Author: J. V.

Connecting the DOTSONS

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Dodson, Dodson, Dodson

The Vess family may have not left an obvious trail of bread-crumbs, but upon further investigation of numerous documents, we do find a trail of DODSON’s.

Below, DODSON is pointed out in numerous VESS/VEST records from Patrick County, VA all the way to Franklin County, Alabama.

Patrick County, Virginia
The DODSON name first appears on the 1793 land record for Peter Vess in Patrick County, Virginia. Peter appears to have transferred land to John Spencer; land located on the waters of the Mays (MAYO) River, connected to the Dodson line. Witnesses are George Dodson Sr & Jr, and Thomas Dodson.

*Notice Benjamin FLETCHER is also noted as a witness. Is this the same Fletcher family associated with Absalom Vess in Wilkes County, NC?

Wilkes County, North Carolina
Although I haven’t found any specific DODSON-VESS records in Wilkes County, North Carolina, I have discovered a DODSON family in Wilkes County with land records for Brushy Mountain dated 1800. This is interesting, because research on Absalom Vess (1803-1809), suggests he was also living near Brushy Mountain.

White County, Tennessee
The DODSON family are neighbors to Peter Vess on the 1820 White County, TN census. The DODSON family are also mentioned in land records for Willis and William Vess.

Franklin County, Alabama
We then later have a couple of DODSON families listed on a plat map next to Willis Vess in Franklin County, Alabama.

Are These DODSON Families Related

It would be a crazy coincident if these DODSON families were not related. I mean what are the odds, this particular VESS family keeps finding themselves next to a DODSON family?

Interestingly, I discovered a DODSON family website, that reveals a similar migration pattern as the VESS family.

We are looking at the descendants of LAMBETH DODSON and SARAH HARRIS of Halifax Co. Virginia (1689-1780). According to this website, Lambeth DODSON had land on the MAYO RIVER in 1765. [Samuel, Peter, and William Vess also had land along the Mayo River 1780-1793]

His brother THOMAS DODSON, married ELIZABETH ROSE. [DNA Triangulation suggests the VESS family may have a ROSE ancestor]. Thomas Dodson had a son named George Dodson, but I am not sure if they are same Thomas and George Dodson’s on the 1793 land record with Peter VESS.

According to the website, Thomas DODSON may be connected to Rev. William Dodson of Iredell County, NC. Unfortunately, this is not 100% confirmed. [Absalom Vess is in Iredell County, NC]

Interesting notes on the children of Lambeth DODSON and Sarah HARRIS:

● RUBEN DODSON married AGNES WHITLOCK in 1780 in Surry County, North Carolina. Agnes Whitlock does appear to be part of the same WHITLOCK family as Talithia Whitlock (wife of Willis Vess) via CHRISTMAS family connections; further research is needed.

[WHITLOCK was in Patrick County, VA the same time as the VESS family and was in Surry County, NC]

● WILLIAM DODSON died in White County, Tennessee after 1830. His son died in White County, TN during the 1820’s, during the same time Peter Vess was in White County, TN too. This may be the same DODSON family living next to Peter VESS.


Other Interesting Finds

The DODSON family has connections with the WHITT family. This is interesting, because Samuel Vess in 1782 is listed next to a WHITT family. It also brings us back to HENRY VICE (more fun stuff on him later).

The DODSON family website references having property on the MAYO RIVER in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, which may suggest a time before Henry County was formed. After discovering BETTY VESS, perhaps there is another DODSON-VESS connection to be found.

Please share your thoughts with us?















Earliest Known Vess Record: BETTY VESS 1773

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Quick Recap

In Wilkes County, North Carolina between 1787 – 1790, there is a WILLIAM VEST. He is found residing in the Isbell District along Kings Creek. In 1789, he is appointed to oversee the road along Elk Creek. Then, in 1790, he appears to have moved to the Judd District on Reddies River.

After 1790, the VEST name disappears. However, between 1803 – 1810, we begin to see the VESS name with Absalom, Jonathan, William, and Pryor “Vess.” After 1810, these men completely disappear from Wilkes County, North Carolina.


Betty Vess 1773: Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Looking at the 1790 Wilkes County, North Carolina census for William VEST, he is listed next to Barnet OWEN (Judd District). After a little digging, Barnet OWEN is related to Henry MULLINS (also on 1790 census).


