It’s always exciting to add newly discovered ancestors to the Vess family tree!
Rachel Melinda Vess (1881-1969) is a new addition to the Peter Vess lineage. She is the daughter of James Harvey Vess and Mary Josephine Dalton, granddaughter of Andrew Logan Vess and Lucy Malinda Halford, and great-granddaughter of Peter Vess and Catherine Crook.
Rachel M. Vess never appeared on census, due to the 20 year gap in missing census records between 1880 – 1900. Imagine how many Vess ancestors are missing due to the lost 1890 census!
Rachel Vess married Henry O. Smith on May 11, 1899 in McDowell County, North Carolina. Together they had 5 children: Ella Mae, Lina, Alan, Nelson Burlan, and Bulah Josephine.
From what we can tell, the names “Rachel” and “Melinda” hold significant importance to the Peter Vess family, as we see these names repeated throughout several earlier generations. We do know that Rachel is the name of Catherine Crook’s mother, Rachel Haynes. We also know that Peter and Catherine had a daughter named Rachel. However, I am not sure where the name Melinda comes from – perhaps Peter’s side of the family? Records tell us that one of Peter and Catherine’s daughters also went by the name Melinda.
Josiah (Joseph) Vess is the son of Peter Vess and Catherine Crook in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Not much is known about him, as he seems to have disappeared after 1850, like his older brother John. Fortunately, I was able to dig up a little something…
Burke County
Josiah Vess was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, in 1822, most likely on Knobs Creek. In 1831, his father obtained land on Cedar Creek (located in the Broad River Township), which is sandwiched in between Burke and Buncombe County.
We know from Peter’s records, that the family had connections to Burke County, even though they were residents of Rutherford County. This was likely because Cedar Creek is located closely to the Burke County border.
His parents, Peter and Catherine, left Bill’s Creek Baptist Church prior to 1836, and by 1838, they appear to have become members of Bethlehem Baptist Church, located in Crooked Creek of Burke County. This area of Burke County, will later become part of McDowell County in 1842.
Bastardy Bond: Elizabeth Justice
In 1844, Josiah Vess of Rutherford County, was called to McDowell County, to answer to a Bastardy Bond via Elizabeth Jutis (Justice).
I could not find any more court records about it, so I cannot confirmed whether or not Josiah Vess had a child with Elizabeth Justice. But, if true, the child may have been William A. Justice.
William A. Justice was born in 1844 in McDowell County, and died during the Civil War from disease. The 1850 census reveals his mother’s name was Elizabeth Justice, and there was no father listed on census with her.
1846: Family’s Return To Bill’s Creek
On April 27, 1846, Josiah married Zillah (Zilia) Early, daughter of Andrew Early and Nancy Duncan. Together they had six children: Mary Jane, William Bailey, Rhoda Adeline, Zilla, John Jefferson (pictured below), and Emmaline.
Josiah’s son, John Jefferson Vess and wife, Dorce Sylvain Laughter, with children, Jason and baby Zilla.
During the Fall Court of 1846, Josiah, and his older brother John, are part of the deed transaction between his father, Peter Vess, and Joseph Souther. This is when Peter gave his land (on Cedar Creek) to Joseph Souther to settle a $50 debt.
On December 26, 1846, Josiah and his wife, Zilla, along with his brothers John, Andrew, Alfred, and Alexander, become members of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, joining their mother, Catherine who returned in 1844.
On the 1850 census, the Vess family is back in Bill’s Creek (Rutherford Co).
Here we see Josiah, listed with his wife, Zilla, and two of their children, Mary and William. His older brother, John and his family are also listed, as well as their mother Catherine, with the rest of his siblings (except for Andrew, who is living near his Halford in-laws).
Peter probably died shortly after transferring his land to Joseph Souther in 1846.
1849-1853 Conflict With Father-In-Law
We can find records of Josiah Vess in the book, “Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History,” by Helen M. Lu.
Lu notes that Josiah Vess was a member of the church in 1846, 1847, 1848, and 1849.
On October 15, 1853, he was excluded due to excessive drinking. In November, he was charged for threatening to kill his father-in-law (Andrew Early). However, his membership was restored in December, after admitting that he did make “some threat,” but did not follow through with it.
Death of Josiah and Zilla Vess
There is no official record of Josiah’s death, however, Josiah and his family seem to have disappeared after the 1850 census, with their children reappearing after 1870 as adults.
We do know that Zillah died on December 26, 1862, as we find her memorial in the book, “Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History,” by Helen M. Lu. Her memorial does not mention her husband, focusing largely on her young children, suggesting he may have passed away prior to 1860.
“Sister Vess left behind a numerous family of helpless little children to mourn their irreparable loss.” – Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History, by Helen M. Lu.
1860: The Nanney Family
Although Zilla’s death is reported to be in 1862, her children appear to be living with the Nanney family on Cathey’s Creek in 1860.
