See: Genealogy of Johann Nicholaus Heinrich Kress

An Introduction

From the Preface of THE ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF JOHANN NICHOLAUS HEINRICH KRESS by Bernard W. Cruse, Jr. published August 1999.

Among the many important immigrants who sought refuge from various forms of oppression in their homelands in Europe, and came to the new world, America, none were of greater importance to us (the descendants of Johann Nicholaus Heinrich Kress) than the four Kress brothers: Johannes, Henry (Nicholaus), Caspar, and Karl who arrived in Philadelphia on the ship "Neptune," on October 4, 1752.

Three of them remained in Pennsylvania, but the second named Johann Nicholaus Heinrich Kress, migrated with his wife, Catharine Eberhardt Kress, to the Dutch Buffalo Creek Section of what was then Meckleburg County but is now part of Cabarrus County, North Carolina. There he established his home, became one of the leading citizens of the community, the father of twelve children, a blacksmith, a cabinet maker, a wagon builder, owner and operator of a feed mill on Dutch Buffalo Creek, and did some farming.

Two of his brothers' descendants, Claude W. Kress and Charles H. Kress, became partners in the S. H. Kress and Company and operated five, ten, and twenty-five cent stores in more than two hundred cities in 28 states, and their descendant, Samuel H. Kress had the KRESS FAMILY HISTORY printed in 1930, which included the descendants of the three brothers who remained in Pennsylvania, but for some reason omitted the family of their one brother, Johann Nicholaus, who most likely failed to communicate with his brothers after coming to North Carolina.

Many outstanding members of the Kress family have been among our ancestors, and they have bequeathed a heritage to us which remains a challenge and an inspiration to live in the great traditions which we have inherited. Their example is our inspiration and goal to try to mean as much to our day and to posterity as they meant to their day and to succeeding generations.

Biography of Johann Nicholaus Heinrich Kress, His Will, and His Wife's Will

From the biography of Johann Nicholaus Kress on pages 29-34 of THE ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF JOHANN NICHOLAUS HEINRICH KRESS by Bernard W. Cruse, Jr. published August 1978.

Johann Nicholaus Heinrich Kress was born at Steinau on the Road, Hesse-Nassau, Germany, May 12, and christened on May 14, 1721. He emigrated to America in 1752, with his three brothers. According to records, he bought a large tract of land in Mecklenburg, now Cabarrus County, July 16, 1770. He married Catherine Eberhard. His will is recorded in Mecklenburg County Court House Charlotte, N. C, in Book A, Page 193, dated October 16,1783, and is signed “Nicholas Kress.” Her will is recorded at the same place in Book D, Page 132, dated Aug 2, 1785. (We note that his brother Johannes (John) Kress married Catherine Eberhard. On page 329 of the KRESS FAMILY HISTORY, we read: "John Kress, beyond the great Lehigh, at Egypt, a hatmaker, makes known that his wife Catherine, widow of the deceased Frederick Eberhart, has left him. No one shall give her credit or lend her anything upon his account, as he will not pay anything." [Appeared in the German newspaper, "Pennsylvania Berichte" of January 1, 1755, published in Philadelphia.]) Therefore, one would assume that Catherine had deserted John, and had married his brother, Johann Nicholaus, and that they made their way to North Carolina. A letter from Germany is from a Kress inquiring about their grandfather Nikolaus Kress, who came to America and thereafter was never heard from.

Note: The context behind why Catherine left John and later married his brother is not known to us. Because German weddings weren't legally recorded at the time due to English law preventing anyone other than clergy from the Church of England to perform weddings, no legal divorce would necessarily have been needed. It should also be noted that we cannot be absolutely certain that this Catherine Eberhard is necessarily the same Catherine Eberhard which married and left John although it seems to be so.

Our ancestor, JOHANN NICHOLAUS HEINRICH KRESS was born at Steinau on the Road, Hesse-Nassau, Germany May 12, and was christened on May 14,1721.