Barnet OWEN and Henry MULLINS, both purchased land in 1787 on the waters of Reddies River at the head of Tumbling Shoal Branch. Reddies River connects to the Yadkin River. These are the only two families with land records, via nclandgrants.com, referencing “Tumbling Shoal Branch,” so I assumed these families probably have close connections with each other.

I discovered a family website, “The Descendants of Henry Mullins,” by Charles Owens. According to Owens, Henry Mullins purchased land from William Owen in Pittsylvania Co., VA in 1773; listing BETTY VESS as one of the witnesses! If this record does read “VESS,” it would become the earliest known “VESS” record found to-date.

Also listed as witnesses is the ALFORD family, which we know is related to the VEST family (Bedford / Chesterfield Counties). However, the ALFORD family is quite extensive, according to their amazing website, The ALFORD American Family Association, and thus has connections with many early American families.

I am in the process of trying to find the original record between Henry Mullins and William Owen to see if there is a property description to determine exactly where in Pittsylvania County, VA this property was located; for that it may better determine if Betty Vess is a VESS, VEST, or VOSS.

Samuel, Peter, and William Vess resided in Patrick County, VA, an area that was once Henry County; but prior to the formation of Henry County (1777), it was Pittsylvania County. Betty Vess predates the formation of Henry County. So, was Betty in the southern part of Pittsylvania that will become Patrick County (making her a VESS), was she in the northern part that will later become Bedford County (making her a VEST), or was she in today’s eastern portion of Pittsylvania (making her a VOSS)???

More research is needed.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this is another potential “Vess” ancestor?

Absalom, Jonathan, and Prior Vess: Wilkes County, NC

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I recently received a book in the mail called, “Wilkes County, NC, Pleas & Quarter Sessions Court Minutes, 1798-1805,” by John A. McGeachy. I meant to order the book covering dates 1805-1810 with Priah (Pryor) Vess; however, the book that came in wasn’t a disappointment…

The book I accidentally ordered has a record for Absalom and Jonathan Vest. Prior to this, the earliest record I have for Jonathan is 1805 and the earliest record I have for Absalom is 1809. This book has them listed for Jury Duty as early as 1803!

Unfortunately, the book for court records between 1805-1810 is not available; however, Google Books online provides us with a preview for PRIAH (Pryor) Vess:

It reveals that Priah (Pryor) Vest was charged with Assault. The preview does not show the date of the court-minute session. However, it continues to state that the defendant was found “not guilty” and that the court ordered Priah and William Vest be “bound” in the sum of 200 pounds for 12 months good behavior (McGeachy).

The index references Absalom and Jonathan Vess/Vest, but provides no preview.

In addition, Vince Vess sent us a link from Genealogy.com in reference to James P. Fletcher. It appears that Jonathan Vess wasn’t the only Vess associated with the Fletcher family; so was Absalom Vess.

In 1809 and 1810, Absalom Vess is mentioned in the Sale of Estate and Inventory of Estate for William Fletcher.

So, who was this Fletcher family and do they have relation to the Fletcher family in Patrick County, VA?

Vess/Vest Family: Virginia to Alabama

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I am beginning to unearth a hidden VEST/VESS family who appears in Virginia as early as 1782 and venturing off towards the west and south during the 1800’s.

Having spoken to many VESS/VEST families of Virginia, the VESS/VEST family in Patrick County is one they do not recognize nor listed on any known VEST family trees; providing us with further hope that this might very well be our VESS ancestors of the R1a2 lineage. However, it is just their mere presence that has just recently surfaced and more digging is needed to uncover records to identify their specific relationships with each other.

I have so much to share that I am unable to fit it all into one post, so here is just the tip of the iceberg of what I have dug up and I will certainly follow up with more details later…

Wilkes County, North Carolina

It has been long thought that our earlier ancestors converged sometime in Stokes County, NC; however, recent research now suggests it may have been Wilkes County, NC instead.

The discovery of William VEST in Wilkes County, North Carolina has been ground breaking; not only is he completely separate from the William Tunwell VEST family, but is residing in an area near families that Vincent Vess has identified as possible earlier ancestors of our Vess family (Sparks, Pennington, Hodge, and Rose families). Further investigation of this area, has also revealed families who are later found near Peter and Willis Vess.