On the 1860 census, in Cathey’s Creek, Rutherford County, North Carolina, Amos and Temp Nanney list their children as “Thomas, Mary, Zeruah, Jothan, William, and Infant.”
Thomas is the son of Amos Nanney, as later records reveal; but, the other listed children, do not appear in future records or are listed on any family trees. However, their names do match the names of Josiah’s children (Mary, Zillah, John, and William), strongly suggesting, these children are likely VESS.
I cannot confirm 100%, that the children of Josiah were living with a Nanney family in 1860, as the record itself is badly faded (below is just a transcription of it); however, there are a couple of other Nanney-Vess connections.
Nanney Family Connections
Josiah’s oldest daughter, Mary, married Charles Nanney, son of Randal Nanney. And, his son, John Vess is listed in the will for Tinsey Searcy (Nanney), daughter of James Nanney (Amos Nanney’s uncle).
I wasn’t able to find any earlier Vess-Nanney connections. They do not appear as members of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, so I am not sure how the children of Josiah and Zilla became acquainted with the Nanney family.
Burke County, North Carolina is interesting, because many families in Wilkes County, North Carolina relocated to this area after 1800, including our families of DNA interest: the Rose, Parks, and Sparks families. But, so did the Souther family, who were once close neighbors of Absalom Vess in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
Peter Vess seems to have a connection with some of the Wilkes County, NC families in Burke County, NC, but whatever those connections are specifically, have yet to reveal itself…
I found a new Burke County record, dated 1833, with Peter Vess listed on the “Sale of the Estate of Moses Noblitt/ Noblett,” having obtained an ax and a saw from the sale. Also listed, but not the least surprising, is also John Souther. Another record with Vess and Souther.
You can find Noblitt/Noblett on the Vess Family tree, but the connection is generations later, via sisters, Lola Mae Vess and Mattie Vess, daughters of Alfred Vess and Nancy Banther (descendants of Andrew Logan Vess). They married Noblitt cousins, related to the earlier Noblitt family of Burke County, NC.
Moses Noblitt lived on Crooked Creek. In 1831, he added 5 acres to his existing property next to the Davis family. This is interesting for several reasons:
The Vess and Davis families have a long oral history of being old close families, but no one seems to know their history together. We don’t have a lot of Davis-Vess connections on the family tree. Yet, Andrew Logan Vess is buried in the Davistown Free-Will Baptist Church cemetery, that used to be a private cemetery for the Davis family.
Michael Souther, from Wilkes County, North Carolina obtained land in 1801 on Crooked Creek. This makes me wonder if Peter Vess could have also been on Crooked Creek prior to 1820.
Other interesting families on Crooked Creek include the Burgin, Bird, Bellew, and Crawford families:
a) Burgin and Bird are some of my earlier ancestors via my 2nd great grandmother, Cora Nevada Moffitt, wife of Pinkney Vess (son of Andrew Logan Vess).
b) The Burgin family was a prominent family in North Carolina, with large tracts of land and plantations, who were also involved in politics. A website during the early 2000’s, mentioned Burgin having a “Vess” servant, which has been long since deleted (I never saved a copy). If not a man named “Vess,” I do not know what a “Vess” servant could mean. But the idea of Peter having been an indentured servant is not new.
c) Jesse Souther, brother of Michael Souther, came to Burke County after 1810 and appears on record near the Burgin, Bird, and Bellew families.
d) Bellew interests me, because we don’t exactly know (100% for sure) the origins of Nathaniel Vess and Clarinda Bellew.
e) Crawford interests me, because I share DNA matches with Willis Vess of Franklin County, Alabama via a Crawford connection – which is bizarre, as the Willis Vess family, to the best of my knowledge, has never been to Burke, Rutherford, or Buncombe County.
Peter Vess obtained land on Cedar Creek in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1831. This property is located in the Broad River Township, which is sandwiched in between Buncombe and Burke County. Peter’s property is close to the Crooked Creek area, where we are finding records of him in Burke County.
There is so much more to explore in Burke County, North Carolina; especially, in the Crooked Creek area (now McDowell Co), as many of those families later relocated to Buncombe County, where we have more Vess connections.
During the 18th and 19th century, it became increasingly popular among Southern families to use their middle name as their first name.
While it wasn’t uncommon for formal documents to address men by their middle name, rather than their given name, it didn’t usually apply to women (they often had to use their given name).
1852 Case Record: Eleana Vest vs John Vess & Others
An 1852 record was shared with me, about a case between an “Eleana Vest” (deceased) and the children of Peter and Catherine Vess, pertaining to the sale of property.
The immediate question on everyone’s mind is: Who in the world is Eleana Vest?
