Creef - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

ThreeGuards — 2009-04-24 21:11:26Z

I have contacted you directly via Ancestry.

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

lilbeast72 — 2009-04-24 17:49:20Z

Yes, those are his parents. His other brothers, James and Wilson, have passed away. His sister died shortly after birth. I have a few questions for right now. What part of Europe did the Creefs come from? Did any Creef participate in the Civil War? What year did the Creefs come to the US? I may have more questions by tommorow since I am meeting with my grandfather. If you have any questions for me to ask my grandfather feel free to ask. Thanks so much for your help.

Jon

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

IndianRiver1744 — 2009-04-23 23:46:36Z

Hi, Mr Nichols.
If your grandfather is William L. Creef I can probably help you.

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

ThreeGuards — 2009-04-23 00:14:50Z

I would be happy to help you but I need more information. I don't have a William Creef in my data base with that birth date. I don't have birth dates for some. Do you know who his parents were? That would be a big help.

Doing a search, I believe he was probably the son of Seldon Bennett Creef (b. 25 Sep 1883 in East Lake, Dare Co., NC - d. 22 Apr 1963 in Chesapeake, VA) and his wife Nancy Alice "Nat" Basnight (b. 15 Jun 1889 in Second Creek (Alligator), Tyrrell Co., NC - d. 28 Jan 1987 in Chesapeake). They were married 19 Oct 1913 in Buffalo City, Dare Co., NC. They had four know children.

This is what that family looked like on the 1930 Census:

1930 United States Federal Census

Name: William L Creef
Home in 1930: South Norfolk, South Norfolk (Independent City), Virginia
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1924
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: Selton B
Mother's Name: Nancie A
Race: White
Parents' birthplace: View Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Selton B Creef 46
Nancie A Creef 41
James W Creef 12
Wilson B Creef 4
William L Creef 6

You see, I only have an approximate date of birth (1924) for this William.

If this is the right family, let me know and I can help you.

Jean

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

lilbeast72 — 2009-04-22 02:45:11Z

Dear Jean,
My name is Jonathan Nichols. My grandfather is William Creef, born November 11, 1923 in South Norfolk, Virginia. I have recently become interested in my family history, but I cannot find out much by myself. I would extremely appreciate it if you could give me some background information on the Creefs or if you could lead me to a person who could. Also, if you are looking for more information, I may be able to find out more from my grandfather.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Nichols

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

ThreeGuards — 2009-04-01 15:52:44Z

Thanks so much for posting this information. I try to collect everything possible on the Creef's.

Jean

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

caroltruitt_1 — 2009-04-01 07:21:39Z

Thank you.

I'm sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. My father, Robert Wesley Truitt, born Nov. 27, 1920 in Greensboro, NC, passed away April 5, 1972 in Chapel Hill, NC.

I'll need to ask a friend to scan Mother's obituary here for you shortly.

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

ThreeGuards — 2009-03-06 17:13:45Z

I am very sorry for your loss.

Thank you for posting this information. I had your mother's birth month and day correct but I had an incorrect year (1923), so I appreciate the correction.

Is your father still living? I do not have any dates for him.

Do you have a newspaper obituary for your mother that you could post?

Again, thank you for taking the time to do this.

Jean

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

caroltruitt_1 — 2009-03-05 18:08:01Z

Thank you so much for the information.

For the record, my mother, Frances Juanita Creef Truitt (born in South Norfolk, VA on Nov. 16, 1922) daughter of Algon Bunyon Creef and Georgie Lee Buskey Creef, died February 20, 2008.

Re: Missouri Creef

ThreeGuards — 2009-02-02 17:14:02Z

In addition to the information I have already provided to you, here is my reasoning for believing Joseph Creef was born in NC.

Six of Joseph/Josiah and Mary Holmes Creef's children, stated on several census reports that both of their parents were born in NC. I am far more inclined to believe this than the death certificate of G. W. Creef filled out by someone else. G. W. Creef, himself, stated on the 1880 census that his parents were born in NC. I think it is fair to assume that the individual providing the information for his death certificate made a mistake. Not once do any of his children say their father was born in England.

Affie stated on the 1880 and 1900 census that Joseph was born in NC.

