Last year, I made some new discoveries about Absalom Vest in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
He married Hannah Raymond (possibly Reynolds) in 1809, they appeared to live on the border of Wilkes and Iredell County (Brushy Creek/ Rocky Creek area). He appears on census and tax lists near the Souther family, who just so happen to be associated with Peter Vess in Rutherford County. Three of Absalom’s children settled in Indiana, with one of them having married a Fletcher.
The few records that we have, do seem to suggest that Absalom and Jonathan Vess/Vest were associated with the Fletcher family in Wilkes County, NC – but to what extent?
According to further research, the estate record that mentions Absalom Vest is supposedly for William Charles Fletcher.
The parents of William Charles Fletcher are supposedly (if family trees are accurate) Reuben Fletcher and Mary Gray, daughter of James Gray and Elizabeth Parks! (Parks is a DNA match to Vess via DNA Triangulation Method)
BUT…there are a lot of Fletchers in Wilkes County and the 1809 Estate record does not specifically say William “Charles” Fletcher.
Some believe, William Charles Fletcher married Margaret Cargile / Cargilet. However, I found the marriage record between William Fletcher and Margaret Cargile / Cargilet and the marriage record between Reuben Fletcher and Mary Gray. Unfortunately, both marriages took place around the same time; so, they are likely not father.
However, the William Fletcher 1809 Estate record may belong to “William Fletcher Sr.” who has land records dating between 1794 – 1799 joining land next to the Smoot family. Wit. include Spencer, James, and Absalom Fletcher – all who lived near the Souther and Smoot families in Brushy Creek in 1790.
Wilkes County records show Absalom and his wife, Hannah, next to the Smoot family too. And, we have a land record between Nathan Duncan and John Fletcher Jr., also joining land next to the Smoot family, witnessed by Jonathan Vess.
The Cargile family is also listed within the same company as the Fletchers, Smoot, and Souther families in 1790, suggesting maybe all the Fletchers are related to each other (I could be wrong though).
William Fletcher and Mary Cargile are believed to have lived in Iredell county, next to the Williams family (on Rocky Creek). Interestingly, on the 1810 census, Absalom Vest is listed next to the Williams family, with William Fletcher listed on the next page, next to another Williams family.
I am curious…are Absalom Vest and Peter Vess related to each other?
Results from the DNA Triangulation Method pinpoint to Brushy Creek for a potential ancestor for Peter Vess of Rutherford County, NC…AND is it just coincidence that Peter Vess has several run-in’s with the Souther family from the same place?
Could the Fletcher and Souther families been guardians of the Vest family? Especially, since William Vest (listed on earlier census records) disappears from the Wilkes County records in 1800??
Remarkably, I have never once thought to look for a Dodson in Wilkes County, North Carolina!
We see the Dodson family next to the Vest/Vess family in Patrick County, VA in 1790 and then again, in White County, TN in 1815, making a stop in between in Surry County, NC (1790-1815) near the Sparks, Parks, Rose, and Whitlock families. But, did any Dodsons go to Wilkes County?
You will not believe what I discovered!
Dodson-Rose Family Rev. William Dodson (1737-1832) lived in Wilkes County, North Carolina and died in Iredell County, NC. He is believed to be the son of Thomas Dodson Jr. and Elizabeth Rose. This Dodson family appears to be cousins of the Patrick County, VA Dodson family.
The most striking part about this, is their connection to a ROSE family! This is extremely intriguing, because autosomal DNA matches (via the DNA Triangulation Method) suggests the R1a2 Vess family may have an early ancestor in Wilkes County, NC via the Parks, Sparks, and Rose families, with an overall impression, it might more likely be with Rose.
And, it does get more interesting…
Absalom Vest Rev. William Dodson has property on Beaver Creek, Lamberts Fork, and in Brushy Mountain (waters of Hunting Creek), all issued to him during the time in which the Vest/Vess family were also living in Wilkes County, NC.
