Author: J. V.

Death of Pryor Vest (1831 Tennessee)

/ J. V. / 1 Comment

According to Sparta Recorder & Law Journal (Jan. 7, 1832), Pryor Vest died on December 29, 1831 in the Warren County jail from Typhus Fever.

Details of his death was published with reassurance his cause of death was not due to mistreatment of prisoners.

Why Pryor Vest was in prison, is unknown. Earlier Warren county records have been lost due to a court-house fire in 1852.

We do know that Pryor Vest was charged with assault in 1807 in Wilkes County, North Carolina, but was found not guilty. Wilkes County, NC, Pleas & Quarter Sessions Court Minutes 1805-1810
Transcribed by John A. McGeachy.

Pryor, William, and Peter Vest (unsure of their relation), settled in White County, Tennessee after 1810, with Pryor Vest obtaining land on Caney Fork in 1814 in an area later to be known as Sparkmantown in Van Burren County, which included the Dodson, Medley, Sparkman, Vest, and Simmon families.

You can see the Vess/Vest record history below.

YEARName Record Location
1814Pryor Vest Land RecordCaney Fork
1815Pryor Vest Land RecordCaney Fork
1815Pryor and William VestTax ListCaney Fork
1816Pryor and William VestTax ListCaney Fork
1817Pryor and William VestTax ListCaney Fork
1818Pryor and William VestTax ListCaney Fork
1819
1820Peter Vest Census RecordCaney Fork
1821
1822
1823Pryor and William VestTax List Caney Fork
1824Prior Vasse and William VassTax List Caney Fork
1825William Vest Tax List Caney Fork
1826William Vist and Willis Vist Tax List Caney Fork
1827
1829
1830Peter VestCensus RecordCaney Fork
1831Pryor Vest Death Warren County Jail (next to White Co)
Sources: Ancestry.com, Familysearch.org, and Newspapers.com Sparta Recorder & Law Journal Jan. 7, 1832

*There is no evidence to suggest Willis Vest of Tennessee is the same as Willis Vess of Alabama; however, there is circumstantial evidence (see previous posts) to strongly suggest they are both of the same Vess/Vest family.

Early Samuel and William Vess in Pittsylvania, Virginia

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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.

Samuel, William, and Peter Vess: Revolutionary War Records of Dunmore Co. Virginia

/ J. V.


I’ve found the VESS name in records dating back to 1777 in Dunmore County, Virginia.

According to Revolutionary War records (below), Samuel, William, and Peter “Vess” served under Captain Joseph Bowman of Dunmore County, Virginia.

The record for Peter Vess is dated 1777 (Artillery). Samuel and William Vess come later, in 1778, with Samuel Vess serving the longest 1778-1779.

Dunmore County, Virginia

Dunmore County (1772-1778) was a temporary county in Virginia, which was formed from parts of Frederick County, now known as Shenandoah County.

Samuel Vess of Dunmore County, VA

Samuel Vess has numerous Revolutionary War records between 1778-1779 under the name “Vess” and “Vest” for the Continental Army, 2nd Virginia State Regiment (suggesting same person).

There is also a VASS record, which I believe belongs to Samuel “Vess.” The “VASS” record (pictured above), is for Samuel “Vass” of Frederick County, Virginia whose wife is Ann, and states they have 2 children.

There is also a 1775 census record for Dunmore County, Virginia for Samuel and William “Vess.”

Samuel Vess/Vass can also be found in books pertaining to the Scot-Irish communities in Augusta, Frederick, and Dunmore county. When it comes to county boundaries, Dunmore county used to be part of Frederick county that was once Augusta county; which is probably why Samuel VESS is indexed under different counties during the same time period, even though he probably resided in an area located in Dunmore County (or possibly on a county border).

This is not Samuel Vess and Ann McPherson of Rockbridge County, Virginia, as records indicate they were married much later (1833). This also doesn’t seem to be Samuel Vess in Patrick County, Virginia, whose wife is Catherine (1790). Nor is it Samuel Vest, the son of William Tunwell Vest in North Carolina. Therefore, this could be an older generation of VESS.

Not Samuel Vest, son of William Tunwell Vest

Samuel Vest, the son of William Tunwell Vest and Lucy Alford (Stokes Co., NC), filed a Revolutionary War pension application in 1833, in Washington County, Indiana.

