Oral tradition states that Peter VESS of Rutherford County, North Carolina married Catherine “Katie” COOK, but was that her real maiden name?
Peter and Catherine VESS are genealogical brick walls. They appear out of nowhere as early as 1820 on census in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The only record with them together is an 1829-1836 church list from Bill’s Creek Baptist Church. We have yet to discover any documents of Catherine’s maiden name, making it difficult to locate her parents.
However, recent DNA evidence has revealed that her maiden name may actually be CROOK.
The Lack of Evidence For COOK
We’ve had a theory, for a long time now, that COOK may not be Catherine’s real maiden name.
Despite the numerous COOK families in North Carolina, autosomal DNA barely produces any matches. Personally, the only COOK’s I’ve ever encountered in my autosomal DNA matches are COOKS assigned to my maternal side.
I’ve explored the 3 different COOK families passing through Rutherford County, NC: The Ephriam Cook line, James Cook line, and the later Loney Cook line; none of which have records or family trees with a Catherine “Katie” Cook.
In 2021, DNA evidence suggested we may have a Sparks-Rose maternal ancestor on the Vess line; but we aren’t sure which side of the family: Peter’s or Catherine’s. Since the early Sparks-Rose family predominately lived in Wilkes County, NC, it is probably best to say the connection might be on Peter’s side; especially, after discovering a VESS/VEST family in Wilkes County, NC.
So, that leaves us back to square one, until just recently…
DNA Evidence For CROOK
Vincent Vess, who uses DNA triangulation methods to try to locate earlier ancestors, has made a fascinating new discovery!
Through extensive work, he has discovered a genetic connection to the CROOK families of Rutherford County and Buncombe County, North Carolina.
His work led him to a John and Andrew CROOK. Adding this family to Catherine Katie’s Cook’s line in Ancestry.com, updated his Thruline matches revealing a bunch of matching DNA cousins, most of which are descendants of Zephaniah Crook and his sister Mary Polly Crook; suggesting that Catherine “Katie” Cook’s parents are JOHN CROOK and RACHEL HAYNES.
Exploring the CROOK family records, Vince made an intriguing observation, noticing the names within the CROOK family are the same names seen in the PETER VESS family: ANDREW, ZEPHANIAH, RACHEL, JASPER, and JOHN.
I did not come up in Vince’s shared DNA matches he used to discover the CROOK lineage, likely because I am too distant to detect (we’re already distant cousins). At first, my Thrulines showed no DNA matches to the Crook family after adding them to my tree. However, today, my Thrulines now show 1 DNA match with a descendant of Zephaniah Crook. Interestingly, all, and I do mean all, their shared DNA matches are descendants of Andrew Logan Vess, lineages from both wives Halford and Connor, strongly suggesting a connection with an early ancestor of Andrew Logan Vess. The Willis Vess lines would not show up, because Catherine married Peter Vess.
So, these DNA results seem very promising.
According to Ancestry.com, I have discovered a couple of ancestry trees for John Crook and Rachel Haynes, listing a Catherine Katie CROOK as their daughter, born in 1804, having lived in Bill’s Creek, and died after 1850- no marriage or childrenare listed. I find this super intriguing, as the information is not only oddly similar to our Catherine Katie COOK but there are no records of VESS. So, I am wondering, if their Catherine Katie CROOK is our Catherine Katie COOK??
The CROOK & HAYNES Family
John Crook married Rachel Haynes, the daughter of William Haynes. According to the book, Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History, by Helen M. Lu, William Haynes was their first pastor.
The Haynes family owned land near Bill’s Creek, specifically, on Cove Creek and Knob’s Creek. Looking at the 1820 census for Peter Vess, I concluded that he lived on Knobs Creek, just wasn’t sure which one as there are 2 located in the Broad River Basin. In 1850, without Peter, Catherine is back in the Bill’s Creek area.
In 1804, a John Crook, presumably the father of Catherine, obtained land on Cove Creek joining the Haynes line in Rutherford County, NC. William Haynes had land on Cove Creek near Broad River, issued in 1794, in between Knobs Creek and Bill’s Creek.
In Buncombe County, NC, we have an Andrew Crook who obtained land on Gap Creek in 1804. John Crook later obtained land in Buncombe County, NC, joining land with his son Zephaniah Crook. Interestingly, Buncombe County, NC is where Peter and Catherine’s youngest children went to live after their death. They are seen on census with Dempsey Sumner, who has land on Cane Creek. Gap and Cane Creek connect.
The Crook family has a history of having been in Rowan County, NC on Lick and Tom’s Creek. There appears to be 2 John Crooks in Rowan County, one that went to White County, TN with the GOOLSBY family and one who went to Rutherford County, NC and then Buncombe County, NC. Each are intriguing, because we find VESS in both locations.
Further research is needed, of course, but I am super excited we have a new lead to Vess family history!
Last year, research was slow and eventually came to a halt due to an extremely hectic schedule.
I just now realized that my research ended with a major genealogy cliff-hanger regarding the recently discovered Vess family in Wilkes County, North Carolina! I’ve received a lot of new information that I am super excited to share!
I’ve just recently posted an exciting update in the sidebar regarding Y-DNA for the Travers family and the (R1a) Vess families of North Carolina and Alabama!
Please bare with me as I work on updating the website with new information and resources this month.
I am looking forward to a new year of amazing discoveries!
I attended the North Carolina Genealogical Society Webinar yesterday about DEEDS hosted by David M. McCorkle who created nclandgrants.com. It was a very insightful Webinar that I wish was longer, because I learned so much!
After the Webinar, it took me less than 5 minutes to unearth a new record for Peter Vess! Below is an 1846 Deed Record that is forcing to me re-write Peter’s timeline.
The Deed record has Peter and Josiah Vess as the Grantors and Joseph Souther as the Grantee.
