The Vess family of Rockbridge County, Virginia.
A family whose origins are just as mysterious as the origins of the North Carolina Vess family.

We don’t know where the Vess family in Rockbridge County, Virginia originally comes from. Some say they are descendants of the West family, while others say Vest family.

Rockbridge County, Virginia Records: As Early As 1810

The Vess family first appears on record in Rockbridge County, VA, on the 1810 census, for Samuel Vess (Vass/Voss).

Between 1816-1818, we have records that tell us that Samuel Vess joined land with Henry Standoff, on a branch of Colliers Creek, and Hiram Vess joined land with Christopher “Coinhour” (Cokenour) on Brattons Run. Hiram Vess doesn’t appear on census until 1820.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any clues, as to where they came from prior to 1810.

Rockingham County, Virginia: 1806

During my search for early Vess records this week, I discovered Samuel and Hiram Vess in Rockingham County, Virginia in 1806!

They are listed on the 1806 Rockingham County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List. I wasn’t able to find them in any other tax years though.

However, we might be on the right track, as there is a Cokenour family in Rockingham County, VA too. I apologize for misspelling their surname.

Hiram Vess married Polly Cokenour in Rockbridge County, Virginia in 1819. According to their marriage record, Polly is the daughter of Christian Cokenour. So, I wonder if “Christopher” whose land is next to Hiram Vess, is suppose to read as “Christian.” I’ve only seen the transcribed typed record.

However, the Cokenour family in Rockingham Co. Va is via Joseph and Jacob Cokenour (Cockenour). Joseph’s wife is named Barbara, and that’s about all I’ve uncovered thus far.

Perhaps, by researching their family, it might reveal connections to earlier ancestors of Samuel and Hiram Vess, as families often traveled together.

It will be interesting to see if any more records come up!

End The West vs Vest Debate with Y-DNA Testing

There are active DNA projects for the VESS, VEST, and WEST families on Familytreedna.com.

I strongly encourage descendants of the Vess family from Rockbridge County, Virginia to complete a Y-DNA test. We can see if your results match with the VESS, VEST, or WEST family. OR maybe a completely different family!

For the R1a2 Vess Lineage, we can check for a potential match now!
If you are a direct male descendant of the Rockbridge Vess family (with the Vess surname) and have already done an autosomal DNA test, check your results!

🔲 If your Autosomal DNA test was completed through 23&Me or FTDNA, check to see if your results show M420.

🔲 If your Autosomal DNA test was completed through Ancestry, download your raw DNA data and run it through The Clade Finder, to check to see if your results show YP4141 or R1a.

If your results show M420, YP4141, or R1a, please reach out to us, so we can talk about possible Y-DNA testing! You can reach the admins via the Vess Family DNA Project or send an email to vessgenealogy@gmail.com.