Samuel Vess

Catherine Vess in Patrick County, VA 1790

/ J. V. / Leave a comment

The Patrick County Vess family is getting bigger! Samuel, William, Peter & Pugnance, Jonathan & Elizabeth (father Andrew Heron), Sarah, and now Catherine!

In the Henry County, Virginia land records [Deed books, v. 4-6 1788-1805 Familysearch.org], I discovered three “Vess” records. The remarkable part of this, is that the records are “Vess,” not “Vest.”

Two of the land records are between Samuel and Peter Vess and the other is between Samuel Vess and John Duncan. I still do not know if John Duncan is related to the Duncan family in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

One of the records, between Samuel and Peter Vess, (pg. 114-115), reveal that Samuel’s wife is named Catherine.

This is an amazing find, as it’s rare to find early genealogical records about spouses. It also confirms that Samuel Vess in Patrick County, Virginia in 1790 is not Samuel Vess in Rockbridge County, Virginia in 1800. Samuel Vess in Rockbridge County, Virginia was married to Mary Lyons/ Lenior.

The last record for Samuel Vess is dated 1795 in Patrick County, Virginia. So, what happened to Samuel and Catherine after that? And, what could Catherine’s maiden name be??





Exploring The Vess/Vest Family of Rockbridge County, Virgina

/ J. V.


Last year, I started researching the VESS/VEST families of Rockbridge County, Virginia whose origins are just as mysterious as the predominate VESS families of North Carolina and Alabama.

At this time, we have no Y-DNA data available to determine their relation to other VESS/VEST families.

Below are my current findings and notes…

Census Records

The earliest available census record for Rockbridge County, VA is dated 1810. The name “Vess” or “Vest” does not appear to show up via the search index; however, I did locate the VESS family in this census (see below), indexed under the name “Saml Nass.” I discovered Samuel Vess through clues from various other types of records dating back to 1810 connecting him to the Standoff family and other neighbors.

Ancestry.com 1810 census: Indexed under the name “Saml Nass”

Census Records

1810
Samuel “Vass/Voss”
1820
Samuel “Vess”
Hiram “Vess”
1830
Samuel “Vess”
Addison “Vess”
Hiram “Vess”
John “Vess”
1840
Samuel H. Vest
William Vest
William Vest
Samuel Vest
Hiram Vest
John Vest
Samuel Vest
Addison Vest
Hiram Vest
William Vest
1850
William Vest b. 1808
Sarah (wife)
Children: Samuel A. , John, William A., Sarah A., Martha, James T, & Carlin
Margaret Vess b. 1831
living with Alphin family
Addison Vest b. 1804
Hannah (wife)
Children: John, Mary, Martha, William, Ester, Sarah, & Samuel
Andrew Vest b. 1826
living with Morris family
John Vest b. 1825
Matilda (wife)
Children: Hannah E., William P., Mary, & Matilda
Levi Vest b. 1807
Betsy (wife)
Children: John W., P Givens K., Mary E., James A., George W., Lucy A., & Phebe J.
George Vest b. 1805
Jane (wife)
Children: Sarah A., Julia, Margaret, & George

Tax Records

The Vess/Vest name does not appear on tax records until 1814, via Hiram Vess. I believe Hiram Vess maybe the son of Samuel Vess.

1814 Rockbridge County, VA Tax Record: Familysearch.org

Adam Vert

Earlier Rockbridge County, VA tax records do reveal an ADAM VERT, which predates any WEST, VESS, VEST families in Rockbridge County, Virginia, but I am not sure if he is connected to the Vess family. Adam Vert is the son of Conrad Vert from Loudoun Co, VA.

Just recently, I discovered an online PDF titled, “List of Slave Owners and Names of Slaves,” that consist of an unknown INDEX showing the names James and William Vess. I reached out to the source that posted it and they kindly told me that the Index comes from the book, titled, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA TITHABLES, 1758-1786, by Marty Hiatt & Craig Roberts Scott. 1994, 2011.

This was a bit surprising, because the only other earlier VESS name in Virginia that we knew of was in Patrick and Henry County. However, I do recall finding one mysterious source, showing the name Samuel and William “Vess” of Dunmore Co. VA, which would be close to Loudoun Co. VA.

It’s exciting to find more VESS names!

Also listed in this record is Conrad VERT, father of Adam Vert.

Note: The VESS family has records in various spellings: VESS, VEST, VERT, VISS, POST, and VOSS. So maybe there is a VERT-VESS connection; more research is needed.

Land Records & Maps

I thought the earliest VESS/VEST record I found dated 1801, but I cannot seem to relocate that record (still searching).

The VESS/VEST family lived in an area known as Collierstown which is along Colliers Creek. In 1818, Henry Standoff joined land with Samuel Vess. I have not found any land records specifically for Samuel Vess, so I do not know where his property was located. Land records for Henry Standoff, indicate his properties were along Buffalo Creek, a branch off Colliers Creek. View entire map on Library of Congress website- link in caption below.