Many family trees on Ancestry.com have linked the Revolutionary War records of “Samuel Vest of the 2nd Virginia State Regiment,” to him, which actually belongs to Samuel “Vess” of Dunmore County, VA.

Samuel Vest, the son of William Tunwell Vest (Vest family of Chesterfield, VA) was enlisted in Bedford Co. Virginia in 1779 and served under Capt. James Adams, whereas Samuel Vess of the 2nd Virginia State Regiment from Dunmore County, served under Jospeh Bowman and later Machen Boswell (who later commanded the 2nd Virginia State Regiment).

Rockbridge and Patrick County Vess Families: Could They Be Related?

The Vess family from Rockbridge County, Virginia has not completed any Y-DNA testing, so at this time, we do not know if they are VESS, WEST (per oral tradition), BESS, or VEST.

But, if the Rockbridge County Vess family is related to the North Carolina and Alabama Vess family, this older Samuel and Ann Vess generation, could be the connection, with their children splitting in different directions, one settling in Rockbridge County and the other settling in Patrick County (once Henry Co.).

It is important to note that the Great Wagon Road intercepted through both Rockbridge County and Henry County. It would also explain why the two VESS families do not appear as Autosomal DNA matches, (if related), as this shared ancestor (if true) would be too distant to detect, making both Vess families very distant cousins. Only Y-DNA testing can provide further insight into this theory.

Samuel Vess Henry/ Patrick County, Virginia

According to Fold3 , Certificate of compensation for Samuel Vess was signed off by Samuel Staples.

Samuel Staples was a clerk in Henry County, Virginia per a 1787 poll record shared on the Combs & families of Henry County genweb website regarding Abraham Penn, with familiar families like Penn, Duncan, Pigg, Dodson, Hairston, etc.

Is this evidence that the family of Samuel Vess of Dunmore Co. Virginia made their way to Henry County, Virginia? Is Samuel Vess, husband of Catherine Vess, a son of Samuel Vess of Dunmore Co. Virginia?

Further research is needed…

Resources:

  • Ancestry.com
  • Fold3
  • Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783; Microfilm Publication M246, 138 rolls; NAID: 602384; War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; The National Archives in Washington, D.C.
  • “Colonial and Revolutionary Soldiers_page 153.” CONTENTdm, John Walter Wayland Papers, cdm17303.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17303coll5/id/2100. Accessed 17 July 2023. 
  • “Shenandoah County Virginia GenWeb Project: Dunmore County Revolutionary War Soldiers
    Captain Joseph Bowman’s list of men living in the lower district of Dunmore County and under his command    .” 9 Nov 1999. Jackie and Warren.  Www.vagenweb.org, http://www.vagenweb.org/shenandoah/wars/rwbowmanlist.html. Accessed 17 July 2023.
  • Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Indiana[database on-line].







William Voss: Surry County, North Carolina

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Just recently, I found Peter Vess on an 1805 Wilkes County, North Carolina tax list in an area bordering Surry County, North Carolina, consisting of families who appear to have a genetic connection with VESS (Sparks, Rose, and Parks).

Between 1812-1814, there is a War of 1812 Muster Roll record with William and Peter Vest, whom of which are not seen on any VEST family trees. Could they be Vess?

While trying to dig up more information, I discovered an 1812 tax list (Thomason District) in Surry County, North Carolina, for a William VOSS. It is noted that he did not turn in his “list according to law.” Perhaps, because he was enlisted in the War of 1812.

The earliest known VOSS record near this county is Reverend Thomas VOSS who lived in Stokes County, North Carolina; appearing on Stokes County census records as early as 1800 near the VEST family in Winston-Salem area. His son William Voss, was born in Stokes Co. (not Surry), with his earliest record being the 1820 Stokes County census record. I do not believe the family of Thomas Voss ever lived in Surry County, NC.

Is This William Voss a Vest?

It’s not unusual for the VESS name to be transcribed as VOSS or VEST.

VEST and BRAY are listed in the War of 1812 record for Surry County (below). Thomas Bray is William Bray’s son (mentioned in the above tax record). The Bray family lived near Fisher River, close to the Wilkes county line.

