Originally Published September 27, 2021 • Updated February 24, 2024 • Updated August 26, 2026

As you may know, I have been investigating a family story about an “outlaw” that the Vess family was supposedly involved with at one time. Thus far, I’ve explored possible connections with the outlaw, Lewis Redmond, who was “loved and respected” by the residents of the Dark Corners of South Carolina; however, there is no evidence of a direct connection with the Vess family. I’ve also explored a genetic allied-family connection with John “Redhead” Hodge; yet, there is no evidence suggesting he was an outlaw.

Perhaps, the Vess family has nothing to do with an outlaw (or particularly one with “red hair”), or perhaps I’ve been looking in the wrong place…

I’ve been exploring a series of newspaper articles (1835) that frequently mentioned the name “Vess.” The articles appear to be a continuing narrative of true events; however, without starting with the very first article, it is very difficult to tell who this “Vess” person is, in which, these articles are talking about; so I began to dig around…

John Andrew Murrell- The Great Western Land Pirate

After much research, I discovered that these newspaper articles are about the notorious outlaw, John Andrew Murrell.

John Andrew Murrell, according to family history sites, is strongly believed to have been just a horse thief whose notorious reputation as a legendary dangerous outlaw was the result of fabricated stories by Virgil A. Stewart and others.

Published Stories By Virgil A. Stewart

In 1835, Virgil A. Stewart wrote an “inflammatory pamphlet” under the name, Augustus Q. Walton called, “A History of the Detection, Conviction, Life, and Designs of John A. Murel, the great Western Land Pirate; together with his system of villainy, and plan of exciting a Negro Rebellion,” that was later published in a series of articles (under his real name) in numerous newspapers across the United States. It was supposedly his own personal detailed account on how he captured and exposed the Great Western Land Pirate, John A. Murrell.

In Stewart’s narrative, he often mentions his experiences dealing with Matthew Clanton and William Vess; in which he accuses them of damaging his reputation. In one article, he tells a story on how the Vess family tried to poison him and take his land.

I recommend reading, “The History of Virgil A. Stewart and his Adventure in Capturing and Exposing the Great Western Land Pirate and his Gang…,” compiled by H.R. Howard; a publication that includes the entire narrative that was published in the newspapers. [Pages 129-156, is the story about the Vess family.]

Virgil A. Stewart came to the Choctaw Purchase (today known as Grenada County, Mississippi) for prospects of land. According to H.R. Howard, Virgil was employed by Matthew Clanton, who owned a store, and was recommended to board with the Vess family, who were close friends of Matthew Clanton. The publication implies that Mathew Clanton and William Vess were “associates” of John Andrew Murrell.

Later, by a petition of neighbors, Mathew Clanton’s side of the story was published, refuting the accusations against him and the Vess family that Stewart wrote about in his narrative. According to numerous websites, historians believe Virgil A. Stewart’s narrative was “overly-exagerated” and “fictitious.”

William Vess – Disappeared Into the Swamp

Genealogical records confirm that both William Vess and Matthew Clanton were real people.
There are land records for Matthew Clanton and William Vess (wife Ann) between 1835-1840 in Mississippi.

According to Holcomb.org, the area in which the above events took place, known as Tuscahoma (Choctaw Purchase), no longer exists. Therefore, any early records pertaining to the residents living in the areas that was once part of the Choctaw Purchase are likely scattered among several different counties (Grenada, Yalobusha, Tallahatchie, etc).

William Vess can be found on the 1840 census record in Yalobusha, Mississippi, showing just him and his wife, Ann. In 1850, in Tallahatchie, Mississippi, Ann Vess is shown living with a young Martha A. Worsley (age 11), but no William Vess.

In the 1850 Probate records for Tallahatchie, Mississippi, Ann “Vest” petitioned for and was granted letters of administration, allowing her to settle her husband’s estate (William R. “Vest”), who did not have a will.

She explains that her husband disappeared in September of 1849. He left without telling her where he was going. She heard from him 10 days later, that he was in the “swamp west,” and hadn’t heard from him since. She believes he may have “perished in the swamp.”

In the Tallahatchie Executors Bonds, (dated 1850) Ann “Vess” is named the Admin of Wm R. “Vess” (deceased).

It appears that William and Ann Vess didn’t have any children, and she sought to protect her right to keep his land.

But, what is this “swamp west” Ann mentioned in the probate record?

In 1849, Congress passed the Swamp Land Act, where local governments can sell land in the swamp areas. At this time, it only applied to Louisiana, however, Mississippi residents ventured off into the western Mississippi Delta swamps early, anticipating that the Swamp Land Act would expand to Mississippi.

William Vess most likely set out to the swamps to make an early claim on land; which he probably didn’t tell anyone about, as it wasn’t legal yet.

However, the western Mississippi Delta swamps were notoriously dangerous, with floods, disease, and outlaws. A lot of prospectors died venturing off into the swamps.

Because he has a recent past tangled up with the John A. Murrell conspiracy, one can’t help but wonder, if he had intentionally disappeared into the swamp (as some often did) to start a new life, or meet up with the remaining “land pirates” who hid there.

We’ll likely never know.

William R. Vess – Connection To Pryor and William Vess

I am curious though, if William R. Vess could also be or related to Pryor and William Vess in White County, Tennessee. Only because it sounds like a Pryor and William Vess kind of adventure…

Pyror and William Vess are documented trouble makers, from Virginia all the way down into Tennessee. Interestingly, William Vess disappears from record after Pryor Vess died in jail in 1831 (Warren County, TN).
AND, William R. Vess, doesn’t appear in Mississippi until 1835. Hmmmm.

Also, there is a young William R. Vess living with the Dodson family in 1850 (not sure who he belongs to); could he be related to William R. Vess in Mississippi??

I wonder if William R. Vess in Mississippi could be related to our R1a2 Vess family. I mean, the story must of come from somewhere, right?

According to FindAGrave.com, it mentions John A. Murrell having “curling auburn hair,” and he was an outlaw, an outlaw that had “followers,” rather than actual “gangs,” and he was named in a conspiracy involving a “Vess.”

Maybe it’s just a coincidence or perhaps, this widespread publication influenced a Vess family story about a red-headed outlaw the Vess family followed and adored. It certainly makes one wonder…