His father was Johannes Peter Kress, born also at Steinau on October 31, 1690. Johannes Peter first married at Steinau September 14, 1717, Anna Elizabeth, daughter of the honorable Josef Muller, church building superintendent, sergeant-major of the city and butcher at Steinau. She died November 30, 1729, and was buried in the cemetery at Steinau on December 3. Johannes Peter's second wife died, and he married a third time. He died November 28, 1749 and was buried November 30. Our ancestor, Johann Nicholaus, arrived in Philadelphia October 4, 1752 along with his three brothers, Henry (edit: should be John), Caspar and Karl Kress on the ship "Neptune", with John Mason as Captain.

He married Catherine Eberhardt of Pennsylvania, a widow of Frederick Eberhardt since 1751. A deed was granted to him for a large tract of land in Mecklenburg (now Cabarrus) County, North Carolina July 16,1770.

He was a blacksmith, a wagon maker, a cabinet maker, and was skilled in mind and hand in making the different articles needed by the early settlers which had to be handmade, as there were no stores from which to buy them.

The wills of Johann Nicholaus and Catherine are signed with the Kress name and spelling; with the "K". The children changed the spelling to the current "Cress". Their children, and the place their families can be found in this history, are listed below. Although many of the descendants went to Illinois and other points west, the majority stayed in North Carolina and became our progenitors.

Johann Nicholaus Heinrich Kress' grave can be found here.

The Last Will and Testament 

of 

NICHOLAS KRESS 

filed in 

Will Book "A" 

Page 193 

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina 

October 17, 1783 

In the name of God, Amen, I Nicholas Kress of the County of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina, being very sick of body, but perfect of mind and memory, thanks to be given to God, calling to mind the mortality of my body, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following: 

I 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 discretion of my executors, and as touching my worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form: 

I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Catherine a one third part of all my movable estate, together with the best horse on my plantation with the saddle and bridle, and also the 2 best cows on my plantation and my table and 2 pewter dishes and 6 plates, 6 spoons, my bed, the furniture and the best room in the house so long as she keeps my name. And her spinning wheels with reels and the best place in the garden and 1 negro, and 1200 pounds of lawful money which is due me from Absolum Baker and my daughter, and the stove to keep in the house, and the still to be hers as long as she keeps my name.

And also I give to my beloved son Philip 1 tract of land containing 120 acres, more or less, with the improvements that he has made thereon joining and between David Speck's and Philip Wolf’s, and my son Philip is to give 15 or 20 acres of land from said Wolf’s corner to Speck's line — straight line and my son Philip is to give my younger son Jacob 50 pounds in gold or silver at the time Jacob comes of age, clear of interest till that time, I also give to my son Philip 1 bay horse, saddle and bridle and the rifle gun that he now claims, also 1 ax and mattock, maul rings and wedges, and he is to give first 15 or 20 acres of land to Tobias.

And also, I give and bequeath to my beloved son Tobias the plantation whereon I now live, and Tobias is to give Philip 25 acres of land, it being a part of an entry, and Tobias is to give him a deed out of his deed lying on this west side of Buffalo Creek joining the Speck's line, and also my son Tobias is to give his mother every year 15 bushels of wheat and sow one quarter of an acre of peas wherever she chooses on said plantation, and my son Tobias is to maintain his mother as long as she remains a widow and to pay 100 pounds of lawful money of this state, 50 of which to Henry in gold or silver when he comes of age, clear of interest till that time, and the other 50 pounds he is to pay to my daughter Catherine in gold or silver 5 years after my demise, clear of interest till that time.

And also, I give to my son Tobias my still after his mother's demise or changes her name and Tobias is to give his mother 100 weight of pork and 50 weight of beef every year so long as she keeps my name. 

And also, I give and bequeath to my son Henry all my tools belonging to my trade if he chooses to learn the trade, but if he chooses to learn the smith trade, my tools shall be divided amongst all my sons, and Henry shall have an entry of land containing 100 acres between Christian Avons' lines and my own land and Adam Waver’s land. 

