1762 in Fluvanna Co., VA?; married Mary ?.
ii. Charles Creasy
iii. Jesse Creasy
iv. John Creasy, died Abt. 1803 in Bedford Co., VA.

Generation No. 9

384. John Creasey?

Notes for John Creasey?:

5984. John Creasy, died Bef May 20, 1692 in Henrico Co., VA. He married 5985. Elizabeth.
5985. Elizabeth.

Notes
John Cressy (Creasy) died in 1692, but figured in the records of Henrico Co. as early as 1678. He was frequently a member of juries and grand juries. On one occasion he was taxed one tyhtable and on another a verdict was rendered against him for 400 lbs. of neet tobacco. On another occasion he was appointed by the court to wind up the estate of a man who had died at his house and on another occasion he acted as administrator of various estates etc. in the community.

His will is in Henrico Co. Record Book No. 5, p. 302, dated 1 January 1691. Same record book page 360. Probate of will of John Cressy by wife Elizabeth 20 May 1692. This will mentions son John and provides that he have the benefit of his own labor after he is 16 years old. Will mentions only one son and three daughters. 100 a. was left to John. DB 1697 to 1704, p. 196 shows thi ssame land sold by John to Nicholas Perkins for 1600 lbs. of tobacco.

Ms. Cocke, a retired teacher of Hollins College, Roanoke, VA noted: ' The Creasy's came from Berkshire Co. England. Sir Thomas Parkyns (d. 1684) married the daughter of Thomas Cressy of Birkin, Yorkshire and they had the following children. Sir Thomas Parkyns, eldest son and heir Cressy Parkyns, Beaumont, Catherine and Ann. (This is to show that the Cressys were of a high social position in England at an early date.) She further says: A John Cressy settled in Virginia at an early date and his will is on record at Henrico Court House, VA.'

Children of John Creasy and Elizabeth are:
2992 i. John Creasy, born Aft 1676 in Henrico Co., VA; married Tabitha //.
ii. Katherine Creasy, married Francis Pierce January 06, 1696/9
iii. Sarah Creasy.
iv. Martha Creasy.




Child of John Creasey? is:
192 i. John Creasey?, married Tabitha Pledge?.