Previously, I have shared this information one-on-one. This data may not be new to everyone.

I believe that all descendants of the CREECH Families who removed from Columbus Co., NC to Ouachita Co., AR around 1856-57 are also descendants of William WOODELL who was b. c1795, probably in Johnston Co., NC and died in Robeson Co., NC in 1849.

Sarah Jane and Elisha Creech were the issue of Joshua Creech, Sr., and Mary Jane Jones. Sarah Jane Creech, b. 1818, m. Charles P. WOODELL in Columbus Co., NC about 1838. Sarah Jane was the sister of Elisha Creech, b. 1829. Elisha Creech m. Rhoda Woodell, sister of Charles P. Woodell. Elisha and Rhoda were m. in Columbus Co., NC about 1848.

Furthermore, I believe that the Joshua Creech with wife, Prudence, recorded in the 1860 Ouachita Co., AR Census (spelled CRUSE in the census index) also married one of Charles P. Woodell's siblings, namely, Prudence Ann WOODELL.

Although the marriages I mention here can be proven via deeds or other Columbus Co., NC court records, I have not found an actual recorded marriage for any of the couples named in this post - I have no explanation.

William Woodell (b. c1795, d. January-May 1849) died intestate in Robeson Co., NC. William's adult son, Charles P. Woodell (m. Sarah Creech) and adult daughter, Rhoda Woodell (m. Elisha Creech) were married and residing in Columbus Co., NC at the time of the 1850 census. However, the deceased William Woodell's minor children were residing in the households of family and friends in Back Swamp Tnsp., Robeson Co., NC in 1850. I have found documentation that an inventory was made of William's estate in Robeson County, but I have found no other estate papers. However, after William Woodell died in Robeson County his 2nd. wife and widow, Molsey (MAINES) Woodell, petitioned the Robeson County Court for her "Rights to Dower." In her petition (first entered May Term 1849 Robeson Co., NC Court of P&QS) two of William's heirs are named: "Charles Woodell & Creech and wife Rhody of Columbus County and others." The "others" were William's minor children. In a later term of the court the petition specifically names "Elisha Creech and wife Rhody." I believe this indicates that Elisha Creech's wife, Rhoda (Rhody), was the daughter of William Woodell, otherwise Elisha Creech would not have been named as heir to William Woodell's estate.

Also, I believe that the Prudence Ann Woodell named in the following deed was the daughter of William Woodell, b. 1795, who witnessed the instrument. Other circumstantial evidence indicates that the maiden name of William Woodell's 1st. wife may have been THOMPSON. Obviously, the grantor of the deed, James Thompson, was making a small parcel of land a gift to a very young niece.

Robeson Co., NC Deed Bk. X, pg. 9
James Thompson
-to-
Obedience Ann Woodell (name Obedience was scribe's error)

"Know all men by these presence that I, James Thompson, for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I bear to my niece, Prudence Ann Woodell, and for divers other considerations do hereunto bargained have given and granted and by these presents do give grant unto Prudence Ann Woodell all and singular that piece or parcel of land which here as follows. To wit- Beginning at a pine near the old Lackelar (Locklear) (illegible) on his own line and runs to the lower end of the (blank) with and courses at a blackgum then runs the (illegible) up to his line then take the same line back to the beginning, say five acres more or less, to have and to hold to Prudence Ann Woodel (one "L") her heirs and assigns forever and I the said James Thompson for myself my heirs and assigns do warrant and forever defend the aforesaid piece or parcel of land from the lawful claims of any persons whatsoever in witness whereof I the said James Thompson have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of November AD 1837"
Witness: Nicholas Tyner & Wm. Woodell Signed: James Thompson (seal)

"Robeson Co., NC P&QS February Term 1838: Thus was the execution of gift acknowledged in open court and ordered to be registered - Shd (Shadrack) Howell, Clerk"

The William Woodell Family of Robeson Co., NC are of Lumbee Indian heritage (or possibly Chickasaw-Choctaw if William's 1st. wife was a Thompson). Prior to about 1888 the Indians of Robeson County were referred to in all records (including the censuses) as "mulatto." I am confident that Prudence Woodell, a 15 year old mulatto girl, living in the Jacob TYSON household in 1850 is the same Prudence named in the gift deed from James Thompson.