William Vest first appears in the 1787 tax list for the Capt. Isabell District of Wilkes County, NC. I am not yet sure if he is the same William Vest in Patrick County, Virginia, for that the records for William in Virginia are not consistent, but more or less sporadic with records only for 1783, 1790, and 1792. In other Patrick County tax years there is a William “VIAS,” but I am not sure if this is suppose to be VESS, considering Samuel and Peter’s surnames remain consistent on the annual tax lists. BUT, I also see William VIAS in Wilkes County records when William Vest is absent from record – so perhaps they are one and the same, or perhaps a mix of Sr. & Jr.

On the 1787 tax list, William Vest is listed in the Capt. Isbell District. He is listed next to Richard Green who established a church on Buffalo Creek. In 1789, county court records state William Vest was appointed to “oversee” the road along Elk Creek. In short, we have a pretty good idea where William Vest was in between 1787-1790.

There are a lot of interesting families associated with this particular area too. One family in particular who has gained my recent attention is the previously mentioned, Richard GREEN.

I discovered that Richard GREEN is related to Amos GREEN in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Amos Green is listed as a member of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Peter Vess. The Green family are known to be allied with the Hambrick & Bridge families, who Peter is listed near on the 1820 census. Interestingly, my research so far, suggests that Elizabeth Green, mother of Talithia Whitlock (wife of Willis Vess), may be a distant cousin of Amos Green (further research is needed).

I have also recently discovered a HAMBRICK family in Wilkes County near William Vest who I am curious if whether or not they have any relation to the Hambrick families in Rutherford County, NC near Peter Vess. AND, also in Wilkes County I stumbled upon a Joseph SOUTHER, who I am curious if whether or not is the same Joseph Souther who bought Peter’s land in 1846. There is also Jacob NICHOLS, who I am curious if whether or not is related to the NICHOL family who married 2 of the children of Willis Vess in Franklin County, Alabama.

Recent finds also include the records for Absalom Vess/Vest and Jonathan Vess.
Absalom Vest married in Wilkes County in 1809 to Hannah Raymond and settled, to the best of my knowledge, in Iredell County, NC. The record for Jonathan Vess is super interesting, because it mentions Brushy Mountain, which according to early maps is very close to Hunting Creek, where the Sparks family eventually settled, suggesting a migration South.

Wilkes County, NC has a fascinating history and many of its residents migrated to South Carolina before coming back up to Tennessee; which brings me to wonder if this may be how Nathaniel Vess fits into the puzzle.

There is still so much more to research, but it is clear that there was a good-size VESS/VEST family hiding under the radar in Wilkes County at one time; including a Pryor Vess, which is what seems to connect everything together.

Connecting The Pieces Together

▼ Below is a picture that represents the locations of this particular VESS/VEST family from VA to AL.

As you can see, there appears to be a migration pattern from Patrick County, Virginia to possibly Franklin County, Alabama.

I forgot to add Absalom Vest (Iredell County 1810).

Records are scarce and the few records I did find, don’t really tell us too much up front; but when you lay them out across the table, there does appear to be something going on…

First, it is interesting that Willis Vess has a land record that mentions William Vess as his “heir,” yet none of his children are named William; so this could be William Vest of White County, TN. Then, there are the White County, TN records…

William and Willis Vest both have land records for White County, TN on Caney Fork next to the DOBSON family.

Peter Vest is the only Vess/Vest on census in White County, TN. We know he lives on Caney Fork, because he is listed next to the DOBSON family on census who are also listed on the Willis and William Vest land records. He is also neighbors with the HODGE family (our Vess family is related to via DNA data) from Franklin county, VA, who were listed on the 1782 Henry County tax list with Samuel Vest; suggesting this Vess/Vest family in White County, TN may be the Patrick County, VA Vess/Vest family.

There is also a PRYOR VEST, who has a land record for Caney Fork dated 1814, which predates records for Peter, William, and Willis. Pryor Vest is not on census anywhere and has stumped me for a very long time.

However, yesterday, I came across a book called, “Wilkes County, NC, P&Q Minutes, 1798-1805,” by John A. McGeachy, that not only lists Jonathan Vess, but also Absalom, William, and PRIAH (Pryor) “VESS!”

There is no e-book version, so I had to order the physical book, which I do hope will come in this weekend. I am extremely excited, for that one of the previews of the book mentions an “assault” charge involving Pryor and William Vess. Finally, a little bit of drama!

