Pittsylvania, Virginia had many county changes. It includes Franklin, Henry, and Patrick Counties, making it difficult to locate records and follow families.

On Ancestry.com, I stumbled upon an incomplete family tree that led me to the early Pittsylvania records on Familysearch.org.

According to the family tree on Ancestry.com, Samuel Vess married a Mary Doss. It was noted on the family tree that this was concluded by their close proximity to each other on the tax list (above). It was also noted on the family tree that the tax record (not sure where) indicated that Samuel Vess did not reside in that county; which if true, could suggest this Samuel Vess is the same Samuel Vess in Henry/Patrick County, Virginia.

According to a land record that I recently discovered, indicated that the wife of Samuel Vess (in Patrick Co.) is Catherine. While I cannot confirm a Vess-Doss connection, I did find some other interesting things on this tax list above…

Listed is a Vaughn family. We have discovered a marriage record for Peter Vess (Henry co. – which was once Pittsylavania co.) married a Pugnance Vaughn. Also listed is an Alford family, which Betty Vess is mentioned as a witness with an Alford family for David Owen’s property in Pittsylvania Co.

A William Vess is also listed in this record, but on the next page.

It is possible (not yet confirmed though) that Samuel and William Vess from Dunmore County, Virginia ended up in Pittsylvania County, Virginia before the county split off to Henry and Patrick County.