Upon further investigation, the Sparks family (Benjamin Sparks) had properties along Little Fisher River too, as well as owning a property (Swan Pond) that specifically mentions being next to the Wilkes County line. Benjamin Sparks is the son of Reuben Sparks, whose family might have a maternal connection to VESS.

Peter Vest is later listed on the War of 1812 muster roll (2nd Regiment of Surry County) in 1814, with families who are also closely associated with the area close to the Wilkes County border (if not on the border).


I have not found any more VOSS records in Surry County, strongly suggesting this off-the wall Voss on the 1812 tax list maybe actually be a Vest/Vess.

The tax list suggests William Voss had land. He may not have a land record, but he might be mentioned in a neighbors land record. The task now is to pinpoint where this William Voss had land and who his possible neighbors might have been.

There is still a lot of exploring to do, but I feel like we are certainly on the right track!








Catherine Vess in Patrick County, VA 1790

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The Patrick County Vess family is getting bigger! Samuel, William, Peter & Pugnance, Jonathan & Elizabeth (father Andrew Heron), Sarah, and now Catherine!

In the Henry County, Virginia land records [Deed books, v. 4-6 1788-1805 Familysearch.org], I discovered three “Vess” records. The remarkable part of this, is that the records are “Vess,” not “Vest.”

Two of the land records are between Samuel and Peter Vess and the other is between Samuel Vess and John Duncan. I still do not know if John Duncan is related to the Duncan family in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

One of the records, between Samuel and Peter Vess, (pg. 114-115), reveal that Samuel’s wife is named Catherine.

This is an amazing find, as it’s rare to find early genealogical records about spouses. It also confirms that Samuel Vess in Patrick County, Virginia in 1790 is not Samuel Vess in Rockbridge County, Virginia in 1800. Samuel Vess in Rockbridge County, Virginia was married to Mary Lyons/ Lenior.

The last record for Samuel Vess is dated 1795 in Patrick County, Virginia. So, what happened to Samuel and Catherine after that? And, what could Catherine’s maiden name be??





Peter Vest In Wilkes Co. North Carolina

/ J. V.

Who is Peter Vest listed on the War of 1812-1814 military record for Surry County, North Carolina??

Many believe this is Peter Vess of Rutherford County, North Carolina, husband of Catherine “Katie” Cook (CROOK). Others suggest he is related to William Tunwell Vest of Stokes County, North Carolina. But, I strongly believe it is Peter Vess of Patrick County, Virginia…

Peter Vest 1805

I’ve been trying to locate this Peter Vest for years! And then finally, he appeared on the 1805 Wilkes County Tax List- Capt. Thurmond District.

Looking at land records for those listed on this tax list, we find families that fall in line with DNA research by Vincent Vess (PARKS, SPARKS, & ROSE).

Capt. Thurmounds District is located near the Surry county border. They were probably close enough to the border that they probably often crossed into Surry County for business and thus, enlisted in Surry County during the War of 1812. Interestingly, several other men listed in the War of 1812 record can be found in Wilkes County too.

We can officially confirm that this is not Peter Vess of Rutherford County, North Carolina, for that Peter in Rutherford County, would have only been between 11-14 years old in 1805 (not old enough to be listed on a tax list).

Absalom Vest 1805

During the same year, listed in a tax list for a different district, we find Absalom Vest. Which I nearly missed, as it’s scribbled in Old English (below).

Absalom is listed on the same list as Reuben Parks, Joseph Souther, and Fletcher families. Which is really intriguing for several reasons…

Reuben Parks is also on the same tax list as Peter Vest. Like many residents in Wilkes County, he had many properties, which makes it difficult to pinpoint their exact homesteads. Did he live near the Surry County border or did he live in the Brushy Mountain area?

Even more intriguing is Joseph Souther. This Souther family is related to the Souther family who later attended Bill’s Creek Baptist Church in Rutherford County, NC with Peter Vess (1829), acquired land in Rutherford County, NC from Peter Vess to settle a debt (1846), married the ex-wife of John Vess (1854), and has a couple of direct descendants who appear to share autosomal DNA matches with Vess relatives.

