Vess surname

Vess Surname and Finding Related Records

/ J. V. / Leave a comment

The challenging part of Vess Genealogy is locating early “Vess” records and trying to determine if they belong to the R1a2 VESS family, the I-M253 VEST family, or a different family of a similar surname.

What Do We Know About The “Vess” Surname

The Vess surname related to the R1a2 North Carolina Vess family (Peter and Willis Vess line) is strongly believed to have been shortened from the surname TRAVIS (TRAVESS). The surname Travis is a variant of the surname Travers.

Y-DNA testing reveals that the R1a2 North Carolina Vess family are descendants of the earlier Travers family of Lancashire, England, which supports oral traditions that the Vess surname is not its original surname. 

Locating & Identifying “Vess” Family Related Records

Vess records often have the VEST surname. This makes it incredibly difficult to distinguish them from other unrelated Vess/Vest families. 

However, it is critically important to view the original document, for that many VESS family related records have been indexed under the wrong name (usually VEST) due to illegible handwriting.

The Vess name written in Old English is spelled, “Vefs.” Sometimes, it is misspelled as, “Vesf,” which is often incorrectly transcribed as VEST, as the f, often looks like a t. Sometimes, the e is incorrectly transcribed as an a or an o, often resulting in other variations, such as VASS, VAST, or VOST. 

While early records do exist with the VESS name, the Vess name on records did not become consistent until after 1850, when the United States implemented a mandatory school system, improving literacy. 

How To Know If A Record Is Vess-Related

We have generally found that IF an early ancestor has genealogical records that use the Vest, Vess, Vist, Vost, Vert, Vass/Voss names interchangeably in a single location, they are most often VESS-related. 

Whereas, the VEST family, who are unrelated to the VESS family, rarely, if ever, have “Vess” records. If there is a record indexed under the Vess name for a Vest ancestor, it is usually due to illegible handwriting on the original document.

“Vess” May Have Once Been Pronounced As “VOSS”

Oral traditions from the R1a2 Vess family mention that the VESS name was believed to have once been pronounced as “VOSS.” This is plausible, as the surname Travis, with a thick accent, could have certainly sound like “TRA-VOS.” To further support this theory, we have discovered that very early records of Vess (pre-Revolutionary War), alternate between Vess/Vass/Voss, more frequently than between Vess/Vest. 

One theory, based on records discovered thus far, could be that the early families with records alternating between Vess/Voss could be related to the early families with records alternating between Vess/Vest. Both families shortened their name from Travis to Vess, which was pronounced either Voss or Vess, depending on the accent and likely recorded as what appears to be “Vest” due to illegible Old English handwriting.

A Vess-Related Record Does Not Automatically Indicate A Vess Relationship and Vice-Versa

The ability to locate Vess-related records has allowed us to slowly identify and isolate groups of different earlier Vess and Vest families; however, we cannot in good faith, connect these families without additional supporting genealogical records (probate, census, birth, marriage, etc.) to prove a solid connection to one another, even in the event, DNA may suggest a relationship. 

Genealogical records are required to build complete and accurate family trees.

William Voss: Surry County, North Carolina

/ J. V. / Leave a comment

Just recently, I found Peter Vess on an 1805 Wilkes County, North Carolina tax list in an area bordering Surry County, North Carolina, consisting of families who appear to have a genetic connection with VESS (Sparks, Rose, and Parks).

Between 1812-1814, there is a War of 1812 Muster Roll record with William and Peter Vest, whom of which are not seen on any VEST family trees. Could they be Vess?

While trying to dig up more information, I discovered an 1812 tax list (Thomason District) in Surry County, North Carolina, for a William VOSS. It is noted that he did not turn in his “list according to law.” Perhaps, because he was enlisted in the War of 1812.

