Zephaniah Vess 1842-1865
Disruptive Early Life Zephaniah Vess was born in 1842 on Cedar Creek in Rutherford County, North Carolina. He was the sixth son of Peter Vess and Catherine Crook, named after his uncle, Zephaniah Crook of Buncombe County. He had a fair complexion, with blue eyes, and light-colored hair. Life with his parents was short. His…
Debt, Displacement, and Disappearance: Peter Vess Family
We know that Peter Vess lost his land to the Souther family in 1846 to cover a $50 debt; however, this particular record between Vess and Souther, reveals so much more… Court Debt This record between Vess and Souther is a “Deed Trust to Indemnify a Surety.” A landowner (Vess) puts up their property (Cedar…
John Vess: Chain Bearer 1831 Rutherford County, NC
I learn something new everyday! Peter Vess: Cedar Creek Property Peter Vess obtained land on Cedar Creek in Rutherford County, North Carolina that is now part of Buncombe County (Broad River Township). He entered the claim in 1829 and the grant was officially issued in 1831. Family researchers noticed that there is a “John Vess”…
Organizing Vess Genealogy 2026
When they say that genealogy requires organizational skills, they aren’t kidding! I am always casually searching family records, saving anything and everything that interests me to my desktop…that I often later forget about! Seriously! How I manage to do genealogy at all surprises me, because I seriously lack an organizational system. My version of organized,…
A Potential Early South Carolina Vess Family: John “Bess”
There was an early Vess family in South Carolina prior to 1830, but we have yet to identify them, largely due to lack of available South Carolina records and poor literacy. We do know they were there, because we are discovering later Vess families, who claim to have been living in South Carolina prior to…
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…
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