“This the 21st of December 1846 State of North Carolina Rutherford County
Know all men by [illegible] presents that whereas Joseph Souther stands Peter Vests [illegible] for the prosecution of a suit in the Superior Court of our County [cut off] [illegible] Thomas Young deceased Executor or administrator William Young [cut off] [illegible] And Now Know Ye that in order to save harmless the said Souther [illegible] in said Suit and to secure said dee and for the further consideration of the [cut off] [illegible] dollars to us Peter Vess and Joseph Vess in hand paid by Joseph Souther [cut off] [illegible]and payment whereof we do hereby acknowledge have bargained sold [cut off] [illegible] conveyed and confirmed and by these presents do bargain [illegible] alien convey and [illegible] unto the said Joseph Souther his heirs and [illegible] forever the following [cut off[ [illegible] parcel of land situated lying and being in the county and state [cut off] [illegible] including the place on which the said Peter Vest now resides on the waters [cut off] [illegible] creek begining on a Red oak on the North rock of [Fills Creek] thru 18 [cut off] [illegible] a Red oak thru North 20 poles to a Black oak in a hollow thru West 154 poles to a stake on a line of a 25 acre [illegible] [illegible][illegible] it South 15 [cut off] 30 poles to [illegible] on the side of a hill corner of the 25 acres [illegible] [cut off] out to west 22 poles to a stake on the top of a ridge then South to [illegible] Whiteoak then 168 poles to a white oak on the line of the [illegible] to the beginning [illegible] one hundred and nine acres to be the [illegible] [cut off] less together with all and singular the rights members [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] and appurtenances to the said [illegible’ belonging or in any [cut off] [illegible] appertaining to have and to hold with appurtenances unto the said Joseph his heirs and [illegible] forever And we the said Peter Vest and Josiah vest [cut off] [illegible] [illegible] herby [illegible][illegible]our heirs Executor administrators to warrant [cut off] [illegible] defend the aforesaid land and tenements unto the said Joseph Souther [cut off] heirs and [illegible] forever provided always nevertheless and ur us the [cut off] [illegible] and meaning of these presents that if the said Peter Vest shall and [cut off] [illegible] and [illegible] have harmless the said Joseph Souther as his security in said [cut off] [illegible] and that [illegible] am [illegible] pay the said fifty dollars to the said Jospeh Souther in that ease this deed shall [illegible’ determine and become absolutely null and [cut off] [illegible] otherwise to remain in full [illegible] and effect. in Testimony whereof [cut off] [illegible] unto [illegible] hands [illegible] seals this the 14th day of November 1846.
The [illegible] after signing John Vess
his X mark Josiah Vests Peter Vests
State of North Carolina Rutherford County
Fall Court 1846 No 11 Josiah Vess and Peter Vess acknowledge in open court the Execution of the above deed it is therefore records and ordered to be registered.
G. E. Logan“
Familysearch.org Deed Book 45 Minutes, Pleas, and Quarter Sessions Familysearch.org
This changes my timeline for Peter Vess. Previously, he was nowhere to be found after 1840 with Catherine Vess rejoining Bill’s Creek Baptist Church in 1844 without him, as if he had passed away. But, here he is on a deed record that states this is land in which Peter Vess “now resides,” which I am assuming means he is still alive in 1846.
It appears that he owed a debt that he could not pay and gave his land to Joseph Souther to clear his debt. It is interesting to note that his sons, John, Josiah, Andrew, and Alfred joined Bill’s Creek Baptist Church at this time. But, if Peter is still alive, what happened to him? Why did he not return to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Catherine and his sons?
Also, I do not know who Joseph Souther is, except that him and his family were dismissed from Bill’s Creek Baptist Church prior to 1830. I wonder if there is any relation to Joshua Souther who later married the wife of John Vess (Elizabeth Taylor)?
I am excited to announce that Vess Genealogy has expanded to a Vess Family Research Site. Of course, it is still a work in progress as I continue to improve the website with new features and more information.
Vess genealogy is challenging to research, because of its unique name in which DNA has interestingly revealed is a name shared by several different unrelated families. I would like to expand the Vess Genealogy website to help other VESS families sort out their lineages and uncover their origins.
This is a monumental task in which will require the help other researchers who are also interested in the VESS name.
While my research blog will continue, I am still working on adding new pages that will provide researchers with current information that can be found in one spot rather than having to collect information from numerous blog posts.
I am still working on creating PDF files for specific lineages and I would like to add family charts.
Further posts will have an open comment section and I am looking into creating an active Discussion Forum (that part will take time to create though) to encourage further collaboration among researchers.
The Vess Family DNA Project is still active and we continue to encourage male descendants to participate in Y-DNA testing.
Furthermore, I am currently working on a VESS Genealogy E-book for the Peter and Willis Vess lines.
I absoultely look forward to working with you to help uncover the mysteries of the VESS family!
The NEW YEAR is upon us and we have some very promising leads to get us started!
1.Vess Family of Patrick County, VA Recently we discovered that Samuel, William, and Peter Vess owned land in Patrick County, Virginia and that Samuel Vess has been in the area (Henry County) since 1782. Who is this VESS family?
2. DNA Triangulation DNA has matched the descendants of Peter and Willis Vess to possibly some families in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
a. Sparks Family b. Ephraim Pennington (I found him in Wilkes County, NC!) *DNA matches still being explored c. Hodges Family
3. Maps, Maps, and History! History and maps can teach us so much!
Did you know the Great Wagon Road crossed the North Mayo River where Samuel, William, and Peter Vess owned land in Patrick County, Virginia or that early established residents of Wilkes County, North Carolina were forced to sell their land and venture off to the west and south due to conflict?
The Sparks family settled on Hunting Creek but their property was on the border of Wilkes and Surry (now Yadkin) county. The Yadkin River was an important waterway used to travel south, as the Yadkin River turns into the PeeDee River going right through Anson and Montgomery Counties (Travis, Sugg, Pennington, and Bellew families – just to name a few).
