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)