Anyway, my point is, there seems to be overlapping evidence that strongly suggests this could very likely be one Vess/Vest family.

Lastly, I also find it interesting that records for Willis and John P. Vess state their parents were born in North Carolina, which lines up pretty well with William Vest in Wilkes County, North Carolina who has records as early as 1787. This allows plenty of time to have a Vess generation in between him and Willis Vess. Also, records for John P. Vess state he was born in Tennessee in 1822, which makes a connection to the White County, TN Vess/Vest family plausible (considering their record dates).

Research Continues

If Willis Vess is in fact connected with the VESS/VEST family of Patrick County, VA, through White County, TN and Wilkes County, NC, then so is Peter Vess; for that Willis and Peter are confirmed to be related to each other by Y-DNA analysis. Unfortunately, records to identify their specific relationship to one another still remains elusive, but perhaps recent findings of more specific locations of these families will give us a better look at where we need to start digging next…




















New Discovery: Jonathan Vess In Wilkes County, North Carolina

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While exploring records for Wilkes County, North Carolina, I came across a record, dated 1805, for a Jonathan Vess! This was completely unexpected!!

Familysearch.org Deed Book F-1 Wilkes County, North Carolina 1778-1807

Duncan & Fletcher Families

This record for Jonathan Vess is very intriguing.

It involves a Duncan and a Fletcher family, which are family names seen associated with the Vest/Vess family in Patrick County, VA in 1793.

According to the Patrick County, VA court records, the Vess and Fletcher families were involved in some kind of dispute against another family. Also, court records show a deed transfer for Peter Vess involving John Duncan. Did these families travel to North Carolina?

I am not sure if this is the same Jonathan Vess who married Elizabeth Heron and settled in the Republic of Texas or our mysterious John Vess, father of Willis Vess. Further research is needed.

Click here: Peter Vess: Patrick County, VA Court Minutes

Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

For the last couple of months, I’ve been researching extensively on Willis Vess of Franklin County, Alabama and William Vest of Wilkes County, North Carolina. What we thought was a convergence of families in Stokes County, NC, may have actually been in Wilkes County, NC.

I have discovered that a lot of families associated with Willis and Peter Vess have earlier ties in Wilkes County, NC. I have also discovered a lot of interesting things about William VEST and his neighbors in Wilkes County, NC. I am gathering my notes and I will be posting soon regarding my recent findings that might be leading us closer to some earlier Vess ancestors.







Andrew Heron: Rockbridge Co. Virginia

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I found this publication called, The People and the Churches of the Collierstown & Kerr’s Creek Area, by Cole Dawson Anthropology 377 Dr. McDaniel; May 27, 1982.

It briefly talks about the early settlers of the Collierstown and Kerr’s Creek area. We have land records and a map that tells us the VESS/VEST family settled in this area in the early 1800’s.

This is an interesting read, because it talks about the religion and cultural practices of these early settlers who were pretty much cut off from the rest of world. Interestingly, it states that the son’s of the families in this area stayed with their parents until they were 21 years old.

This publication also mentions Reverend Andrew Heron. This is interesting, because I recently found a website that says Andrew Heron to be the father of Elizabeth Heron (Patrick County, VA marriage record 1792), wife of Jonathan Vess of the Republic of Texas. Could Reverend Andrew Heron in Rockbridge be Elizabeth Heron’s father?

Probably not.
According to an Abstract article for the book, Building A Nation: 1776-1828, by William E. Van Vugt, Reverend Andrew Heron of Rockbridge County, VA arrived to America in 1807. Therefore, likely not the same Andrew Heron supposedly listed as “Dad” on the 1792 marriage record for Jonathan Vess and Elizabeth Heron.

Sometimes I feel like Thomas Edison, who once said something like this: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10000 ways that won’t work.”

In genealogy…I haven’t failed making connections; I’ve just found 10,000 connections that don’t work. One day, a light bulb will turn on and a connection will be found! 🙂

Mysterious Richard Vest: Franklin County, VA

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In 1786, Franklin County, Virginia was formed from parts of Bedford and Henry Counties. Samuel Vess/Vest has been in the Henry county area since the early 1780’s and when Franklin County was formed, he still remained in Henry county, an area that would later become Patrick County. The formation of Franklin County, separated him from his close neighbors the Hodge family who are seen on a Franklin County map (Chestnut Mt.) on the county border.