4. William Vest of Wilkes County, North Carolina We have William Vest listed near Thomas Hodges in Wilkes County, VA. The family bio for Thomas Hodges mentions he was married in Virginia to Nancy Cottrell, but does not specify where, so I am not sure, if Thomas Hodges is related to the Hodges in Franklin County, VA that matches closely with Peter and Willis Vess. Interestingly, Cottrell is a surname that comes up frequently in my Autosomal DNA list (6-8 generations back) matching other VESS relatives – possibly a connection via COX.
In the same area (New River), per land records, is the Ephraim Pennington family (New River Pasture Branch). Unfortunately, this is a Pennington family that consists of numerous generations with the “Ephraim” name (I think 5). Further investigation is needed.
5. Whitlocks I’ve found the Whitlock’s in the Surry/Stokes County area. Some near Samuel, William, and Peter Vess of Patrick County, VA via Snow Creek (Stokes Co), near Bellew’s Creek and one in Patrick County, VA. Also, another on Hunting Creek near the Sparks family.
The Whitlock’s appear to have early connections with a Saunder family, per a probate record for Thomas Christmas (great-grandfather of Talitha Whitlock, wife of Willis Vess). We have a Saunders family in Wilkes County, VA near the Whitlock and Pennington families and early court records for Henry/Patrick County mention Col. Peter Saunders (Are there connections?).
When and where did the VESS family meet the Whitlock family? Did the Willis Vess line travel through Tennessee or South Carolina through Georgia? Did you know there is a Whitlock family in Union County, South Carolina who was also part of Stephen F. Austin’s 300 in the Republic of Texas? Did you know there is also a Willis family in Patrick County, Virginia?
Are there connections? Are we getting closer to the truth or just chasing more ghosts?
Wishing everyone a great NEW YEAR and Happy Genealogy trails!
My previous post was extensively long with so many thoughts I just had to get out of my brain. Just to clarify, I was not making any conclusions nor suggesting we are related to the BEST or VICE families. However, I was trying to point out how extremely intriguing it is that Peter and Nathan Vess are in the center of these families, yet seem to lack a solid family connection with any of them. Seems a bit odd.
I am conflicted. My gut at the moment is telling me there is a Wilkes County, NC connection, but my gut is also telling me, there is a Charles Travers connection too. However, just because the VESS family is closely related to the TRAVERS family (DNA suggesting we are descendants of TRAVERS), doesn’t mean, we split from the TRAVERS family in the United States. The VESS family could have likely spilt away from the TRAVERS line long before they crossed the Atlantic.
It is absolutely mind boggling. I feel like the truth is near, yet still very far from reach.
I am very excited about JOHN BESS/BEAS in South Carolina. I am even more excited to discover he is completely separate from the John VICE family on the 1810 census. However, research suggests John Bess, neighbors of Samuel Dunaway, is related to Boston Best (Jerg SebastianBosch). Yet, further research reveals that something is just not right…
Thinking Aloud…
Peter and Willis Vess, born in North Carolina, are proven to be genetically related to the same VESS family; however, they are found states apart from each other.
Nearby in White County, Tennessee are records of a Peter, William, and Willis Vess, with the assumption that Peter and William maybe the same Peter and William from Patrick County, Virginia.
Willis Vess supposedly has a brother named John Peter Vess, who was born in Tennessee in 1822. These findings, if related, suggest a migration from Patrick County, VA to Franklin County, Alabama; however, it doesn’t explain Peter and Nathaniel Vess in the Carolinas, unless the VESS family split apart in Wilkes County, North Carolina where we find record of William Vess.
Peter Vess in North Carolina is 31 years older than John Peter Vess in Franklin County, Alabama and he is 19 years older than Willis Vess (Alabama), but DNA suggests that Peter is more closely related to Willis Vess than he is to Nathaniel Vess, even though Nathaniel Vess lives closer to Peter. Is this due to lack of DNA testers, Nathaniel being a half-brother (more distant), or is Nathaniel Vess not related at all? Matching descendants of both Peter and Willis Vess appear on autosomal DNA tests, which suggests there is a close connection 6-8 generations back, either as brothers or 1st cousins.
Even descendants of John Peter Vess appear on autosomal DNA tests, but I can’t help but wonder, if maybe he is misplaced on the family tree. If records of Willis Vess in White County, Tennessee is Willis Vess of Franklin County, Alabama, then perhaps it isn’t too much of a stretch to wonder if John Peter Vess (who married a Whitlock) is the son of Willis Vess.
However, the families we are following from Patrick County, VA to Franklin County, Alabama is missing a JOHN VESS! According to Anna Popejoy, the father of Willis Vess is John Vess and he settled in the Foxtrap area of Franklin County, Alabama in 1819. Peter’s land record in 1831, suggests an older John Vess (perhaps a father or brother). And, according to the Nathaniel Vess line, they are related to Jonathan William Vess and Elizabeth Heron (married in Patrick County, VA) who settled in the Republic of Texas in the 1820’s (clearly not the same John Vess as Foxtrap).
Jonathan William Vess could have connections to South Carolina, for that there are records of James Heron having property near Peter and William Vess in Patrick County, VA as well as property in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Perhaps there are two different James Heron families, but we also know that many of the families in South Carolina settled in Franklin County, Alabama.
We also have records of James Heron having property next to a mysterious Vess family in Tazewell County, Virginia (not too far from the VESS/VEST family in Rockbridge, VA and not to far from the VICE family across the Cumberland Gap in Kentucky and a Henry Vice in Washington County, VA.) Also, in this area in Virginia is the WHITE family that Elizabeth Vess, wife of Jonathan Vess, married after Jonathan’s death in Texas.
We also have a Samuel Vess associated with Peter Vess in Patrick County, Virginia. Samuel Vess seems to be connected with the Vess family in Rockbridge County, VA – via Hiram Vess. Are there two Samuel Vess families in Virginia?
