I wonder if there is a connection between the Abner Hodge family and Vest/Vess family in White County, TN? I have traced Abner’s line to Robert Hodge of Franklin County, Virginia living near Chestnut Mountain.
On the 1820 census for White County, Tennessee, we see Peter VEST next to Abner Hodge and Ephraim Hodge (brothers) living on Caney Fork.
I decided to review the family tree for Abner and Ephriam Hodge, which states their father is Josiah Hodges (son of Robert Hodge). According to online sources, Josiah Hodges was born in 1740 in Henry County, Virginia. The problem is, Henry County was not established until 1777.
He was likely born in Pittsylvania County, which parts later became Henry County. With that said, it wasn’t until 1785 that parts of Henry County (and a portion of Bedford Co) later became Franklin County, VA.
The Chestnut Mountain area was once part of Henry County. Chestnut Mountain is also less than 30 miles away from where we find Samuel, William, and Peter Vess in Patrick County, VA (formed in 1791) on Koger Creek and North Mayo River (border of Patrick Co and Henry Co).
Samuel Vess has tax records as early as 1782 in Henry County, VA, so I decided to check to see if there are any Hodges nearby AND there is!
Josiah Hodges is listed on the page prior, and Samuel Vest and Abemingo (Josiah’s brother) are listed on the same page (or same slide).
I do not know if families listed on tax lists are neighbors of a specific community; however, this does show that the Hodges and Vest families were in the same county at the same time.
If the families listed above are neighbors, then Samuel Vest at the time had not obtained land yet from Abraham Penn, for that the names of families in the Koger/North Mayo River (1791 deed list), including Abraham Penn, are listed a couple-several pages back on this 1782 tax list.
The Hodges family, including Robert Hodges (likely Robert Hodges Jr., brother of Abner Hodge) is listed on the 1783 tax list; however, the 1783 tax list and moving forward are in alphabetical order.
If they knew each other in Henry County, VA; perhaps it was through a local church or they lived close to each other, but were later separated by the formation of a county line (Franklin Co.); as Chestnut Mountain is very close to the Henry County border.
Also, I discovered a Richard Vest in Franklin County, Virginia on the 1788 tax list. He is the only VEST family listed. However, there is also a VEST family in Bedford County, VA, but from what I can tell, none of the VEST family trees seem to have this particular Richard Vest.
Richard Vest and the Hodges family (Abner Hodge) appear on the Franklin Co. VA tax lists until 1794. The 1793 tax list is the last time Richard Vest appears and the 1794 tax list is the last time Abner Hodge appears. In 1795, there are no Hodges or Vest families listed.
In fact, they disappear around the same time as Peter and William Vest!
Is there a connection? Who is Richard Vest? And could Samuel, Peter, and William Vest actually be part of our VESS family – Haplogroup R1a1??
Also, it is interesting to note that Robert Hodges is supposedly from the Isle of Wight, VA (1704). Not too far from there is the Travers family of Jamestown Island who have connections with both England and Ireland (post about later).
But of course, that is probably stretching it a bit too thin…
I am excited to announce that Vess Genealogy has expanded to a Vess Family Research Site. Of course, it is still a work in progress as I continue to improve the website with new features and more information.
Vess genealogy is challenging to research, because of its unique name in which DNA has interestingly revealed is a name shared by several different unrelated families. I would like to expand the Vess Genealogy website to help other VESS families sort out their lineages and uncover their origins.
This is a monumental task in which will require the help other researchers who are also interested in the VESS name.
While my research blog will continue, I am still working on adding new pages that will provide researchers with current information that can be found in one spot rather than having to collect information from numerous blog posts.
I am still working on creating PDF files for specific lineages and I would like to add family charts.
Further posts will have an open comment section and I am looking into creating an active Discussion Forum (that part will take time to create though) to encourage further collaboration among researchers.
The Vess Family DNA Project is still active and we continue to encourage male descendants to participate in Y-DNA testing.
Furthermore, I am currently working on a VESS Genealogy E-book for the Peter and Willis Vess lines.
I absoultely look forward to working with you to help uncover the mysteries of the VESS family!
It’s a cold gloomy day and my free-trial with Fold3 is about to expire, so I am browsing through as many records as I can and the following are just thoughts…
Nathan Vest
I know there is an earlier Nathan Vest in Virginia, but records of his existence outside military records is pretty scarce. Nathan Vest is rarely listed on VEST family tree’s, so perhaps he is a VICE.