Beaver Creek is not too far from Kings Creek, where we find William Vest and Benjamin Duncan (1787-1790) and Hunting Creek, is where we find the Souther, Fletcher, Smoot, and Absalom Vest families (1800-1830).
Map From 1787 Wilkes County State Census
I was looking at all the Dotson/Dodson land records and discovered Absalom Vest!
William Dodson Jr. (son of Rev. William Dodson) obtained land in 1821 on waters of the S. Yadkin River (Wilkes Co.), with Absalom Vest as a witness with Uriah Davis.
We know Absalom lived in Wilkes County, NC between 1803-1829, but he briefly went to Iredell County in 1810, listed next to the William’s family.
Rev. William Dodson also had land in Iredell County. He obtain land in Iredell County in 1804, joining land with a Daniel Meadows. Interestingly, we see Absalom Vest listed on the same page as Daniel Meadows on the 1810 Iredell County census.
(William and William Jr. are in Wilkes County, NC in 1810 listed next to the Phillips family).
Another Dodson-Rose line There is another Dodson family on Beaver Creek (1805) via Joel Dodson, per land records. Joel Dodson is believed to be the son of Elijah Dodson and Martha Stubblefield. Elijah Dodson, is believed to be the son of Rev. Joshua Dodson and Ruth Rose. Another Rose!
Martha Dodson (Stubblefield) can be seen on the 1787 Wilkes County state census in the Carrell’s District with the many Parks families, Thomas Stubblefield, and Benjamin Martin family.
In the 1790 census, we see Patty (believed to be Martha Dodson) on the same list as William Dodson, near the Parks family again.
Peter Vest appears in this area in the 1805 tax list for Thurmond District (previously Carrell’s District), which still included most of the Parks families.
Elijah Dodson’s father, Rev. Joshua Dodson, is believed to have died in Surry County in 1798. Unfortunately, the only other Dodson family I am aware of in early Surry County, NC would be Reuben Dodson, believed to be the son of Lambeth Dodson II of Patrick County, NC.
Member of Brier Creek Baptist Church I re-read the church minutes for Brier Creek Baptist Church, where members include the Sparks, Parks, and Rose families. In 1803, Peter and Peggy “West” become members, who I strongly believe is Peter Vest as seen on the 1805 Thurmond District tax list.
To my surprise, records mention new members: William Dotson and Susey Dotson (1796). I am not sure if this is Rev. William Dodson (who is believed to have a 2nd wife) or another Dodson family. However, they are listed with members that include James Gray, wife Elizabeth Parks, and Timothy Buttry.
Timothy Buttry is related to Keziah Buttery, the wife of Reuben Sparks. Reuben Sparks son, John Sparks, married Elizabeth Rose (Autosomal DNA match to Vess via DNA Triangulation). John and Elizabeth are mentioned as members of Brier Creek Baptist Church, when Peter and Peggy West joined in 1803.
Autosomal DNA Matches To Vess Via DNA Triangulation Method
Following Other Dodson’s: Jonathan Vess of Texas It’s amazing how the Dodson family appears to lead us to Vess/Vest records! So, could they lead us to more Vest/Vess records?
According to Stephen F. Austin’s Book of Registered Families, we see Jonathan Vess listed as arriving to Texas from Missouri in 1829. Unfortunately, I’ve struggled to research families in Missouri and many researchers, like myself, are puzzled by “Missouri,” as it has been long held belief that Jonathan Vess arrived in Texas from South Carolina.
But, I was curious anyway… Did Stephen F. Austin’s Book of Registered Families include a Dodson family?
Remarkably enough, there is an Archolaus Dodson listed in Stephen F. Austin’s Book of Registered Families, having arrived in Texas from Missouri in 1827 (a couple years prior to Jonathan Vess). His parents are believed to be Obadiah Dodson and Sarah Garrison of North Carolina, with Obadiah being the son of Reuben Dodson and Agnes Whitlock!