Then, if we take a look at South Carolina, we have a John VICE, John BESS, a mysterious Henry and James Vist, and the BEST family. Mixed in between both Virginia and South Carolina are the VOSS families.
Haplogroups – Y DNA
Vess and Travers Families -Haplogroup R1a
Peter and Willis Vess are descendants of the TRAVERS family from Lancashire, England (Haplogroup R1a). Unfortunately, there is a huge gap in our lineage between 1650 (estimated date as to when we split from one known Travers family) to 1791 (birth of Peter Vess). At some point, in between, our lineage took on the VESS name, which may have evolved from TRAVESS (Travis).
The VESS name is modernly new and research strongly supports it is a surname that originated in America. Statistics today, reveal that the VESS surname is predominately found in the United States and the name is greatly linked to the Peter and Nathaniel Vess families of North Carolina. The TRAVIS name evolved from the TRAVERS family from Ireland (who settled in the Carolina’s) and perhaps some from England (who settled in Dorchester, Maryland). At this time, we know that the Peter Vess line (descendants of Travers) broke apart from the Travers family in Maryland sometime prior to 1650 in England. However, Y-DNA appears to confirm that the England Travers and Ireland Travers are of the same family. The question that remains, is which line did Peter and Willis Vess descend from?
Our family story states that Peter, Jonathan, and Nathaniel Vess came from Ireland, which would lead us to assume we may have connections with the Travers / Travis family in the Carolinas, for that they are descendants of the Travers family from Ireland (Robert Travers). But, if we are related to Peter and William Vess in Patrick County, VA, could we have come from an unknown Travers in Maryland, who may have Ireland roots, rather than English roots like the known Travers in Dorchester, Maryland? Many families from Maryland traveled the Great Wagon Road down through the Virginia counties we find a mix of VESS, VEST, and VICE families.
VOSS/ VAUX/ VASS Families – Haplogroup Unknown
We do have a John VOSS documented in Caroline County, Maryland, next to Dorchester, Maryland (he seems a bit out of place). *Note: Jarvis Willis in Tennessee has land along the same river as Peter and William Vess in White County, TN and his family comes from Caroline County, Maryland. The Sparks family found in Wilkes County, NC and Rutherford County, NC also come from Caroline County, Maryland.
Near Maryland in Virginia we have the Robert Vaux family (descendants of the ancient De Vallibus family). We do not know what Haplogroup they belong to.
Further south in Virginia, we have records of a John Voss, who has some descendants that are documented to settle in South Carolina via Joseph VOSS. The son of Joseph Voss, William Voss, married Elizabeth ORR in Meckenlenburg County, NC and they settled Lawerence County, Tennessee (just above Franklin County, Alabama). This VOSS family is shown to be related to a Henry Voss, who left Virginia having owed a lot of debt to a neighbor. Early records only show a BASS family; however, most recently, I’ve discovered an early HENRY BESS record in South Carolina. Also note, that the 1810 census for Spartanburg County, SC has a Henry VIST listed, next to a James Vist.
It is speculated that the VOSS and VASS families are related. The VASS family is related to Vincent VASS who settled on the North Carolina coast (having spent time in Stokes County, NC). The VASS family is located geographically close to the Travers family from Ireland; however, no correlations have been found. They also seem to intertwine with the VOSS family who are also found in Casewell County, North Carolina, where John VICE and Frances Roebuck of South Carolina married and where we find Greenbury Voss/Vess.
According to researchers, the origins of the VOSS and VASS families are unknown. It is supsected that they are related to the VAUX family, but that has yet to be confirmed, nor are there any active DNA projects that reveal their Haplogroup.
Vice Family – Haplogroup Unknown As mentioned earlier, one of the Vice families are found in Casewell County, NC (where we have a mix of VOSS and VASS families). The Vice family Haplogroup is unknown, but they are interestingly found near the VESS family of Rockbridge County, VA and the many families of interest associated with Peter and Nathaniel Vess in the Carolinas.
According to their family story, their earliest known ancestor is John Vessey from Frederick County, Virginia.
Mysterious VESS Haplogroup R1b A recent Vess family whose records go back to Tazewell County, VA (1850) reveal themselves to be Haplogroup R1b. According to researchers, their earliest known ancestor for this Vess family maybe a “Henry Vess,” who seems to have connections with Patrick County, VA. In my opinion, based on recent research, is that he maybe he is related to Henry VICE, who I found living in between Patrick County, VA and Tazewell County, VA.
Vess family of Rockbridge- Haplogroup Unknown I was informed that the Vess family of Rockbridge may be descendants of the WEST family. The West family’s Haplogroup is R1b. However, the Rockbridge VESS/VEST family is related to Samuel Vess/Vest. Again, is this the same Samuel Vess associated with Peter Vess in Patrick County, Virginia?
Also in Rockbridge, I have found that the VICE and VEST families having passed through. Are they related?
VEST Family- Haplogroup I
Y-DNA testing has confirmed that Peter and Willis Vess are not related to William Tunwell Vest of Stokes County, North Carolina. William Tunwell Vest is a descendant of John Daniel Vest of Chesterfield County, Virginia and their Haplogroup is I, drastically different than our VESS Haplogroup R1a.
BASS Family – Descendants of Native Americans We can rule out a BASS family connection. They are Native American with lineages originating from Norfolk, Virginia. This doesn’t mean we should disregard records with the BASS name for that VESS records could easily be misspelled as BASS.
BEST / BOSCH Family North Carolina- Haplogroup Unknown The Best family of Lincoln County, North Carolina is very well documented. Records can be traced all the way back to the boat they arrived on to America and they arrived with the Ecker family. Again, this doesn’t we should disregard records with the BEST name, for that VESS records could easily be misspelled at BEST – even today, the VESS name is often mistaken as BEST (I know from personal experience).
Interestingly, I have discovered more BEST families in North Carolina who do not seem to be related to the Sebastian Best, yet found closely near the wandering VOSS families.