His military record is interesting. The 8th Virginia Regiment recruited men from the same area as Samuel Vest (Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania area), but this regiment did not go west; instead, Nathan Vest went south to Charleston, South Carolina. However, according to his military records, he died May 24, 1778.
John Vest
The VEST name is much more extensive than I thought. Here, I stumbled up on a 1779 record for a John Vest in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This Vest family can be found in Hilltown, Bucks County, PA, with records from 1779-1833 (possibly more). Although records are consistent in separating him from a John West family, he could still be a WEST. I don’t know.
Now, I am just browsing…but Bucks County is greatly associated with William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, who according to the Daughters of the American Revolution, is distant cousins with Colonial Abraham Penn (Henry County, VA).
Interesting history, but not enough information to make any conclusions about any families; however, I will admit that the discovery of a VEST family in Pennsylvania is intriguing.
● 1786: Personal Property Tax List Henry County, VA NO VESS/VEST LISTED
● 1787: Personal Property Tax List Henry County, VA Peter Vess – under age 21. (estimate birth between 1766-1771) Samuel Vess- over age 21
Notes: Probably estimate Peter’s birth between 1766-1771. Samuel is likely Peter’s father.
● 1788: Personal Property Tax List Henry County, VA Peter Vess Sarah Vess Sam Vess (Samuel Vess)
● 1789: Personal Property Tax List Henry County, VA Peter Vess Samuel Vess
● 1790: Personal Property Tax List Henry County, VA Peter Vess William Vess Samuel Vess
Notes: Land records not dated. But Samuel Vess was granted 13 acres part of Abraham Penn’s 1,000 acre grant in 1783 and references Peter Vest’s corner (probably sometime after 1785). William’s land record for 175 acres states surveyor Dickenson which was a surveyor between 1779-1780.
1791: Patrick County, VA was created from Henry County
● 1791-1792: Patrick County Land Tax Samuel Vess transfers 50 acres of land to Peter Vess
● 1792: Personal Property Tax List Patrick County, VA Samuel Vess Peter Vess William Vess
● 1792: Marriage Record Patrick County, VA Jonathan Vess and Elizabeth Heron
● 1793: Personal Property Tax List Patrick County, VA Samuel Vess
● 1793: Land Dispute Peter Vess and Fletcher Family with Copely Family Notes: Tax records show a George and Benjamin Fletcher but no COPELY
● 1793: Patrick County Land Deed List 1791-1801 (FHL film 33,337) Peter and wife Margaret and John Duncan and wife Janey, 100 acres on Mays River, Dodson line to John Spencer.
● 1794: Personal Property Tax List Patrick County, VA Samuel Vess
● 1795: Personal Property Tax List Patrick County, VA Samuel Vess Peter Vess Jonathan Vess
● 1796: Personal Property Tax List Patrick County, VA Peter Vess Notes: Did Samuel Vess pass away?
● 1797: Personal Property Tax List Patrick County, VA Peter Vess
The earliest record of the VESS name in America appears on Revolutionary War records for Samuel, Peter, and William Vess. A vast number of records with the VESS name are for Samuel Vess dated 1777-1779 under the command of Captain Machen Boswell of the 2nd Virginia State Regiment. We also have an earlier Revolutionary War record for Samuel and William Vess dated 1775 for Dunmore County, VA under the command of Captain Joseph Bowman.
Further research strongly suggests that the Samuel Vess named in all these records are likely the same person.
A Look At Dunmore County, VA records: Samuel and William Vess
The records above are dated 1775. Samuel and William Vess are teenagers and are listed as privates living in the lower district of Dunmore County, VA (modern Warren County, VA area) serving under Captain Joseph Bowman’s command.
Captain Joseph Bowman’s militia was called to serve during Dunmore’s War (likely the Battle of Point Pleasant) in 1774 which took place in West Virginia regarding conflict in an area which included parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania (Ohio River territory).
Looking At the LONG LIST of Revolutionary War Records: Samuel Vess
All these records for Samuel Vess (1777-1779) are under the command of Captain Machen Boswell of the 2nd Virginia State Regiment.