While I was researching the Hodge family in Franklin County, VA, I discovered a RICHARD VEST. He is listed on a tax record dated 1788.


I am not sure who this Richard VEST is, for that he does not seem to be on any VEST family trees. However, it is known that the VEST family were in Bedford County; however, they do not appear in Franklin County, VA until 1810.

This Richard Vest of Franklin County, VA is clearly in between two different VEST families- the Chesterfield VEST family in Bedford County, VA and the Samuel, Peter, and William VESS/VEST family of Patrick County, VA. Determining which one he belongs to is going to require some more research.

If you have any information about Richard VEST of Franklin County, Virginia (1788) that you can share, please feel free to comment below or email vessgenealogy@gmail.com. Thanks! 🙂

Vess Family DNA Project Update: 2022

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An update to YFULL has been posted to version 10.00.00 with revised age calculations.

According to Mike Travers, who is still analyzing the data, the Vess branch (shown below) is estimated to have formed somewhere between 375 and 1000 years ago.


This is not an estimated date as to when our family took the VESS name, but an estimated date as to when our particular family line (R-FT19517) branched off with a new mutation.

The Travers and Vess families are still closely related and it still appears to included the Travers families from Ireland and England.

To learn more about our ancestral origins, we need more Y-testers from the TRAVERS, TRAVIS, and VESS families. Even a basic Y-37 test is helpful!



If you are a male descendant with the VESS, TRAVERS, or TRAVIS name, please consider joining our family DNA project. If you have any questions on how to get started, please email vessgenealogy@gmail.com or contact the project co-Admins.

Thomas Vose: A Possible Jarvis Willis Connection

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A Voss family connection with the Vess family has never been seriously considered, mostly because there is absolutely no evidence to suggest any kind of connection; or at least not one with the North Carolina/Virginia Voss-Vass family mentioned in the publication, The Vaulx Family of England, Virginia, and Maryland, by Michael L. Marshall. But, could there be a connection with another Voss family, perhaps an unidentified Voss family, hiding under the radar in Stokes County, North Carolina next to Jarvis Willis?

Yeah, remember Jarvis Willis?
According to the The Maryland Group Blog, Jarvis Willis is the grandfather of John Lewis Willis, who married Mary Jane Vess, daughter of Willis Vess in Franklin County, Alabama. The article states that “Jarvis is in the 1790s tax records of Stokes, along with several males of the Vess family,” suggesting this is probably where the two families first met each other.

This “Vess” family is William Tunwell Vest and DNA research suggests the VEST and VESS families are not related; however, DNA data involves family trees which may be inaccurate, so I decided to see if I could find out just how geographically close Jarvis Willis and William Tunwell Vest were to each other, by doing my favorite thing- breaking out the maps!

Although Jarvis Willis and William Tunwell Vest seem close together on paper they actually resided in different districts (communities). After thorough investigation (using land, census, tax, and family records), I discovered that the VEST family resided in the Yadkin District whereas Jarvis Willis resided in the Deep River District. If they did know each other, it was probably through a local church, as they were neighboring districts, but they certainly were not close neighbors.


Further research reveals that Reverend Thomas Voss/Vass of Granville County, North Carolina (mentioned in research by Micheal L. Marshall and other online sources), briefly resided in the same district (Deep River District) as Jarvis Willis between 1805-1808; however, by the time Thomas Vass and his sons arrived, Jarvis Willis had already migrated to Tennessee. BUT, early tax records reveal an earlier Thomas Voss/Vose family who resided in the same area at the same time as Jarvis Willis, while Reverend Thomas Voss/Vass was still in Granville County, North Carolina.

Very little is known about this Thomas Voss, however, online sources suggest that he came from Delaware, whereas Reverend Thomas Voss/Vass of Granville County, North Carolina came from Virginia.

Several online sources regarding the Deep River District, state it’s residents comprised of many families from Maryland and Delaware. This is super intriguing, because Jarvis Willis, Sparks, Rose, and Gosnell families are also from Maryland- so is our distantly related Travers family. But, that doesn’t mean there is a connection though, because the VEST family of Patrick County, Virginia still seems to make more sense. But, if you think about it, their origins have yet to be determined too and William Vess in Patrick County has records in the VESS/VOSS name. Even our Peter Vess, has a “Voss” record, and we have a family oral tradition that our name used to be pronounced as “VOSS.”