Jones O Williams Administrator of Eleana Vest Deceased Vs John Vest & Others Petition to sell real Estate
“In this case the Court appoints R. L. Gilkey Guardian [illegible] to the infant defendants to wit, Rachel, Eliz or Malinda, Zephaniah , & Jasper Vest , and orders publication to be made in the Mountain Banner for six consecutive for John, Alfred & Alney Vest to appear at the next term of this court to be held on the 6th Monday after the 4th Monday in June and next to show cause if any they can why the [illegible] of the Petition shall not be granted. Publication made 8th June 1852.
Another record was shared with me, dated 1856, pertaining to the same case above, acknowledging the “execution of an order to Jonathan Williams, a tract of land containing 109 acres more or less.”
Neither record provides a description of the land, but according to a deed record in 1846, Peter Vess transferred his property, “109 acres more or less” to Joseph Souther, to cover a $50 debt. The record did state that if the debt was paid, the transaction would become void.
Because the property involves the children of Peter and Catherine, including their minor children, this strongly suggests this could be Peter’s property on Cedar Creek.
Would this mean, the property was returned to the Vess family at some point? And, if so, is “Eleana,” his wife, Catherine?
Unavailable Records
The case was supposedly published in the Mountain Banner (local newspaper) in 1852, which probably would have included a description of the property. Unfortunately, Newspapers.com, the largest database of newspapers, does not have any copies of the paper published in 1852.
There also doesn’t seem to be any further deed records available regarding this sale of property. Neither under the names of Jones Williams or Eleana Vest to Jonathan Williams.
1848 Court Minutes: Tax List
There are no census records for an Eleana Vest. However, we do see an “Eleazar Vest” on the 1848 Rutherford County, NC tax list with Andy Vest (Andrew Logan Vess). Could this be Eleana (Eleanor), misspelled?
At first I thought this was Eleazar Vest, a real person from Virginia, but there are no records suggesting he ever left Virginia, had any business in North Carolina, or any kind of possible connection to VESS.
Eleanor Is Often Misspelled
In the book, “Bill’s Creek Baptist Church ⎮ Two Hundred Year History 1782-1982,” by Helen M. Lu, there does list an E. C. Vess, Elaner C. Vess, and an Eleanor C. Vess. However, she appears in member lists after 1880, and is noted as the wife of Bailey Vess, with census records (listed as B. W. Vess and Ellen C. Vess) stating she was born in 1851. Rules her out as Eleana Vest in 1852.
I do not know which Bailey Vess. Interestingly, our family lineage for Peter Vess, which is quite extensive, has several ancestors named Bailey Vess; however, neither are listed with a wife named Eleanor C. Vess. I guess we have another mystery to dig into!
Anyway, my point, is that the name Eleanor has various misspellings. I’ve also seen it spelled as Eliana too.
So…perhaps Catherine’s full name is Eleanor Catherine Crook? This might explain why we haven’t found any marriage records between Peter and Catherine.
More Research Is Needed To Confirm
While, this seems like this could be Catherine and may very well be Catherine, we need more records to confirm it!
Nonetheless, this is very exciting! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Citations
Lu, Helen M. Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History. 1984.
John Vess (b. 1820) is the son of Peter Vess and Catherine Crook in Rutherford County, NC. He married Elizabeth Taylor and had 5 children together: Sarah, Silas, Mary, Sophrona, and William.
In 1854, Elizabeth announced her divorce to John Vess in the newspaper, stating he was an out-of-state resident. She married Joshua Souther in Henderson County, NC, the same day she announced her divorce in the newspaper.
A newly discovered record, reveals that Silas and Mary Vess, “orphans of John Vess,” were bound to Joshua Souther in 1855.
This suggests John Vess either died or is long gone from the state of North Carolina!
We do not know where John Vess went after 1850.
There is some speculation that he is one of the three John Vess families in Abbeville County, South Carolina, while there is some speculation that he is John P. Vess in Franklin County, Alabama who is not only the same age at John Vess in North Carolina, but also doesn’t appear in Alabama until 1860.
John Vess as John P. Vess would make those mysterious close shared DNA matches between me (a descendant of Peter Vess) and the Alabama Vess family (connecting to Tennessee Simmons/ Dodson family) make better sense, since John P. Vess married Louisa F. Simmons, who I believe is Louisa F. Dodson, former wife of Zachariah T. Simmons in Tennessee.
Remarkably, by arranging my shared DNA matches to the Alabama Vess family to match their suggested relationship to me on Ancestry’s family tree, strongly suggests that Willis Vess or John P. Vess is the son of Peter Vess.
Unfortunately, just because it would make sense, doesn’t mean it’s accurate.
We need more DNA testing and genealogical records to further explore the relationship between both Vess families.
Andrew Crook is the grandfather of Catherine “Katie” Crook, wife of Peter Vess. He was born in Ireland probably around the late 1750’s. It is not known when he left Ireland, but we do know he was in North Carolina between 1804-1814.