The Souther family in Wilkes County may have connections with Absalom Vest too, as Hannah Vess is listed near them on the 1830 census records, which also includes John Smoot, who is mentioned in the 1805 land record in Brushy Mountain between the Fletcher brothers, where Jonathan Vess is listed as a witness.

We also see the Fletchers listed on the above tax list too, but they were prominent land owners in Wilkes County and largely involved in the local government, so it’s difficult to say what relationship the Vess and Fletcher families had, if any.

There Might Be More Hidden Vest Families

Vincent Vess sent me more DNA research which suggests some of the Vest’s listed on the William Tunwell Vest family tree, might actually be part of the Wilkes County Vess/Vest family. Inetrestingly, none of the Surry County Vest’s are listed on the William Tunwell Vest family tree – so who are they??

For example, this marriage record below.
Who is Anne and Issac Vest in Surry County and is Phililp Williams related to the William’s family that Absalom and Hannah Vest are always listed near on census? Could this Phillip William’s be the same Phillip Williams who died in Wilkes County in 1816?

Hopefully, further DNA and genealogical research will start to reveal more answers!

Sources

Familysearch.org, Tax records (Wilkes County, North Carolina), 1778-1908, 1805 List.

Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Original data:North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.

Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. War of 1812.









June 2023 Updates

/ J. V. / Leave a comment

Hi Everyone!

Research in Vess Genealogy is on-going and with summer here, I hope to have more time to dig further into a bunch of new leads I have compiled since last summer!

I am at a point where research is slower than usual, because I am now digging through records that are not indexed. I am having to read every record in hopes to find a VESS or VEST. So far, leads from DNA research and other records have led me to some incredible records.

Wilkes County, North Carolina: Current Research

DNA research from Vincent Vess has led me mostly to Wilkes County, North Carolina where I continue to dig up more evidence of VESS/VEST families hiding in the shadows.

I discovered more evidence suggesting the Wilkes County, NC Vess/Vest family are the same families in White County, Tennessee and Patrick County, Virginia.

Also, in addition to Jonathan, Absalom, and William Vess/Vest, I have just recently discovered a Peter Vest too! While Jonathan and Absalom seem to have connections to the Brushy Mountain area, Peter appears to be in an area (on the Wilkes County border with Surry County) with families that fall in line with DNA research. Also in the area, is a well respected man known for his “red hair” (as mentioned in one of our oral traditions) and includes the Souther family who later has interactions with the Peter Vess family and may also have connections with Absalom.

The plot seems to thicken as research continues!

Recent Posted Discoveries

Crook Family: With the amazing DNA research done by Vincent Vess, we discovered and confirmed that Catherine “Katie” Cook is actually Catherine “Katie” CROOK.

This discovery has opened an entirely new chapter to Vess genealogy! There are a lot of new families and new stories to uncover on Catherine’s side!

Peter Vess in Alabama: While we still do not have solid evidence that Willis Vess is related to the Vess/Vest family in White County, TN, circumstantial evidence that they are related continues to pile up!

A Peter Vess appears in an 1842 newspaper article, on a list of letters at the Russellville post office, in Franklin County, Alabama! The only VESS we know of in the area at that time is Willis Vess. And, Simon Peter Vess hadn’t been born yet, so mail left at the post office is certainly not his!

Our Facebook Group

Be sure to invite those who may be interested in Vess genealogy to our Facebook Group!

I do my best to post updates about Y-DNA results, recent discoveries, newspaper clippings, pictures, and stories.

Please feel free to post and share any families stories and pictures, as we would all love to learn more about Vess family history!

DNA Testing

We are breaking through genealogy barriers with DNA testing! I wouldn’t have found the VESS/VEST family in Wilkes County, had it not been for DNA research pointing us in that direction!

We recommend Y-DNA and Autosomal DNA testing through FamilyTreeDNA . Autosomal DNA testing through FamilyTreeDNA helps us create a list of related families that we can use to help us locate earlier shared ancestors leading us to specific locations to dig for genealogical records.

We also have an active Y-DNA project that allows us to explore the very early origins of the VESS family and identify new family lines. This is how we discovered the Willis Vess line!

We still do not have any Y-DNA or autosomal DNA testers for the Jonathan Vess or Nathaniel Vess line.