The earliest known VOSS record near this county is Reverend Thomas VOSS who lived in Stokes County, North Carolina; appearing on Stokes County census records as early as 1800 near the VEST family in Winston-Salem area. His son William Voss, was born in Stokes Co. (not Surry), with his earliest record being the 1820 Stokes County census record. I do not believe the family of Thomas Voss ever lived in Surry County, NC.

Is This William Voss a Vest?

It’s not unusual for the VESS name to be transcribed as VOSS or VEST.

VEST and BRAY are listed in the War of 1812 record for Surry County (below). Thomas Bray is William Bray’s son (mentioned in the above tax record). The Bray family lived near Fisher River, close to the Wilkes county line.

Upon further investigation, the Sparks family (Benjamin Sparks) had properties along Little Fisher River too, as well as owning a property (Swan Pond) that specifically mentions being next to the Wilkes County line. Benjamin Sparks is the son of Reuben Sparks, whose family might have a maternal connection to VESS.

Peter Vest is later listed on the War of 1812 muster roll (2nd Regiment of Surry County) in 1814, with families who are also closely associated with the area close to the Wilkes County border (if not on the border).


I have not found any more VOSS records in Surry County, strongly suggesting this off-the wall Voss on the 1812 tax list maybe actually be a Vest/Vess.

The tax list suggests William Voss had land. He may not have a land record, but he might be mentioned in a neighbors land record. The task now is to pinpoint where this William Voss had land and who his possible neighbors might have been.

There is still a lot of exploring to do, but I feel like we are certainly on the right track!








Earliest Known Vess Record: BETTY VESS 1773

/ J. V. / 1 Comment

Quick Recap

In Wilkes County, North Carolina between 1787 – 1790, there is a WILLIAM VEST. He is found residing in the Isbell District along Kings Creek. In 1789, he is appointed to oversee the road along Elk Creek. Then, in 1790, he appears to have moved to the Judd District on Reddies River.

After 1790, the VEST name disappears. However, between 1803 – 1810, we begin to see the VESS name with Absalom, Jonathan, William, and Pryor “Vess.” After 1810, these men completely disappear from Wilkes County, North Carolina.


Betty Vess 1773: Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Looking at the 1790 Wilkes County, North Carolina census for William VEST, he is listed next to Barnet OWEN (Judd District). After a little digging, Barnet OWEN is related to Henry MULLINS (also on 1790 census).


Barnet OWEN and Henry MULLINS, both purchased land in 1787 on the waters of Reddies River at the head of Tumbling Shoal Branch. Reddies River connects to the Yadkin River. These are the only two families with land records, via nclandgrants.com, referencing “Tumbling Shoal Branch,” so I assumed these families probably have close connections with each other.

I discovered a family website, “The Descendants of Henry Mullins,” by Charles Owens. According to Owens, Henry Mullins purchased land from William Owen in Pittsylvania Co., VA in 1773; listing BETTY VESS as one of the witnesses! If this record does read “VESS,” it would become the earliest known “VESS” record found to-date.

Also listed as witnesses is the ALFORD family, which we know is related to the VEST family (Bedford / Chesterfield Counties). However, the ALFORD family is quite extensive, according to their amazing website, The ALFORD American Family Association, and thus has connections with many early American families.

I am in the process of trying to find the original record between Henry Mullins and William Owen to see if there is a property description to determine exactly where in Pittsylvania County, VA this property was located; for that it may better determine if Betty Vess is a VESS, VEST, or VOSS.

Samuel, Peter, and William Vess resided in Patrick County, VA, an area that was once Henry County; but prior to the formation of Henry County (1777), it was Pittsylvania County. Betty Vess predates the formation of Henry County. So, was Betty in the southern part of Pittsylvania that will become Patrick County (making her a VESS), was she in the northern part that will later become Bedford County (making her a VEST), or was she in today’s eastern portion of Pittsylvania (making her a VOSS)???

More research is needed.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this is another potential “Vess” ancestor?

John Vice: The Missing Link To Vess Genealogy?

/ J. V.

