Peter Vess

Zephaniah Vess 1842-1865

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Disruptive Early Life

Zephaniah Vess was born in 1842 on Cedar Creek in Rutherford County, North Carolina. He was the sixth son of Peter Vess and Catherine Crook, named after his uncle, Zephaniah Crook of Buncombe County. He had a fair complexion, with blue eyes, and light-colored hair.

Life with his parents was short. His father, Peter, died between 1846 and 1850 after the family lost their farm, and his mother, Catherine, passed away shortly thereafter in 1852. Following his mother’s death, his younger siblings went to live with Dempsey Sumner, a close family friend who lived between the Crook and Souther families in Fairview, Buncombe County.

It is uncertain, if Zephaniah joined them, as records have been lost; but it was also common for close family and friends to take in orphans informally without having to involve the court.

In 1860, while his siblings were in Buncombe County, 18-year-old Zephaniah was living with N.H.P. Whiteside (Noah Patterson Whiteside), a young local landowner in Rutherford County. He was likely hired to help on the farm, as later records state he was a farmer by occupation.

The 1860 Court Case: A Neighborhood Feud

In 1860, Zephaniah Vess and Isaac Bradley found themselves sued by George Nix for “trespass with force and arms” alongside a staggering $2,000 in damages.

A sheriff’s warrant was issued to round up a massive list of defendants from the Buffalo Creek area, including members of the Whiteside, Ledbetter, and Bradley families. Highlighting the tight-knit nature of the community, N.H.P. Whiteside stepped up to post a massive $4,000 appearance bond to ensure Zephaniah Vess and Isaac Bradley made it to court.

Unfortunately, court records detailing the cause and outcome of the dispute appear to be lost, but the records we do have apparently suggest a fierce local neighborhood clash.

Civil War: Changing Sides

When the Civil War erupted, Zephaniah enlisted in 1862 on the Confederate side, likely pressured by the military service of his older brothers and the strong military legacy of the Whiteside family.

However, life as a Confederate soldier was harsh, and like many men from Western North Carolina, Zephaniah soon deserted. By 1863, he made his way to Tennessee and enlisted in the Union Army (joining the Mounted Infantry). Union enlistment offered better conditions, regular pay, and vital legal protection from being executed as a Confederate deserter.

Proving himself a capable soldier, Zephaniah was promoted to Corporal in 1864. He served faithfully for three years, but tragedy struck just as the war was coming to a close. Zephaniah, age 22, died on April 4, 1865, at the Asylum Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, from typhoid pneumonia—just weeks before the peace he had fought so hard to reach.

Debt, Displacement, and Disappearance: Peter Vess Family

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We know that Peter Vess lost his land to the Souther family in 1846 to cover a $50 debt; however, this particular record between Vess and Souther, reveals so much more…

Court Debt

This record between Vess and Souther is a “Deed Trust to Indemnify a Surety.” A landowner (Vess) puts up their property (Cedar Creek) as collateral to protect someone (Souther) who agreed to act as their financial guarantor for a legal obligation or court debt. This means the court would hold Souther liable if Peter defaulted on his court fees.

This record tells us that there was a suit between Peter Vess and the William Young estate. The specifics of their case appear to be lost to time, but whatever the case was, it was worth risking his entire property.

This record also reveals just how deeply the Vess and Souther families were connected, as such contracts were rarely, if ever, between strangers. These types of contracts were almost always made between relatives or deeply connected family allies. Thus, making their mysterious relationship to each other even more curious.

Peter Vess was allowed to remain on the property, so long as he did not default with the court.

Peter likely defaulted with the court, due to his death; as he is not listed with Catherine and the children on the next census in 1850, and they were no longer residing on Peter’s property on Cedar Creek in Broad River (they relocated to the Bill’s Creek community).

Due to his death, the court would have found Peter Vess in default. This would make Joseph Souther liable for the payment to the court.

To avoid having to pay out of his own pocket, Souther had no other choice but to evict Catherine and her children from the property to sell it. Unfortunately, he couldn’t sell the property while Catherine was still living.

Catherine didn’t sign over her dower rights in the 1846 Deed to Joseph Souther, preventing Souther from ever owning the land outright. At the time of Peter’s death, Catherine lost her right to live on the property due to the 1846 deed to indemnify a surety, but through her dower rights, she still claimed a portion of the value of the land; therefore the property could not be sold until after her death in 1852.

Displacement

In 1850, we see Catherine and the children listed on census next to her oldest son, John Vess, who probably provided for his mother and siblings financially after Peter’s death.

John was probably a tenant farmer for the Conner/Crawford families, as we see them listed nearby with land. Peter and Catherine’s son, Andrew Logan Vess will later marry Cynthia Conner in 1867.