Library of Congress⎜Rockbridge County Virginia Section no. 1: Colliers Creek
1818-1883


There is an 1816 land record for Christopher Coinhour (I think Hiram’s father-in-law) joining land with Hiram Vess near Brattons Run. Hiram Vess married Polly Cokenour in 1819.


Library of Congress ⎜Rockbridge County Virginia Section no. 2: Brattons Run


The Vess/Vest family also had land on Kerr’s creek in 1851 via Hiram Vess, not on the map.

Marriage Records 1800-1850

22 Jun 1819Hiram VessPolly Cokenour
7 Apr 1828Addison VessHannah Standoff
28 Feb 1832Samuel Jr. VessElizabeth Ford 
6 Aug 1832William VessPhebe Morris 
27 Sept 1832William VessSarah T. Nowel (Noel)
24 Feb 1832Elizabeth VessJohn Morris 
27 Feb 1833Samuel H. VessAnn McPherson 
14 Mar 1833Hiram VessMargaret Elliott
14 Aug 1834Levi VessElizabeth Bias
29 Mar 1840George VessJane Elliott 
27 April 1843Harvey VessSusan Lipstrap
30 Oct 1845Lucinda VessIssac Lipstrap
31 Dec 1845John VessMatilda Morris
16 Dec 1845Margaret VessAdam Whilhem
26 Dec 1848Mary Ellen VessGeorge E. Hamilton 
4 Dec 1849Nancy VessHenry Hostetter
7 Jan 1850Harvey VessRachel Ailstock


Patrick County, Virginia Vess Families: 1782-1797

/ J. V.

Well, I am trying to squeeze in some more research before the end of the year!

According to New York and Virginia Genealogy, they have a marriage record for Jonathan Vess and Elizabeth Heron that states “Dad Andrew Heron.” So, is Andrew Heron the father of Elizabeth Heron? And does he have any connection with James Heron listed on the Patrick County 1791-1801 deed list?

Tax Records for the Vess family in Patrick County, Virginia

The census records for Patrick County, Virginia have been lost, but Familytree.org has personal property tax lists (1791-1823), in which has the VESS family listed from 1791-1797.

Until now, we thought Peter Vess may have left Patrick County, Virginia in 1793, but according to the tax lists, Peter Vess is listed until 1797.

I have not been able to figure out if William VIA is VESS. Note: There is a William VIA in Wilkes County, NC along with William VEST with court records of a William VEAS.

Samuel Vess/Vest

Patrick County, Virginia was formed from Patrick-Henry County (Henry County) in 1791. So, looking at the taxes lists for Henry County, I found Samuel Vess listed as early as 1782. Personal property tax lists, 1782-1830

Land Records

William Vess (Transfer of Land) bounded to Reynolds family. Ancestry.com

Samuel Vest 1783, 1,000 acres joining Abraham Penn and connecting to George Dotson and Peter Vest line. Ancestry.com

Abraham Penn and George Hairston were large plantation owners in the area (Hairston Plantation still standing today) and often granted indentured servants a portion of their land at the end of their contract. Was Samuel, Peter, and William indentured servants or also wealthy land owners?

Peter Vess and Pugnance Vaughn

Peter Vess married Pugnance Vaughn in 1785 in Henry County, Virginia. Is Samuel Vess his father??

Also, looking records for a William Vaughn (listed above in tax records), I have found family trees for a William Thomas Vaughn and Martha Patsy Reynolds. Note: There is a Reynolds family listed in the area with Peter and William Vess.

According to the family tree, the parents of William Vaughn are Samuel Vaughn and Prudence Loughan (Logan?). I haven’t found any family records for Pugnance Vaughn, but I do wonder if Pugnanace Vaughn (wife of Peter Vess) is supposed to be “Prudence” and possibly related to Samuel and Prudence Vaughn??


Earliest Records of the VESS name

The earliest records we have found with the VESS name are Revolutionary War records for Samuel, Peter, and William Vess.

Above, we have a Revolutionary War record for Samuel and William “Vess” for Dunmore County, Virginia.
This is interesting, because Dunmore County is Shenandoah County today, located just below Frederick County, Virginia. Note: The Vice family story begins in Frederick County, Virginia.

A Possible Start To New Discoveries

I am hoping these newly discovered records can provide us new leads to the official identity of Peter, William, and Samuel Vess.

I am not aware of the Chesterfield County, VA VEST family having any records in the northern portion of Virginia (Frederick County area), which seems like a promising new lead; unfortunately, Dunmore County is an abolished county, meaning scarce records are even more scarce.

Although this may be a wild goose chase with a family completely unrelated to Peter and Willis Vess, I am very interested in helping other families sort out the different VESS, VEST, VOSS, VASS, VAUSE, and VICE families of Virginia.