Interesting note: Talithia Whitlock, the wife of Willis Vess (R1a2 Vess) of Franklin County, Alabama, is the granddaughter of Nathaniel Whitlock. A probate record for John Christmas listing his grandchildren, suggests Nathaniel Whitlock to be the brother of Charles Whitlock, whose daughter is Agnes Whitlock (wife of Reuben Dodson).
Small world, huh?
Henry County, VA: Samuel Vess AND, there is another intriguing Dodson find…
Samuel Vess (presumed to be the father of Peter Vess of Patrick Co. VA) listed on the 1782 Henry County, VA tax list, is listed next to John Whitt. John Whitt’s sister is believed to be Hannah Whitt, who married Lambeth Dodson III, brother of Reuben Dodson (of Surry Co, NC)!
What Does It All Mean To be 100% honest…I have no idea!
But, it is intriguing how the Dodson family appear to connect to locations where we have Vest/Vess records and appear to be around families who match to Vess via the DNA Triangulation Method.
I am hopeful for an R1a2 Vess family connection, but without genealogical records to prove it, it’s still just all speculation. In fact, I could just be chasing an un-related Vest/Vess family!!
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
In Wilkes County, North Carolina, there is a hidden pocket of “Vest/Vess” families who do not appear on census records, but are buried in court /tax records.
This Vest/Vess family was so well hidden in documentation that remarkably, neither the Virginia VEST family (Haplogroup I) or North Carolina VESS family (Haplogroup R1a2) have ever claimed them on their family tree!
Because they appear to be very close to many of our recently identified Vess-DNA matches (Rose, Sparks, and Parks families) in Wilkes County, NC and no known family trees for any of them…they could possibly be related to R1a2 Peter and Willis Vess family.
This Wilkes County Vest/Vess family includes Jonathan, William, Absalom, Pryor, and Peter Vest/Vess. Each with records using the Vess/Vest name interchangeably, which further supports a possible VESS connection, as the Virginia VEST family (Haplogroup I) rarely, if ever, have “Vess” records. There is also no evidence to suggest that any of the Rockbridge VESS families (not tested) ever lived in Wilkes County, NC.
Absalom VestDeath
Absalom Vest lived in the Hunting Creek/Brushy Mountain community. Records of his existence span between 1803 – 1820. He married Hannah Raymond in 1808 in Wilkes County. In 1810, they are shown to be in Iredell County, but they returned to Wilkes County in 1820. In 1830, Hannah is listed on the Wilkes County census, suggesting Absalom had died. The 1831 tax records tell us she owned 30 acres of land, possibly inherited from her husband.
Absalom appears to have died in 1829. According to Wilkes County court records (for 1829), Lucy and Harvey Vest are orphans. It specifically mentions that Harvey Vest is the son of Hannah Vest.
Lucy was bound unto Benjamin F. Martin, husband of Sally Rousseau. Harvey was bound unto Thomas J Bouchell.
Hannah Vest-Eades
Hannah returns to Iredell County in 1840 and is listed as “Vess” next to Issac Eades. Issac is the son of Ezekiel Eades, who she marries in 1854. We find Ezekiel and Hannah together on the 1850 Wilkes County census and they are listed next to Hannah’s son, Harvey Vest.
Lucy married William Fletcher in 1845 in Wilkes County, North Carolina, NC.
Hannah also has a daughter named Elizabeth, who married Wesley Dishmond in 1834 in Wilkes County, NC. They have a daughter named Maranda Fletcher Conger, per Indiana death certificate.
Absalom and Jonathan Vest/Vess, per Wilkes County court records, suggest a possible relationship with the Fletcher family (I assume they were close family friends), therefore, a Fletcher connection is not a surprise at all and further supports a likely connection to Absalom Vest.
Lucy, Harvey, and Elizabeth (born in North Carolina) settled in Indiana.