In 1852, Catherine’s estate (the value she still held claim to), on Cedar Creek, was sold to another family, clearing up whatever debts were owed to Joseph Souther and the court .

A guardian ad litem was appointed for the minor children to represent their share in the estate and notices went out to the adult children who were non- residents of Rutherford County, North Carolina. After all the debts were paid, the children would receive whatever was left (if anything).

It appears the minor children were bonded out to a close family friend, Dempsey Sumner, who lived in between the Crook and Souther families in Fairview, Buncombe County, NC. We see them on the 1860 census together; except for Zephaniah Vess, who lived with the Whiteside family in Rutherford County, NC.

Dempsey Sumner likely had a family connection with the Vess family. He obtained custody of them as a single man, which was rare, if not family. The children also stayed with him long past the ages of a normal legal indentured contract, further suggesting a family connection. He also lived out the rest of his life, childless, on his property, even after he sold it to Jasper Vess, the youngest son of Peter and Catherine Vess.

Strategic Separation: Economic Survival

John Vess disappears somewhere out of state after 1850, leaving his wife and children behind in North Carolina.

He likely traveled out of state to find work, as many often did during poverty. I believe I may have found him in Greenville South Carolina, in 1857, working for the Tyger River and Mush Creek Ditch Company. This company offered housing for their workers, which is probably why we do not see him on the 1860 census.

In 1854, the divorce between John and Elizabeth Vess was posted in the newspaper; on the very same day, Elizabeth married Joshua Souther. This strongly suggests that John’s divorce in 1854, was mutually planned to ensure his wife and children were financially secure. Generally, there would have been a period of courtship between divorce and a new marriage.

Without the family farm, John Vess also faced poverty. After his mother’s death, the minor children were re-homed with close family in Buncombe (Dempsey Sumner), leaving his own family without financial security. Allowing his wife to divorce and remarry, would be the best option for his family to survive economically and the only way a woman could divorce, was if her husband deserted /abandoned her. Thus, John moved out of state.

Having married into the same family that took away the family farm in the first place, and married on the same day as divorce was announced, may look like betrayal, but at that time, it was economic survival.

John’s children had better opportunities with the Souther family, and thus they did, as his children were bond out to Joshua Souther in 1855, promising clothes, housing, food, a trade apprenticeship, and an education.

This was economic survival, mutually planned and executed between close family allies. The question still remains – how and why, were the Souther families deeply connected to the Vess family?

John Vess: Chain Bearer 1831 Rutherford County, NC

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I learn something new everyday!

Peter Vess: Cedar Creek Property

Peter Vess obtained land on Cedar Creek in Rutherford County, North Carolina that is now part of Buncombe County (Broad River Township). He entered the claim in 1829 and the grant was officially issued in 1831.

Family researchers noticed that there is a “John Vess” on the land record, which is unlikely to be his son, John Vess, as his son would have been around 11 years old at the time.

In extremely rare cases, an 11 year old could have been listed as a witness, but today, I learned that “John Vess” on this record is not a witness but a Chain Bearer.

Chain Bearers (C. C. )

Names, followed by the abbreviation C. C., at the bottom of survey plat maps mean “Chain Bearers/ Chain Carrier.”

Chain bearers consisted of two adult males, who assisted the county surveyor, by physically walking the property boundaries, using a chain to place down marking pins. The county surveyor administered an oath to both men, swearing to measure the distances accurately and honestly without altering the count.

Chain bearers were often times close relatives (father, brother, adult son, cousin) or next door neighbors, as it was cheaper, than having to the county surveyor hire a local laborer.

What This Information Tells Us

This information tells us that John Vess was a living, breathing, adult relative of Peter Vess who physically walked Peter’s property in Rutherford County, North Carolina.

Chain bearers did not have to be county residents, they could travel from another county or even another state.

In this case, John Vess might be the recently discovered “John Bess” in Spartanburg County, South Carolina with Nathaniel Bess (potentially Nathaniel Vess). If true, they would certainly, without a doubt, be brothers, as we have records of each of their ages! AND, if true, they would have been orphaned (kind of), as “John Bess” is on census with an older woman, who may have been his widowed mother.

John, Peter, and Nathaniel Vess as potential brothers– now that’s intriguing!

Unfortunately, we need more information. BUT, what we do know as a solid fact, is that Peter Vess had a close adult Vess relative (not his son) help survey his property in 1831.




Organizing Vess Genealogy 2026

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When they say that genealogy requires organizational skills, they aren’t kidding!

I am always casually searching family records, saving anything and everything that interests me to my desktop…that I often later forget about! Seriously!