Although the VESS/VEST family of Patrick County, Virginia (1790-1801) are extremely intriguing and seem like a promising connection, I am drawn back to the Dark Corners of South Carolina. I decided to take another look at Peter, Willis, and Nathan Vess. Looking at all my research, I have come to realize that the early families surrounding them, all came from South Carolina.

Peter: Pettit and Toney families.
Willis: Nichols, Willis, Askews, Whitlock families (many more)
Nathan: Bellew and Gosnell families

Of course, these families all have different origin-origins, like the Pettit family come from New Jersey, the Gosnell family come from Maryland, and the Nichols, Willis, Askews (Eskews) and Whitlock families come from Virginia; but all of them, just before they appear with our earliest known Vess ancestors (Peter, Willis, and Nathan) … were all in South Carolina; more specifically, the Tyger River area.

Tyger River Area: South Carolina’s Complicated Borders

The western portion of South Carolina has a complicated history with very messy borders, making it a nightmare to find family records. For instance, between 1769-1779, Tryon County, North Carolina and the Ninety-Six District in South Carolina overlap. Some residents in this area were issued land from the State of North Carolina while others were issued land from the state of South Carolina.

The Vice Family

I’ve looked for families with similar surnames to VESS in South Carolina a zillion times, but apparently, I overlooked the VICE family.

On the 1810 census record for Spartanburg County, South Carolina, I found a John Vice next to Nancy Poole. Nancy Poole reminds me of Nancy Pool, sister of Mary Ann Pool, who married Henry Pettit Sr (neighbor and member of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Peter Vess).

So, I searched the name “John Vice” in the South Carolina Digital Archives.
One record of interest is a land record dated 1824 for Benjamin Nicholls on Thomsons Branch along the Tyger River. It includes familiar families such as Duncan, Moore, Nicholls, Pettit, and Willis.

Clearly intrigued, I began to research further…

Many early families are well documented by family historians and generally, with a few odd-ball keywords, a good chunk of their history can be found via Google. I was fortunate to find information pertaining to the VICE family on a Turley Family website.

Who Is John Vice

Land records show that the Vice family has been in the Tyger River community as early as 1782 and numerous sources say some members of the Vice family moved to Benton (now Calhoun) county, Alabama.

Research tells us that John Vice was born in Orange County, Virginia about 1755 and died in Spartanburg County, South Carolina in 1833. He is the son of Nathaniel Camp Vice (1730-1802) of Frederick County, Virginia.

Nathaniel Camp Vice is supposedly the son of Robert or John VESSEY of Frederick County, Virginia; however, the origins of VESSEY are not clear. Nathaniel Camp Vice migrated south and settled in Campbell County, Kentucky with many of his descendants rooting in Bath County, Kentucky.

Nathaniel’s son, John Vice (some note his name as John William Vice), married Frances Roebuck in 1773 in Chatham County, North Carolina, before settling in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. According to the Turley Family website, they had 10 children:

John Roebuck Vise abt. 1774

Nathaniel Vise abt. 1774 and married Dorcas MEADERS. (Meadows?)

Rhoda Vise abt. 1776 and married Peter LAWRENCE.

Levi Vise abt. 1778

George Vise  abt. 1780 and married Elizabeth WALKER.

Reuben Vise  1782

Eliphous Hosea “Eli” Vise abt. 1785 and married Rebecca MEADERS. (Meadows?)

Elizabeth Vise 1787 in Spartanburg , SC and married Thomas WRIGHT.

Azariah “Zery” Vise  abt. 1790

Jeremiah “Jere” Vise about 1790

Abner Vise about 1792 and married Lucinda PREWITT.

Jemima Vise about 1792

A Tyger River Baptist Church Connection


The Turley family website states: “John Vise and Frances Roebuck Vise were members of the Tyger River Baptist Church, also called Friendship Church. On the membership roll for 1801-1803…” 

This is an incredible find, for that the Tyger River Baptist Church was part of the same church association as Bill’s Creek Baptist Church. We also know that the Pettit family were also members of the Tyger River Baptist Church.