Here are census reports from five more of their children:

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Martin Creef
Home in 1880: East Lake, Dare, North Carolina
Age: 58
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1822
Birthplace: North Carolina
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: Sarah M.
Father's birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's birthplace: North Carolina

Occupation: Farmer
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Cannot read/write:

Household Members: Name Age
Martin Creef 58
Sarah M. Creef 33
Francis S. Creef 24
Mary C. Creef 20
Phebee E. Creef 16
John S. Creef 16
Charles W. Creef 11
William N. Creef 2
Texas D. Creef 3M
Dorkis Basnight 16

---------------------------
Then Clarissa Creef Basnight, another of Joseph/Josiah Creef's, children states in 1880 and again in 1900 that her father and mother were born in NC.

1880 United States Federal Census

Name: Clarisa Basnight
Home in 1880: East Lake, Dare, North Carolina
Age: 61
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1819
Birthplace: North Carolina
Relation to Head of Household: Wife
Spouse's Name: James
Father's birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's birthplace: North Carolina

Occupation: Keeping House
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Female
Cannot read/write:

Household Members: Name Age
James Basnight 57
Clarisa Basnight 61
------

1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Clarissa Basnight
[Clarissa Basinghs]
Home in 1900: East Lake, Dare, North Carolina
Age: 81
Birth Date: Feb 1819
Birthplace: North Carolina
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Gender: Female
Relationship to head-of-house: Mother
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother: number of living children: 8
Mother: How many children: 10
Marital Status: Widowed
Residence : Crotan, Kennekeet & East Lake Townships, Dare, North Carolina

Household Members: Name Age
Wm J Basnight 51
Wm P Basnight 17
Bub B Basnight 16
Walter A Basnight 15
Lyman S Basnight 12
Nancy A Basnight 10
Mary C Basnight 9
Samuel C Basnight 8
Clarissa Basnight 81
------------
1880 United States Federal Census

Name: Henry J. Creef
Home in 1880: East Lake, Dare, North Carolina
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Birthplace: North Carolina
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: Eliza J.
Father's birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's birthplace: North Carolina
Occupation: Farmer
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Cannot read/write:

Household Members: Name Age
Henry J. Creef 44
Eliza J. Creef 40
Carthillia Creef 18
John E. Creef 16
Margaret A. Creef 11

----------
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Henry J Creef
Home in 1900: East Lake, Dare, North Carolina
Age: 64
Birth Date: Dec 1835
Birthplace: North Carolina
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Gender: Male
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Spouse's Name: Eliza J
Marriage Year: 1860
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 40
Residence : Crotan, Kennekeet & East Lake Townships, Dare, North Carolina
Occupation: View on Image

Household Members: Name Age
Henry J Creef 64
Eliza J Creef 61

-----------
1880 United States Federal Census

Name: Josiah Creef
Home in 1880: East Lake, Dare, North Carolina
Age: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1828
Birthplace: North Carolina
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: Mariah
Father's birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's birthplace: North Carolina

Occupation: Farmer
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Cannot read/write:

Household Members: Name Age
Josiah Creef 52
Mariah Creef 45
Charles L. Creef 20
Frank F. Creef 18
Nancy A. Creef 10

---------

Even George Washington Creef in the 1880 census stated that his father was born in NC.

1880 United States Federal Census

Name: George W. Creef
Home in 1880: Nags Head, Dare, North Carolina
Age: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1828
Birthplace: North Carolina
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: Margrett
Father's birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's birthplace: North Carolina

Occupation: Farmer - Mecanic
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Cannot read/write:

Household Members: Name Age
George W. Creef 52
Margrett Creef 53
George W. Creef 22
Annie M. C. Creef 20

----------
So at least six of Joseph/Josiah Creef's living children at various times stated that their father was born in NC.

Jean

Re: Missouri Creef

ThreeGuards — 2009-01-18 23:32:26Z

This is the response I made to your query on the Ancestry CREEF board.

You said "based on the information I have dug up" but you didn't say what that information is? What leads you to believe the Creef's and MonCrief's were not related?

There are Currituck wills and deeds (some online) that show the name changing from Moncrief (various spellings) to Creef (again, various spellings). I don't feel that Creef was that common a name for two unrelated lines to end up in the same sparsely populated area in the late 1700's.