How I manage to do genealogy at all surprises me, because I seriously lack an organizational system. My version of organized, is a bunch of genealogy “SORT” folders on my desktop, that in total, contain 1,532 files of genealogy records, website links, screenshots, and maps. Half of them aren’t even labeled!

My workspace kind of has that 1950’s detective vibe, a dim lamp that flickers, papers scattered across the desk, scribbled notepads, fifty pens, a stack of resource books, numerous mugs of half-drunken stale cold coffee, chocolate wrappers, and instead of a bulky type-writer, an old hand-me-down laptop with low memory.

I think I can even relate to those moody detectives on tv…we’re cranky, because we store everything in our heads and there’s never enough coffee!

This week, I am organizing my genealogy folder of 1,532 files! It’s a treasure trove of information!

▪︎ Duplicates: I have an enormous amount of duplicate records and screenshots, which probably means they have some kind of important significance – I just can’t quite put my finger on it yet.

▪︎ Maps: I got maps for everything!
Because counties often changed, I have all kinds of state and county maps, which helps determine where records could potentially be stored (sometimes more than one county).

My favorite maps are the modern day streams and rivers topography maps, that I use with county maps. Early ancestors often lived near rivers and streams. If an early ancestor lived on a stream/river near the county border, there is a good chance, they’d have records in the neighboring county. While they may be a resident of one county, they might have done business or attended a church, in another, whatever was closest at the time.

Modern topography maps also reveal areas named after early families, that don’t appear on other maps.

However, the best maps, are the old community maps with the names of families listed along waterways, but those are so hard to find!

▪︎ Family Trees: Although I know not all family trees are accurate, they are useful for genetic genealogy. I also use them to look at neighbors of Vess families, to see if any neighboring families have a “Vess” on their family tree.

▪︎ Family Stories: I love family stories! I am a firm believer that every family story has some ounce of truth in it. Extracting the truth is the difficult part!

▪︎ Website Links: At some point, I started saving website links to odd-ball sources (archives, library, online books, family history sites, etc.). These websites are hidden deep in the Internet.

Some are professional websites that you’d never think for a million years would contain family records, others are poorly hosted family websites with fantastic information (even if a little glitchy and probably virus infested).

I discovered a really quirky website once, that locks out visitors who stayed too long, with a pop up accusing them of stealing their family research. It was a good website too, well-sourced, with detailed family tree information.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of family researchers out there, who are very strict gate-keepers of their family history, tree, records, and research.

Not here! Vess genealogy is for everyone! I am happy to share with you all my discoveries, because that’s what makes Vess genealogy so much fun – talking about it!

▪︎ DNA Info: I have a ton of sources regarding DNA, from DNA data to tutorials on how to do genetic genealogy.

▪︎ History: I am pretty sure you can do genealogy without having to know American or local histories, but I find it extremely useful and interesting.

History gives us clues as to where to find our earlier ancestors, by learning about court-house fires, county changes, migration patterns, wars, conflicts, as well as, identify specific areas settled by different groups.

But, also knowing the history of the areas they lived in, the struggles their community faced, and the victories they won, brings our early ancestors to life!

Our early ancestors, whether they were early pioneers, prominent wealthy landowners, farmers and laborers, or even immigrants through Ellis Island, all played a role in American history – and to me, I just think that is fascinating!

▪︎ Newspaper Articles: You’re not going to find too many early Vess ancestors in the newspaper, but you will find a lot of fascinating articles about their neighbors and some of their allied families. Sometimes, family histories were published in the newspaper, going back a couple of generations, which is always super helpful!

▪︎ Memes: Interestingly, I have an unhealthy stock pile of genealogy memes. Just saying.

▪︎ Traditional Genealogy Records: I have census, birth, death, military, probate, bastardy, court, and land records all over the place!

I have so much genealogy to share, I am not sure where to start! I guess that’s why I am spending all week organizing all these files.

Even though I just started going through all these records, I did notice something new….Jonathan Vess was called to court for the same case as Absalom Vess! I also found some more court-cases for Pryor Vess (he always in trouble). I saved a lot of unknown Vess families – that will be fun to go through. AND, I didn’t realize it, but I apparently found a bunch of John Vess (son of Peter Vess) records!



Who knows what other treasures I’ve found, saved, and forgotten!




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O’Donnell Vess

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Family stories are one of those things genealogists love, but are discouraged to use in their research, due to the fact family stories are not always accurate, most of the time exaggerated, or made up entirely. But, I am not like most genealogists…I’d like to believe that family stories still contain some ounce of truth, even if it’s hidden deep behind the fluff.