DUNAWAY
This is the record (below) that sparked my gears to turn! Nathaniel Vice in Kentucky married Sarah DUNAWAY.
As per my previous post on John Bess, he appears to be connected with Samuel Dunaway. He is listed near Samuel Dunaway on census records, Dunaway is listed on his 1810 land record, and he signed as a witness on Samuel Dunaway’s will in South Carolina.
Records show that Samuel Dunaway and John Bess lived on Thicketty Creek, which is quite distant from the VICE family on Enroee River. According to the book, Tryon County, North Carolina Minutes of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1769-1799, Samuel Dunaway Sr. was a constable. Thicketty Creek area was also once part of Tryon County.
However, John BESS and the John VICE families are separate families, confirmed by the 1810 census (showing John VICE and his sons, Nathaniel, George, and John Roebuck Vice together) and John Bess near Dunaway and Henry Pettit. Note: Peter is on census listed with Henry Pettit in 1820 Rutherford County, NC. It is documented that Henry Pettit is from South Carolina (son of Joshua Pettit).
Yet, we have Nathaniel Vice in Kentucky married to a Dunaway. Is there a connection? Also, the father of Nathaniel Vice in Kentucky is said to be NATHANIEL CAMP VICE.
This is interesting, because the CAMP family, traveled down from Frederick County, VA (where Nathaniel Vice is from) and settled in Rutherford County, North Carolina on Island Ford – just a few miles away from Sandy Run. In fact, Benjamin Camp has land on Sandy Run (Tyron County). Sandy Run is where we find Henry Pettit and Peter Vess in 1820, in addition to long time residents: Bridges, Young, Webb, Logan, Sparks, Hambrick, and Willis families. Also note, that Thicketty Creek is not too far from Sandy Run.
BUT, the BEST family throws in a monkey wrench, for that some family trees claim that JOHN BESS of Spartanburg County, South Carolina is John Best or some say Jacob Best, son of Boston Best. And, the 1790 census record, shows a connection: Here we have Samuel Dunaway with Boston Best, Henry Pettit, and Joshua Pettit.
This is likely Boston Best JR., because Boston Sr. is in Lincoln County, NC in 1790, near the Gosnell family. Gosnell is connected to Nathaniel Vess.
Something Not Right
Now, here is where something doesn’t seem right. The family trees of John Bess of Spartanburg County, South Carolina are not consistent. John Bess (Jr) born in 1815 settled in Warren County, Tennessee. This John Bess is listed as the son of either John Bess Sr. (son of Boston Best) or John Bess Sr. (son of Thomas Hobbs). I do not know who Thomas Hobbs is.
From my perspective, John Best, son of Boston Best Sr. died in Lincoln County. He is shown on the 1790 census with Boston Best Sr. and his brother Jacob Best. So, it is unlikely that John Bess is John/Jacob Best, son of Boston Best Sr. However, Boston Jr. appears to be in Spartanburg County, SC in 1790 (away from his family in Lincoln County, NC).
Boston Best Jr. could of had a son named John Best, but is he John BESS that went to Warren County, TN. According to the HENNESSEE Family webpage, John Bess of Spartanburg County, SC (b. 1783) married Lucinda Kimberlin. I do not know when they moved to Tennessee, but their youngest son is noted to have been born in Tennessee in 1817.
John Bess of Spartanburg County, SC who is associated with the Dunaway family on census, appears to have been born between 1766-1784. He obtained land on Thicketty Creek in 1810 and is listed on Dunaway’s will dated 1815. So, John Bess could certainly be the John Bess who went to Warren County, Tennessee. So perhaps, this John Bess is the son of Boston Best Jr. Unfortunately, there is very little documentation on Boston Best Jr.
How Does VESS Fit In?
What boggles my brain the most is how Peter and Nathan Vess are smack dab in the middle! Is Nathan Vess a BESS, with BOSCH origins? If anything, the Gosnell-Best connection seems to fit very well for him. Is Nathan part of our of VESS family story, because he is geographically close to Peter? Is Peter related to Nathan via a VICE – CAMP- DUNAWAY connection on Sandy Run?? Which may also explain a distant genetic connection.
Why does Fredrick BASS keep popping up all over the place too – in Wilkes County, NC and Anson County, NC near Bellew, Sparks, Rose, and Sugg families, near Charles Travers. Is Frederick Bass the son of Boston Best known as Frederick Best???
The Suggs family moved from Anson County, NC to Franklin County, Alabama near Willis Vess. They were listed as neighbors of Charles Travers in Anson County (when it was Mecklenburg- making them neighbors of BEST family), and according to Charles’ family bio, there is mention of a connection with David Benson. David Benson is shown on census with the Gosnell and Bellew families in South Carolina (1790). Also, it is suspected that Charles Travers is a descendant of Robert Travers from Ireland.
Is there a connection and if so, how is it all connected???
I am very excited to have found a new record for Peter Vess!
1838 Rutherford County, NC Court Minutes
In the Fall of 1838, Peter Vess was selected as a Juror for next January; however, later records indicate he failed to appear.
Unraveling Peter and Catherine’s Past
Many sources say Peter Vess died a pauper and is buried in Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, but is that true?
Peter obtained land in 1831 on Cedar Creek in the Broad River Township of Rutherford County, North Carolina (below). According to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History, by Helen M. Lu, Peter and Catherine were members until 1836.
The last record I discovered of Peter Vess was a church record dated 1838 for Bethlehem Baptist Church in Burke County, which explains what happened to them after 1836.
Bethlehem Baptist Church is located in today’s McDowell County (below), not far from Peter’s property on Cedar Creek in the Broad River Township of Rutherford County, NC. McDowell County did not exist until 1842 and Broad River Township area didn’t become part of McDowell County until 1844. So, it makes sense that we find Peter in two different places in 1838.
With Peter being a resident of Rutherford County, NC (1840 census), but yet a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church across the county border in Burke/McDowell County, NC, certainly makes it difficult to find records on him.