1850 Robeson County (Southern Div.), NC Census, 25 Sept. 1850, pg. #128.
19/944/944 Jacob TYSON, 40, male, white, laborer, b. Bladen Co., NC
Mary " , 40, female, white, b. Robeson Co., NC
Archibald " , 18, male, white, student, b. Robeson Co., NC
Prudence WOODALL, 15, female, mulatto, b. Robeson Co., NC (WOODELL spelled WOODALL in 1850)

Prudence must have traveled to Ouachita County, Arkansas with the Woodell and Creech Families. They arrived in Ouachita County in time to be taxed in the year 1857. Although the 1860 census indicates that Joshua and Prudence Creech's children were born in North Carolina I found no marriage record for Joshua and Prudence in Robeson or Columbus Counties, North Carolina, and no other data of any kind for Prudence in North Carolina after the 1850 census. In 1856 the deceased William Woodell's minor children were placed under the guardianship of Daniel Batten of Columbus Co., NC. Daniel Batten was the brother of James G. Batten who married the widow, Mary Jane (Jones) Creech after her husband, Joshua Creech, Sr., died in 1848. According to the 1850 & 1860 census, by 1856 Prudence Ann Woodell was an adult and already married to Joshua Creech - thus Prudence was not named in the guardianship papers for the Woodell children.

Jacob and Polly Tyson also removed to Ouachita Co., AR with the Woodell and Creech Families. In the 1860 Ouachita County census, living with William James Bird and wife, Mary (Woodell) Bird, was Jacob and Pollie Tyson. Unfortunately, the census taker failed to record the ages of the members of this household (and strangely enough, only for this household) in the 1860 census. Mary (Woodell) Bird was the oldest daughter of Charles P. and Sarah (Creech) Woodell.

1860 Jackson Tnsp., Ouachita Co., AR Census, stamped pg. #91A, 13 Aug 1860.
35/640/667 Wm. J. BIRD, male, farmer, b. NC
Mary , female, NC
Columbus , m, AR
Cornelia , female, AR
Jacob TYSON, male, no occupation, NC
Pollie " , female, NC

By 1860 Joshua and Prudence were married with children, and residing next-door to Sarah (Creech) Woodell, widow of Charles P. Woodell.

1860 Jackson Tnsp., Ouachita Co., AR Census, stamped page #101, 16 August 1860.
708/738 Mrs. S. WOODELL, 42, f, farmer, NC
Joel , 19, m, NC
Catherine , 17, f, NC
Sallie , 15, f, NC
Elizabeth , 13, f, NC
William , 11, m, NC
John , 8, m, NC
Alpha J. , 5, f, NC
Frances , 3, f, AR
Robert , 1, m, AR
709/739 Joshua CREECH, 47, m, farmer, NC
Prudence , 22, f, NC
Elisha , 5, m, NC
Andrew J. , 4, m, NC
Henrietta , 3, f, NC

In 1870 Joshua and Prudence Creech were residing next-door to the widower Solomon Johnson (spelled JOHNSONE in the census). After Joshua's death Prudence A. (Ann) must have married Solomon Johnson as she is listed as Solomon's wife in 1880. I found no marriage record for Solomon and Prudence. If the marriage took place in Ouachita County prior to 12 December 1875 the record was lost in the Ouachita County Courthouse fire.

1870 Red Hill Tnsp., Ouachita Co., AR Census, stamped pg. #355, 22 August 1870.
29/18/18 Sol JOHNSONE, 35, m, w, farmer, GA
Geo. F. , 12, m, w, AR
S. A. (?) , 6, m w, AR
John W. , 5, m, w, AR
Matthew , 3, m, w, AR
Martha J. , 1, f, w, AR
35/19/19 Joshua CREACH, 53, m, w, farmer, NC
Prudone , 30, f, w, SC
Elisha , 17, m, w, SC
A. J. , 16, m, w, SC

1880 Union Tnsp., Nevada Co., AR Census, stamped pg. #550, 17 June 1880.
50/255/262 Solomon R. JOHNSON, 46, w, m, Head, farmer, GA/NC/GA
Prudence A. , 40, w, f, Wife, NC/NC/NC
John W, , 15, w, m, AR/GA/GA
Mathew , 12, w, m, AR/GA/GA
Martha J. , 10, w, f, AR/GA/GA

Although not absolute proof, I believe the evidence strongly indicates that Joshua Creech's wife was Prudence Ann Woodell of Robeson Co., NC.


I hope this is helpful to the Creech-Woodell descendants from Ouachita County.

Michael Puckett
Sacramento, CA