So, where are we at with VESS Genealogy in 2023! Here’s a recap:
Jonathan, Peter, and Nathaniel Vess: Getting Closer!
Sadly, the ultimate question about who the parents are for Jonathan, Peter, and Nathaniel Vess have yet to be answered…but, I think we are getting closer; as we continue to dig up new records and analyze new DNA information.
A New VESS Line Via Y-DNA Testing: Willis Vess of Alabama
With Y-DNA and autosomal DNA testing, we have discovered another VESS line: Willis Vess of Franklin (Colbert), Alabama.
We have 1 unknown Y-DNA tester who claims to be a descendant of Willis Vess and their results match with a descendant of Peter Vess, revealing that both lineages are of the same VESS family who are descendants of the earlier TRAVERS family (Haplogroup R1a2). However, to further confirm this, we are currently seeking another Y-DNA tester from the Willis Vess line.
According to available records, Willis Vess was born in 1810 in North Carolina and Peter Vess was born in 1791 in North Carolina. It is strongly believed that Willis and Peter Vess share an older ancestor in North Carolina…
VEST vs VEST: Untangling The VEST / VESS Web of Families
Early records of the VESS family are often found under the name VESS (oftentimes alternating between VEST, VOSS, & VESS). Even our earliest known ancestor, Peter Vess, has early records under the name VEST (later VESS). This is often confused with the early VEST family in Stokes County, North Carolina who are from Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Fortunately, the VEST family in Stokes County, North Carolina is well-documented (as well as it can be) and Y-DNA testing reveals that they are an entirely different Haplogroup than VESS; which allows us to better identify and sort out the different VESS/VEST families in Virginia & North Carolina (which is still an on-going project).
The VEST family is Haplogroup I, whereas the VESS family is Haplogroup R1a2.
The VEST family (Haplogroup I) are from Chesterfield County, Virginia, descendants of John Daniel Vest. We can follow a good portion of their lineage through probate and court records. William Tunwell Vest, son of John Daniel Vest, settled in North Carolina, creating confusion between VESS and VEST families. However, records show the VEST family settled in Winston-Salem area in Stokes County, North Carolina and Guilford County, North Carolina.
The father of Willis Vess in Franklin County, Alabama is said to be “John Vess,” and because records state Willis Vess was born in 1810 in North Carolina, he is often confused as the son of John Vest, son of William Tunwell Vest in Stokes County, NC. This is largely because census records between 1790-1810 only show one VEST family in North Carolina, and that is the VEST family in Stokes County. However, John Vest (Haplogroup I) never left North Carolina.
So, if Willis Vess is from North Carolina, but not related to the VEST (Halplogroup I) family, then where is this earlier VESS family in North Carolina?
Vess/Vest Family Hiding In Wilkes County, North Carolina Records
Between 1803-1810, we’ve uncovered a VESS/VEST family hiding in the Wilkes County, North Carolina court & tax records (they do not appear on census records): William, Pryor, Jonathan, Peter, and Absalom Vess/Vest.
*Records alternate between Vest & Vess; strongly suggesting they are VESS in origin, not VEST.
Absalom Vest married Hannah Raymond in 1808 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Hannah is listed on the 1830 census as “Vess.” This Vest/Vess family left Wilkes County, North Carolina after 1810. In 1820, is when we start seeing records of our earliest known ancestors: Jonathan, Peter, Willis, and Nathaniel Vess.
White County, Tennessee: Pryor, William, Peter, & Willis
Pryor, William, and Peter Vest from Wilkes County, North Carolina settled in White County, Tennessee on Caney Fork River. Later land records include a Willis Vess.
This Vess/Vest family were part of a community known as Sparkmantown (later Van Buren County), which included the Dodson, Medley, Plummley, and Simmons families. Records show them as close neighbors and autosomal DNA data & family trees reveal them to be related to each other.
Earlier White County, TN census records show that the Vest family lived near the Hodge family from Patrick County, Virginia when it was Henry County (prior to 1791). They are listed near Samuel Vest (Vess) on tax records. The Hodge and Dodson families also appear in earlier Wilkes County, North Carolina records, suggesting they may have all traveled together (but this is not confirmed).