According to Familysearch.org, the 2nd Virginia State Regiment replaced the 13th Virginia Regiment. The 13th Virginia Regiment was formed in 1777 from Fort Pitt, which is located in Pennsylvania and recruited men who were living in the area which was affected by Dunmore’s War.
Trying To Work Out A Timeline
In 1774, Captain Jospeh Bowman’s militia (Dunmore County) fought in Dunmore’s War.
In 1775, census was taken and Samuel and William Vess appear to be teenagers and listed as Privates for the Revolutionary War. This would have been the start of the Revolutionary War.
In 1776, Captain Joseph Bowman and “other colonists” ventured west. Samuel Vess could have been one of them, because…
In 1777, we have Samuel Vess serving under Captain Machen Boswell’s command (who replaced Captain John Lewis) who took over the 13th Regiment and recruited men from the West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvannia area.
SO, the question remains…is this Samuel Vess of Henry County, Virginia in 1782?? Did he try following the Great Wagon Road south, but just ended up settling on the North Mayo River??
Note: Abraham Penn of Patrick County, VA is said to have been born in Carolina County, VA and raised in Amherst County, VA. He served in Dunmore’s War (Battle of Point Pleasant) 1774. He owned Popular Grove Plantation in Patrick County, VA. Samuel Vess was given 13 acres of his land (1,000 acres 1783). Is there a connection?
Evidence This Is Not Samuel Vest, Son of William Tunwell Vest
One known Samuel Vess/Vest who had a brother named William Vess/Vest and served in the Revolutionary War, is the son of William Tunwell Vest. His pension records state he entered service in Bedford County, VA in 1779 and was under the command of Captain James Adams. The records continue listing other officers he served under and places he had served; none of them reference Dunmore County, County or Machen Boswell. So, this is certainly not the same Samuel Vess/Vest in the above Revolutionary War records.
Frederick County, Virginia – Vice Family
Maybe Samuel and William Vess of Dunmore County are part of the VICE family?? Dunmore County was created from Frederick County, VA in 1772. It is said that the VICE family (Kentucky and South Carolina) can be traced back to Frederick County, VA via John Vessey; unfortunately, I have not found any records of him yet. However, I did find a 1791 tax record for Frederick County, VA with Nathaniel, Robert, and William VICE – so we did have a VICE family in Frederick County, VA, but not sure how long they were there prior to 1790.
Corporal Peter Vess Revolutionary War Record
This is an interesting record. Bauman’s company was authorized on 28 October 1775 and recruited in New York (2nd Continental Artillery Regiment), later becoming known as Lamb’s Continental Artillery Regiment. I wonder if this supposed to be Peter VAN NESS, rather than Peter VESS??
Samuel, William, and Peter Vess of Patrick County, VA: Still A Mystery
In short, Samuel, William, and Peter Vess of Henry/Patrick County, VA still remain a mystery. I have yet to find any evidence to suggest where they came from prior to 1782. Although the VEST family is nearby in Bedford County, VA, there is no evidence to suggest a connection with them either.
The VESS family of Patrick County, VA appear out of nowhere like Peter, Willis, and Nathaniel Vess!
The NEW YEAR is upon us and we have some very promising leads to get us started!
1.Vess Family of Patrick County, VA Recently we discovered that Samuel, William, and Peter Vess owned land in Patrick County, Virginia and that Samuel Vess has been in the area (Henry County) since 1782. Who is this VESS family?
2. DNA Triangulation DNA has matched the descendants of Peter and Willis Vess to possibly some families in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
a. Sparks Family b. Ephraim Pennington (I found him in Wilkes County, NC!) *DNA matches still being explored c. Hodges Family
3. Maps, Maps, and History! History and maps can teach us so much!
Did you know the Great Wagon Road crossed the North Mayo River where Samuel, William, and Peter Vess owned land in Patrick County, Virginia or that early established residents of Wilkes County, North Carolina were forced to sell their land and venture off to the west and south due to conflict?
The Sparks family settled on Hunting Creek but their property was on the border of Wilkes and Surry (now Yadkin) county. The Yadkin River was an important waterway used to travel south, as the Yadkin River turns into the PeeDee River going right through Anson and Montgomery Counties (Travis, Sugg, Pennington, and Bellew families – just to name a few).
