Hi Everyone!
Research in Vess Genealogy is on-going and with summer here, I hope to have more time to dig further into a bunch of new leads I have compiled since last summer!
I am at a point where research is slower than usual, because I am now digging through records that are not indexed. I am having to read every record in hopes to find a VESS or VEST. So far, leads from DNA research and other records have led me to some incredible records.
Wilkes County, North Carolina: Current Research
DNA research from Vincent Vess has led me mostly to Wilkes County, North Carolina where I continue to dig up more evidence of VESS/VEST families hiding in the shadows.
I discovered more evidence suggesting the Wilkes County, NC Vess/Vest family are the same families in White County, Tennessee and Patrick County, Virginia.
Also, in addition to Jonathan, Absalom, and William Vess/Vest, I have just recently discovered a Peter Vest too! While Jonathan and Absalom seem to have connections to the Brushy Mountain area, Peter appears to be in an area (on the Wilkes County border with Surry County) with families that fall in line with DNA research. Also in the area, is a well respected man known for his “red hair” (as mentioned in one of our oral traditions) and includes the Souther family who later has interactions with the Peter Vess family and may also have connections with Absalom.
The plot seems to thicken as research continues!
Recent Posted Discoveries
Crook Family: With the amazing DNA research done by Vincent Vess, we discovered and confirmed that Catherine “Katie” Cook is actually Catherine “Katie” CROOK.
This discovery has opened an entirely new chapter to Vess genealogy! There are a lot of new families and new stories to uncover on Catherine’s side!
Peter Vess in Alabama: While we still do not have solid evidence that Willis Vess is related to the Vess/Vest family in White County, TN, circumstantial evidence that they are related continues to pile up!
A Peter Vess appears in an 1842 newspaper article, on a list of letters at the Russellville post office, in Franklin County, Alabama! The only VESS we know of in the area at that time is Willis Vess. And, Simon Peter Vess hadn’t been born yet, so mail left at the post office is certainly not his!
Our Facebook Group
Be sure to invite those who may be interested in Vess genealogy to our Facebook Group!
I do my best to post updates about Y-DNA results, recent discoveries, newspaper clippings, pictures, and stories.
Please feel free to post and share any families stories and pictures, as we would all love to learn more about Vess family history!
DNA Testing
We are breaking through genealogy barriers with DNA testing! I wouldn’t have found the VESS/VEST family in Wilkes County, had it not been for DNA research pointing us in that direction!
We recommend Y-DNA and Autosomal DNA testing through FamilyTreeDNA . Autosomal DNA testing through FamilyTreeDNA helps us create a list of related families that we can use to help us locate earlier shared ancestors leading us to specific locations to dig for genealogical records.
We also have an active Y-DNA project that allows us to explore the very early origins of the VESS family and identify new family lines. This is how we discovered the Willis Vess line!
We still do not have any Y-DNA or autosomal DNA testers for the Jonathan Vess or Nathaniel Vess line.
If anyone knows a male TRAVIS, TRAVERS, or VESS of unknown origin, please check their autosomal results with cladefinder.yseq.net and let us know if it shows R1a or even better YP4141! This can help us identify and connect more Vess/Travers families.
Click here to visit Clade Finder.
Please email vessgenealogy@gmail.com with any questions about DNA testing.
Summer Goals: Introducing Travers Family History
This summer I hope to update the website with more information about the Travers family, our earlier “Vess” ancestors!
Although we do not know our exact lineage from the Travers family, we do have Y-DNA testing that confirms the North Carolina Vess families are in fact descendants of the early Travers family.
I would love to explore and post more about the early Travers family!
Vess Genealogy 