According to his probate record (1814), he has one “illegitimate” son named John Emmanuel Crook (mother unknown) and one daughter named Mildred Arthur Creighton Crook (with Sarah Baber).
Buncombe County, NC Gap Creek
The earliest record we have for Andrew Crook is his land records dated 1804 on Gap Creek in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
In 1804, he obtained land on Gap Creek from Jesse Norton (acreage not specified). Then, in 1805 (issued 1804), he obtained 100 acres of land on Gap Creek, joining the property of William Henry and William Mills. (Wit. J. Paris and Wm Justice)
Ancestry.com, North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files, 1693-1960
Rutherford County, NC Cleghorn Creek
About 1806, Andrew Crook relocated to Rutherford County, North Carolina, where he married Sarah (Sally) Baber, the daughter of James Baber and Mildred Arthur. According to Baberfamilytree.org, their marriage was short, as Andrew died in 1814. They only had one child together, named Mildred Arthur Creighton Crook, born in 1810.
Andrew’s son, John Emmanuel Crook and his wife Rachel Haynes, (parents of Catherine “Katie” Crook) was already living in Rutherford County at the time. They are listed on the 1800 Rutherford Co. census (5 family members). The data on census correlates with the ages of family members who would have been alive during that time. John and Rachel were likely married sometime before 1790 in Rutherford County, NC.
Rachel’s father, William Haynes, is believed to be the first pastor at Bill’s Creek Baptist Church. They lived on Cove Creek. In December 1804 (entered Jan 1803), John Crook obtained 100 acres of land, joining his in-law’s property (William Haynes) on Cove Creek.
We do see Andrew Crook on census in 1810, with his wife Sarah Baber and daughter Mildred. He owned slaves and other records reveal that he lived on Cleghorn Creek.
In 1808, he sold 50 acres of his Buncombe County property on Gap Creek to William Staton, and it appears the rest of the property was then sold to William Justice in 1813 (finalized in 1815).
In 1809, Andrew obtain land on Cleghorn Creek from J. Miller (acreage not specified). He then, obtained an additional 95 acres on Cleghorn Creek from Anthony Dickey in 1811. This property was then sold by the “executors of Andrew Crook” in 1817 and 1820.
Andrew Crook died in Rutherford County, NC in 1814 and is buried in the Twitty-Miller family cemetery (Rutherford County, North Carolina).
Interestingly, Andrew Crook is the only Crook to be buried in the Twitty-Miller family cemetery, suggesting to me, he may have family connections with them. Specifically, with the Miller family, as cemetery mapping indicates he is buried outside the fence with the Miller family, not Twitty family.
Col. Issac Craton – Possible Miller/Twitty Connection
According to family sources, Andrew Crooks mother was a “Creighton.” Hence, his daughter’s full name is Mildred Arthur Creighton Crook.
In Rutherford County, NC we have a Col. Issac “Craton.” Not only is his surname similar to Creighton, but he married a Miller (Elizabeth “Betsey” Miller), and is also listed as a witness on several marriage records for John Crook’s children. Coincidence??
Elizabeth “Betsey” Miller is the daughter of John Miller and Susanah Bell Twitty, granddaughter of the prominent land owner, David Miller! Many earlier residents of Rutherford County and Buncombe County, obtained their land from David Miller.
The Miller and Twitty families (mostly the Miller family) also owned land on Cleghorn Creek in Rutherford County, NC. I am curious if Andrew Crook obtained his land on Cleghorn Creek in 1809 from “John” Miller (listed as J. Miller)?
Now, according to Isaac’s newspaper obituary, family and friends believed he came from Guilford County, NC. This is interesting to me, because we do have a Crook family from Guilford / Rowan County who eventually settled in White County, TN with the Goolsby family. I wonder if there could be a connection?
Andrew’s mother is believed to be a Creighton, so could Andrew Crook and Issac Craton be related? Cousins or perhaps, uncle/nephew? What is Andrew’s connection to the Twitty-Miller family? Was John Emmanuel Crook’s mother a Miller? Or is Andrew Crook buried with the Miller family, because of a family connection to Issac Craton, husband of Elizabeth Miller? So many questions!
Sources:
Ancestry.com, North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Index, 1741-2004 Ancestry.com, North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files, 1693-1960 Familysearch.org, Buncombe County, Grantors Index 1789-1889 Familysearch.org, Rutherford County, Deeds v. 6-8 1800-1808 Newspaper.com FindAGrave.com Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, AL; Alabama Surname Files; Box or Film Number: M84-4563
It’s extremely interesting…Where there is a Souther there always seems to be a Vest/Vess family!
While the Souther family doesn’t appear to be close neighbors, they consistently pop up in Vess research…so, who is this Souther family and could they be related to the Vess family?