4. William Vest of Wilkes County, North Carolina We have William Vest listed near Thomas Hodges in Wilkes County, VA. The family bio for Thomas Hodges mentions he was married in Virginia to Nancy Cottrell, but does not specify where, so I am not sure, if Thomas Hodges is related to the Hodges in Franklin County, VA that matches closely with Peter and Willis Vess. Interestingly, Cottrell is a surname that comes up frequently in my Autosomal DNA list (6-8 generations back) matching other VESS relatives – possibly a connection via COX.
In the same area (New River), per land records, is the Ephraim Pennington family (New River Pasture Branch). Unfortunately, this is a Pennington family that consists of numerous generations with the “Ephraim” name (I think 5). Further investigation is needed.
5. Whitlocks I’ve found the Whitlock’s in the Surry/Stokes County area. Some near Samuel, William, and Peter Vess of Patrick County, VA via Snow Creek (Stokes Co), near Bellew’s Creek and one in Patrick County, VA. Also, another on Hunting Creek near the Sparks family.
The Whitlock’s appear to have early connections with a Saunder family, per a probate record for Thomas Christmas (great-grandfather of Talitha Whitlock, wife of Willis Vess). We have a Saunders family in Wilkes County, VA near the Whitlock and Pennington families and early court records for Henry/Patrick County mention Col. Peter Saunders (Are there connections?).
When and where did the VESS family meet the Whitlock family? Did the Willis Vess line travel through Tennessee or South Carolina through Georgia? Did you know there is a Whitlock family in Union County, South Carolina who was also part of Stephen F. Austin’s 300 in the Republic of Texas? Did you know there is also a Willis family in Patrick County, Virginia?
Are there connections? Are we getting closer to the truth or just chasing more ghosts?
Wishing everyone a great NEW YEAR and Happy Genealogy trails!
Well, I am trying to squeeze in some more research before the end of the year!
According to New York and Virginia Genealogy, they have a marriage record for Jonathan Vess and Elizabeth Heron that states “Dad Andrew Heron.” So, is Andrew Heron the father of Elizabeth Heron? And does he have any connection with James Heron listed on the Patrick County 1791-1801 deed list?
Tax Records for the Vess family in Patrick County, Virginia
The census records for Patrick County, Virginia have been lost, but Familytree.org has personal property tax lists (1791-1823), in which has the VESS family listed from 1791-1797.
Until now, we thought Peter Vess may have left Patrick County, Virginia in 1793, but according to the tax lists, Peter Vess is listed until 1797.
I have not been able to figure out if William VIA is VESS. Note: There is a William VIA in Wilkes County, NC along with William VEST with court records of a William VEAS.
Samuel Vess/Vest
Patrick County, Virginia was formed from Patrick-Henry County (Henry County) in 1791. So, looking at the taxes lists for Henry County, I found Samuel Vess listed as early as 1782. Personal property tax lists, 1782-1830
Abraham Penn and George Hairston were large plantation owners in the area (Hairston Plantation still standing today) and often granted indentured servants a portion of their land at the end of their contract. Was Samuel, Peter, and William indentured servants or also wealthy land owners?
Peter Vess and Pugnance Vaughn
Peter Vess married Pugnance Vaughn in 1785 in Henry County, Virginia. Is Samuel Vess his father??
Also, looking records for a William Vaughn (listed above in tax records), I have found family trees for a William Thomas Vaughn and Martha Patsy Reynolds. Note: There is a Reynolds family listed in the area with Peter and William Vess.
According to the family tree, the parents of William Vaughn are Samuel Vaughn and Prudence Loughan (Logan?). I haven’t found any family records for Pugnance Vaughn, but I do wonder if Pugnanace Vaughn (wife of Peter Vess) is supposed to be “Prudence” and possibly related to Samuel and Prudence Vaughn??
Earliest Records of the VESS name
The earliest records we have found with the VESS name are Revolutionary War records for Samuel, Peter, and William Vess.
Above, we have a Revolutionary War record for Samuel and William “Vess” for Dunmore County, Virginia. This is interesting, because Dunmore County is Shenandoah County today, located just below Frederick County, Virginia. Note: The Vice family story begins in Frederick County, Virginia.
A Possible Start To New Discoveries
I am hoping these newly discovered records can provide us new leads to the official identity of Peter, William, and Samuel Vess.