Patsey Vest
There is another Wilkes County marriage, via Patsey Vest and Gilpin Eades (1834). Gilpin Eades is also the son of Eziekiel Eades. I assume she is likely another daughter of Absalom and Hannah Vest.
1820 Census records indicate Absalom and Hannah had 5 children:
1 male under 10: assume to be Harvey 3 females under 10: assume to be Lucy & Patsey & 1 unknown. 1 female between 10-15: assume to be Elizabeth
Another William Tunwell Vest Mixup
Lucy and Elizabeth have public family trees (Indiana), however, they connect them to the William Tunwell Vest family of Stokes County, NC, instead of the Vest/Vess family of Wilkes County, NC.
This is likely because of their North Carolina birth. For the longest time, the William Tunwell Vest family (Stokes County, NC) was the only known early Vest family in North Carolina per census records, with the Wilkes County Vest/Vess family buried in court /tax records. We’ve seen this mistake made with other early North Carolina Vess ancestors (Peter and Willis Vess).
But to be fair, there are a lot of VEST families in Indiana who are truly related to the William Tunwell Vest family. AND, some descendants of Peter Vess (North Carolina) and Samuel Vess (Rockbridge Co. Virginia) also relocated to Indiana, making Indiana a mixing pot of different Vest/Vess families.
SO,is Absalom Vest/Vess a long lost forgotten VESS or VEST? DNA testing is the only way to tell for sure! If you or know someone who could be a descendant of Absalom Vest/Vess, please contact us about our Vess Family DNA Project. We are always looking for new testers to help us with our family research!
Sources: Year: 1840; Census Place: Iredell, North Carolina; Roll: 363; Page: 231; Family History Library Film: 0018094 [Hannah Vess]
The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Wilkes, North Carolina; Roll: 649; Page: 360b [Eziekiel Eades & Hannah Eades]
Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Index, 1741-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. [Wesley Dishmond & Elizabeth Vest, William Fletcher & Lucy Vest]
Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1926-1927; Roll: 11 [Maranda Fletcher Conger-Dishmond]
Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Wilkes, North Carolina; Page: 493; NARA Roll: M33_83; Image: 344
Year: 1870; Census Place: Center, Hancock, Indiana; Roll: M593_320; Page: 357A
Year: 1870; Census Place: Richland, Fulton, Indiana; Roll: M593_316; Page: 83A; Family History Library Film: 545815
Familysearch.org Wilkes County, NC (Catalog) 1829 Court Records & 1831 Tax Records
I’ve done some more digging into Absalom Vess of Wilkes County, North Carolina and here is what I’ve discovered:
Absalom “Vess” first appears on record in 1803 in the Wilkes County, North Carolina Pleas & Quarter Sessions Court Minutes 1798-1805 for a couple of jury duty sessions.
In 1806, he is part of a couple more jury duty sessions followed by a court case: Absalom Vess vs. James Fletcher & William Fletcher. I have not found any sources that specifically link this Fletcher family with the Fletcher family in Patrick County, VA. However, Fletcher and Vess seem to have a history together. The Fletcher family in Wilkes county come from Fauquier County, VA, so they may have stopped in Patrick County, but it is not confirmed.
In 1808, Absalom marries Hannah Raymond. I could not find any RAYMOND families, but I did find a REYNARD family in the area, which looks like Reymond in cursive. Hannah might be a Reynard.
In 1809-1810, Absalom Vess is mentioned in the Will documents for William Fletcher: Acct Sale of Estate (1809) and Inventory of Estate (1810).
There are only two family trees on Ancestry.com for Absalom Vest, which states his daughter is Elizabeth Vest who married Westly Dishmon (various spellings). Together they had a daughter named Maranda Fletcher Cogner.
In 1810, Absalom is listed on the Iredell County, NC census and then disappears after that, with Hannah Vess being listed as head of household in 1840.
My guess, is that Absalom Vess was born sometime during the 1780’s and died before 1840.
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 Genealogy 