Month: July 2025

Josiah Vess 1822 – Bef. 1860

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Josiah (Joseph) Vess is the son of Peter Vess and Catherine Crook in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Not much is known about him, as he seems to have disappeared after 1850, like his older brother John. Fortunately, I was able to dig up a little something…

Burke County

Josiah Vess was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, in 1822, most likely on Knobs Creek. In 1831, his father obtained land on Cedar Creek (located in the Broad River Township), which is sandwiched in between Burke and Buncombe County.

We know from Peter’s records, that the family had connections to Burke County, even though they were residents of Rutherford County. This was likely because Cedar Creek is located closely to the Burke County border.

His parents, Peter and Catherine, left Bill’s Creek Baptist Church prior to 1836, and by 1838, they appear to have become members of Bethlehem Baptist Church, located in Crooked Creek of Burke County. This area of Burke County, will later become part of McDowell County in 1842.

Bastardy Bond: Elizabeth Justice

In 1844, Josiah Vess of Rutherford County, was called to McDowell County, to answer to a Bastardy Bond via Elizabeth Jutis (Justice).

I could not find any more court records about it, so I cannot confirmed whether or not Josiah Vess had a child with Elizabeth Justice. But, if true, the child may have been William A. Justice.

William A. Justice was born in 1844 in McDowell County, and died during the Civil War from disease. The 1850 census reveals his mother’s name was Elizabeth Justice, and there was no father listed on census with her.

1846: Family’s Return To Bill’s Creek

On April 27, 1846, Josiah married Zillah (Zilia) Early, daughter of Andrew Early and Nancy Duncan. Together they had six children: Mary Jane, William Bailey, Rhoda Adeline, Zilla, John Jefferson (pictured below), and Emmaline.

Josiah’s son, John Jefferson Vess and wife, Dorce Sylvain Laughter, with children, Jason and baby Zilla.


During the Fall Court of 1846, Josiah, and his older brother John, are part of the deed transaction between his father, Peter Vess, and Joseph Souther. This is when Peter gave his land (on Cedar Creek) to Joseph Souther to settle a $50 debt.

On December 26, 1846, Josiah and his wife, Zilla, along with his brothers John, Andrew, Alfred, and Alexander, become members of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, joining their mother, Catherine who returned in 1844.

On the 1850 census, the Vess family is back in Bill’s Creek (Rutherford Co).

Here we see Josiah, listed with his wife, Zilla, and two of their children, Mary and William. His older brother, John and his family are also listed, as well as their mother Catherine, with the rest of his siblings (except for Andrew, who is living near his Halford in-laws).

Peter probably died shortly after transferring his land to Joseph Souther in 1846.

1849-1853 Conflict With Father-In-Law

We can find records of Josiah Vess in the book, “Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History,” by Helen M. Lu.

Lu notes that Josiah Vess was a member of the church in 1846, 1847, 1848, and 1849.

On October 15, 1853, he was excluded due to excessive drinking.
In November, he was charged for threatening to kill his father-in-law (Andrew Early). However, his membership was restored in December, after admitting that he did make “some threat,” but did not follow through with it.

Death of Josiah and Zilla Vess

There is no official record of Josiah’s death, however, Josiah and his family seem to have disappeared after the 1850 census, with their children reappearing after 1870 as adults.

We do know that Zillah died on December 26, 1862, as we find her memorial in the book, “Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History,” by Helen M. Lu. Her memorial does not mention her husband, focusing largely on her young children, suggesting he may have passed away prior to 1860.

“Sister Vess left behind a numerous family of helpless little children to mourn their irreparable loss.”
– Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History, by Helen M. Lu.

1860: The Nanney Family

Although Zilla’s death is reported to be in 1862, her children appear to be living with the Nanney family on Cathey’s Creek in 1860.

On the 1860 census, in Cathey’s Creek, Rutherford County, North Carolina, Amos and Temp Nanney list their children as “Thomas, Mary, Zeruah, Jothan, William, and Infant.”

Thomas is the son of Amos Nanney, as later records reveal; but, the other listed children, do not appear in future records or are listed on any family trees. However, their names do match the names of Josiah’s children (Mary, Zillah, John, and William), strongly suggesting, these children are likely VESS.

I cannot confirm 100%, that the children of Josiah were living with a Nanney family in 1860, as the record itself is badly faded (below is just a transcription of it); however, there are a couple of other Nanney-Vess connections.