I have not been able to find any information about the earlier origins of this Thomas Vose in Stokes County, North Carolina, but family trees on Ancestry.com state his name is Edward Thomas Voss and that he was born in 1769 in Delaware, suggesting a new VOSS family, but family trees have him listed as the son of Joseph Voss and Rebecca Middleton (Virginia/North Carolina Voss-Vass family).

I have not found any records yet to support a connection with Joseph Voss and Rebecca Middleton. According to online sources, family trees, and other research, Joseph Voss and Rebecca Middleton come from Orange / Casewell County area and they eventually settled in South Carolina, with their sons William and John Voss briefly residing in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina before settling in Lawerence County, Tennessee. Nowhere have I found any mention about Delaware.

I plan to look further into Thomas Voss, as I have made some other interesting discoveries in that area that I am currently researching on, discoveries that may support a possible connection with John Beas in Spartanburg Co. SC.

1) There is a Hester family who settled in Franklin County, Alabama not too far from Willis Vess. Although HESTER is a name known to be connected to the Granville County Voss-Vass family, they are also connected to the Voss family in the Deep River District (Stokes County). Although sources claim the HESTER connection in Stokes County is with VOSS-VASS families, there is an earlier Hester family in the area with Thomas VOSE (not Vass) that doesn’t seem to have been identified yet by other VASS / HESTER researchers.

2) The census above for the Deep River District reveals a Green family. Research (so far) suggests a connection between them and Amos Green in Rutherford County, North Carolina (member of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Peter Vess) and Elizabeth Green, mother of Talitha Whitlock (Willis Vess). Note: The Whitlock family is all over Surry, Stokes, and Wilkes County North Carolina (one even having had land in Patrick County, VA).

3) Between 1800-1820, many residents of the Surry, Stokes, and Wilkes County area were on the move. Some migrated to Tennessee whereas other migrated to the Carolinas. According to the history of Wilkes County, NC, many early residents lost their land due to politics, forcing them to either move westward or further down south.

4) According to family history, William Sparks, an early resident of Franklin County, North Carolina near the Hester family (not too far from Willis Vess), made a stop in South Carolina before making their way to Alabama in 1818. William Sparks can be found on the 1810 Spartanburg County, SC census where we find John Beas, Henry Pettit, Bellew and Gosnell, Pennington, Poole, Willis, Hester, and many other familiar families, including some families from the Stokes County, North Carolina Deep River District.

5) John Beas is listed on the 1810 Spartanburg Co. NC census next to a CANTRELL family. There is a land record for a John Bess joining land with the Cantrell family. The Cantrell family interests me, because autosomal DNA shows a long list of CANTRELL members, all descendants of an ISAAC CANTRELL, who specifically match with my VESS family members.

John Beas is listed next to Reubin Cantrell, who is the son of Isaac, and according to FindAGrave.com, Isaac is originally from Delaware and his children were born in Guilford County, NC. Stokes County, Deep River District is on the border between Stokes and Guilford County. Stokes and Surry County land records for those listed around Jarvis Willis in 1790 indicate they were on parts of the Deep River; however the Deep River is in Guilford. Maps reveal that there is a small portion of the Deep River (West Fork) that slightly crosses into Stokes County, so it may be possible that Isaac was close to the Deep River District (but not in the Deep River District).

Furthermore, Thomas Hodge in Wilkes County, North Carolina listed next to William Vest, married a CANTRELL. I have not been able to find any information about her family yet, but I do find it intriguing. The problem is that Thomas Hodge and William Vest were no where near the Deep River District, they were further north in Wilkes County, NC (now Watauga County, NC) somewhere along NEW RIVER (Stony Fork), near the Pennington families. Note: Whitlock and Pennington families supposedly traveled to Alabama together. However, it is less than 100 miles between Stony Fork and Deep River.

What I also find interesting about the Deep River District, is that it includes Bellews Creek. I can’t help but wonder if there is a connection with Bellews Creek and the prominent Bellew family of Greenville, SC (Clarinda Bellew, wife of Nathan Vess)??


There is still much to research, but I do feel confident that we are on the right track!



