Frequent Appearances
Bill’s Creek Baptist Church Rutherford Co. NC The Souther family first appear in the book,Bill’s Creek Baptist Church Two Hundred Year History, by Helen M. Lu, listed as members with Peter and Katy Vest (Peter Vess and Catherine Crook) between 1829-1836. They were received at Crooked Creek in 1828 and dismissed (no date).
Sarah Souther Elizabeth Souther Mary Souther Jane Souther John Souther Joseph Souther
Buncombe Co. NC After we discovered Catherine’s family, I noticed that Stephen Souther is listed next to Rachel Crook (Catherine’s mother) on the 1830 Buncombe County, NC census.
Rutherford Co. NC Deed In 1846, Peter’s land (109 acres) was transferred to Joseph Souther to cover a $50 debt. If the $50 was paid, the contract would become null and the property would be reinstated to the Vess family.
Marriage In 1854, Joshua Souther married Elizabeth Taylor, ex-wife of John Vess (son of Peter Vess).
Michael and Jesse Souther
The Souther families mentioned earlier include Michael and Jesse Souther from Wilkes County, North Carolina. They are the sons of Stephen Souther and Mary Polly Bussell. Their siblings include: Joel Souther, Elizabeth Gilreath, Sarah Hampton, Henry Souther, and Capt. Joshua Souther.
The Souther family lived on Hunting Creek in the Brushy Mountain community, near the Fletcher, Smoot, Gray, and Rose families and, interestingly, also the Vest family (Absalom and Jonathan Vest/Vess).
Michael U. Souther: Connections and Observations
Michael Souther eventually settled in Buncombe County, North Carolina, while his brother Jesse Souther eventually settled in Old Fort, McDowell County. However, prior to that, they made a stop in Crooked Creek, Burke County, NC (now McDowell County) and Rutherford County, NC.
Michael Souther obtained 30 acres of land on Crooked Creek in Burke County, NC in 1802, joining his own land. His brother Jesse doesn’t appear in Burke County until 1810.
Michael Souther is believed to have married a woman named Agatha; unfortunately, her maiden name is unknown.
Their son, Stephen Souther, husband to Nancy Gilliam, obtained land in Burke county in 1818 on Broad River next to his father-in-laws property.
Stephen later relocated to Buncombe County, and is the one listed next to Rachel Crook on the 1830 Buncombe Co. census.
Michael and Agatha’s other son, Joshua Calvin Souther, married Dicy Gilliam, and later married the ex-wife of John Vess (Elizabeth Taylor).
In 1810 and 1820, Michael Souther is living in Rutherford County, NC, before relocating to Buncombe County in 1830, where he passed away in 1834.
I noticed Michael and his son, Joshua, are listed next to Ambrose Ownsby on the 1820 census. In 1830, Joshua is still listed next to Ambrose Ownsby, but also with Minyard Gilliam, his father-in-law.
Small World: Ambrose Ownsby is the father of Zillah “Granny Duck” Murphy, the grandmother of Cora Nevada Moffitt, wife of Pinkney Vess (son of Andrew Logan Vess and Malinda Halford).
It is also interesting to note that Joshua Souther, has a son named William Haynes Souther. Could that be a reference to the late Rev. William Haynes, Rachel Crooks (Haynes) father? Is that why, we see Stephen Souther, Joshua’s brother, next to Rachel Crook (Haynes) on the 1830 Buncombe County census?
Jesse William Souther: Connections and Observations
Jesse Souther appears in Burke County via the 1820 census. He married Nancy Jane Combs in Wilkes County, NC in 1800. They live in the Crooked Creek area (now McDowell County), eventually settling in Old Fort.
It is Jesse’s family who appears on the Bill’s Creek Baptist Church member list with Peter and Katy Vest (Peter and Catherine Vess) between 1829-1836.
In 1831, Peter Vess obtained land in the Broad River Township of Rutherford County, NC, which is located in between both Souther families of Crooked Creek (McDowell County) and Fairview (Buncombe County).
The Vess family disappear from the Bill’s Creek Baptist Church member list between 1836-1843. In 1838, Peter (Vest) is listed as a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Burke Co. NC, located outside of Old Fort, not too far from Davistown Freewill Baptist Church where Andrew Logan Vess (Peter and Catherine’s son) is buried.
Bethlehem Baptist Church in Burke County, NC would be much closer to Peter’s property than Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, but not sure if the Souther family was also a member of the same church.
Absalom & Jonathan Vest/Vess Wilkes County, NC
Absalom and Hannah Vest in Wilkes County, NC also resided in the Brushy Mountain community near the Souther, Fletcher, Smoot, Gray, and Rose families.
We find Absalom Vest listed with the Souther family (Joel and John Souther) via the Wilkes County, NC 1805 tax list and (his wife Hannah) on the 1830 census.