Nanney Family Connections

Josiah’s oldest daughter, Mary, married Charles Nanney, son of Randal Nanney. And, his son, John Vess is listed in the will for Tinsey Searcy (Nanney), daughter of James Nanney (Amos Nanney’s uncle).

I wasn’t able to find any earlier Vess-Nanney connections. They do not appear as members of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, so I am not sure how the children of Josiah and Zilla became acquainted with the Nanney family.



Citation:

“North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYD-27JL-6?view=explore : Jul 25, 2025), image 1711 of 2031; . Image Group Number: 008357713

“Rutherford, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B8-T9F6-G?view=explore : Jul 25, 2025), image 44 of 216; . Image Group Number: 007718487

“Rutherford, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:37SQ-296S-MP9?view=explore : Jul 25, 2025), image 125 of 462; North Carolina. County Court (Rutherford County). Image Group Number: 004779253

Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.

Lu, Helen Mason. Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, Two Hundred-Year History, 1782-1982. 1982.

Peter Vess: A New Burke County Record

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Burke County, North Carolina is interesting, because many families in Wilkes County, North Carolina relocated to this area after 1800, including our families of DNA interest: the Rose, Parks, and Sparks families. But, so did the Souther family, who were once close neighbors of Absalom Vess in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Peter Vess seems to have a connection with some of the Wilkes County, NC families in Burke County, NC, but whatever those connections are specifically, have yet to reveal itself…

I found a new Burke County record, dated 1833, with Peter Vess listed on the “Sale of the Estate of Moses Noblitt/ Noblett,” having obtained an ax and a saw from the sale. Also listed, but not the least surprising, is also John Souther. Another record with Vess and Souther.

You can find Noblitt/Noblett on the Vess Family tree, but the connection is generations later, via sisters, Lola Mae Vess and Mattie Vess, daughters of Alfred Vess and Nancy Banther (descendants of Andrew Logan Vess). They married Noblitt cousins, related to the earlier Noblitt family of Burke County, NC.

Moses Noblitt lived on Crooked Creek. In 1831, he added 5 acres to his existing property next to the Davis family. This is interesting for several reasons:

The Vess and Davis families have a long oral history of being old close families, but no one seems to know their history together. We don’t have a lot of Davis-Vess connections on the family tree. Yet, Andrew Logan Vess is buried in the Davistown Free-Will Baptist Church cemetery, that used to be a private cemetery for the Davis family.

Michael Souther, from Wilkes County, North Carolina obtained land in 1801 on Crooked Creek. This makes me wonder if Peter Vess could have also been on Crooked Creek prior to 1820.

Other interesting families on Crooked Creek include the Burgin, Bird, Bellew, and Crawford families:

a) Burgin and Bird are some of my earlier ancestors via my 2nd great grandmother, Cora Nevada Moffitt, wife of Pinkney Vess (son of Andrew Logan Vess).

b) The Burgin family was a prominent family in North Carolina, with large tracts of land and plantations, who were also involved in politics. A website during the early 2000’s, mentioned Burgin having a “Vess” servant, which has been long since deleted (I never saved a copy). If not a man named “Vess,” I do not know what a “Vess” servant could mean. But the idea of Peter having been an indentured servant is not new.

c) Jesse Souther, brother of Michael Souther, came to Burke County after 1810 and appears on record near the Burgin, Bird, and Bellew families.

d) Bellew interests me, because we don’t exactly know (100% for sure) the origins of Nathaniel Vess and Clarinda Bellew.

e) Crawford interests me, because I share DNA matches with Willis Vess of Franklin County, Alabama via a Crawford connection – which is bizarre, as the Willis Vess family, to the best of my knowledge, has never been to Burke, Rutherford, or Buncombe County.

Peter Vess obtained land on Cedar Creek in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1831. This property is located in the Broad River Township, which is sandwiched in between Buncombe and Burke County. Peter’s property is close to the Crooked Creek area, where we are finding records of him in Burke County.


There is so much more to explore in Burke County, North Carolina; especially, in the Crooked Creek area (now McDowell Co), as many of those families later relocated to Buncombe County, where we have more Vess connections.

Citation:
“Burke, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G1KJ-Q5J?view=explore : Jul 24, 2025), image 1618 of 2131; North Carolina. Division of Archives and History. Image Group Number: 005274805

Nathaniel Vess: New Land & Court Records

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I didn’t think there were anymore records to be discovered for Nathaniel Vess.

