https://www.nclandgrants.com/books/ Book 96 Pg 231 North
Carolina Land Grants. Image of Land Grant issued Jan 1, 1798 to John Scritch. States "Beginning at a Chesnut in his Fathers lower line on the South Side of Helton's Creek." https://www.nclandgrants.com/frame/?fdr=53&frm=108&mars=12.... File 1503 Frames 137 - 141. Land Grant to Stephen Scritch entered 8 Feb. 1795. Book 99 pg. 55. States "100 acres lying in the County afore said on the South Side of Helton's Creek." https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/594031/?page=10&a...= Wilkes County, NC: Deed Book; D (Creator Mrs. W. O. Absher). Quote "#96 13 Feb. 1788 .. Between Isaac Weaver and Stephen Creech, Montgomery County, Virginia .. 100 ac S side Heltons Creek near Mill" This is evidence that John Creech's father was Stephen not John Creech of Dobbs County. If you look at early records of the Creeches in Montgomery and Lee counties, Va and Wilkes NC the spelling changes often based on who is writing it in the records. Can be Scritch, Screech, Scrich, Crich, Creech, etc. Appears pronunciation may have been Cre - ech with short "e"s. Almost like 2 syllables.