—–

A long time ago, a descendant of David Andrew Vess (Peter Vess and Catherine Crook line), shared with me a fascinating story about how the Vess family followed and adored a red-headed outlaw.

We were discussing O’Donnell-Vess, which you may have seen on some Vess family trees online. I was told that “O’Donnell -Vess came over from Ireland with an O’Neil, and that our Vess family followed and adored a red-headed outlaw (Mac Hugh or something, named for his red hair).”

Red Hugh O’Donnell

We now know Peter’s family was heavily influenced by his wife’s side of the family, who were of Irish and Scottish descent. Her Irish father, John Crook, would have certainly passed down the story of The Nine Years’ War (1693-1603), involving the O’Donnell’s and the O’Neill’s.

“Red Hugh O’Donnell,” was a real person from Donegal Ireland. He was rivals against the O’Neill family from Tyrone, Ireland. Red Hugh was in-prisoned by an English Lord in Dublin Castle, but later escaped with the help of the O’Neill family.

This story is significant, in the fact, that it teaches the next generation, to stand up for what is theirs, even if they lose everything; symbolizing pride and survival.

It appears, that at some point, the Vess and Crook family stories merged, and we got the “three Vess brothers from Ireland.”

While Jonathan, Peter, and Nathaniel Vess did exist, and genealogical records suggest they might have been brothers, we can safely say, through Y-DNA testing, that the Vess family is not of Irish descent, but of Norman/English descent.

John A. Murrell – The Great Western Land Pirate

Although O’Donnell and O’Neill were officially declared “outlaws” by the English Crown during the Nine Years’ War during the 16th century, there is no evidence to suggest they had a direct connection to a Vess family.

In 1835, a pamphlet titled, “A History of the Detection, Conviction, Life and Designs of John A. Murel, the Great Western Land Pirate,” began circulating through newspapers, documenting a man named Virgil A. Stewart and his experiences with a William “Vess,” who Virgil A. Stewart claimed was an associate of John A. Murrell a.k.a, The Great Western Land Pirate.

You can read more about that here: William Vess and The Great Western Land Pirate .

This widely circulated conspiracy, may have largely influenced the Vess family story that our “Vess family followed and adored a red-headed outlaw,” as there was a “Vess” connected to the conspiracy of John A. Murrell, an outlaw, who just so happened to be a red-headed, who historians say had “followers,” not gangs, who sympathized with him.

Whether the Vess family actually knew William Vess, or if he had been a relative, is still under investigation.

Oral Traditions

I love oral traditions and this is still one of my favorite Vess family stories, even if it might have been influenced by an Irish tradition and an American bandit.

But, who knows…maybe there is an O’Donnell-Vess I have yet to find, that was the true basis of this Vess family story.

Research Update 2026

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It took me awhile, but I have FINALLY posted my personal perspective on Vess genealogy, based on the traditional and genetic genealogical evidence collected since 2020.

The World of Vess Genealogy


Our lineage, history, and origins prior to 1820, still remain somewhat a mystery; however, new genealogical records paired with genetic genealogical research is now forming a comprehensive hypothesis, with new discoveries consistently reminding us that we’re clearly on the right track.

Please remember that I share these thoughts, opinions, and discoveries to collaborate with other researchers and families interested in Vess genealogy. Information provided within this site is subject to change, as research continues.

The only portion of this site that I would consider as pure fact, are the Y-DNA findings (connection to the early R1a2 Travers family lineage) and the early ancestor profiles with their attached lineages, as those have been thoroughly checked and verified by solid genealogical sources and genetic testing.

The rest is on-going research, as we continue to explore this new hypothetical family tree through traditional and genetic genealogical methods.

I have a lot of new discoveries to post about, so please be sure to subscribe, so you can get those discoveries directly into your inbox. If you have any questions about this research, interested in collaborating on research or are interested in participating in the Vess Family DNA Project, please send an email to vessgenealogy@gmail.com


A HUGE THANK YOU to all of those who have been following and assisting with this research! We wouldn’t be here today, without you!



































Samuel Vest: Spartanburg Co. South Carolina 1800

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The descendants of Nathaniel Vess are adamant that Jonathan Vess was, at some point, in South Carolina. I am not one to ignore family stories, so I promise ya’ll I’ve been searching for him in South Carolina for a long time!

Unfortunately, I haven’t found any evidence to suggest Jonathan Vess, himself, was ever in South Carolina, but there are records to suggest there was a “Vess” in South Carolina prior to 1830. I am just trying to figure out who…

The earliest known “Vess” records discovered thus far in South Carolina (to the best of my knowledge), date back to 1830, via land and census records for a Polly Vess in Greenville, South Carolina. Unfortunately, that is where it ends.