I am not aware of the Chesterfield County, VA VEST family having any records in the northern portion of Virginia (Frederick County area), which seems like a promising new lead; unfortunately, Dunmore County is an abolished county, meaning scarce records are even more scarce.
Although this may be a wild goose chase with a family completely unrelated to Peter and Willis Vess, I am very interested in helping other families sort out the different VESS, VEST, VOSS, VASS, VAUSE, and VICE families of Virginia.
My previous post was extensively long with so many thoughts I just had to get out of my brain. Just to clarify, I was not making any conclusions nor suggesting we are related to the BEST or VICE families. However, I was trying to point out how extremely intriguing it is that Peter and Nathan Vess are in the center of these families, yet seem to lack a solid family connection with any of them. Seems a bit odd.
I am conflicted. My gut at the moment is telling me there is a Wilkes County, NC connection, but my gut is also telling me, there is a Charles Travers connection too. However, just because the VESS family is closely related to the TRAVERS family (DNA suggesting we are descendants of TRAVERS), doesn’t mean, we split from the TRAVERS family in the United States. The VESS family could have likely spilt away from the TRAVERS line long before they crossed the Atlantic.
It is absolutely mind boggling. I feel like the truth is near, yet still very far from reach.
I am very excited about JOHN BESS/BEAS in South Carolina. I am even more excited to discover he is completely separate from the John VICE family on the 1810 census. However, research suggests John Bess, neighbors of Samuel Dunaway, is related to Boston Best (Jerg SebastianBosch). Yet, further research reveals that something is just not right…
Thinking Aloud…
Peter and Willis Vess, born in North Carolina, are proven to be genetically related to the same VESS family; however, they are found states apart from each other.
Nearby in White County, Tennessee are records of a Peter, William, and Willis Vess, with the assumption that Peter and William maybe the same Peter and William from Patrick County, Virginia.
Willis Vess supposedly has a brother named John Peter Vess, who was born in Tennessee in 1822. These findings, if related, suggest a migration from Patrick County, VA to Franklin County, Alabama; however, it doesn’t explain Peter and Nathaniel Vess in the Carolinas, unless the VESS family split apart in Wilkes County, North Carolina where we find record of William Vess.
Peter Vess in North Carolina is 31 years older than John Peter Vess in Franklin County, Alabama and he is 19 years older than Willis Vess (Alabama), but DNA suggests that Peter is more closely related to Willis Vess than he is to Nathaniel Vess, even though Nathaniel Vess lives closer to Peter. Is this due to lack of DNA testers, Nathaniel being a half-brother (more distant), or is Nathaniel Vess not related at all? Matching descendants of both Peter and Willis Vess appear on autosomal DNA tests, which suggests there is a close connection 6-8 generations back, either as brothers or 1st cousins.
Even descendants of John Peter Vess appear on autosomal DNA tests, but I can’t help but wonder, if maybe he is misplaced on the family tree. If records of Willis Vess in White County, Tennessee is Willis Vess of Franklin County, Alabama, then perhaps it isn’t too much of a stretch to wonder if John Peter Vess (who married a Whitlock) is the son of Willis Vess.
However, the families we are following from Patrick County, VA to Franklin County, Alabama is missing a JOHN VESS! According to Anna Popejoy, the father of Willis Vess is John Vess and he settled in the Foxtrap area of Franklin County, Alabama in 1819. Peter’s land record in 1831, suggests an older John Vess (perhaps a father or brother). And, according to the Nathaniel Vess line, they are related to Jonathan William Vess and Elizabeth Heron (married in Patrick County, VA) who settled in the Republic of Texas in the 1820’s (clearly not the same John Vess as Foxtrap).
Jonathan William Vess could have connections to South Carolina, for that there are records of James Heron having property near Peter and William Vess in Patrick County, VA as well as property in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Perhaps there are two different James Heron families, but we also know that many of the families in South Carolina settled in Franklin County, Alabama.
We also have records of James Heron having property next to a mysterious Vess family in Tazewell County, Virginia (not too far from the VESS/VEST family in Rockbridge, VA and not to far from the VICE family across the Cumberland Gap in Kentucky and a Henry Vice in Washington County, VA.) Also, in this area in Virginia is the WHITE family that Elizabeth Vess, wife of Jonathan Vess, married after Jonathan’s death in Texas.