I believe he most likely descended from William Moncrief/Creef who died between March 16, 1791 - January 20, 1792 (used both names in his will) or William Moncrief who died 22 Jun 1766 (not all of his children went to GA). This second William had a son named Josiah and grandsons named Josiah. Josiah and Joseph were frequently used synonymously. Our Joseph Creef named a son Josiah and William. The first William I mentioned was probably a descendant of Thomas Moncrief, who was a brother of William who died in 1766.

In the 1880 Census Valentine Creef (my 2nd g. grandfather) states that both of his parents were born in NC.

If you are making any of your assumptions based on the death certificate on Valentine's brother, George Washington Creef, remember that he was suffering from some sort of dementia before his death and naturally, his death certificate was filled out by someone else who didn't necessarily have any first hand knowledge. I prefer the first hand knowledge of what Joseph's children stated on the Census when asked that question.

Jean

Re: Missouri Creef - Correction to previous Post

ThreeGuards — 2009-01-09 22:38:22Z

I must have been having a senior moment when I wrote that Missouri Owens Creef was the wife of Henry Jordan Creef. She was Henry Jordan Creef's daughter-in-law. She was married to his son John Edgar Creef. Missouri S. Owens was born in Jan 1869 in East Lake, Tyrrell Co., NC, and died Jul 1926. She married John Edgar Creef 20 May 1888 in East Lake, Dare Co. NC.

Henry Jordan Creef (b. 15 Dec 1835 - d. bef 24 May 1915) married Louisa J. "Eliza" Holmes (b. Jun 1839) on 24 Sep 1859 in Tyrrell Co., NC. [Note: Henry and Eliza were first cousins.]

I certainly apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Re: Missouri Creef

TimCreef — 2009-01-08 21:08:33Z

Hi Jean,

My name is Tim Creef. I am a direct descendant of Joseph Creef. He was my g.g.g.grandfather. I have done quite a bit of genealogical digging over the years, starting with pre-internet groundwork done by my father, as well as a couple of cousins. And we have all run into the same dead ends you have found with regard to Joseph Creef's documentable origins. But based on the information I have dug up, as best I can figure, Joseph was probably not related to any of the MonCriefs who lived in what is today northern Currituck County. But that is just my theory based on the information I have.

However, I am very interested in whatever information you have that makes you feel that the present day Creefs (me included) are descendants of the John MonCrief and Mary Glasgo....the descendants who didn't move to Georgia and decided to change the spelling of their surname to Creef instead of MonCrief.

Please contact me at your convenience at..

toh2@aol.com

Thanks,
Tim Creef

Re: Josiah Creef and descendants

ThreeGuards — 2008-12-01 04:08:55Z

Tim, this is the info I have already provided directly to you. I thought I would post it here in case anyone else is interested.

Josiah/Joseph Creef was born 5 May 1831 in East Lake, Tyrrell Co., NC. I don't have an exact date of death or location but it was between 1881 - 1888. If you have his date of death, I would appreciate it. He married Mariah G. Holmes 16 Jun 1856. She was born ca. 1836 in East Lake, Tyrrell Co., NC and died between Apr 1888 - May 1889. Josiah/Joseph and Mariah were first cousins. They had four known children. If you don't have them, I can provide info on them for you. Which of their children do you descend from?

Josiah/Joseph was the son of Joseph & Mary Amanda "Polly" Holmes. I have estimated Joseph's birth as ca 1795. He died between 1835 - 1840 in Tyrrell Co. I have never been able to identify his parents. I believe the Tyrrell Co. Creef's descended from the Currituck Co. Moncrief's. There is much evidence to show that they changed their name to Creef.

Mary Amanda Holmes was born between 1794 - 1795 in East Lake, Tyrrell Co. and d. between 1871 - 1872 in Dare Co. [when Dare Co. was created, East Lake became part of it]. She was the daughter of Henry and Comfort Caroon Holmes.

Mariah G. Holmes was the daughter of Henry Holmes, Jr. (b. ca. 1799 in Tyrrell Co. - d. Jun 1877 in East Lake, Dare Co.) and Lovey Creef (b. ca. 1796 - d. bef. 15 Nov 1864). Henry Holmes, Jr. was the son of Henry and Comfort Caroon Holmes.

I am not sure but I suspect Lovey Creef (b. ca. 1796) was the sister of Josiah Creef (b. ca. 1795).