According to Helen M. Lu, Catherine Vess came back to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church in October 1844 without Peter. We can probably accurately conclude that Peter had died and if so, records of his death would be floating between Rutherford and McDowell Counties, because his property in Broad River Township of Rutherford County, became part of McDowell County in 1844!
So the question is, which county settled his estate?? If Catherine moved back to Bill’s Creek in 1844 (1850 census), his property must have been sold and if so, to who?
Zilla Vess, wife of Josiah Vess (son of Peter), is the only VESS buried in Bill’s Creek Baptist Church cemetery (per church cemetery records) and recent research suggests the Vess family (Catherine and her younger children) may have moved to Buncombe County, NC after 1850. To be honest, I think Peter is buried in McDowell County whose tombstone is likely too deteriorated to recognize.
In addition, I do not think Catherine died in Rutherford County either. Despite her last record showing her in Bill’s Creek, her younger children are shown on the 1860 census record living with Dempsey Sumners in Buncombe County, NC. Dempsey Sumners has spent his entire life in Buncombe County, so the only way I can assume he ended up with the VESS children is if Catherine had moved to Buncombe County in between 1850-1860.
I am not sure if Dempsey Sumners is kin, but his mother is Elizabeth Grace Davis. I am told that the Davis and Vess families are very close. Andrew Logan Vess is buried in Davistown Cemetery, which originally was a private Davis family cemetery.
I still do not know how the Davis and Vess families are considered close. My VESS family tree only has 1 DAVIS relative (Dicie Augustus Davis) and it doesn’t look like her family has any connection with Elizabeth Grace Davis. However, the Davis family that Nathaniel Vess line married into is related to Elizabeth Grace Davis – is there a connection?
When it comes to the North Carolina VESS family tree, we can all pretty much agree that our earliest known ancestor is Peter Vess; however, Peter was not the only VESS family in North Carolina during his time. According to the 1830 census, Nathaniel Vess and Clarinda Bellew (with her father John Bellew) were also in Rutherford County, North Carolina. For the most part, our family trees from these two men are pretty accurate; however, what if I told you that Sarah Jane Vess (wife of Jackson Pressley), shown as a descendant of Nathaniel Vess, might actually be a descendant of Peter Vess??
DISCLAIMER:
Please note that the information provided within this post is a personal opinion based on personal interpretation of genealogical records and DNA data. Individual researchers and readers are strongly encouraged to do their own research and come to their own conclusions.
Only 1 Connection With The Nathaniel Vess Line
It’s odd, but all my DNA connections to the Nathaniel Vess line are all through the descendants of Sarah Jane Vess and Jackson Pressley.
Now, I just assumed that maybe descendants of other Nathaniel Vess lines are just not testing or maybe DNA relatives are too distant to show up as a DNA match (perhaps Peter and Nathan Vess are half-brothers or cousins). There is also the possibility, I am related to this particular Nathaniel Vess line via my mother’s side who also has deep Carolina roots, but there are other descendants of Peter Vess reporting the same particular Nathaniel Vess connection (so, it’s clearly not on my mother’s side).
However, just recently, Vince informed me that a new tool called, Theory of Family Relativity on myHeritage.com, suggests the descendants of Sarah Jane Vess and Jackson Pressley may be related to Peter Vess via his son John Vess.
That’s a lot to take in!
So, I decided to dust off some old research notebooks and take another look at Nathaniel and Peter Vess.
Sarah Jane Vess VS Mary Jane Vess
Reviewing numerous family trees for Nathaniel Vess, his daughter is often listed as either “Sarah“ Jane Vess or “Mary” Jane Vess; both shown as the wife of Jackson Pressley.
Many researchers have noted that Sarah and Mary are probably the same person, whereas others list them as separate people. However, upon further investigation, Sarah Jane Vess and Mary Jane Vess appear to be two different people who just so happened to be born at the same time (1840) and both have connections to Haywood County, North Carolina!
So, who is who?
In my opinion, based on genealogical records, Mary Jane Vess is likely the daughter of Nathaniel Vess and Clarinda Bellew, whereas Sarah Jane Vess is likely the daughter of John Vess, son of Peter Vess. I come to this conclusion based on marriage and census records, in addition, to the history of John Vess.
What We Know About John Vess (Peter’s son)
John Vess was born about 1820 in North Carolina to Peter and Catherine Vess. He married Elizabeth Taylor and they had 4 children together: Sarah, Silus, Mary, and Sophrona.
Silus and Mary appeared to have died young, Sarah appears to have disappeared, and Sophrona married Columbus Summey.
John Vess disappeared after 1850, during the same time the rest of the Vess family kind of split up; presumably after the death of Catherine. In 1854, we have a newspaper clipping announcing a Petition for Divorce between Elizabeth and John Vess, suggesting John Vess had moved out of state. During the same year, Elizabeth reverts back to her maiden name and marries Joshua Souther. We find her and her children (Viss) living with Joshua Souther in Henderson County, North Carolina in 1860.
Henderson County, NC Makes The Difference
Sarah Jane Vess and Jackson Pressely were married in 1856 and according to the 1860 census record, Sarah and Jackson were living in Henderson County, North Carolina, same county as Elizabeth and Joshua Souther.
In 1860, Mary Jane Vess, was still living with her parents Nathaniel and Clarinda Vess (Vert) in Haywood County, North Carolina. So, clearly not the same the person.
In 1863, Mary Jane Vess married Phillip Davis in Haywood County, North Carolina.
A connection with the Davis family makes sense, considering Andrew Jackson Vess (son of Nathaniel Vess) supposedly married Mary Davis in 1862.
I think the confusion between Sarah Jane Vess and Mary Jane Vess is with their connection to Haywood County, NC, for that we know that Nathan’s family once lived in Haywood County, NC. However, Sarah Jane Vess doesn’t appear in Haywood County until 1870 with Jackson Pressely, after Nathan’s family moved to Tennessee.
