Anna Jane Creech, known as "Annie," was the daughter of David Creech and his wife Jayne Cone, originally of SC.

Her parents and other kin migrated from SC across GA, settling for a while in Laurens County, GA, then settled (prior to 1830) within the area of early Henry County, AL.

There she met Benjamin Lewis, Jr., a son of Capt. Benjamin Lewis (SC Militia, War of 1812) and his first wife, who were early AL pioneer settlers moving their family from SC into GA, then into AL apparently between 1818-1823 when Benjamin (Jr.) was between 7-11 years old. His father bought land in Henry Co., AL in the part that (much later) became Houston County. Benjamin & Anna married on 8 Feb 1833 in Henry County, AL and bought their first land there. Then 1 April 1850 they bought land in Barbour County, which remained in their possession until as a widow, Anna Jane Lewis lost the land for taxes during the tribulations of the reconstruction era following the war.

Annie and Benjamin had 9 known children, with their youngest one born in Barbour County, AL in 1853.

Soon after the war began, her husband Benjamin Lewis (and one of his older sons) enlisted in Co. K 29th Ala Infantry Regiment, CSA. Their oldest son, William Green Lewis, had already enlisted in the local militia, which later was rolled into the 1st AL Infantry Regiment, CSA.

Unfortunately her husband, Benjamin, was among the many who died early of measles and 'typhia' pneumonia, contracted while encamped with his Company. He died on 30 May 1862 in Montgomery, AL which is supported by records in the Archives of History in Montgomery. Although at the time he died his company was encamped in FL, their sick and injured were being removed by train to the CSA hospital in Montgomery. He is not linked to his wife and family's memorials because his actual burial place in Oakwood Cemetery remains unproven.

Anna and her remaining children were left living alone on the farm land they owned in Barbour County, AL. Then other sons also left to join the Confederate Army as soon as they were old enough to be accepted, leaving Annie to provide for and rear the other children alone through the turmoil of the war years.

Sadly, the next oldest of their remaining young sons (Benjamin S. Lewis) joined as Pvt., Co. B 57th Ala CSA and went to war as teenager, he was severely wounded in the battle of Atlanta. He later died from his injuries, at a CSA hospital near Macon, GA on June 10, 1864. Their son Andrew Jackson Lewis had also died during the war years, whereabouts unknown.

Anna had lost her husband and 2 sons during the war years, and two sons returned injured, one severely. Although Anna Jane and family lost their property for taxes during the trials of reconstruction, Annie and her unmarried children, including the one who had lost his right arm in the war lived together in Barbour county, now farming on rented land. Her youngest daughter, Nancy Ann Miles Lewis, taught school. Anna and all her unmarried children remained living together in Barbour County, AL until their deaths.

However, a surprise came for her descendants when viewing the 1870 Census for Barbour County. On it we find a previously unknown given name, "Harriet." The Lewis Family Bible listed her name only as "Anna Jane." The 1870 enumerator must have insisted on using her first given name, which she apparently didn't like.

Source: 1870 Federal Census of Barbour County, AL
name: Harriett Lewis
estimated birth year: 1818
gender: Female
age in 1870: 52y
color (white, black, mulatto, chinese, indian): White
birthplace: Alabama home in 1870: Alabama, United States
Household members:
Harriett Lewis F 52y Alabama
Verse Lewis F 23y Alabama
George Lewis M 19y Alabama
Nancy Lewis F 17y Alabama
Sydney Lewis M 15y Alabama