All Things Cherokee

All Things Cherokee is an online resource for Cherokee genealogy information, history, culture, and art.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Articles
  • Cherokee Genealogy
  • Cherokee Art Gallery
  • Books
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • 0 items

Thomas Lithfuss Orlefus Creebeck Helton

November 3, 2015 by cdula817 21 Comments

Looking for any information on Thomas or his wife Betty Creebeck Helton. I am descendant from him through Peter Helton, William Joseph Helton, Joseph White Helton, Constance Dennis Helton McGlynn Parker. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Comments

  1. loriparker says

    December 11, 2018 at 1:55 pm

    I am a descendant of William I believe from the best of my research. I’ve verified through the tame doe line as well. It’s possible there is a mistake, but it seems to be correct. My family on this side is from Jackson county Alabama and Tennessee before I believe. My line would have been John Jacob or jake Helton. Apparently, Helton comes from his wife. From my research either he or his father or mother was Cherokee. Wolf clan. I’ve seen her listed as deer. The original ancestor I’ve found is fivekiller and it appears he was a Delaware.

    Log in to Reply
    • denray says

      December 29, 2023 at 3:42 pm

      Thomas Helton who took his wife’ Betty Helton name had son named Lt. Peter C Helton. This is start of my bloodline. Trying to find names of Thomas parents. Are they Fivekiller and Tame Doe? Thanks

      Log in to Reply
  2. K.Gibbs says

    November 22, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    Hi I am also a descendant. Thomas and Bettie are my 6th great grandparents I think. I have only just recently found some information about them. I see your post is from a couple years back but here is what I have.

    ‘Thomas Lithfuss Orlefus Creebeck Helton (Full Cherokee married Bettie Helton & took her name) was born in 1730 in Halifax, Virginia, USA. He married Bettie Creebeck Helton in Maiden, North Carolina, USA. They had three children in 27 years. He died having lived for more than 100 years. He died in 1840 in Burke, North Carolina, USA, at the age of 110.’

    Thomas married Bettie in 1743 when he was 13 years ago.
    His son Abraham (Young Chicken) Chetiganete was born in 1743 in Halifax, Virginia, USA.
    His son Lt. Peter C (Cherokee Indian) was born in 1752 in Randolph, North Carolina, USA
    His son Beachem/Beecher was born in 1770 in Salisbury, North Carolina, USA.

    Per notes found Bettie married a handsome Cherokee Indian 5 yrs younger than her as to have her own Family. He would heave been acceptable to her dad because her mother was a full blood cherokee maiden.

    I also have found a picture of Bettie.

    Log in to Reply
    • shonna85 says

      January 1, 2020 at 8:18 pm

      Hi there. My husband is from the very same tree. We were interested in Bettie and her mother. Unfortunately we haven’t found anything on her mother though. We have Susan Hawkins Winkler as Beecham Helton wife. It would be nice to see your picture of Bettie. Thanks shonnanelson85@gmail.com

      Log in to Reply
    • niska521 says

      March 30, 2020 at 12:49 am

      Hello, I recently discovered that Thomas and Bettie Helton are my 7th great-grandparents. I would be excited to be able to see the photo you have of Bettie. Thanks!

      Log in to Reply
    • kotty50 says

      July 3, 2020 at 9:10 pm

      I am a descendent through Peter Helton. I would love to see a picture of Betty, and would love to learn more about their parents.

      Log in to Reply
    • Dane Halvin says

      November 14, 2020 at 7:50 pm

      Hello I believe I’m a descendant Beecham Helton-Susan Winkler, their daughter Bettie Helton and husband Thomas Creekback, their son Abraham Young Chicken C. Helton (1743)and Katie Owl. Did Young Chicken marry Katie Owl? Did they have a son John Robert Helton(1786)? Did John Helton marry a Dicie Helton possible cousin in 1806? They may have had a son Jacob“Jack Owl” Helton(1805)? He may have married a Elizabeth “ Betsy “ Swain and had a daughter Mary Polly Ann Helton born 1840? Mary Helton may have married a David Pruitt or Pruett? I would appreciate any information on this family.

      Log in to Reply
      • Dcook says

        February 23, 2022 at 7:31 pm

        Abraham was married to Kati Owl. They had a son named John, not John Robert as seen all over the internet. John married his cousin, Dicie Helton. Yes, they had a son named Jacob. He was not called Jack owl. Jacob married Betsy Swain/ Swaim.

        Log in to Reply
    • ehsteele1 says

      February 12, 2021 at 3:47 pm

      I am trying to find a connection to Abraham Young Chicken Helton. His name is popping up in all my searches through Ancestry, but so far, I can’t quite get the connection. (I’m not an experienced researcher). My maiden name is Helton and I have always heard the Cherokee stories. If you have a picture of Bettie, I would love to see it.