I did find a few family trees showing Mary Jane Vess as a descendant of Nathaniel Vess married to Phillip Davis, instead of Jackson Pressley, and interestingly, I am not a DNA match.
Also, I noticed a lot of family trees stating Sarah / Mary Jane Vess died in Washington. However, I believe Sarah Jane Vess, wife of Jackson Pressley, was remarried to a man named Eli Glen, where she eventually moved to Georgia (below). Further research is needed though and surprisingly opens up an entirely new theory about John Vess’s whereabouts about his divorce with Elizabeth Taylor (to be shared in a later post).
Based on genealogical evidence, I am convinced that Mary Jane Vess and Phillip Davis are part of the Nathaniel Vess line whereas Sarah Jane Vess and Jackson Pressley are part of the Peter Vess line.
Connection Between Peter Vess and Nathan Vess Still A Mystery
Well, Sarah Jane Vess was my only DNA connection to Nathaniel Vess. Now, that research strongly supports her connection with Peter Vess instead of Nathan Vess, does that mean Peter and Nathan are not related?? No way!
My Autosomal DNA only goes back 6-8 generations. It barely picks up the descendants of Peter’s children, so technically, if Nathan and Peter are related, it would likely be too distant to show up on my Autosomal DNA test results.
We really need a male Vess descendant from Nathaniel Vess’s line to do a Y-DNA test to confirm a genetic connection between Nathaniel, Peter, and Willis Vess. Until then, we can only assume they are related and we must continue to search for genealogical evidence to confirm their family relationship to one another.
A genetic genealogy method known as Triangulation recently suggests the VESS family may have a SPARKS – ROSE maternal ancestor. I think this is incredible, unfortunately, I was on a hot trail until I accidentally lost all my recent research due to epic user error. So, below is a look at the bits and pieces of what I’ve been working on lately…
Not Too Far From Foxtrap
Hidden in plain sight, I discovered SPARKS, HESTER, and WILLIS families west of Foxtrap (Franklin County, AL). Interestingly, these families have documented history with records dating back as early as 1820! FINALLY!
A few SPARKS family websites reference Russellville, but they also mention an earlier place called, “Frankfort,” which is actually on the plat-map (below). I am guessing Frankfort came first, as we know that many of the early residents in the area had to travel north for supplies.
Below, I outlined Foxtrap and Mountain Star (red box) where Willis VESS and John WILLIS have property. And I outlined (blue box) the SPARKS, HESTER, and WILLIS, west of Foxtrap area. I also highlighted Frankfort, family cemeteries and Foxtrap / Mt. Star, just to give you an idea where the families are geographically from one another.
It is strongly believed that Willis VESS was named after the WILLIS family, suggesting the two families may have a longer history together. At this time, I do not know if John WILLIS (neighbor to Willis Vess) is connected to the WILLIS family in the Frankfort area; however, further research strongly suggests a likely connection.
Andrew Jackson Willis & Artamissa Sparks
My discovery of the SPARKS, HESTER, and WILLIS families, was accidental. Somehow I came across records of Andrew Jackson Willis and Artamissa Sparks.
Again, I am not sure if Andrew Willis and John Willis are related. It pretty much led me to a dead end. However, I was able to find information on the Sparks family:
Artamissa was born in Spartanburg County, SC (1816).
Her parents are William Sparks and Eunice Woodruff.
William Sparks lived on the Enoree River. In the 1820 census, he is listed on a page with Nancy Pool, Woodruff family, and looks like a John Willis.
He was born in Wilkes County, NC.
He is a descendant of Mathew Sparks and Sarah Thompson. (Thompson is a big name in Franklin County, AL too)
I match with the Sparks family on both sides of my family (just to make it more challenging). However, I do match with a Hester line from Franklin County, Alabama (they are shown on the map above too, with Sparks and Willis families). This is a 5th-8th cousin, descendant of William Sparks and Eunice Woodruff.
Artamissa’s brother, married Nancy Benson who is from White County, Tennessee. I am not sure if she is related to David Benson who is in connection with Charles Travers in Anson County, NC.
Now, I also match with a descendant of William Sparks (1783-1869) and Rhoda Pennington (4-6th cousin) of White County, Tennessee.
This William Sparks is brother to Solomon Sparks Sr. who married Sarah Thompson. Solomon and Sarah had Reuben Sparks, who had John Sparks that married Elizabeth Rose, daughter of Emmanuel Rose (Wilkes County, NC).
I also match with descendants of Solomon’s other son, John Wesley Sparks who married Sarah Shores.
It appears all these Spark families are related, but the family tree is a little complicated.
William Sparks, husband of Eunice Woodruff, is a descendant of Matthew Sparks, who is supposedly (it differs between sources) the brother of William and Solomon Sparks (mentioned above). Between different sources, the generations differ, but all of them at one point or another connect to Joseph Sparks. It’s very confusing.
Also, I match with a descendant of Jonas James Sparks from Tazewell County, VA. I am not sure how he falls on the Sparks family tree.
So, there is definitely a Sparks connection on the Vess side!
William Sparks and Rhoda Pennington are very intriguing because they settled in White County, Tennessee. Pennington is a big name in Franklin County, Alabama. Anna Popejoy says Pennington families traveled with the Whitlock family. Rhoda Pennington is supposedly the daughter of Major Jacob David Pennington and Mary Tuttle (both born in SC). I don’t know how William Sparks ended up in White County, TN, but he’s not the only Sparks to do so. It probably had something to do with the War of 1812 or crossing over from Wilkes County, NC.
Sparks has a connection with Duncan and Watson, which are family names on the Patrick County, VA deed list with Peter and William Vess. I am not sure if it’s related, but I just wanted to make note of it.
