If there is one thing in Vess Genealogy that bothers me the most, it is the close genetic connection between Peter and Willis Vess. I mean, how are they so closely related?
A number of descendants of Willis Vess show as DNA matches on my Autosomal DNA test, which means there is an early connection somewhere between 6-8 generations back. For me, my 3rd great-grandfather, Andrew Logan Vess, would be the 6th generation. Is Willis Vess the brother of Peter Vess?
Andrew Logan Vess
Before we found out that Peter and Willis Vess were part of the same Vess family (via Y-DNA), I figured I must be connected to Willis Vess through an ancestor on my mother’s side, whose family also had deep roots in Georgia and the Carolinas. But, now I know descendants of Willis Vess also show up as DNA matches for a number of other descendants of Peter Vess.
So, where does Peter and Willis Vess fall on the Vess family tree?
Consistent Geographical Places
As research continues, we have discovered that the Vess family live in communities whose residents appear to be consistently associated with the same geographical places:
1. Enroee River, Spartanburg County, South Carolina 2. Abbeville County, South Carolina 3. Wilkes County, North Carolina 4. White County, Tennessee
You would think that mountainous terrain and dangerous confrontations with Native Americans would have hindered families from traveling large distances; however, that is far from the truth. Many early families owned and maintained land in other states; in which often required the head of household to travel back and forth for business. A lot of families were also uprooted due to wars or the expansion of the new frontier.
Connections To Abbeville County, South Carolina
What also boggles my mind, is that while we find early Vess families in communities associated with common geographical places, there still appears to be no early existence of the Vess family. Generally, one would expect to find at least 1 or 2 close relatives hanging around nearby, as families often traveled together. But in our case, it is as if Peter and Willis Vess, even Jonathan and Nathaniel Vess, seemingly appear into their community out of nowhere!
What is even more curious, is that Alfred Webb Vess, son of Peter Vess, settled in Georgia (prior to the Civil War), while the rest of the Vess family pretty much stayed in North Carolina. Why did he move out of state?
Alfred Webb Vess
It is interesting to note, that he left North Carolina in the early 1850’s, which may have been after the death of his mother, Catherine. In 1860, the entire Rutherford County, N.C. Vess family is shown having had split their ways, with the youngest of Peter and Catherine’s children shown to be living with another family (largely suggesting Catherine had died).
I have yet to figure out why the youngest children of Peter and Catherine went to live with a man named Dempsey Sumner in Buncombe County, NC. I have not found any evidence suggesting any kind of family connection between them. However, I do have reason to believe, Sumner may have given Jasper an apprenticeship, for that Jasper later acquired some of him land. [Note: Indentured servant contracts were still going on prior to the Civil War.]
Alfred Webb Vess married Mary Elizabeth McFarlin, daughter of Benjamin McFarlin and Nancy Stone. They married in 1853, in Franklin County, Georgia, not too far from Mary’s roots in Abbeville County, South Carolina.
Is that a clue that the Vess family also had early roots in Abbeville County, South Carolina, as other research suggests? Was there Vess family in Abbeville County, SC that Alfred went to after Catherine’s death?
Franklin County, Georgia- Abbeville County, South Carolina
This intrigues me, because many residents in Franklin County, Alabama also have earlier connections with Abbeville County, SC. Jonathan Vess of Texas also appears to have connections with Abbeville County, SC, through the families his children married (like McBee and McCullough families). In addition, James Heron (from Patrick County, VA) also owns land in Abbeville County, South Carolina and do not even get me started on the bulk of Travis families who descend from Cork, Ireland also living in Abbeville County, SC, with one of them becoming an important part of early Texas history [William B. Travis: The Battle of the Alamo].
Exploring The TRAVESS Name
Earlier this week, I’ve started to explore the TRAVESS name. I find it interesting that this name is found in Caroline County, Maryland. Although Y-DNA tells us there is no recent connection between the Vess family and the Travers family of Dorchester, Maryland (next to Caroline County); that doesn’t mean, a different Travers family (perhaps with a similar name) wasn’t ever in Maryland. The TRAVESS name, is interestingly, a name that can also be found in both England and Ireland, particularly in Lancashire, England and Donegal (not Cork), Ireland.
Unfortunately, there is no DNA evidence (as of yet) suggesting a connection with any early TRAVESS families (not even sure if TRAVESS is even related to TRAVERS); however, it is a name variant (along with TRAVIS) that we might want to take in consideration when exploring these earlier common geographical places; as it is abundantly clear that our family’s mysterious tracks throughout early Colonial America are hidden behind a different surname.
Peter and Willis Vess are related to each other on the same family line, a FACT confirmed by Y-DNA testing. Where they connect on the family tree still remains a mystery, but I believe we are getting close! A few recent discoveries (observations) within the last couple of weeks have given life to old dead-ends providing me with an entirely new perspective to VESS Genealogy!!
In this post, I will share with you my recent findings, observations, how they likely connect to previous findings, and the interesting new genealogical picture that is starting to take form!
Early Settlers Of Foxtrap: Franklin County, Alabama
Although Peter and Willis Vess are related, I just find it absolutely incredible that they are so far apart from each other geographically! No wonder nobody knew the two family lines were kin! However, recent discoveries (or observations) may better explain how and why they settled so far apart…
According to family genealogist, Anna Popejoy, on FindAGrave.com, John Vess (father of Willis Vess) “settled in the Foxtrap area by 1818” in Franklin County, Alabama. Franklin County was established in February of 1818, so any land records prior to 1818 would have been issued either by the Mississippi Territory or from other states (TN, VA, or Carolinas).