According to history.ky.gov, the location of the Tyger River Baptist Church is unknown however is said to have been located in the northern portion of Greenville County, close to the North Carolina border. This would ideally put the church very close to the Glassy Mountain community and the communities along the Pacelot River (North and South Carolina border in modern day Polk County) where we find many early families from Tryon County (like the Logan family).

I bet there are a lot of interesting families listed as members on the Tyger River Baptist Church Membership Rolls; unfortunately, these records do not appear to be available online nor are they physically available near me.

Census Records: Spartanburg County, South Carolina

On the 1790 census record for Spartanburg County, South Carolina, you will find the following families:
1. Boston Best
2. Henry Pattit (Pettit)
3. Joshua Pattit (Pettit)
4. John Wice (Vice)

A few pages over, you will find the following families:
1. Abraham Belue (Bellew)
2. Joshua Gosnell

*The Bise families on the 1790 census might actually be part of the Vise family.

On the 1800 census record for Spartanburg County, South Carolina, you will find the following families interestingly close together:
Nat Vice (Nathaniel Vice, John Vice son)
John Willis
Richard Willis (find him on land records with Vice family)


DNA Connections

Autosomal DNA Results
For me, many of the names on the VICE family tree frequently show up in my DNA relatives list, especially via the Turley, McPherson, and White families.

Even more interestingly, I have a long list of distant DNA relatives with family trees showing them as descendants of the VICE family and not just through one VICE family line, but numerous VICE family lines. Most are via John and Nathaniel Vice (sons of John and France Roebuck Vice of South Carolina) and others are from several different descending lines (sons and daughters) from Nathaniel Camp Vice in Kentucky. And, to make it even more interesting, they share DNA relatives with DNA relatives who are descendants on the Willis Vess line.

Pettit – Vice Connection
The granddaughter of John Vice married Benjamin Pettit who is related to Henry Pettit Sr. (neighbor and member of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Peter Vess) through Joshua Pettit.

John Vice and Henry Pettit have a common neighbor: Andrew Thomson. *Correction: Andrew Thomson maybe the surveyor.
1. 1784 land record: Pacelot River / Ninety-six District Henry Pettit, William Pool, and Andrew Thomson
2. 1786 land record: Tyger River / Ninety-six District John Vise, Andrew Thomson, John Oshields, Joel Hembree, David Grimes, John Butler *Pettit and Hembree families are related.

The Next Chapter: Vice Family

I am really excited about discovering the Vice family! Not only do they have a similar surname to VESS, but they are also in the right place at the right time, surrounded by many familiar families that connect with Peter, Willis, and Nathan!

Also, because the Vice family is supposedly from Frederick County, Virginia, there is still a chance for a possible connection with the Vess/Vest family in Patrick County, Virginia!

So, I am extremely excited!! This could be our family’s missing link OR I am embarking upon another goose-chase!












VESS COLA: We All Have A Piece Of It

/ J. V.


You aren’t a true VESS unless you have a vintage Vess Cola sign or bottle displayed somewhere in your home!


Hanging in my kitchen, is a vintage 1950 VESS COLA tin sign that I inherited from my family and eventually, (if they still have it) I will probably inherit my family’s most valuable flower vase, a vintage VESS COLA bottle.

It’s just a fun thing that nearly every VESS family does and surprisingly, VESS COLA has nothing to do with the VESS family!

History of Vess Cola

Vess Cola is quite popular and there are a lot of articles online about its complicated history.

Vess Cola is a brand of soda named after Vess Jones of St. Louis, Missouri; “Vess” being short for Sylvester.

According to Collectors Weekly, Sylvester “Vess” Jones, is the original founder of the Orange Whistle Company (1915), later to be known as The Whistle Company. History is a bit confusing, for that his company had a lot of changes throughout the years, including a bankruptcy after the Depression, several different owners and name changes.