And also, I give to my son Tobias 1 bay horse which he now claims, and also I give to Tobias my wagon and gears. 

And also, I give to my son Henry and my son Jacob each a horse to be furnished to them by Tobias when they come of age, which said horses are to be valued to 50 pounds each, lawful money, and Tobias is to have one sorrell horse that is now on my plantation and 1 mattock, maul rings and wedges and my cross-cut saw for the use of all my sons, and I also give to my 2 sons Henry and Jacob a mattock, maul rings and wedges, and also my log chain amongst all my sons.

And also I give to all my beloved daughters, Catherine, Elizabeth, Rosanna, Molly, Margaret, Sophia, Susannah, each of them a spinning wheel and a feather bed and furniture thereunto, and all the rest of my estate I give to my 2 youngest sons Henry and Jacob, and all my daughters to be equally divided amongst them. 

And also, I constitute and appoint, make and ordain Jacob Misenheimer and Joseph Shinn to be the sole executors of this my last will and testament, and I do authorize and empower my said executors to make deeds to the lands before mentioned to my sons and I do hereby utterly disavow and revoke all former wills, legacies, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 17th day of October, 1783. 

Nicholas Kress (Seal) 

In the presence of 

John Long 

Jacob Melchor 

The Last Will and Testament 

of 

CATHERINE KRESS 

filed in 

Will Book

 “D" 

Page 132 

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina 

August 2, 1785 

In the name of God, Amen. I Catherine Kress of Mecklenburg County and State of North Carolina, calling to mind the uncertainty of our time and being very sick in body but of good and sound mind and memory, thanks to Almighty God, but considering that all flesh must yield to death when it shall please God to call, do therefore make this my last will and testament, this the 2nd day of August in the year of our Lord, 1785. 

First and principally, I recommend my soul unto God who gave it unto me and my body to be buried in a Christian like manner according to the wishes of my executors named, and for the settling of my estate and such goods as has pleased God to bless my late husband and me with, I give and bequeath in manner and form as hereinafter mentioned. 

I will that my funeral charges be paid, and I will that my two daughter’s portion, Sophia and Susannah, that was their share from my husband's estate, their father, that I took upon me, shall be paid out of my third of my husband's estate. 

I give and bequeath unto my son Philip a black cow with a white head and a bed, and after my decease my son Philip is to take my youngest son, his brother, to him to bring up.

I give and bequeath unto my son Tobias the old mare and colt and my iron pot, a bed, 2 broad new hoes, all the wood, 1 plow, the windmill and the iron tooth harrows, Philip and Tobias are to keep between them both these things, Tobias is to give a cow to each Henry and Jacob when they come of age. 

I give my saddle unto my daughter Catherine, also a heifer that I bought of her. 

I give my daughter Rosannah my flax wheel. 

I give unto my daughter Mary my tea kettle and smoothing irons. 

I give unto my youngest daughters, Sophia and Susannah all my pewter, leather and iron kittle, a small iron pot and 2 pans. 

I give unto Anna Margaret the young mare which she is to have when the 2 colts shall be able to show, which said colt of the young mare, Tobias is to raise up for Henry, his brother. Also my large iron pot, I give to Anna Margaret. 

I will that my daughter Catherine take Sophia to bring up, and when she is of age, give to her 2 cows and a bed. 

I will that my daughter Rosannah shall take Susannah and 2 cows, and when she is of age to give her 2 cows and a bed and Catherine and Rosannah are to have all my geese between them. 

My large Copper kettle shall be appraised, and the money shared amongst the aforesaid children and my apparel to be equally shared amongst my above-named daughters. 

Lastly, I give my beads unto my son in law's daughter, Elizabeth. 

And unto this, my last will and testament, I do constitute and appoint my 2 sons Philip and Tobias as my lawful executors. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first written above. 

Catherine Kress (Seal) 

In the presence of 

Christian Barnhardt 

Samuel Suther

Gravesite