Signs of A Tennesse – Alabama Connection
Early records in Alabama are scarce due to a court-house fire.
Willis Vess comes into existence, like all the other earliest known Vess ancestors, after the 1820 census and later census records reveal that he was born in 1810 in North Carolina.
Later records also reveal a John P. Vess born in 1822 (related via autosomal DNA testing) whose birthplace alternates between North Carolina and Tennessee. Interestingly, John P. Vess married Mary Louise Simmons, a descendant of the Simmons family in White County, TN.
Other Tennessee hints, include a land record for Willis Vess referencing a William Vess as his “heir.” The question is, who is William Vess?
Also, in 1840, there is a “Peter Vess” listed in the newspaper for unclaimed mail at the Russellville post-office (post office used by the Willis Vess family). Could this be Peter Vess from White County, TN, whose last known record was dated 1830?
There is no evidence to prove Willis Vess in White County, TN is Willis Vess in Franklin County, Alabama; but there is circumstantial evidence to strongly suggest they are of the same Vess family.
An Even Earlier VESS family: Virginia
Tax and land records reveal a VESS (sometimes Vest/Voss) family in Patrick County, Virginia between 1782-1796. This Vess family includes Samuel, William, Peter, and Jonathan Vess.
Land records reveal that Samuel’s wife’s name was Catherine. Samuel, William, and Peter lived near the Mayo River (Patrick County/ Henry County border) near the Penn and Hairston plantations. Samuel and William obtained land from Abraham Penn’s property, suggesting they might have been indentured servants (but not confirmed).
Marriage records show that Peter married Pugnance Vaughn and Jonathan married Elizabeth Heron. It is listed on the marriage record, that Elizabeth’s father is named Andrew.
Samuel, William, and an earlier Peter Vess are believed to have earlier roots in Dunmore County, Virginia (Augusta Co.), according to Revolutionary War Records, whose name alternates between VESS and VASS. Research into Revolutionary War records has confirmed that the Samuel Vess from Dunmore County, VA is not the same Samuel Vest in Stoke County, North Carolina from Chesterfield Co. VA. They fought under different commands during the Revolutionary War.
Rockbridge County, Virginia Vess Family
If Samuel, William, and Peter Vess of Dunmore Co. VA (Augusta Co.) are all related as one Vess family, it is possible, that one line branched off to Rockbridge County, Virginia whose Y-DNA haplogroup has yet to be determined.
The Rockbridge Co. Vess Family believe they are descendants of the West family; however, early records do not show any WEST families in Rockbridge. There is, however, an Adam Vert, who came from Loundoun Co. (near Dunmore Co.), whose father is Conrad Vert. An early census record for Conrad Vert also shows a James and William Vess too.
Peter Vess: Pauper, Orphan, and a CROOK
During the 1840’s, Peter’s land was sold to the Souther family to resolve a $50 debt, suggesting Peter did die a pauper, as told as family history.
Vince Vess, family researcher, recently discovered that Catherine (Peter’s wife) is not a COOK but a CROOK!
We are still researching the CROOK and HAYNES families (Catherine’s lineage) for clues to Peter’s family and so far, I’ve come across some intriguing information suggesting Peter may have been an orphan:
1. Peter and Catherine’s children are predominately named after members of the CROOK and HAYNES family. They do not follow the traditional naming pattern during that time period, suggesting Peter probably didn’t know his family.
2. The CROOK family is from Ireland and has Ireland and Scottish ancestry. Stories that the VESS family is from Ireland, may have actually been the CROOK family.
3. Recent Y-DNA results now show that we are part of the TRAVERS family from England (not Ireland).
4. We also have stories that the VESS family had high respect for an “outlaw,” which could have been the CROOK family. During the 1830’s, the name CROOK took on the meaning “criminal,” and could have been misinterpreted as an “outlaw” in later generations. And, having Scottish ancestry, Catherine’s grandfather, Andrew CROOK, might have had red-hair, as described in the family story. Furthermore, the VESS family must have had a lot of respect for the CROOK and HAYNES family, to name their children after them.