The Vess brand appears to have been created in the 1920’s and The Whistle Company eventually changed its company name to the Vess Beverage Company. Original flavors included Cola, Cream, Grape, Blueberry, Fruit Punch, Strawberry and Blue Raspberry. In the 1970’s, they sold a Chocolate drink that is said to be comparable to Yahoo.

It is my understanding that before the Vess Cola brand, there was the Orange Whistle soda, which was created and sold by a man named Charles Leiper Grigg working for Vess Jones. Some sources say he left The Whistle Company after butting heads with Vess Jones. Grigg eventually started his own company and in 1929, he introduced the world to the amazing lemon-lime creation known today as 7UP!

Check out this article about an old Vess Cola advertisement uncovered after a fire.

What Flavors Have You Tried!


Not bottled as fancy as their predecessors, but they sure do look colorful!

Today, Vess Cola is owned by Cott Beverages, Inc. and there is supposedly 27 flavors of Vess Cola available today!

The first flavor of Vess-Cola I ever tried was lemon-lime, which is kind of blah compared to other brands and nowhere as crisp as 7UP. However, their grape and strawberry flavors aren’t too bad. They even have Vess-Cola seltzer!

I am amazed that Vess Cola is still around and I believe the variety of delicious fruit flavors makes the brand so unique.

Finding Vess Cola can sometimes be difficult, because they are often hidden behind all the other big soda brands on the shelf. So, it’s best to check the bottom shelves or the specialty soda section (due to their fruit flavors). I have found grocery stores to be the best place to find Vess Cola and occasionally, you may get lucky with Walmart.

Please share with us! Tell us what kind of Vess Cola collectable you have and let us know if you’ve tried any of the Vess Cola flavors.





Similar Surname, Similar Family Story: Vess Genealogy

/ J. V. / 2 Comments

Research Journal – March 2, 2021

Exploring Families With Similar Surnames

Prior to 1820, the “Vess” name seems scarce.
This is either because the Vess family just recently arrived to America or that there was a name change. Today’s research strongly suggests a name change.

When a surname is misspelled, we often tend to overlook important records. My genealogy game plan to bring these records to light is to research the neighbors of Peter, Nathan, and Willis Vess and investigate any nearby families with a similar surname. So far, I have a couple of excellent contenders with the VEST, VOSS, BEST, and BASS families. Unfortunately, I have yet to find any documents to confirm a direct connection with any of them.

With a handful of different families with similar surnames already piled high on my research plate, I had no intention on investigating anymore families; however, I would be foolish to disregard a family whose family story seems quite similar to our own family story…

The VASS Family: Sounds Oddly Familiar

I have spent years reaching out to different families with similar surnames in hopes one would have a similar family story to ours, but nothing ever came close until now…

I stumbled upon the VASS family with a document that wasn’t even about the VASS family itself, but more so about a man named Pendleton in Virginia whose daughter married a Vass. I can’t even tell you why I was looking at Pendleton to begin with, which happens a lot.

In genealogy, one document often leads to another document, then to another and another to the point you’re not exactly sure who it is that you were looking for in the first place! Honestly, I am pretty sure this all started with looking at map.

As I was saying, I stumbled upon a document that led me to more documents about the VASS family in Virginia. After reviewing my notes, I was shocked by how similar their family story is to ours…

1) Instead of Ireland, their “long time” family story has always been about “3 brothers from Germany.”
2) Their name used to be pronounced as “Voss” (just like us).
3) Some say they are German in origin and others say Scotland. (just like us, but instead of Scotland, it is Ireland).

There are a couple of documents pertaining to the VASS family, some of which strongly suggest they are Scottish, as part of the ROSS-Clan, with surname variants of Vaux, Vaus, and Wass. The Wass version is what they believe mistakes them for German. One source states the original name was DE-VALLIBUS; in my opinion, sounds French.