We also have a Samuel Vess associated with Peter Vess in Patrick County, Virginia. Samuel Vess seems to be connected with the Vess family in Rockbridge County, VA – via Hiram Vess. Are there two Samuel Vess families in Virginia?
Then, if we take a look at South Carolina, we have a John VICE, John BESS, a mysterious Henry and James Vist, and the BEST family. Mixed in between both Virginia and South Carolina are the VOSS families.
Haplogroups – Y DNA
Vess and Travers Families -Haplogroup R1a
Peter and Willis Vess are descendants of the TRAVERS family from Lancashire, England (Haplogroup R1a). Unfortunately, there is a huge gap in our lineage between 1650 (estimated date as to when we split from one known Travers family) to 1791 (birth of Peter Vess). At some point, in between, our lineage took on the VESS name, which may have evolved from TRAVESS (Travis).
The VESS name is modernly new and research strongly supports it is a surname that originated in America. Statistics today, reveal that the VESS surname is predominately found in the United States and the name is greatly linked to the Peter and Nathaniel Vess families of North Carolina. The TRAVIS name evolved from the TRAVERS family from Ireland (who settled in the Carolina’s) and perhaps some from England (who settled in Dorchester, Maryland). At this time, we know that the Peter Vess line (descendants of Travers) broke apart from the Travers family in Maryland sometime prior to 1650 in England. However, Y-DNA appears to confirm that the England Travers and Ireland Travers are of the same family. The question that remains, is which line did Peter and Willis Vess descend from?
Our family story states that Peter, Jonathan, and Nathaniel Vess came from Ireland, which would lead us to assume we may have connections with the Travers / Travis family in the Carolinas, for that they are descendants of the Travers family from Ireland (Robert Travers). But, if we are related to Peter and William Vess in Patrick County, VA, could we have come from an unknown Travers in Maryland, who may have Ireland roots, rather than English roots like the known Travers in Dorchester, Maryland? Many families from Maryland traveled the Great Wagon Road down through the Virginia counties we find a mix of VESS, VEST, and VICE families.
VOSS/ VAUX/ VASS Families – Haplogroup Unknown
We do have a John VOSS documented in Caroline County, Maryland, next to Dorchester, Maryland (he seems a bit out of place). *Note: Jarvis Willis in Tennessee has land along the same river as Peter and William Vess in White County, TN and his family comes from Caroline County, Maryland. The Sparks family found in Wilkes County, NC and Rutherford County, NC also come from Caroline County, Maryland.
Near Maryland in Virginia we have the Robert Vaux family (descendants of the ancient De Vallibus family). We do not know what Haplogroup they belong to.
Further south in Virginia, we have records of a John Voss, who has some descendants that are documented to settle in South Carolina via Joseph VOSS. The son of Joseph Voss, William Voss, married Elizabeth ORR in Meckenlenburg County, NC and they settled Lawerence County, Tennessee (just above Franklin County, Alabama). This VOSS family is shown to be related to a Henry Voss, who left Virginia having owed a lot of debt to a neighbor. Early records only show a BASS family; however, most recently, I’ve discovered an early HENRY BESS record in South Carolina. Also note, that the 1810 census for Spartanburg County, SC has a Henry VIST listed, next to a James Vist.
It is speculated that the VOSS and VASS families are related. The VASS family is related to Vincent VASS who settled on the North Carolina coast (having spent time in Stokes County, NC). The VASS family is located geographically close to the Travers family from Ireland; however, no correlations have been found. They also seem to intertwine with the VOSS family who are also found in Casewell County, North Carolina, where John VICE and Frances Roebuck of South Carolina married and where we find Greenbury Voss/Vess.
According to researchers, the origins of the VOSS and VASS families are unknown. It is supsected that they are related to the VAUX family, but that has yet to be confirmed, nor are there any active DNA projects that reveal their Haplogroup.
Vice Family – Haplogroup Unknown As mentioned earlier, one of the Vice families are found in Casewell County, NC (where we have a mix of VOSS and VASS families). The Vice family Haplogroup is unknown, but they are interestingly found near the VESS family of Rockbridge County, VA and the many families of interest associated with Peter and Nathaniel Vess in the Carolinas.
According to their family story, their earliest known ancestor is John Vessey from Frederick County, Virginia.