*Note: Some of my DNA matches to descendants of the Sparks Family of Wilkes County, VA may also be via the COX family. My great-grandmother Pearl Lena Cox married my great-grandfather James Elmer Vess. At this time, I believe my DNA matches with the VICE family (South Carolina and KY) and VESS family from Tazewell County, VA might also be through my COX line connected through the Cordell family. [Not confirmed yet]
Exploring Wilkes County, North Carolina: William Vest
We find a William Vest in Wilkes County, as early as 1789. Records confirm he is not William Tunwell Vest of Stokes County, NC. William is listed on the 1790 census record next to Thomas Hodge.
Thomas Hodge was born in Virginia, possibly having ties with the Hodge family in Franklin County, Virginia (Vess family has genetic ties to the Hodge family in VA-specific connection not known yet). Thomas Hodge has a documented history which states his family settled in a place called Hodges Gap.
Hodges Gap is located in the town of Boone, in today’s Watauga County, NC. Watauga County was established in 1849 from parts of Ashe, Caldwell, Yancey, and Wilkes. The town Boone was named after Daniel Boone of Wilkes County. From my perspective, overlaying these county maps, Hodges Gap appears to have once been part of Wilkes County (which explains why Thomas Hodge and William Vest are close together on a Wilkes County census record).
Also, on the same page of the 1790 census are numerous Rose families. The Sparks family (related to Solomon Sparks) is also in Wilkes County, NC at this time, but there is also a few Sparks families in Surry County, NC too.
Now, Wilkes County is a mess when it comes to boundary changes. Wilkes County was established in 1778 from Surry County, NC and Washington District.
State of Franklin and Washington District (Watauga Association)
There is no better place than here for ancestors to disappear!
Portions of Wilkes County, NC was once part of the Washington District, which was part of the brief existence of the State of Franklin. The State of Franklin comprised of several Tennessee Counties and the Washington District, where the Washington District eventually dissolved into Washington County, TN, that once extended to parts of Wilkes County (which is now part of Watauga County).
I know, super confusing!
Anyway, the Washington District was established by settlers of the Watauga, Nolichucky, and Holston river valleys who created their own short-lived government called the Watauga Association.
The Holston River is where we find James Heron (who also has land in Abbeyville Co. SC as well as in Patrick County, VA along side William Vess/Voss and Peter Vess), Henry Vice, and the White family who later have connections with Johnathan Vess via his wife Elizabeth Heron who married Peter White.
So, clearly there is a lot going on up there in the Washington District area.
I haven’t looked up all the names above, but I can tell you that Zac Isbell stands out.
There is an Isbell family in Franklin County, Alabama near Willis Vess. Miller Isbell (below) is related to Zach Isbell (above). I am still in the process of researching more information about this, but I thought that was pretty interesting.
Sparks Family in Rutherford County, North Carolina: Possible Connections To Peter Vess
Vince sent me a potential lead about a Sparks family in Rutherford County, North Carolina, which really made things interesting!!
In Rutherford County, NC there is a Sparks family via Lewis Morgan Sparks, son of John Sparks.
According to the link Vince sent me, “Sparks Cemetery – A Civil War Era Memorial,” by David Abbott, John Sparks is often confused with John Sparks in Wilkes County, related to Solomon Sparks. So, there is a possibility that perhaps the Sparks-Rose connection we get via Triangulation may be referring to this line, instead of the Solomon line. Further research is needed though.
John Sparks in Rutherford County, NC supposedly has connections with Spartanburg County, South Carolina (Enroee / Tyger River area). There is a Sparks family in Spartanburg County, SC (Matthew Sparks 1790) who is from Maryland and they are neighbors with Richard Willis, which is interesting, because I believe John Willis in Franklin County, Alabama maybe related to Richard Willis of Spartanburg County, SC (not confirmed yet).
Early census records show the Sparks and Willis family are close to the Pool family, who has family connections with Henry Pettit (neighbor of Peter Vess in 1820).
The Sparks family in Rutherford County, North Carolina lived on Sandy Run and Shoal Creek, near Willis Branch (map below). Even in North Carolina, the Sparks and Willis families are close together. Interesting to note, Henry Pettit later obtains land in this area too.
This area is located in today’s Cleveland County (was once part of Rutherford County). North of Shoal Creek, we interestingly have “Knob Creek.” This is not the Knob Creek near Bill’s Creek, but Knob Creek near the Lincoln County line, where the Mooney family lives and where the Tryon courthouse was located (a family home). Turns out, Knob Creek is also Township 10 in Cleveland County.
According to Abbott, Lewis Morgan Sparks was married to Sarah Bridges, daughter of Samuel Bridges and Mary Hamrick. Bridges and Hamrick are super familiar family names and I can’t tell you how excited I was when I pulled up the record in which I remembered seeing those names: 1820 census record for Peter Vess!
Another interesting find, is that the neighbor of Samuel Bridges on the 1820 census is ALFRED WEBB. Could Alfred Webb Vess be named after Alfred Webb?? Also, James Logan is in the area too! Esom Logan (above) is the son of James Logan!
Further research on the Bridges and Hamrick families reveals they were once neighbors with a George Vaughn. Could he be related to Pugnance Vaughn, wife of Peter Vess of VA or Margaret Vaughn, wife of John Vess of AL??
Prior research narrowed Peter’s location to a Knob Creek and now current research appears to have narrowed it down even further, possibly to Sandy Run / Shoal Creek area!! Which makes total sense! The Mooney family had lots of property in this area too, which could explain David Mooney on the 1820 census record above.
My Final Thoughts
Current research strongly suggests some kind of triangle-connection between North /South Carolina border area – Franklin County, Alabama – and Tennessee/North Carolina area. Pretty much all the leads I come up with bounce between these three geographical places.
It is plausible our Vess family trail is lost in the area that was once part of the short-lived State of Franklin and there definitely appears to be a Vess connection somewhere with the Sparks family.
I am excited to have narrowed down Peter Vess to a more specific (much more plausible) area in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1820.
I still have a handful of leads to explore! I am so excited!
Vess Genealogy 