Abslaom’s daughter, Elizabeth Vest, married Wesley Dishmond (Dishman). His brother William, married Hilley Souther, who is the daughter of Joel Souther and Patsey Brown.
Jonathan Vess is also believed to be in the same area, as he is listed as a witness to a deed record (dated 1805) between the Duncan and Fletcher families, joining lines with the Smoot family in Brushy Mountain. The Smoot and Souther families have been long time neighbors.
The Fletcher family seems to have some significance, as Absalom is mentioned in Estate records for the Fletcher family. Furthermore, recent research has uncovered parts of Absalom’s linage, revealing a family connection to the Fletcher family, through his daughter Lucy Vest who married William Fletcher.
While I have not found any records to show a direct Souther -Vess family connection, it is extremely intriguing how close they are to both Vest/Vess families (Absalom and later Peter).
So, the question remains – is the Souther family related to the Vess family, are they close family friends, or is it just all mere coincidence? An even bigger question is…could we be on the right track of finding the parents of Peter and Willis Vess!
For those of you who have been following this site, posts are pretty rare during the summer season.
The summer is when I rejoin the living, with my head out of the past and my toes in the sand! 🙂 BUT, that doesn’t mean Vess Genealogy goes on vacation too…NO WAY!
I post little genealogy nuggets here and there all year round on our Vess Genealogy Facebook Group! Posts often include newspaper articles, recently discovered records, family pictures, stories, DNA updates, and of course, some genealogy humor!
We have an ACTIVE Vess Family DNA Project! This project includes Autosomal and Y-DNA testers!
We continue to seek BIG Y-DNA testers for the Willis Vess, Jonathan Vess, and Nathaniel Vess lineages, as well as Vess/Vest descendants of unknown ancestry. We do not need any more Y-DNA testers for the Peter Vess/Andrew Logan Vess line.
Requirements for Y-DNA testing: Direct male descendant with the VESS or VEST surname.
If interested in BIG-Y Testing, please contact me via FB Group or vessgenealogy@gmail.com.
TRAVERS DNATesting
A Big-Y test for an American TRAVIS line was submitted – waiting updates.
We continue to seek Y-DNA testers for the TRAVERS/TRAVIS family, whose Y-DNA testing can help us determine how the TRAVERS and VESS families are actually related to each other, and possibly help the Vess family uncover more early VESS ancestors and family history!
Requirements for Y-DNA testing: Direct male descendant with the TRAVERS or TRAVIS surname.
Research News
Last season, I felt like I had exhausted all the research resources available at that time. It was really discouraging. However, new genealogy records are uploaded every day and I am told new records have been added to Familysearch.org. I also have a few leads that may help me uncover some new family records! It’s just a matter of taking the time and effort to dig them up!!
The recent discovery, by Vincent Vess, that Catherine Cook is in fact a CROOK has led to so many new intriguing discoveries!! I can’t wait to share them this season!
I am still working on the Willis Vess family tree – it’s a bit complicated. But, we’ll get there! If you have any lineage information to share, please email me at vessgenealogy@gmail.com or message me via FB Group.
And this season… I will begin to really explore the early TRAVERS/TRAVIS families!
Help Us With Content & Research
I am always looking for more ancestor content (for my Featured Ancestor page) and new information to help further Vess family research!
If you have any information to further research or any family stories / pictures to share on this site, please email me at vessgenealogy@gmail.com or feel free to share them on our Vess Genealogy Facebook Group.
Furthermore, please pass the word about our Vess Family DNA Project! DNA genealogy is helping us bust through Vess genealogy brick walls! We welcome everyone to participate – Autosomal testers (anyone related to Vess) and Y-DNA testers (directmale descendants with the Vess surname). Our project is through FamilyTreeDNA.com
This site has been created to explore, share, and preserve Vess family history! It has also been created to help other family researchers with their own research.
Lastly, please share our research respectfully, by properly acknowledging us by citing thevessname.com as a source. Thanks! 🙂
Over the last couple of months, I’ve been following the DNA evidence provided by Vincent Vess and have made some remarkable discoveries that are beginning to shed more light on early Vess family history!!
DNA Triangulation Match 1 (ROSE-SPARKS) 🧬
The DNA evidence begins in Wilkes County, North Carolina via the Rose and Sparks families.
According to DNA research provided by Vincent Vess, descendants of Willis and Peter Vess have DNA matches (via the DNA Triangulation Method) with the Emmanuel John Rose and Reuben Sparks families of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Emmanuel Rose and Reuben Sparks are connected through their children: Elizabeth Rose and John Sparks.
These results suggest that an ancestor of Peter and Willis Vess lie somewhere on the ROSE/SPARKS family tree.
It is believed that the connection to VESS is likely via ROSE, rather than SPARKS. So, I began to research the ROSE families, which surprisingly, led me to the WHITLOCK & GREEN families!