When it comes to early Vess ancestors, Nathaniel Vess probably has the most records, so it was extremely exciting when I was able to find more records for him.

1849 Buncombe County, North Carolina: Land Record

In 1849, Jackson Vest (Andrew Jackson Vess), son of Nathaniel Vess, makes several transactions with D. E. Freeman, to secure a debt, which requires repayment. A. Baird is authorized to auction Jackson’s property, if repayment is not made. Nathaniel Vess is witness to the transactions.

Jackson transferred the Deed of Trust to D. E. Freeman on 11/3/1849.

1853 Haywood County, North Carolina: Court Record

In 1853, State Vs Nathan Vest, Nathaniel Vess had a judgement against him for $100, which was dischargeable upon payment to the court.

1854 Haywood County, North Carolina: Court Record

In 1854, Nathaniel Vess was called upon as a witness in a court case between Robert Rogers (and others) and John L. Smith (and others).

The case pertained to the estate of Lewis Smith (deceased 1842), specifically, regarding a dispute about a rental agreement and maintenance responsibilities of the property that were not being kept up.

Robert Rogers requested that rent be minimal due to the conditions of the property affecting the land value. There were several witnesses giving testimony about the condition of the property and improvements (if any).

Nathaniel Vess was a witness for John L. Lewis, giving testimony about the condition of the property the past 3 years and noting changes to the property.

He submitted a request for reimbursement for $1.40, for appearing as a witness and for travel expenses.

1856 Haywood County, North Carolina: Court Record

In 1856, Nathaniel Vess was bound to $500 to the court for the welfare of a child Abraham Vess, had out of wedlock with Caroline Mathis.

1860 Haywood County, North Carolina: Land Record

In 1860, there are 2 land records (2857 & 2858) for Nathaniel Vess.

He first claimed 100 acres located on Hurricane Creek & waters of Pigeon River.

Then, he claimed 100 acres on the east side of Pigeon River with John L. Smith.



Nathaniel Vess of North Carolina

I never thought in a zillion years, I’d ever discover a land record for Nathaniel Vess, let alone court records.

When we think of Nathaniel Vess, we immediately connect him to South Carolina; however, he appears to have spent a good portion of his adult life in North Carolina. It’s also important to note, that almost all of his children were married in Haywood County, North Carolina.

But, remarkably, not a single record suggesting any kind of connection to Peter Vess of Rutherford County, North Carolina, despite being in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1830 with his Bellew in-laws. And, nothing to further support his connection to South Carolina.

Citations:

“Haywood, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97V-HFRH?view=explore : Jul 18, 2025), image 300 of 2089; North Carolina. Division of Archives and History. Image Group Number: 007067898

“Haywood, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897V-HJVP?view=explore : Jul 18, 2025), image 154 of 2089; North Carolina. Division of Archives and History. Image Group Number: 007067898

“Haywood, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97V-HNYJ?view=explore : Jul 18, 2025), image 155 of 2089; North Carolina. Division of Archives and History. Image Group Number: 007067898

“Haywood, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-P3FG-L?view=explore : Jul 18, 2025), image 596 of 750; . Image Group Number: 008139492

“Haywood, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896S-LDYN?view=explore : Jul 18, 2025), image 512 of 656; . Image Group Number: 007560289

“Buncombe, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98M-ZQM2?view=explore : Jul 19, 2025), image 535 of 759; . Image Group Number: 007513182

“North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYD-H3QD-M?view=explore : Jul 19, 2025), image 763 of 1993; . Image Group Number: 008357709

Catherine Vess: Given Name Eleanor?

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During the 18th and 19th century, it became increasingly popular among Southern families to use their middle name as their first name.

While it wasn’t uncommon for formal documents to address men by their middle name, rather than their given name, it didn’t usually apply to women (they often had to use their given name).

1852 Case Record: Eleana Vest vs John Vess & Others

An 1852 record was shared with me, about a case between an “Eleana Vest” (deceased) and the children of Peter and Catherine Vess, pertaining to the sale of property.

The immediate question on everyone’s mind is:
Who in the world is Eleana Vest?

