O’Donnell Vess
Family stories are one of those things genealogists love, but are discouraged to use in their research, due to the fact family stories are not always accurate, most of the time exaggerated, or made up entirely. But, I am not like most genealogists…I’d like to believe that family stories still contain some ounce of truth,…
William Vess and The Great Western Land Pirate (Update 2026)
Originally Published September 27, 2021 • Updated February 24, 2024 • Updated August 26, 2026 As you may know, I have been investigating a family story about an “outlaw” that the Vess family was supposedly involved with at one time. Thus far, I’ve explored possible connections with the outlaw, Lewis Redmond, who was “loved and…
Research Update 2026
It took me awhile, but I have FINALLY posted my personal perspective on Vess genealogy, based on the traditional and genetic genealogical evidence collected since 2020. The World of Vess Genealogy Our lineage, history, and origins prior to 1820, still remain somewhat a mystery; however, new genealogical records paired with genetic genealogical research is now…
Rockbridge Vess Family: A Rockingham County Record Found 1806
The Vess family of Rockbridge County, Virginia. A family whose origins are just as mysterious as the origins of the North Carolina Vess family. We don’t know where the Vess family in Rockbridge County, Virginia originally comes from. Some say they are descendants of the West family, while others say Vest family. Rockbridge County, Virginia…
Samuel Vest: Spartanburg Co. South Carolina 1800
The descendants of Nathaniel Vess are adamant that Jonathan Vess was, at some point, in South Carolina. I am not one to ignore family stories, so I promise ya’ll I’ve been searching for him in South Carolina for a long time! Unfortunately, I haven’t found any evidence to suggest Jonathan Vess, himself, was ever in…
Benjamin and Andrew Vess: Polk County, NC 1856
When I see “Andy Vest” in a North Carolina record, I immediately think of Andrew Logan Vess, but turns out, this is not Andrew Logan Vess at all. This is another unknown VESS!! I found this record a while ago, for Benjamin and Andy Vest. It comes from the Polk County, North Carolina Court Records,…
New Peter Vess Record!
I am always saying it! Just when I think there is nothing more to discover, I end up stumbling across something new! This record is great, as it further supports a Vess-Crook connection. In 2023, it was discovered, via genetic genealogy methods, that the maiden name of Peter’s wife, Catherine, is CROOK, instead of Cook.…
Jonathan Vess: Another Missouri Record
I was able to dig up another record for Jonathan Vess in Lincoln County, Missouri. This is exceptionally rare! I was not expecting to find any more records in Missouri, as records prior to 1830 in Missouri are extremely limited! I found him, out of chance, in the Lincoln County, Missouri Probate Records. The date…
Vess Genealogy: Remarkable Discoveries Between 2020-2026
Vess families have been pondering their family origins for generations, and in 2020, the journey to find out had official begun… In 2020, when I started this genealogy adventure, I didn’t know my Vess family even came from North Carolina, let alone had been there for so many generations (over 200 years). For all I…
Johnathan Vess: I Finally Found Him In Missouri
Jonathan and Elizabeth Vess of Jackson County, Texas. We’ve all been told that Jonathan and Elizabeth Vess arrived in Texas from South Carolina, but according to Stephen F. Austin’s Register of Families, it was Missouri. In 1829, at the age of 50, according to the Stephen F. Austin’s Register of Families, Jonathan and his wife,…
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Vess Genealogy 