If anyone knows a male TRAVIS, TRAVERS, or VESS of unknown origin, please check their autosomal results with cladefinder.yseq.net and let us know if it shows R1a or even better YP4141! This can help us identify and connect more Vess/Travers families.

Click here to visit Clade Finder.

Please email vessgenealogy@gmail.com with any questions about DNA testing.

Summer Goals: Introducing Travers Family History

This summer I hope to update the website with more information about the Travers family, our earlier “Vess” ancestors!

Although we do not know our exact lineage from the Travers family, we do have Y-DNA testing that confirms the North Carolina Vess families are in fact descendants of the early Travers family.

I would love to explore and post more about the early Travers family!

Wishing Everyone A Terrific Summer!











William River Vess: Another Son of John Vess

/ J. V. / 2 Comments

Not much is known about John Vess, the oldest son of Peter Vess and Catherine “Katie” Crook of Rutherford Co. North Carolina.

For generations, the only information we had on John was from the 1850 census record in Bill’s Creek, Rutherford Co., North Carolina (below). He was married to a woman named Elizabeth and they had 4 children together.

Only just recently, through DNA genealogy and access to more digital genealogical records, have we been able to discover more about the early Vess family…

John Vess & Elizabeth Taylor: Rutherford Co. NC

John Vess was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1820 to Peter VESS and Catherine “Katie” CROOK.

He married Mary Elizabeth Taylor (marriage date unknown). He briefly attended Bill’s Creek Baptist Church in November of 1846, with his brothers Alfred and Andrew (Andy) Vess. He was later dismissed (date unknown).

In December 1846, he signs a court-document with his brother Josiah, settling his father’s debt with Joseph Souther via a land deed for Peter’s property.

In 1850, he is in Bill’s Creek, Rutherford Co. North Carolina with his wife and 4 children, listed next to his family, Josiah Vess, Catherine Vess, and his younger siblings, except for Andrew Vess. It is strongly believed that Peter Vess likely passed away in 1846.

In 1854, a Petition for Divorce was announced in the newspaper between John and Elizabeth Vess. The article states John Vess was a non-resident of the state, suggesting he had moved out of state.

Elizabeth married Joshua SOUTHER in Nov 1854, in Henderson Co. North Carolina. We discover her maiden name is TAYLOR via her marriage record to Joshua SOUTHER.

On the 1860 census, we have Elizabeth Souther and her younger children (Vess) living with Joshua Souther in Henderson Co. North Carolina.

In 1870, Joshua and Elizabeth Souther are living next Elizabeth’s parents, James TAYLOR and Mary TAYLOR (GILBERT) in Henderson Co. NC.

Children of John Vess and Elizabeth Taylor

DNA genealogy revealed that Sarah Vess, daughter John Vess and Elizabeth Taylor, married Jackson PRESSLEY.
Genealogical records show us that Silas Vess died during the Civil War, Sophrona Vess married Columbus SUMMEY, and, Mary Vess was last seen on the 1860 census (age 13); she may have married prior to the 1870 census. But, apparently, John and Elizabeth had an other child: William River VESS.

I came across a marriage record for a William Vess in Henderson Co. NC dated 1870, which states his parents are John and Elizabeth Vess (below). The only Vess family I am aware of in Henderson Co. is John’s children, living with their mother Elizabeth and Joshua Souther. And, to the best of my knowledge, Nathaniel Vess did not have any children named John.

William Vess married Laura MAHAFFEY (Rowena Laura Lou Mahaffey), whose parents are supposedly William MAHAFFEY and Calvania PRESSLEY from South Carolina. Her mother might be related to Jackson PRESSLEY, as it is believed his family also came from South Carolina – more research is needed.

William Vess was born in 1852 in North Carolina, which would have certainly been before John and Elizabeth’s divorce.

According to family trees and online biographies, William and Rowena (Laura) settled in Texas. According to Find-A-Grave, William died “from the 1917 epidemic” in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas.

Sources:

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

The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Bills Creek, Rutherford, North Carolina; Roll: 644; Page: 330a

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

Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.






VESS Family: Intriguing Discoveries

/ J. V.

Between 1800-1830, we have pockets of Vess/Vest families throughout the United States, but no idea how they are all related (if related at all).