Tyrrell County Minutes of the Pleas and Quarters Sessions 1815 to 1821

Page 142 [11 April 1817] Henry Holmes came into open court & gave bond for bastardy begotten on the body of Lovey Crief and has entered into bond in the sum of five hundred dollars Robert Holmes & Joseph Creef his securities

Robert Holmes was the brother of Henry Holmes, Jr. (Henry Holmes, Sr. and wife Comfort Caroon had five known children.)

I descend from Joseph and Mary Amanda Holmes Creef's oldest son, Valentine "Tine" Creef (b. 26 Aug 1816) and his wife Anjelico Holmes (b. 1816). I do not know who Anjelico's parents were.

Josiah Creef and descendants

tcreef1 — 2008-11-26 19:27:08Z

Hi All,

Any info anyone has regarding Josiah's descendants would be much appreciated. Josiah was a son of Joseph and Mary. I also have just finished reading "The Hands of Time" by Millford Ballance about the Hattie Creef and the life nad times of G.W. Creef Jr. Great read. Copies are available online for those interested. Anyway here is my line back to Joseph and Mary:

Grandparents:
George Albert Creef and Lillian Overton

Great Grandparents:
Franklin Foster Creef and Phebe Owens

Great Great Grandparents:
Josiah Creef and Mariah Holmes

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

tcreef1 — 2008-11-26 19:16:39Z

Hi IndianRiver,

I am a descendant of Josiah Creef, son of Joseph and brother of George Washington Creef, Sr. If you have any info on anyone in Josiah's line it would be much appreciated.

Re: creef family

tcreef1 — 2008-11-26 18:51:04Z

Hi James,

I am just now seeing your post, so you may already know more information about the Hattie Creef. Anyway, here is a short version of her history:

The Hattie Creef, a Carolina Sharpie once owned by the Globe Fish Company, was moored for many years on the P.P. Gregory property (which is now the Jennette Brothers Inc. parking lot). The 55-foot-long vessel was built as an oyster boat in 1888 by George Washington Creef Jr. of Nags Head. Creef constructed the vessel of heart pine logs that had washed ashore from a wrecked ship. He named it for his daughter, Hattie. Over her long life, the Hattie Creef would become a fishing boat, a mail boat, a passenger and freight vessel, a tug boat, a crabber, and a pleasure cruiser on the Dismal Swamp Canal. Her most famous passengers were Orville and Wilbur Wright, the Ohio brothers who invented the first powered aircraft. In her retirement years, the Hattie Creef, was sunk in the
Pasquotank River, brought back up, and eventually put on display at Kill Devil Hills. In the 1970s, the boat was bought by a Hatteras businessman and was moved adjacent to the Hattie Creef Drive-In at Salvo. She was a popular historic attraction there until her demise in a fire in the 1980s. Hope this helps.

Re: Missouri Creef

ThreeGuards — 2008-11-24 00:22:09Z

You are certainly welcome. I'm glad I could help.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Jean

Re: Missouri Creef

carolynbeecher62 — 2008-11-24 00:12:02Z

Hi again. I am very grateful for all the info you gave me. I have my grandfathers obit.and his death cert. His name was IRVING C. JAMES. He was born to MARY CARTER & BENNIE JAMES on 4/8/1904 and died 12/29/1947.Keep in touch as you have been a vital link! Happy Thanksgiving!-Carolyn

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

IndianRiver1744 — 2008-11-14 01:36:00Z

Social Security Death Index about Hattie Griffin
Name: Hattie Griffin
SSN: 225-92-4226
Last Residence: 23517 Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia, United States of America
Born: 1 Feb 1889
Died: Jul 1981
State (Year) SSN issued: Virginia (1973 )

As reported in the Saturday August 1, 1981 edition of The Virginian Pilot -
Mrs. Hattie C. Griffin
former music teacher;
boat named after her

NORFOLK-- Mrs Hattie Creef Griffin, 92 of 708 Maury Ave., the widow of Cecil Linwood Griffin Sr. and former music teacher in Manteo, N. C., and in Norfolk, died Thursday in Norfolk.
A native of Roanoke Island, Dare County, NC, her late father, George Washington Creef Jr. was an island boat-builder. He built and named for her the boat "Hattie Creef" that was used by the Wright Brothers for ferrying and transferring to Kill Devil Hills, NC for the first airplane flight in 1903.
She was a member of Park Place Methodist Church and had taught Sunday School in the junior department. She was a graduate of Greensboro (NC) College.
Survivors include two sons, Donald G. Griffin of Norfolk and Cecil Linwood Griffin Jr. of Kitty Hawk, N. C.; four Grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Holloman-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel, by the Rev. M. J. Kim. Burial will be in the Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will be at her home.