      Log in to Reply
    • loriparker says

      March 26, 2023 at 10:17 pm

      I would love to see her photo. My line is through my maternal grandfather.

      Log in to Reply
    • denray says

      December 29, 2023 at 3:44 pm

      Do you know Thomas parents?
      Is it Fivekiller and Tame Doe?
      Thanks

      Log in to Reply
    • MelungeonGal99 says

      July 14, 2024 at 4:01 am

      Would LOVE to see the pic of Bettie as well if you still have it. I’m a descendant thru my paternal grandfather’s side. People are constantly bickering about the very existence of Thomas L.O. Creebeck on genealogy sites, let alone the Native ancestry of these folks. Love to put this to rest once and for all.

      Send to my Gmail: welpharecheeze@gmail.com

      OR my secure encrypted Protonmail account: mercymary91@protonmail.com

      Thanks!

      Log in to Reply
  3. elvischk says

    August 19, 2020 at 1:26 am

    Hi I am a descendant through the Mabe family. I believe Thomas and Before would be my 10th great grandparents. Their daughter Lucinda married John Mabe who is on my paternal grandfather’s side. I would love to see any pictures anyone may have.
    Lisa

    Log in to Reply
    • elvischk says

      August 19, 2020 at 1:33 am

      I meant Bettie, not before. Typo.

      Log in to Reply
  4. Abigail1979 says

    May 14, 2021 at 11:12 pm

    I too have just found out that Thomas Lithfuss Creeback is my 7th great grandfather. I am also interested in any information and pictures.

    Log in to Reply
  5. ewilsonpruitt says

    July 12, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    I am a descendant of Thomas Lithfuss Orlefus Creebeck Helton. He is my 6th great grandfather. through Abraham Helton. down through the line to my great grandmother Rebecca Clark. I am interested in any information you might have.

    Log in to Reply
  6. tzbauknight says

    March 25, 2024 at 8:36 pm

    Also a descendent: “Indian Tom” / Bettie Helton > Peter C. Helton > Silas Helton > Jacob Helton > Nancy Ann Helton / William Price Pickering > Fannie Elizabeth Pickering / Arther Ralph Mosier > Guy Melvin Mosier > my mom.

    I suspect this crazy name has persisted since someone saw written out “Lithfuss Orlefus Creebeck” … when it is pretty clear to me that, especially given that at least one grandchild was given the name Eliphas (a Biblical name), that his name was Eliphas and someone wrote it down how it sounded but with the uncertain “or” in there, to wit: “Lithfuss or Lefus”. Perhaps Thomas Eliphas was his Christian names? And what of Creebeck – are there any others of those anywhere?

    Thanks!

    Log in to Reply
    • HungryAstronaut says

      April 2, 2025 at 5:56 pm

      That sounds like a pretty good theory.

      Log in to Reply
    • JHHelton says

      April 22, 2025 at 2:40 am

      Apparently one researcher found that name at one of the Virginia county courthouses. Michael Helton who did an amazing job putting a massive amount of Helton info together, went to the same courthouse to verify that and could find no reference to that name.

      Log in to Reply
  7. MelungeonGal99 says

    January 2, 2025 at 10:39 pm

    Was it common for Native men to take their wives’ last names? Because this happens often in my Ancestry.com tree and it confuses the heck outta me! I have Thomas Lithfuss Orlefuss Creebeck (Helton) married to Bettie Helton, who is a descendant of Beechum Helton & Susan Hawkins “So Wa Tsi” Winkler (why the Indian sounding name when she was of German descent?) In another whole side of my family, there’s a tri-racial Melungeon man with Cherokee blood who took his wife’s last name “Kirk”.

    The Helton “branch” of my tree is where I suspected Native heritage to be looming on my grandpa’s side, but this Thomas L O Creebeck person’s existence/name are in heavy debate over at Wikitree.com. Annie Helton was said to be Native American and she was my great-great grandma. I have a pic of her daughter Iva Fern and she definitely looked dark, and my dad is like 10 shades darker than me with very Native features. It’s weird because his own parents don’t even look that Indian.

    Just to clarify, my family line goes: Thomas L O Creebeck > Lt. Peter Creebeck > James Helton > Miles Helton > Jackson Helton > Annie R. Helton > Iva Fern Brown > My grandpa > My dad > Me

    Log in to Reply
    • JHHelton says

      April 22, 2025 at 2:45 am

      I sent you an email. Hopefully that is still your correct email address. As far as Bettie goes. Very little is actually known. Her daughter said that her mother was half white half black. And that her father was full blooded Native. I personally don’t believe that Tom was Cherokee though. I would guess Saponi. Still trying to figure that one out.

      Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« Price and Maddox Family
Military land bounty act »
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Site Policies

© Copyright 2025 All Things Cherokee · All Rights Reserved · All Logos & Trademark Belongs To Their Respective Owners