Austosomal DNA evidence only provides bits and pieces to the puzzle. This is because not all the family trees connected to our shared DNA matches are accurate or complete, not all descendants are testing, and there is also the problem that some DNA testers, although 100% related, just don’t show up on our shared DNA results due to being too distant to detect, especially, with ancestral connections 6-8 generations back. However, autosomal shared DNA matches do offer valuable clues to where our earlier ancestors may have lived; which is how we were able to uncover the VESS/VEST family in Wilkes County, North Carolina. A lot of our shared DNA matches with the VESS family have a significant amount of family trees with earlier ancestors in Wilkes-Stokes-and Surry County, North Carolina; kind of concentrated along the Yadkin River.

Ancestry.com splits my maternal and paternal DNA matches, which is extremely helpful, since my DNA is pretty murky between two parents with deep roots in the south. However, all my shared DNA matches with the VESS line share something in common: western North Carolina. I am confident that our VESS family has connections with the VESS/VEST family in Wilkes County, North Carolina; I just don’t know the exact connection yet.

These are some intriguing new discoveries I’ve dug since January of this year…

A Peter Vess in Franklin County, Alabama

Occasionally, I browse newspaper articles on Newspaper.com for VESS families and sometimes, I get lucky…

Below is a newspaper clipping for a PETER VESS dated 1842 in Franklin County, Alabama!

This is really interesting, because the only VESS ancestor we know of in Franklin County, Alabama during the 1840’s is WILLIS VESS. What’s even more interesting, is that mail for Peter VESS is being held at the post office in Russellville, which is the same post office for the Willis VESS family. So, Who is Peter Vess?

SPARKMANTOWN: South Side of Caney Fork

I have reason to believe that the Willis VESS family is connected to the VESS/VEST family in White County, TN. Specifically, in an area once known as Sparkmantown (below). It consisted of the SPARKMAN, DODSON, SIMMON, SMALLMAN, and MEDLEY families in Van Buren County (White County), Tennessee; families who were also listed next to Peter VEST on the 1820 and 1830 census and on the VESS/VEST land records.

Reviewing the land records for Pryor, Willis, and William VESS/VEST in White County, Tennessee, they all mention having property on the “south-side” of Caney Fork (mountain side). In 1840, the south-side of Caney Fork became Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Peter VEST is listed on the 1820 and 1830 census for White County, Tennessee. There are no VESS/VEST families listed thereafter; probably due to the county change in 1840. A William R. VEST is listed on the 1840 census for Van Buren County, Tennessee (below), living with the DODSON family and a SPARKMAN.



According to a previous post, Willie Vess: Interesting New Discovery, I discovered a land record between “Willie” VESS and Zachariah SIMMONS. I also discovered a marriage record between a William DODSON and a MARTHA VEST. So, there was a VESS/VEST presence in the area known as Sparkmantown.



Interestingly, I have a lot of Autosomal DNA matches (shared matches with my VESS family) with descendants of the SIMMON family in White County, TN, suggesting a possible connection to White County, Tennessee; however, I am not sure where the connection is, for that the family trees are incomplete.

I wonder if the Peter VESS in White County, Tennessee in 1830, could be the same Peter VESS in Franklin County, Alabama in 1840?

John P. Vess: Franklin County, Alabama Thoughts

We know Willis VESS is part of our VESS family, because of Y-DNA testing. According to my DNA results, I share DNA matches with the descendants of Henry Russell VESS (son of Willis Vess), John P. VESS (brother of Willis Vess), John Jackson VESS (son of Willis Vess), and Mary Elizabeth VESS (daughter of Willis Vess). Those descendants also appear to share DNA matches with other Peter VESS (of Rutherford County, North Carolina) descendants; however, not all of them; which could just be due to a variation of genes or they are just too distant on the family tree to detect.

John P. VESS intrigues me, because I am not quite sure where he came from… he is significantly younger than Willis VESS and doesn’t appear to come into existence until the 1860 census. Also, his census records, regarding birth, alternate between North Carolina and Tennessee.

According to the 1880 census, he was born in Tennessee and that his parents were born in North Carolina, which falls in line with Pryor and William VESS/VEST moving from Wilkes County, North Carolina to White County, Tennessee. He is also married to Lousia F. SIMMONS at this time, who appears to be a descendant of the SIMMONS family from White County, Tennessee (but that could just be coincidence).