Mysterious VESS Haplogroup R1b A recent Vess family whose records go back to Tazewell County, VA (1850) reveal themselves to be Haplogroup R1b. According to researchers, their earliest known ancestor for this Vess family maybe a “Henry Vess,” who seems to have connections with Patrick County, VA. In my opinion, based on recent research, is that he maybe he is related to Henry VICE, who I found living in between Patrick County, VA and Tazewell County, VA.
Vess family of Rockbridge- Haplogroup Unknown I was informed that the Vess family of Rockbridge may be descendants of the WEST family. The West family’s Haplogroup is R1b. However, the Rockbridge VESS/VEST family is related to Samuel Vess/Vest. Again, is this the same Samuel Vess associated with Peter Vess in Patrick County, Virginia?
Also in Rockbridge, I have found that the VICE and VEST families having passed through. Are they related?
VEST Family- Haplogroup I
Y-DNA testing has confirmed that Peter and Willis Vess are not related to William Tunwell Vest of Stokes County, North Carolina. William Tunwell Vest is a descendant of John Daniel Vest of Chesterfield County, Virginia and their Haplogroup is I, drastically different than our VESS Haplogroup R1a.
BASS Family – Descendants of Native Americans We can rule out a BASS family connection. They are Native American with lineages originating from Norfolk, Virginia. This doesn’t mean we should disregard records with the BASS name for that VESS records could easily be misspelled as BASS.
BEST / BOSCH Family North Carolina- Haplogroup Unknown The Best family of Lincoln County, North Carolina is very well documented. Records can be traced all the way back to the boat they arrived on to America and they arrived with the Ecker family. Again, this doesn’t we should disregard records with the BEST name, for that VESS records could easily be misspelled at BEST – even today, the VESS name is often mistaken as BEST (I know from personal experience).
Interestingly, I have discovered more BEST families in North Carolina who do not seem to be related to the Sebastian Best, yet found closely near the wandering VOSS families.
DUNAWAY
This is the record (below) that sparked my gears to turn! Nathaniel Vice in Kentucky married Sarah DUNAWAY.
As per my previous post on John Bess, he appears to be connected with Samuel Dunaway. He is listed near Samuel Dunaway on census records, Dunaway is listed on his 1810 land record, and he signed as a witness on Samuel Dunaway’s will in South Carolina.
Records show that Samuel Dunaway and John Bess lived on Thicketty Creek, which is quite distant from the VICE family on Enroee River. According to the book, Tryon County, North Carolina Minutes of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1769-1799, Samuel Dunaway Sr. was a constable. Thicketty Creek area was also once part of Tryon County.
However, John BESS and the John VICE families are separate families, confirmed by the 1810 census (showing John VICE and his sons, Nathaniel, George, and John Roebuck Vice together) and John Bess near Dunaway and Henry Pettit. Note: Peter is on census listed with Henry Pettit in 1820 Rutherford County, NC. It is documented that Henry Pettit is from South Carolina (son of Joshua Pettit).
Yet, we have Nathaniel Vice in Kentucky married to a Dunaway. Is there a connection? Also, the father of Nathaniel Vice in Kentucky is said to be NATHANIEL CAMP VICE.
This is interesting, because the CAMP family, traveled down from Frederick County, VA (where Nathaniel Vice is from) and settled in Rutherford County, North Carolina on Island Ford – just a few miles away from Sandy Run. In fact, Benjamin Camp has land on Sandy Run (Tyron County). Sandy Run is where we find Henry Pettit and Peter Vess in 1820, in addition to long time residents: Bridges, Young, Webb, Logan, Sparks, Hambrick, and Willis families. Also note, that Thicketty Creek is not too far from Sandy Run.
BUT, the BEST family throws in a monkey wrench, for that some family trees claim that JOHN BESS of Spartanburg County, South Carolina is John Best or some say Jacob Best, son of Boston Best. And, the 1790 census record, shows a connection: Here we have Samuel Dunaway with Boston Best, Henry Pettit, and Joshua Pettit.
This is likely Boston Best JR., because Boston Sr. is in Lincoln County, NC in 1790, near the Gosnell family. Gosnell is connected to Nathaniel Vess.
