I was browsing White County, Tennessee records and well, it looks like Pryor and William Vest are in trouble again for assault!

This appears to have occurred around 1825. I am not sure though, if this led to Pryor’s imprisonment in Warren County, TN where he died in 1831.

These two were certainly a pair, as they were both in jail for assault in Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1807. Records indicate they were found “not guilty.”

However, the Wilkes County, North Carolina Vess/Vest family all appear to have split ways after 1810; suggesting to me, the 1807 assault incident probably triggered the separation of the their family.

Now, despite compelling circumstantial evidence, there is still no solid proof that the Wilkes County, NC Vest/Vess family are related to our R1a2 Vess family. However, if they were, this would certainly be a reason why earlier Vess family history has been lost and forgotten. Their history of assaults wouldn’t be something anyone would want to talk about – ever.