Peter Vess of Rutherford County, NC: Deed Record

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I attended the North Carolina Genealogical Society Webinar yesterday about DEEDS hosted by David M. McCorkle who created nclandgrants.com. It was a very insightful Webinar that I wish was longer, because I learned so much!

After the Webinar, it took me less than 5 minutes to unearth a new record for Peter Vess!
Below is an 1846 Deed Record that is forcing to me re-write Peter’s timeline.

The Deed record has Peter and Josiah Vess as the Grantors and Joseph Souther as the Grantee.


Familysearch.org Deed Book 45

I will transcribe as best as I can…

“This the 21st of December 1846
State of North Carolina Rutherford County

Know all men by [illegible] presents that whereas Joseph Souther stands Peter Vests [illegible] for the prosecution of a suit in the Superior Court of our County [cut off] [illegible] Thomas Young deceased Executor or administrator William Young [cut off] [illegible] And Now Know Ye that in order to save harmless the said Souther [illegible] in said Suit and to secure said dee and for the further consideration of the [cut off] [illegible] dollars to us Peter Vess and Joseph Vess in hand paid by Joseph Souther [cut off] [illegible]and payment whereof we do hereby acknowledge have bargained sold [cut off] [illegible] conveyed and confirmed and by these presents do bargain [illegible] alien convey and [illegible] unto the said Joseph Souther his heirs and [illegible] forever the following [cut off[ [illegible] parcel of land situated lying and being in the county and state [cut off] [illegible] including the place on which the said Peter Vest now resides on the waters [cut off] [illegible] creek begining on a Red oak on the North rock of [Fills Creek] thru 18 [cut off] [illegible] a Red oak thru North 20 poles to a Black oak in a hollow thru West 154 poles to a stake on a line of a 25 acre [illegible] [illegible][illegible] it South 15 [cut off] 30 poles to [illegible] on the side of a hill corner of the 25 acres [illegible] [cut off] out to west 22 poles to a stake on the top of a ridge then South to [illegible] Whiteoak then 168 poles to a white oak on the line of the [illegible] to the beginning [illegible] one hundred and nine acres to be the [illegible] [cut off] less together with all and singular the rights members [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] and appurtenances to the said [illegible’ belonging or in any [cut off] [illegible] appertaining to have and to hold with appurtenances unto the said Joseph his heirs and [illegible] forever And we the said Peter Vest and Josiah vest [cut off] [illegible] [illegible] herby [illegible][illegible]our heirs Executor administrators to warrant [cut off] [illegible] defend the aforesaid land and tenements unto the said Joseph Souther [cut off] heirs and [illegible] forever provided always nevertheless and ur us the [cut off] [illegible] and meaning of these presents that if the said Peter Vest shall and [cut off] [illegible] and [illegible] have harmless the said Joseph Souther as his security in said [cut off] [illegible] and that [illegible] am [illegible] pay the said fifty dollars to the said Jospeh Souther in that ease this deed shall [illegible’ determine and become absolutely null and [cut off] [illegible] otherwise to remain in full [illegible] and effect. in Testimony whereof [cut off] [illegible] unto [illegible] hands [illegible] seals this the 14th day of November 1846.

The [illegible] after signing
John Vess

his X mark
Josiah Vests
Peter Vests

State of North Carolina
Rutherford County

Fall Court 1846
No 11 Josiah Vess and Peter Vess acknowledge in open court the Execution of the above deed it is therefore records and ordered to be registered.

G. E. Logan“

Familysearch.org Deed Book 45
Minutes, Pleas, and Quarter Sessions
Familysearch.org

This changes my timeline for Peter Vess. Previously, he was nowhere to be found after 1840 with Catherine Vess rejoining Bill’s Creek Baptist Church in 1844 without him, as if he had passed away. But, here he is on a deed record that states this is land in which Peter Vess “now resides,” which I am assuming means he is still alive in 1846.

It appears that he owed a debt that he could not pay and gave his land to Joseph Souther to clear his debt. It is interesting to note that his sons, John, Josiah, Andrew, and Alfred joined Bill’s Creek Baptist Church at this time. But, if Peter is still alive, what happened to him? Why did he not return to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Catherine and his sons?

Also, I do not know who Joseph Souther is, except that him and his family were dismissed from Bill’s Creek Baptist Church prior to 1830. I wonder if there is any relation to Joshua Souther who later married the wife of John Vess (Elizabeth Taylor)?

Very interesting!