Re: Missouri Creef

ThreeGuards — 2008-11-10 13:01:48Z

Hi Carolyn,

I would be glad to try to help you. Both Owens and Creef are direct lines of mine. I have Ellen Owens Creef (b. 1901 - d. 1946) in my data base and her husband only as an Unknown James. What was his first name; when was he born and when did he die?

Missouri Sanderlin Owens (b. Jan 1869 Tyrrell Co., NC - Jul 1926) was the daughter of Ellen Sanderlin and George Washington Owens.

G.W. Owens was the son of Frances Best and Amos Owens.

Amos was the son of Patty Paine and William M. Owens, Jr.

William was the son of Elizabeth Cowell and Adam Owens.

Adam was the son of John & Anne Owens.

[George Washington Owens was the brother of my great grandfather, Thomas Steward Owens.]

-------------
Missouri Owens married Henry Jordan Creef (b. 15 Dec 1835 - d. bef 24 May 1915). He was the son of Joseph & Mary Amanda "Polly" Holmes.

Joseph Creef was b. about 1795 and died between 1835 - 1840 in Tyrrell Co., NC. Joseph has been a dead-end for me for many years. I believe he is descended from the Moncrief family of Currituck Co but can not prove it. Some of the Moncrief family moved to Georgia but those that remained in northeastern NC appear to have adopted the Creef spelling of their surname.

I have considerable more information on all of your ancestors but would be happy to help you. Feel free to contact me directly.

Jean

Missouri Creef

carolynbeecher62 — 2008-11-06 01:04:45Z

I am the granddaughter of Ellen Owens Creef. My mother was Pauline Earl James and married Russell B. Taylor, Jr.More info would be GREATLY appreciated as everyone has passed away.-Carolyn T. Beecher

Creef's of Tyrrell Co., NC

ThreeGuards — 2008-06-18 21:31:23Z

This board has been idle for a couple of years, so I hope there are still people signed up for Alerts for new posts.

I have a dilemma dealing with the wife of Amos Owens. Amos was born ca. 1802 in East Lake, Tyrrell Co., NC and died between 1861 - 1870.

Amos married Zilliah Creef about 1825 and she was dead about 1832. They had two children. Does anyone know who her parents were?

Amos married second to Frances about 1833. Frances was born about 1818 and d. after 1873. The book "North Carolina Bible Records" compiled by Wilma Cartwright Spence & Edna Morrisette Shannonhouse, pg. 366, states her last name was Creef. I had accepted this as fact until yesterday when I got a copy of my great grandfather, Thomas Steward Owens' death certificate. This states that his Mother's name before marriage was Fannie Best. The certificate was filled out by his wife, so I put a certain amount of faith into her knowledge of her husband's family.

I considered the fact that she may have been married before her marriage to Amos Owens but I really think that was improbable. She was born ca. 1818 and married to Amos about 1833, so she was only 15 or 16 at the time of their marriage. That really doesn't leave much time for a prior marriage.

Does anyone have any information on either of Amos Owens' wives?

Jean

Missouri W. Owens Creef of NC

CarolAnnTruitt — 2006-07-02 17:26:32Z

Looking for any info on my great grandmother, Missouri W. Owens born Jan. 1, 1869 in NC, married to John Edgar Creef.

Re: Bert, Ellen and Hattie Creef

judyannreed67 — 2006-06-24 02:22:42Z

Ella Creef b:3 June 1881, d:28 Sept 1948
Hattie Creef b: 1 Feb. 1889 d: 1982
Herbert Augustus Creef b 3 DEC 1892 d:25 MAR 1960

creef family

2005-09-26 22:33:16Z

Hi everyone. my great uncle was the late wiley creef. He used to tell me stories of the Hattie Creef. If anyone can give me any news of its whereabouts i would be grateful. Thank you.

Joseph Creef