Early Rose Families of Wilkes County, NC
According to the Rose Family Association (DNA Project), there were 2 different earlier ROSE families in Wilkes County, North Carolina during the same time period.
The first family, identified as Y-DNA Group A-1, includes John Rose Sr. and his sons, Benjamin, John Jr., Sterling, and Hosea, all who appear to have lived north of the Yadkin River.
The second family, identified as Y-DNA Group L, is John Rose, who appears to have lived south of the Yadkin River. He is noted as being “closely related, if not, a direct descendant of John Rose and Lucy Bennett (Virginia),” via Bennett Rose and Mary Haustraete (Surry Co. NC). It is also noted that this John Rose eventually settled in White County, Tennessee from Surry/Wilkes County, North Carolina.
Emmanuel Rose: Likely Related to Group L
Emmanuel John Rose 🧬 did not have any sons; therefore, there are no direct descendants available for Y-DNA testing for his lineage. However, family websites for the Emmanuel John Rose family, strongly believe Emmanuel John Rose is also the son of Bennett Rose and Mary Haustraete. If accurate, he would be related to John Rose (Group L).
Furthermore, if accurate, there could be a VESS connection somewhere on the John Rose / Lucy Bennett line.
Looking further into this John Rose, I came across our second DNA Triangulation match: George Washington Parks (Grayson Co. VA), as well as other intriguing connections!
DNA Triangulation Match 2 (Parks) 🧬
John Rose (Group L) obtained land on “Gray’s Creek,” in 1782, in Wilkes County, NC, joining the Gray’s line.
The Gray’s line refers to the property of James Gray (obtained in 1780). James Gray married Elizabeth Parks, daughter of Capt. John Parks Sr. and Mary Jane Sharp. Her brother, James Franklin Parks I, is the grandfather of George Washington Parks🧬 of Grayson County, VA (another DNA Triangulation Match to Vess)!
Brier Creek Baptist Church
Interestingly, Brier Creek Baptist Church is located south of the Yadkin River near the properties of John Rose and James Gray.
Between 1801 – 1805, the Rose, Parks, Sparks, and West (Vest) families are mentioned as members. Brier Creek Baptist Church appears to be the center hub for families north and south of the Yadkin River.
Brier Creek Baptist Church is a branch of the Three Forks Baptist Church. The Three Forks Baptist Church was established by Richard Henry Green. *1787 tax list, Richard Green is listed under the Isabell District with William Vest, Benjamin Duncan, Lawerence Duncan, and Russell Jones (residents of Kings Creek).
Church records reveal that several members, despite being distantly apart, bounced between both churches.
1787 Tax List: Brushy Mountain Community
On the 1787 tax list for Wilkes County, NC, John Rose is listed with some notable families: Souther, Combs, Smoot, Parks, Fletcher, and Dunkin in the Brushy Mountain community south of the Yadkin River. All these families, at some time or another, have a record connected to the Vest/Vess family.
Note: Absalom Vest and Jonathan Vess appear in the Brushy Mountain Community on record between 1803-1805.
John Rose (Group L) Relocates in 1790
John Rose (Group L) relocates to Surry County, North Carolina in 1790, prior to the arrival of the Vest/Vess family (Peter, Absalom, Jonathan, William, and Pryor 1800-1810).
However, keep in mind, there was an earlier documented “William Vest” in Wilkes County, NC between 1787-1790 on Kings Creek (parts of which is documented as part of Brushy Mt), located south of the Yadkin River, west of John Rose’s property on Gray’s Creek.
In 1790, John Rose is listed on census (Surry Co.) next to the Jarvis family, who are also related to the John Rose/Lucy Bennett family (via Abner Rose). Interestingly, on the same census page, we see Mathew Sparks and William Whitlock…
Sparks, Whitlock, Dodson, Green, & Parks Families
Mathew Sparks is distantly related to Reuben Sparks 🧬 (father of John Sparks, husband of Elizabeth Rose) via family in Maryland. Mathew Sparks died in 1813, having eventually settled on Hunting Creek (border of Wilkes/Surry Co.).
William Whitlock though, is much more interesting…as he is the son of James Whitlock Jr.
James Whitlock Jr. is the son of James Whitlock Sr. and Agnes Christmas. His siblings include Charles, Mary, Thomas, and Nathaniel Whitlock. Nathaniel Whitlock is the grandfather of Talithia Whitlock, wife of Willis Vess in Franklin Co. Alabama.
James, Charles, and Thomas Whitlock settled in Surry/Stokes County, NC from Virginia.
Whitlock-Dodson & Patrick Co. VA Connection The daughter of Charles Whitlock, Agnes Whitlock, married Reuben Dodson. Reuben Dodson, according to family websites, is believed to be the brother of William Dodson who settled in White County, TN. This would be the same William Dodson who owns property on Caney Fork next to the Pryor, Peter, William, and Willis Vest family.