If he didn’t come from White County, Tennessee VESS/VEST family, could he be John VESS, the son of Peter VESS in Rutherford County, North Carolina?

In 1854, Peter’s son, John VESS, divorced his wife Elizabeth TAYLOR. The Petition for Divorce was announced in the newspaper stating he was an out-of-state resident; but where did he go?

John VESS in Rutherford County, North Carolina, born 1820, who married Elizabeth TAYLOR, had his first child in 1841 (Sarah Vess who married Jackson Pressely). The John VESS in Franklin County, Alabama, born in 1822, who married Sarah WHITLOCK, appears to have had his first child in 1853 (at the age of 31). That seems a bit unusual, considering men usually started families in their 20’s. But again, census records are notorious for being inaccurate.

Nathaniel Vess: Interesting Coincidences

After an update on Ancestry.com, I no longer have DNA matches with Nathaniel Vess (South Carolina line) or Jonathan Vess (Texas line) anymore. If they are related to our VESS family, they are too distant to detect on Autosomal DNA testing; suggesting they were likely cousins or half-siblings of Willis and Peter VESS. According to oral traditions, Peter and Nathaniel VESS were supposedly half-siblings.

Looking at the 1830 census record for Nathaniel VESS in Rutherford County, North Carolina, we see Nathaniel with his father-in-law John BELLEW.

I discovered that the BELLEW and GOSNELL families settled in Glassy Mountain, Greenville, South Carolina. I strongly believe Nathaniel VESS is from there too.

Looking back at the 1830 census (above), I noticed a CONSTANT PLUMLY (PLUMLEY). Interestingly, the VESS/VEST family in White County, Tennessee has an early land record adjoining property with a PLUMLEY family on Caney Fork (below). Further research reveals the two PLUMLEY’S are related…

Constant PLUMLEY is the son of William PLUMLEY and Hester O’NEAL. In 1790, William PLUMLEY lived in Burke County, North Carolina, before moving south to South Carolina. His son, Issac PLUMLEY, Constant’s brother, settled in White County, Tennessee on Caney Fork. According to family trees, William PLUMLEY died in Glassy Mountain, Greenville, South Carolina in 1830.

What is even more interesting, is that according to the 1830 census for Greenville, South Carolina, we have a Polly VESS (below). Could she be related to Nathaniel Vess?

As for family stories go, which are not always accurate, I was told a family story about our VESS family having once respected an O’NEAL outlaw. Could Hester O’NEAL, wife of William PLUMLEY have been part of that O’NEAL family?

Did Constant PLUMLEY move to Rutherford County, North Carolina with Nathaniel VESS and John BELLEW from Glassy Mountain, Greenville, South Carolina in 1830? And is there a PLUMLEY – VESS connection?

Pryor Vest: Marion County, Tennessee

Lastly, I discovered a new land record for Pryor VEST; this time in Marion County, Tennessee in 1830.

I am not sure if this is the same Pryor VEST as the one in Wilkes County, NC and White County, TN. He doesn’t appear on any census records for any of the locations he has land records and he appears to have land in numerous counties, not just White County, TN. Why is he so elusive?

Research is Slow, but Appears Steady

Research is slow, mostly due to the lack of available records; however, I do feel we are gaining some traction in uncovering the mysteries of the VESS/ VEST family.

I may not be able to provide any solid conclusions, but I will do my best to post as much as possible to help others who are working on the same research.








The Wife of Peter Vess: Maiden Name CROOK

/ J. V. / 3 Comments

Oral tradition states that Peter VESS of Rutherford County, North Carolina married Catherine “Katie” COOK, but was that her real maiden name?

Peter and Catherine VESS are genealogical brick walls. They appear out of nowhere as early as 1820 on census in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The only record with them together is an 1829-1836 church list from Bill’s Creek Baptist Church. We have yet to discover any documents of Catherine’s maiden name, making it difficult to locate her parents.

However, recent DNA evidence has revealed that her maiden name may actually be CROOK.

The Lack of Evidence For COOK

We’ve had a theory, for a long time now, that COOK may not be Catherine’s real maiden name.