However, we do have two John Vess families during the 1850’s, that claim to have been born in South Carolina (around the early 1820’s), which indicates that there must have been an earlier Vess family in South Carolina evading the census records.

I have searched for years for a potential early Vess/Vest family in South Carolina and have found nothing, until now…

Nathaniel Vess: War of 1812 Pension Request

On Fold3, I was able to finally access Nathaniel’s full War of 1812 pension record. I’ve heard there was more to his record than what was available on Ancestry.com, but I was never able to find the entire record online until today!

In May of 1879, at the age of 85, Nathaniel Vess filed a pension request for his service during the War of 1812.

The claim states he served as a private (volunteered), in the company commanded by John Gaffney, of the South Carolina Militia, under Col. Richard Arnold. He enlisted at the age of 18 or 19 years old in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. It was noted that he was unable to remember specific dates. However, he claims to have served for 20 days and [illegible] and was discharged in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

His discharge certificate is reported to have been consumed by fire.

The claim also goes into detail about his residency. He resided in South Carolina, then moved to North Carolina in 1845, having stayed for 18 years, before relocating to Tennessee.

However, census records show he arrived in North Carolina in 1830, and he was there for over 20 years. We have to remember, when he filed this claim, he was 85 years old! So, his memory might not have been the best.

Unfortunately, seven months after filing this claim, Nathaniel Vess died from consumption and his pension request was denied, because they were unable to find him on any of the muster rolls. I bet they couldn’t find him, because they misspelled his surname.

What We Already Know

So, with the new information obtained from Nathaniel’s War of 1812 pension record, I shifted my search to Spartanburg County, South Carolina (again). But, not without reviewing what we have already discovered first…

🔲 Nathaniel Vess married Clarinda Bellew, who is supposedly the daughter of John Bellew and Clarinda Gosnell. These two families (Bellew/Gosnell) are prominent families of Glassy Mountain, Greenville, South Carolina.

🔲 The earliest “Vess” records date back to 1830 for Polly Vess. She is on the 1830 Greenville, South Carolina census, suggesting she might be a “Vess” widow. She is also on a handful of land records with a Joel Callahan during the 1830’s.

🔲 We have two John Vess families in South Carolina during the 1850’s whose records state they were born in South Carolina prior to 1830. One has a Civil War record, claiming he enlisted in Greenville, South Carolina. Note: During the Civil War, to the best of my knowledge, Nathaniel and Peter’s children in North Carolina were still in North Carolina.

🔲 Records for Nathaniel Vess indicate that he was born in South Carolina. He enlisted in the South Carolina Militia at the age of 18 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. And, census records, show him in North Carolina in 1830, listed next to John and William Bellew.

Records strongly suggest that there was an earlier Vess (or family with a similar surname to Vess) in South Carolina prior to 1830. They just don’t seem to be on record anywhere.

Spartanburg County, South Carolina: Samuel Vest

So, with the information we have so far, it does make the 1790 Spartanburg County, South Carolina census more interesting! Gosnell, Bellew, and Callahan!

All of them, eventually settled in Greenville, South Carolina! We have the Gosnell/Bellew (connection to Nathaniel through his wife) and Joel Callahan (connection to Polly Vess). Is there a connection between Nathaniel Vess and Polly Vess? Super interesting!

Ancestry.com



But, no Vess/Vest families are listed near them on the 1790 census. There is a curious “William West,” but nothing that stands out as a potential “Vess.”


However, browsing Spartanburg County records using the Full Text AI search in Familysearch.org, I came across a land record, dated 1800, between Thomas and William Phillips that was witnessed by a “Samuel Vest.”

Spartanburg Land Records 1803-1805

To the best of my knowledge, there are no known early “Vest” families in South Carolina; especially, during the early 1800’s. What makes this record even more intriguing, is that it is a “Samuel Vest.”

I lost track of Samuel Vess in Patrick County, Virginia after 1795! Could this be him?

New Theory: The Real Three Brothers, Jonathan, Peter, & Nathaniel

There is just something about Nathaniel Vess that tugs at me. While I am a 100% confident that Peter, Willis, Jonathan, and Nathaniel Vess are all related, and without a doubt, certainly related to the earlier Patrick County, Virginia Vess family, Nathaniel Vess, is the only one who doesn’t have an early connection to Wilkes County, North Carolina.

It’s also interesting, that Nathaniel doesn’t seem to have any close connections to Peter Vess in Rutherford County, North Carolina. You’d think, if brothers (half or not), they’d be close together on census, attending the same church, and sharing the same family connections. Isn’t that just strange?

I am looking back at the tax lists…Jonathan Vess disappeared from Patrick County, Virginia the same time as Samuel Vess! The last known record of them in Patrick County, Virginia, was on the 1795 tax list!