The VASS family was supposedly a prominent family in Virginia via John Vass and Rachel Pendleton. Their descendants eventually went down into North Carolina with the variant surname VOSS. They settled in parts of Casewell and Pasquotank Counties. [Note: There is Greenbury Voss/Vess in Casewell County]

Furthermore, there is a Vincent Vass (b. 1790) who married Mary Cosner living in Stokes County, North Carolina during the early 1800’s. This is interesting, because it means that William Tunwell VEST was not the only family in the area at the time with a similar surname to “VESS.” Also, we have a Peter Vest on a War of 1812 Surry County, NC record that we have not been able to connect to either the VESS or VEST family.

The VASS family is supposedly connected to the North Carolina VOSS family, which got me thinking: Is Frederick “Bass” of Anson County, NC, neighbors with the Bellew family, related to this VASS/VOSS mix?

The document linking the VASS/VOSS family (John Vass & Rachel Pendleton) to Vincent Vass cuts off and does not mention how they are related; unfortunately, I have not been able to find the original publication to read onto the next page.

I have just barely scratched the surface of the VASS family. As I mentioned before, this search initially began with looking at maps, in which I think has something to do with the names Whitlock, Vaughn, & Thompson scribbled on a piece of paper next to the name Pendleton. Of course, I didn’t jot down their connection!

Glasgow, Scotland

All this mention of Scotland, reminded me of Glasgow, Scotland.
See, my DNA results show ancestors having once living in Glasgow, Scotland. This intrigues me, because in the 1820-1830’s, we see records for a “Vess” family arriving to America from Glasgow. I do not know if there is a connection yet, but it is interesting nonetheless.


The VOSE Family: Lancashire, England

As if the pile of families with similar surnames wasn’t big enough, the VASS family led me to another:

There is one source that made a brief connection between the VASS and VOSE family, in which is not well understood. In my opinion, it seems as if they were connected together, because both families share the surname variant of VAUX. However, before tossing this family aside into the “maybe” pile, one particular thing caught my eye: The VOSE family is from Lancashire, England.


This brings me to the TRAVERS family of Lancashire, England. It is my understanding that Y-DNA data currently suggests that the VESS and TRAVERS families are related and it is believed that the two families split “prior to mid-1650.”

Interestingly, I came across a 1784 marriage record for a Mary TRAVERS and an Edward VOCE (VOSE) in Lancashire, England, but no family tree to determine further connections (if any).

The VOSE family is originally from Normandy. Interestingly, (in my opinion) the name DE-VALLIBUS that is supposedly associated with the VASS family, seems more fitting for this VOSE family.

In the early 1600’s, Robert and Sarah Vose migrated to America. Further research shows that the VOSE family prominently living in Massachusetts with no mention of any family migrating South. So with that, I tucked the VOSE family away with the WEST family- ruling them out completely.

Henry Vose of Virginia

Interestingly, buried within a plethora of documentation about the VOSE family in Massachusetts, there is this tiny bit that reads:
“Henry Vose, who arrived in Virginia in 1653.” houseofnames.com

Now, THAT is much closer to the Carolina’s!
I decided to type his info into Ancestry.com where I came across this piece of genealogy gold [right]!

He arrived in North Hampton, Virginia in 1653, sponsored by Anti. Hoskins. And guess what other name is listed with his: William Willis!

This is interesting, because we think the Willis Vess family in Alabama (from North Carolina) might have a connection with a Willis family.

Of course, this doesn’t confirm anything.

No Solid Connections Yet

Although I am disappointed that no new connections have been made, this new information is encouraging.

This new information isn’t pointing me into a new direction (which is exciting), but more so back to where I’ve already been; meaning, there is a good chance I was on the right track, but missed something! I just have to figure out what.

So far, I have recognized that research seems to be on opposite ends of our family history timeline and we are just needing to fill in a 140+/- year gap. We can trace our lineage to Peter, Nathan, and Willis and we know (via DNA) that at some point they were connected to the Travers family in England. So, roughly between 1650 – 1791 is missing.


Well, this should be fun!