Furthermore, it is strongly suggested that Reuben and William Dodson are also the sons of Lambeth Dodson from Patrick County, Virginia. Lambeth Dodson is listed next to William and Peter Vess/Vest/Voss on the Patrick County, VA tax list via Mayo River.
Thomas Whitlock, brother of James, Charles, and Nathaniel Whitlock, can be seen on the same page as Peter and Samuel Vess on the 1799 Patrick County, VA Tax List.
Also, note that Abner Hodges is also in Surry County at this time. Abner Hodges is listed on the early tax lists near Samuel Vess in Henry County, VA and then later listed next to Peter Vest on census in White County, TN.
It appears John Rose relocated to an area of families from Patrick County, VA, who are documented in records with the Vess/Vest/Voss family prior to 1800.
Green & Parks Family There is an 1806 Surry County, NC court record for James Whitlock to oversee a road near Flat Rock, a branch of Hunting Creek. Including in the record is Thomas Whitlock, Richard Green, and James Parks (James Franklin Parks I).
The Whitlock and Green families supposedly have earlier connections, along with the Gray family; however, I do not know the specific connections at this time.
Richard Green created the Three Forks Baptist Church and is listed next to William Vest on the 1787 Wilkes County, NC tax list.
Talithia Whitlock, wife of Willis Vess in Franklin Co. Alabama, is a distant cousin of Richard Green via her mother, Elizabeth Green. They are related via family in Trenton, New Jersey.
Richard Green’s son, Amos Green, is listed on the Bill’s Creek Baptist Church member list (dated 1829-1836) with Peter and Catherine Vest (Vess) in Rutherford County, North Carolina; along with several members of the Souther family from the Brushy Mt. community in Wilkes County, NC.
Where Next…
The Jarvis family in Surry County, NC (related to the Rose family) has land records on Fisher Creek, which is interesting, because Fisher Creek is where we find the Bray family and tax notes mentioning a William “Voss,” who appears to be unrelated to the Vass family in Stokes County.
Also, War of 1812 records for Surry County, NC list a William and Peter “Vest,” who also appear to be unrelated to the VEST family in Stokes County, NC.
At this time, the border between Wilkes and Surry County, along Hunting Creek (Brushy Mt.) might be where some of the Vess family split after 1810, with the Willis Vess line going west to Tennessee (w/ Dodson, Rose, and Hodges) and the Peter Vess line venturing down south to Rutherford County, NC (w/ Green & Souther)…
According to Vess family records and the 1850 census, we know Peter and Catherine Vess had 10 children: John, Josiah, Andrew, Alfred, Rachel, Eliza, Alexander, Elizabeth, Zephaniah, and Jasper.
So, who in the world is “Belinda” Vess on the Rutherford County, NC marriage record with Isaac M. Bradley Jr. in 1860?
In 1860, the Vess family have split ways.
John is divorced and lives out of state (whereabouts unknown), with his children living with their mother in Henderson Co. with Joshua Souther.
Alfred is also out of state, in Georgia, married to Mary McFarland from South Carolina.
Josiah is missing from census, but his family is still in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Andrew is married to Lucy Halford and is living next to Josiahs brother-in-laws (James and Drury Early) in Broad River, Rutherford Co. NC.
Alexander is also missing from the 1860 census, but marriage records show he married Martha Wilkerson in December of 1860 in McDowell County.
Rachel, Eliza, and Jasper are living with Dempsey Sumners in Buncombe County. Rachel will stay with Dempsey until she is about 40 years old and Jasper will eventually inherit Dempsey’s property, taking in Eliza.
Zephaniah is living with Noah Whitesides in Buffalo Creek, Rutherford County, NC near Issac Conner (uncle of Andrew’s future wife, Synthia Conner).
However, we do not know what became of Elizabeth…
She may have passed away after 1850, or most likely she got married in between census and was lost due to a name change. It is also possible that she may have married Issac M. Bradley Jr., under a middle or nickname.
The bondsman listed on the marriage record between Issac M. Bradley Jr. and Belinda Vess is N. H. P. Whitesides. That is Noah H. Patterson Whitesides, who took in Zephaniah Vess on the 1860 Rutherford County census in Buffalo Creek.
There are several Bradley families on Buffalo Creek with Noah Whitesides. There is an Issac Bradley, son of Absalom Bradley, who would be the same age as Elizabeth; however, I do not see any “Belinda’s” on census nor any Elizabeth’s who would be around Elizabeth’s age (of course that doesn’t mean she isn’t there). Bradley family trees and history sites do not seem to mention a Bradley-Vess family (most sources focus on a Issac Bradley Jr. -Ledbetter family).
Hopefully, with a little more digging, we will be able to identify this mysterious “Belinda” Vess.
Vess Genealogy 