Do you think…maybe, Samuel and Jonathan Vess came down to Spartanburg County, South Carolina after 1795 from Patrick County, Virginia, and then Jonathan Vess went back up to Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1803, before making his way to Missouri? But, why leave Nathaniel Vess behind in South Carolina?

UNLESS, Nathaniel Vess has a different mother OR Nathaniel Vess is the youngest child of Samuel Vess of Patrick County, Virginia!

If Nathaniel Vess is the youngest child of Samuel Vess in Patrick County, Virginia, he would then, be the brother of Jonathan and Peter Vess of Patrick County, Virginia. AND, that would fit our family’s origin story referencing the three brothers: Jonathan, Peter, and Nathaniel Vess!

That would be wild, if true!



Let me know your thoughts on this theory in the comments.


That would explain, why autosomal DNA matches between the descendants of Peter and Nathaniel Vess are so distant from each other! They weren’t half brothers, but possibly uncle and nephew. It’s completely mis-leading to researchers, because Peter is slightly older than Nathaniel, but not entirely far fetched, because I know families, whose uncle and nephew / aunt and niece were born around the same time! It happens a lot in large families!

BUT…there is no evidence what so ever to say that this Samuel Vest in Spartanburg County, South Carolina is the same Samuel Vess in Patrick County, Virginia. But, the “Vest” surname in a South Carolina county where Nathaniel Vess says he later join the militia, is super intriguing!

I do hope Samuel Vest in South Carolina has more records!


















New Peter Vess Record!

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I am always saying it! Just when I think there is nothing more to discover, I end up stumbling across something new!

This record is great, as it further supports a Vess-Crook connection.


In 2023, it was discovered, via genetic genealogy methods, that the maiden name of Peter’s wife, Catherine, is CROOK, instead of Cook. An incredible discovery that has opened the door to potential discoveries of Peter and Catherine’s earlier lives and family history.

Catherine Crook is the daughter of John E. Crook and Rachel Haynes of Rutherford County, North Carolina, with the Crook family also having ties to Buncombe County, North Carolina.

During the early 1800’s, John E. Crook, obtained land in Rutherford County, North Carolina, joining his in-laws property (Haynes) on Cove Creek near Broad River, close to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church.


In 1830, Zephaniah Crook, (son of John E. Crook, Catherine’s brother) obtained land joining his father’s land in Buncombe County, North Carolina (on the Swannanoa River), with the land record indicating that John E. Crook is deceased. I haven’t found any records as to what happened to his land; maybe it eventually transferred to Zephaniah.

In 1831, Peter Vess obtains land on Cedar Creek in Rutherford County, North Carolina (later to become Buncombe County). Although Peter lived in Rutherford County, NC, he appears to have a connection to Burke County, North Carolina (later McDowell County), with his children having connections to both Burke and Buncombe County, suggesting possible early family ties to both counties.

Some of the earlier families of Burke County, NC eventually settled in the same general area as the Crook family, in Buncombe County (including the Souther family). There is a family relationship between Peter and these earlier families, but those specific relationships have yet to reveal itself. We also find Peter’s youngest children in Buncombe County, after Catherine’s death.

In 1835, Zephaniah Crook sells his property on Swannanoa River to Frederick Burnett. Peter Vess is listed as a witness. I had to do a double take, because the document is titled, Buncombe Deeds 1890, yet, the land record itself, is specifically dated 1835, not 1890. This isn’t entirely surprising, as I’ve uncovered records from much weirder places.


By researching Catherine’s family, we might be able to find clues to Peter’s past, as I would think they would have met through mutual families.

Vess Genealogy: Remarkable Discoveries Between 2020-2026

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Vess families have been pondering their family origins for generations, and in 2020, the journey to find out had official begun…

In 2020, when I started this genealogy adventure, I didn’t know my Vess family even came from North Carolina, let alone had been there for so many generations (over 200 years).

For all I knew, in all seriousness, our original Vess ancestors landed on America’s rocky west coast directly from Ireland (having taken the scenic route, I guess). I also didn’t know how to do genealogy, what in the world genetic genealogy was or how that worked, nor did I know my American history (rusty since high school). Furthermore, I never in a million years, imagined, I’d develop such a passion for genealogy itself!

In the last 6 six years, I’d say a lot has been accomplished in uncovering the history, lineages, and origins of the Vess family. None of which would be possible, without the Vess Family DNA Project admins, Michael Travers and Vincent Vess, the vast amount of Vess families (and those with similar surnames) sharing their own research with us, their incredible family stories, and providing consistent support and interest, motivating us to continue our research!