Something Not Right
Now, here is where something doesn’t seem right. The family trees of John Bess of Spartanburg County, South Carolina are not consistent. John Bess (Jr) born in 1815 settled in Warren County, Tennessee. This John Bess is listed as the son of either John Bess Sr. (son of Boston Best) or John Bess Sr. (son of Thomas Hobbs). I do not know who Thomas Hobbs is.
From my perspective, John Best, son of Boston Best Sr. died in Lincoln County. He is shown on the 1790 census with Boston Best Sr. and his brother Jacob Best. So, it is unlikely that John Bess is John/Jacob Best, son of Boston Best Sr. However, Boston Jr. appears to be in Spartanburg County, SC in 1790 (away from his family in Lincoln County, NC).
Boston Best Jr. could of had a son named John Best, but is he John BESS that went to Warren County, TN. According to the HENNESSEE Family webpage, John Bess of Spartanburg County, SC (b. 1783) married Lucinda Kimberlin. I do not know when they moved to Tennessee, but their youngest son is noted to have been born in Tennessee in 1817.
John Bess of Spartanburg County, SC who is associated with the Dunaway family on census, appears to have been born between 1766-1784. He obtained land on Thicketty Creek in 1810 and is listed on Dunaway’s will dated 1815. So, John Bess could certainly be the John Bess who went to Warren County, Tennessee. So perhaps, this John Bess is the son of Boston Best Jr. Unfortunately, there is very little documentation on Boston Best Jr.
How Does VESS Fit In?
What boggles my brain the most is how Peter and Nathan Vess are smack dab in the middle! Is Nathan Vess a BESS, with BOSCH origins? If anything, the Gosnell-Best connection seems to fit very well for him. Is Nathan part of our of VESS family story, because he is geographically close to Peter? Is Peter related to Nathan via a VICE – CAMP- DUNAWAY connection on Sandy Run?? Which may also explain a distant genetic connection.
Why does Fredrick BASS keep popping up all over the place too – in Wilkes County, NC and Anson County, NC near Bellew, Sparks, Rose, and Sugg families, near Charles Travers. Is Frederick Bass the son of Boston Best known as Frederick Best???
The Suggs family moved from Anson County, NC to Franklin County, Alabama near Willis Vess. They were listed as neighbors of Charles Travers in Anson County (when it was Mecklenburg- making them neighbors of BEST family), and according to Charles’ family bio, there is mention of a connection with David Benson. David Benson is shown on census with the Gosnell and Bellew families in South Carolina (1790). Also, it is suspected that Charles Travers is a descendant of Robert Travers from Ireland.
Is there a connection and if so, how is it all connected???
In August of 2020, I discovered two John Vess families in South Carolina whose origins are a mystery.
The first is an 1850 census record for John and William E. Vess of Saluda Regiment, Abbeville, South Carolina. Both of them are in their 20’s, they are listed as carpenters, and they claim to be born in North Carolina.
The second is an 1850 census record for John Vess and Drucilla Vess of Saluda, Abbeville, South Carolina. John is 25 and he is listed as a farmer. 1860 census, suggests John Vess died, for that it is just Drucilla Turner and James Vest (assuming their son).
Today, I came across Civil War records for John Vess and William VESTZ (pretty sure it’s William Vess). The first record, John Vess states he enlisted in Greenville, South Carolina and his occupation is a carpenter. These two records, might be referring to John and William Vess from the 1850 census. According to these records, John Vess was hospitalized and William was captured. I am not sure if they survived the war though.
In between John Vess and William Vestz, is a Civil War record for JOHN VEST. He too was enlisted in Greenville, South Carolina. What makes his record so interesting, is that he was forced to write a letter asking to be discharged from the military due to his age. The discharge was granted, which means this John Vest was born sometime before 1815.
Fold3: Civil War Record and Letter Certifying His Age
I found an 1880 census record for a John Vest in Greenville, South Carolina with a birth year that would put him at the approx. same age as John Vest in the Civil War record above. This John Vest (1880 census) was born about 1815 in South Carolina and states both his parents were born in South Carolina.
This is very intriguing, because there are no early records of a VEST or VESS family in South Carolina. All we know is that we have records that strongly suggest that Nathaniel Vess was born in South Carolina in 1794 with a connection to Greenville, South Carolina via Clarinda Bellew who also states both his parents were born in South Carolina (below). Could Nathan Vess and John Vest be related???
Vess Genealogy 