Despite the numerous COOK families in North Carolina, autosomal DNA barely produces any matches. Personally, the only COOK’s I’ve ever encountered in my autosomal DNA matches are COOKS assigned to my maternal side.

I’ve explored the 3 different COOK families passing through Rutherford County, NC: The Ephriam Cook line, James Cook line, and the later Loney Cook line; none of which have records or family trees with a Catherine “Katie” Cook.

In 2021, DNA evidence suggested we may have a Sparks-Rose maternal ancestor on the Vess line; but we aren’t sure which side of the family: Peter’s or Catherine’s. Since the early Sparks-Rose family predominately lived in Wilkes County, NC, it is probably best to say the connection might be on Peter’s side; especially, after discovering a VESS/VEST family in Wilkes County, NC.

So, that leaves us back to square one, until just recently…

DNA Evidence For CROOK

Vincent Vess, who uses DNA triangulation methods to try to locate earlier ancestors, has made a fascinating new discovery!

Through extensive work, he has discovered a genetic connection to the CROOK families of Rutherford County and Buncombe County, North Carolina.

His work led him to a John and Andrew CROOK. Adding this family to Catherine Katie’s Cook’s line in Ancestry.com, updated his Thruline matches revealing a bunch of matching DNA cousins, most of which are descendants of Zephaniah Crook and his sister Mary Polly Crook; suggesting that Catherine “Katie” Cook’s parents are JOHN CROOK and RACHEL HAYNES.

Exploring the CROOK family records, Vince made an intriguing observation, noticing the names within the CROOK family are the same names seen in the PETER VESS family: ANDREW, ZEPHANIAH, RACHEL, JASPER, and JOHN.

I did not come up in Vince’s shared DNA matches he used to discover the CROOK lineage, likely because I am too distant to detect (we’re already distant cousins). At first, my Thrulines showed no DNA matches to the Crook family after adding them to my tree. However, today, my Thrulines now show 1 DNA match with a descendant of Zephaniah Crook. Interestingly, all, and I do mean all, their shared DNA matches are descendants of Andrew Logan Vess, lineages from both wives Halford and Connor, strongly suggesting a connection with an early ancestor of Andrew Logan Vess. The Willis Vess lines would not show up, because Catherine married Peter Vess.

So, these DNA results seem very promising.

According to Ancestry.com, I have discovered a couple of ancestry trees for John Crook and Rachel Haynes, listing a Catherine Katie CROOK as their daughter, born in 1804, having lived in Bill’s Creek, and died after 1850- no marriage or children are listed. I find this super intriguing, as the information is not only oddly similar to our Catherine Katie COOK but there are no records of VESS. So, I am wondering, if their Catherine Katie CROOK is our Catherine Katie COOK??

The CROOK & HAYNES Family

John Crook married Rachel Haynes, the daughter of William Haynes. According to the book, Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History, by Helen M. Lu, William Haynes was their first pastor.

The Haynes family owned land near Bill’s Creek, specifically, on Cove Creek and Knob’s Creek. Looking at the 1820 census for Peter Vess, I concluded that he lived on Knobs Creek, just wasn’t sure which one as there are 2 located in the Broad River Basin. In 1850, without Peter, Catherine is back in the Bill’s Creek area.

In 1804, a John Crook, presumably the father of Catherine, obtained land on Cove Creek joining the Haynes line in Rutherford County, NC. William Haynes had land on Cove Creek near Broad River, issued in 1794, in between Knobs Creek and Bill’s Creek.

In Buncombe County, NC, we have an Andrew Crook who obtained land on Gap Creek in 1804. John Crook later obtained land in Buncombe County, NC, joining land with his son Zephaniah Crook. Interestingly, Buncombe County, NC is where Peter and Catherine’s youngest children went to live after their death. They are seen on census with Dempsey Sumner, who has land on Cane Creek. Gap and Cane Creek connect.

The Crook family has a history of having been in Rowan County, NC on Lick and Tom’s Creek. There appears to be 2 John Crooks in Rowan County, one that went to White County, TN with the GOOLSBY family and one who went to Rutherford County, NC and then Buncombe County, NC. Each are intriguing, because we find VESS in both locations.

Further research is needed, of course, but I am super excited we have a new lead to Vess family history!