We Only Had Oral Tradition’s To Work With

In the beginning, we only had oral tradition’s to work with, on top of a handful of records that have been discover thus far.

We didn’t know Willis Vess of Franklin County, Alabama even existed, or that his family was related to the Peter Vess family. In the beginning, we were told that there were just only three brothers: Jonathan, Peter, and Nathaniel Vess. How many more early Vess families are left to be discovered?

The Vess family comes from three brothers from Ireland: Jonathan, Peter, and Nathaniel Vess, with Nathaniel believed to be a half brother. Jonathan settled in Virginia, Peter in North Carolina, and Nathaniel in South Carolina. No matter what lineage you talk to, everyone is adamant that the Vess surname is not their original surname. Jonathan married Elizabeth Heron, Peter married Catherine “Katie” Cook, and Nathaniel married Clarinda Bellew.


Below is a list of what has been discovered thus far, changing everything we were once told about the Vess family…

2020: Intro to Genetic Genealogy

🔲 A descendant of Willis Vess interestingly appears as a match on the R1a2 lineage (Y-DNA) with the Travers/Hays families.

🔲 Willis Vess is an unknown Vess, requiring further investigation.

🔲 It is eventually determined, by the end of the year, that the North Carolina Vess family (Haplogroup R) is unrelated to the early Virginia Vest family (Haplogroup I). This will become a valuable tool used to help sort out the different early Vess/Vest families.

🔲 It is determined, by reviewing available genealogical records for Nathaniel Vess, that he may have earlier connections specifically to Glassy Mountain, Greenville, South Carolina.

2021: The Vess Family DNA Project

🔲 A “Vess” family was discovered in Patrick County, Virginia (Deed record dated between 1790-1800).

🔲 We discovered that Willis Vess lived in Franklin County, Alabama and that he was born in North Carolina. He was extensively researched by genealogist Anna Popejoy, whose work was published in Whitlock Gleanings and FindAGrave.com.

🔲 We discovered Peter Vess and his family in the book, “Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History,” by Helen M. Lu.



🔲 The Vess Family DNA Project was established.

🔲 Descendant of Peter Vess completed Y-DNA testing, resulting in a match to the R1a2 lineage with Willis Vess and Travers family. The match suggests, Peter and Willis Vess are related as part of the same Vess family.

🔲 Y-DNA results, reveal that Peter and Willis Vess are English in origin, and are descendants of the early Travers family of Lancashire, England (no specific lineage identified yet).

🔲 It is suggested that the the Vess surname might be a shortened version of TRAVIS (TRAVESS), a variant of the surname Travers.

🔲 The Vest family in White County, Tennessee peeks my interest, although there is no evidence to suggest a connection to the Vess family.

🔲 A family story about how the Vess family once adored a red-headed outlaw fascinates me, and leads me to explore a popular newspaper article about a William Vess and the auburn haired Great Western Land Pirate, John Murrell.

🔲 The DNA Triangulation Method directs our attention to the SPARKS, PARKS, and ROSE families in Wilkes County, North Carolina, suggesting a potential maternal Vess ancestor, requiring traditional genealogy methods to unearth records. The matches strongly suggest a connection more likely via ROSE, than Sparks or Parks.

🔲 We discovered, through genetic genealogy, that Sarah Jane Vess, wife of Jackson Pressely, is not a descendant of Nathaniel Vess, but of Peter Vess, via son, John Vess and wife, Elizabeth Taylor.

🔲 More records for the Vess family in Patrick County, Virginia were uncovered, dating further back to 1782, with a William and Samuel Vess. In addition to marriage records for Peter Vess and Poignance Vaughn and Jonathan Vess and Elizabeth Heron. Records reveal that the Vess family lived directly on the border of Henry/Patrick County, VA, on the Mayo River, near the Abraham Penn and George Hairston plantations.

2022 Wilkes County, North Carolina & Their Connection To Tennessee

🔲 We discovered Revolutionary War records under the “Vess” surname, via Samuel, William, and Col. Peter Vess, all from Dunmore County (now Shenandoah County), Virginia.

🔲 We discovered, a “Vest/Vess” family in Wilkes County, North Carolina, while researching the Sparks, Parks, and Rose families. These families include: Peter, Pryor, William, Jonathan, and Absalom.

🔲 Records suggest a potential DODSON family connection to the Vest/Vess family in Wilkes County, North Carolina. We see them as neighbors in Patrick County, VA, prior to seeing them again as neighbors in White County, TN. They are also related to the earlier Whitlock family.

2023: Irish Traditions Influenced By Crook Family

🔲 We discovered, through genetic genealogy, that the true maiden name of Peter’s wife, Catherine, is CROOK, not Cook.