The discovery of the CROOK and Haynes families has opened an entirely new chapter to VESS genealogy, as records show they all came together in 1804 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. It reveals our connection to families in Buncombe County, North Carolina and how our family came to be part of the Bill’s Creek community. Catherine’s grandfather, William Haynes, was the first pastor of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church and her father, John Crook, bought land joining William Haynes property in 1804.
Look for future posts regarding the CROOK and HAYNES families!
SOUTHER Family Connection
During my research, I noticed we keep running into the SOUTHER family from Wilkes County, North Carolina.
1. Hannah Vess (wife of Absalom Vest) is listed next to a Souther in Wilkes County, NC in 1830 (they are next to the Smoot family, where Jonathan Vess was a witness on a land record between Nathan Duncan and John Smoot (Brushy Mountain area).
2. A Souther is a member of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church during the same time as Peter Vess.
3. A Souther married the ex-wife of John Vess (Peter’s son), Elizabeth Taylor.
4. A Souther obtained Peter’s land, before his death.
5. A Souther is living next to Catherine’s mom in Buncombe County, NC in 1830.
6. I have autosomal DNA matches with direct descendants of the Souther family.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Peter Vess came to Rutherford County, NC with the Souther family. I am currently researching guardianship, bastardy bonds, and indentured servant records.
South Carolina Connections
Research at the moment suggests that Andrew Crook (Catherine’s grandfather) might be from Newberry South Carolina (now Abbeyville Co.). Some records mention a TURNER family, which is intriguing, because 1850 census records show a John Vess and Drucilla Turner in Abbeyville County, SC, whose origins are unknown. We also have a Turner connection in Patrick County, Virginia (Henry Co.) with Samuel Vess 1782. (More research is needed).
We know there is a VESS- South Carolina connection somewhere, because Nathaniel Vess is from South Carolina. Records strongly suggest that Nathaniel Vess came from Glassy Mountain, Greenville Co. South Carolina (The Dark Corners), as records show that the Bellew and Gosnell families predominantly lived in that area.
However, there are no records of a Vess family in South Carolina prior to 1850; except for an 1830 census for a “Polly Vess” in Greenville County, South Carolina.
Interestingly, Polly Vess is listed next to a William Plummley on the 1830 Greenville County, South Carolina census. His son Contsant Plummley is listed next to Nathaniel Vess and John Bellew on the 1830 Rutherford County, North Carolina census. Constant Plummley is also related to the Plummley family in White County, TN next to the Peter, Pryor, William, and Willis Vest/Vess family. Is there a connection?
Conclusion: Just An Opinion
I strongly recommend that readers and researchers come to their own conclusions and theories about Vess family genealogy. However, if you were to ask my thoughts, I would say the following:
I strongly believe, based on the available records and DNA information at this time, that the VESS family comes from Lancashire, England (not Ireland). At some point, our name was shortened from TRAVERS to VESS, likely through a series of different misspellings (VOSS, VISS, VEST, etc) over numerous generations.
During the Revolutionary War, the VESS family may have lived in Augusta County, Virginia and then later settled in Patrick County, Virginia (Pittsylvania Co), before making their way to Wilkes County, North Carolina. I strongly believe the VESS family then split ways after 1810, going to Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, North and South Carolina.
Information To Share Or Interested In Y-DNA Testing: Let’s Talk!
If you have any family stories to share or any information to add to Vess Genealogy, please email me at vessgenealogy@gmail.com.
If you are interested in participating in Y-DNA testing, please email vessgenealogy@gmail.com or reach out to us via Facebook!
We are currently seeking the following Y-DNA testers:
- Direct VESS Male Descendant of unknown VESS origins
- Direct VESS Male Descendant of Willis Vess (Alabama line)
- Direct VESS Male Descendant of John P. Vess (Alabama line)
- Direct VESS Male Descendant of Nathaniel Vess (South Carolina line)
- Direct VESS Male Descendant of Jonathan Vess (Texas line)
- Direct VEST Male Descendant of Absalom Vest (Wilkes / Iredell line)
- Direct TRAVIS and TRAVERS Male Descendants of all TRAVERS/TRAVIS lines
VEST, VOSS, and VASS families are welcome to test too!
Vess Genealogy 