Pittsylvania, Virginia had many county changes. It includes Franklin, Henry, and Patrick Counties, making it difficult to locate records and follow families.
On Ancestry.com, I stumbled upon an incomplete family tree that led me to the early Pittsylvania records on Familysearch.org.
According to the family tree on Ancestry.com, Samuel Vess married a Mary Doss. It was noted on the family tree that this was concluded by their close proximity to each other on the tax list (above). It was also noted on the family tree that the tax record (not sure where) indicated that Samuel Vess did not reside in that county; which if true, could suggest this Samuel Vess is the same Samuel Vess in Henry/Patrick County, Virginia.
According to a land record that I recently discovered, indicated that the wife of Samuel Vess (in Patrick Co.) is Catherine. While I cannot confirm a Vess-Doss connection, I did find some other interesting things on this tax list above…
Listed is a Vaughn family. We have discovered a marriage record for Peter Vess (Henry co. – which was once Pittsylavania co.) married a Pugnance Vaughn. Also listed is an Alford family, which Betty Vess is mentioned as a witness with an Alford family for David Owen’s property in Pittsylvania Co.
A William Vess is also listed in this record, but on the next page.
It is possible (not yet confirmed though) that Samuel and William Vess from Dunmore County, Virginia ended up in Pittsylvania County, Virginia before the county split off to Henry and Patrick County.
The Patrick County Vess family is getting bigger! Samuel, William, Peter & Pugnance, Jonathan & Elizabeth (father Andrew Heron), Sarah, and now Catherine!
In the Henry County, Virginia land records [Deed books, v. 4-6 1788-1805 Familysearch.org], I discovered three “Vess” records. The remarkable part of this, is that the records are “Vess,” not “Vest.”
Two of the land records are between Samuel and Peter Vess and the other is between Samuel Vess and John Duncan. I still do not know if John Duncan is related to the Duncan family in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
One of the records, between Samuel and Peter Vess, (pg. 114-115), reveal that Samuel’s wife is named Catherine.
This is an amazing find, as it’s rare to find early genealogical records about spouses. It also confirms that Samuel Vess in Patrick County, Virginia in 1790 is not Samuel Vess in Rockbridge County, Virginia in 1800. Samuel Vess in Rockbridge County, Virginia was married to Mary Lyons/ Lenior.
The last record for Samuel Vess is dated 1795 in Patrick County, Virginia. So, what happened to Samuel and Catherine after that? And, what could Catherine’s maiden name be??
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.
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?
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…
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.
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.
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! 🙂
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! 🙂
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…
● 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
Vess Genealogy 