🔲 We discovered, through traditional and genetic genealogy, that John Vess (son of Peter Vess) has a son named William River Vess.

🔲 We discovered, through land records, that the wife of Samuel Vess in Patrick County, Virginia is named Catherine.

🔲 We discovered, through newspaper articles, that Pryor Vest in Tennessee died a horrific death in 1831, while in jail.

🔲 We discovered even more earlier “Vess” records, via William and James Vess of Loudoun County, Virginia dated between 1760-1770.

🔲 We discovered, through traditional genealogy methods, that Peter’s wife, Catherine is of Irish descent. Her parents are John Emmanuel Crook and Rachel Haynes. The father of Rachel Haynes, William Haynes, is said to be the first pastor of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, in the book, “Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: 200 Year History,” by Helen M. Lu. John Emmanuel Crook, is the illegitimate child of Andrew Crook(s) from Ireland. It is observed that all of Peter’s children are named after those on Catherine’s side of the family, suggesting our Irish traditions may stem from her side of the family.

2024: Exploring The Individual Vess/Vest Families

🔲 We begin to discover that the Vest family in Wilkes County, North Carolina also have records under the “Vess” surname, which are often used interchangeably.

🔲 We discovered records, revealing that Peter Vess in Patrick County, Virginia, is Peter Vest, in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

🔲 We discovered records, revealing the life of Absalom Vest (Vess) and his wife, Hannah Raymond (believed to be Reynolds).

🔲 We noticed that Peter Vess in Rutherford County, North Carolina has an unusual amount of records involving the Souther family, the same Souther family we see next to Absalom Vess in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

🔲 We discovered records in White County, Tennessee showing Peter Vess and Willis Vess together, transferring land to Zachariah Simmons. This record, among previous ones, suggests, Peter, Pryor, William, and Willis are part of the same Vest/Vess family from Wilkes County, North Carolina/ Patrick County, Virginia.

🔲 We discovered Pyror Vest has a history of causing trouble, with a growing list of court-records regarding assaults and affrays (disturbing the peace). These records often involve William and Peter Vess.

🔲 We discovered an additional “Vess” in White County, Tennessee, via James Vess, on tax lists with Willis and William Vest/Vess.

2025: Unexpected Discoveries

🔲 We discovered that Jonathan Vess in Jackson County, Texas, has a Will, but is only available in-person – not online.

🔲 A further look at the Stephen F. Austin Register of Families, for Jonathan Vess in Texas, state he came from Missouri, not South Carolina, as often told. The record also states he arrived with 2 children and 4 dependents, suggesting the children we were told he had, may not all be his biological children.

🔲 We discovered, through genealogical records, that the 3 youngest children of Jonathan Vess are actually the children of William Vess.

🔲 We discovered a court record in Buncombe County, North Carolina, that two children of John Vess (son of Peter Vess) were adopted by a Souther.

🔲 We discover court records in Henry County, Virginia, that Pryor and William Vest in White County, Tennessee are in fact, Pryor and William “Vess.” This led to discovering other Tennessee records under the “Vess” surname.

🔲 We discovered a court-record, suggesting Catherine’s full name, may be “Eleanor Catherine Crook.”

🔲 We discovered land and court-records for Nathaniel Vess in Haywood County, North Carolina.

🔲 We discovered records that tell us that Peter Vess, while a resident of Rutherford County, North Carolina, went to church and estate sales in Burke County, North Carolina.

🔲 We discovered further evidence to suggest Willis Vess of Franklin County, Alabama may likely be related to Pryor and William Vess in White County, Tennessee.

🔲 We discovered, through genetic genealogy, that the Vess family has DODSON matches, in addition to the SPARKS, PARKS, and ROSE matches. This suggests the Vess family may have a maternal ancestor related to one of these families. It is strongly suggested, that it might be specifically via a DODSON/ROSE family.

Interestingly, there just so happens to be a DODSON-ROSE family, from Richmond, Virginia, who are related to the DODSON families in Patrick County, Virginia. Furthermore, Absalom Vess is a witness to a land record, in Wilkes County, NC, for a DODSON, who is a direct descendant of the DODSON-ROSE line.

2026: Entering A New Chapter

🔲 We discovered a land record for Jonathan Vess in Lincoln County, Missouri dated 1825, mentioning his 2 sons, William and Lofton Vess.

Conclusion

Perhaps we finally have enough records to start piecing together a more comprehensive picture of the earlier Vess families, and hopefully, it may lead to new discoveries!

Please be sure to follow this blog, as we enter a new chapter in Vess Genealogy!!









Rachel Melinda Vess: New Vess Ancestor

/ J. L. / Leave a comment

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.