Jones O Williams Administrator of Eleana Vest Deceased Vs John Vest & Others
Petition to sell real Estate

“In this case the Court appoints R. L. Gilkey Guardian [illegible] to the infant defendants to wit, Rachel, Eliz or Malinda, Zephaniah , & Jasper Vest , and orders publication to be made in the Mountain Banner for six consecutive for John, Alfred & Alney Vest to appear at the next term of this court to be held on the 6th Monday after the 4th Monday in June and next to show cause if any they can why the [illegible] of the Petition shall not be granted. Publication made 8th June 1852.  

Citation: “Rutherford, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GD-FX4Z?view=fullText : Jul 14, 2025),image 57 of 633; North Carolina. County Court (Rutherford County).Image Group Number: 007640780

Peter’s Land on Cedar Creek

Another record was shared with me, dated 1856, pertaining to the same case above, acknowledging the “execution of an order to Jonathan Williams, a tract of land containing 109 acres more or less.”

Neither record provides a description of the land, but according to a deed record in 1846, Peter Vess transferred his property, “109 acres more or less” to Joseph Souther, to cover a $50 debt. The record did state that if the debt was paid, the transaction would become void.

Because the property involves the children of Peter and Catherine, including their minor children, this strongly suggests this could be Peter’s property on Cedar Creek.

Would this mean, the property was returned to the Vess family at some point? And, if so, is “Eleana,” his wife, Catherine?

Unavailable Records

The case was supposedly published in the Mountain Banner (local newspaper) in 1852, which probably would have included a description of the property. Unfortunately, Newspapers.com, the largest database of newspapers, does not have any copies of the paper published in 1852.

There also doesn’t seem to be any further deed records available regarding this sale of property. Neither under the names of Jones Williams or Eleana Vest to Jonathan Williams.

1848 Court Minutes: Tax List

There are no census records for an Eleana Vest. However, we do see an “Eleazar Vest” on the 1848 Rutherford County, NC tax list with Andy Vest (Andrew Logan Vess). Could this be Eleana (Eleanor), misspelled?

At first I thought this was Eleazar Vest, a real person from Virginia, but there are no records suggesting he ever left Virginia, had any business in North Carolina, or any kind of possible connection to VESS.

Eleanor Is Often Misspelled

In the book, “Bill’s Creek Baptist Church ⎮ Two Hundred Year History 1782-1982,” by Helen M. Lu, there does list an E. C. Vess, Elaner C. Vess, and an Eleanor C. Vess. However, she appears in member lists after 1880, and is noted as the wife of Bailey Vess, with census records (listed as B. W. Vess and Ellen C. Vess) stating she was born in 1851. Rules her out as Eleana Vest in 1852.

I do not know which Bailey Vess. Interestingly, our family lineage for Peter Vess, which is quite extensive, has several ancestors named Bailey Vess; however, neither are listed with a wife named Eleanor C. Vess. I guess we have another mystery to dig into!

Anyway, my point, is that the name Eleanor has various misspellings. I’ve also seen it spelled as Eliana too.

So…perhaps Catherine’s full name is Eleanor Catherine Crook? This might explain why we haven’t found any marriage records between Peter and Catherine.

More Research Is Needed To Confirm

While, this seems like this could be Catherine and may very well be Catherine, we need more records to confirm it!

Nonetheless, this is very exciting! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Citations

Lu, Helen M. Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History. 1984.

Familysearch.org (see links above)

Pardon The Mess: Motivation In Progress

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Summers are generally when I take a break from genealogy.

But, this summer, I’ve been steadily busy uncovering new Vess-related records! So many new records, to the point, I realized that this website needs a major update!!

Also, I think I am finally ready to blog again!
I’ve had a serious writers block since 2023, preventing me from keeping readers up to-date on new discoveries. I mean, the research never stopped, just the posts.

At some point, I had lost direction and a lot of motivation.

There came a point when I truly thought the older Vess generation was right and that I probably should just “let dead dogs lie.”

That dreadful thought that the Vess Genealogy adventure was finally coming to an end, where there just simply wasn’t anything more to discover…

But, I reminded myself, this research exists because I refuse to let dead dogs lie. I will continue to dig up all those old dead dogs and see what secrets they hide!

And that is exactly what I’ve been doing all summer!

In the coming months, I hope to begin a weekly blog, keeping readers and family researchers up to date on new family discoveries, the continued effort in uncovering earlier Vess ancestors, and sharing my passion for the world of genealogy!

Please be sure to subscribe, to receive those discoveries directly to your inbox!