The earliest known VESS record in Alabama is a land record for Willis Vess dated 1837 for property located in the Foxtrap area of Franklin County (issued from the Huntsville land office in Madison County, Alabama). Using ALGenweb archives, I was able to compile a list of early land owners between 1830-1837. Using the Franklin County, AL plat map, I was able to identify and narrow down land owners who obtained land within the same 2 township(s) as Willis Vess.
I discovered the following families: Dubois, Truelove, Hendley, Tharp, Thompson, Quillin, Sugg, Hudson, Willis, Mullins, Bradfoot, and Harvey. The earliest being the Hendley family located near Mountain Star (1824).
Then, I compared them to the 1820 census record and discovered that many of these families where in Franklin County, Alabama in 1820. Including the name Littleberry Matlock. We can see the name Littleberry F Matlock listed near Willis Vess on the ALGenweb plat map.
If John Vess had settled in Franklin County, Alabama by 1818, he should have been listed on the 1820 census; however, again, the census is said to be incomplete.
Researching the families listed on a map I created, I discovered many of them have origins in South Carolina and the Tharp family, specifically, comes from Rutherford County, North Carolina. Research indicates that the entire area is family connected, but the connections are strongly connected around the Saints Crossroads area and just below Mountain Star; no early family connections in the Foxtrap area (or so it seems).
More Clues To Early Settlers Found In Whitlock Family Research
A document posted on Ancestry.com, titled “Genealogy of Lou Pero,” references Anna Popejoy’s research about the Whitlock family wagon train from Georgia, published in the book, “Whitlock Gleanings,” by Thomas Edward Roach (1984). This document has provided many clues as to the early settlers of the area.
According to Anna Popejoy [“Genealogy of Lou Pero” document referencing “Whitlock Gleanings“], the Whitlock family made its way towards Alabama late in the year of 1821 and settled in an area known as Saint’s Cross, [see map above] named after the Saints family. The wagon train included “Robert Thompson and Pennington families.” This is interesting, considering him and his brother, Waddy Thompson are listed on the 1820 census record, a year before the Whitlock’s journey to Alabama from Georgia.
Online, there is a Will for the wife of Robert’s brother, Waddy Thompson, stating she and the Thompson brothers came from Greenville Co. South Carolina (married in 1795) [Posted to USGenweb Archives by J. Robison, 2009]. She was previously married to a Garrott Rutledge, prior to Thompson. Interestingly, I learned that Gov. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina owned large tracts of land in Alabama and when he died (1790’s), those tracts were sold to early settlers of Franklin County, Alabama. The source states the land was mainly in Dist. 8 and 9, but I have not found any early maps which reference districts, only townships.
Did Robert and Waddy Thompson obtain land through grants from Rutledge due to a connection with Waddy’s wife’s prior family connections?? Is that why the area has so many residents whose origins are from South Carolina??
The document also states the Whitlock family traveled to Tuscumbia for supplies, which is located in the northern part of Franklin County, Alabama now known as Colbert County, which was established in 1867.
Uncovering The Missing Half of Foxtrap
When we think of Foxtrap Creek, we think of the two (2) townships in Franklin County, Alabama in which Willis Vess has land [map above]. However, later census records for Willis Vess are under Colbert County, Alabama, which strongly suggests that his land must be on the border between Franklin and Colbert County. Looking at a map, Foxtrap Creek actually extends up into Colbert County! With a bit of cutting and pasting, below is a complete picture of Foxtrap Creek in both Colbert and Franklin County.
On the Colbert County side, there appears to be an actual Foxtrap community with a church and community center. The Foxtrap area in which Anna Popejoy refers to may not have been limited to the portion of Foxtrap on today’s Franklin County side. Because the Whitlock family had to go to Tuscumbia for supplies (1820’s), which is north of Littleville [map above], Foxtrap may be a little older than the area now known as Saints Crossroads.
Unfortunately, I am still trying to find land records of the early families who have settled in the portion of Colbert County area that was once Franklin County. There are early records, but no corresponding maps (as of yet) to show us where exactly these early families had land on the Colbert County side of early Franklin County.
Tharp Family of Rutherford County, NC
Looking at the Foxtrap community in Colbert Co. AL, we have a Tharp Cemetery. The Tharp family arrived prior to 1820 and they supposedly come from Rutherford County, NC. Interesting!
Hezekiah Tharp, according to FindAGrave.com, is buried in Tharp Cemetery in Littleville AL. Further research reveals that “James” Hezekiah Tharp was born in Rutherford County, NC 1795 and his sister is Phoebe Matlock, wife of Littleberry Matlock of South Carolina (Littleberry Matlock, maybe Jr. later obtains land in the same township as Willis).
They married in 1815 in Wilson Co. TN. I have learned that many of the South Carolina residents who settled in Alabama were “drafted” to TN for the War of 1812, including Robert Thompson, mentioned earlier. This could explain how Peter and Willis Vess settled so far apart; perhaps the VESS family was separated due to the War of 1812.
The children of Hezekiah Tharp married into the Pennington, Thompson, Presley, Vandiver, and Hulsey families which are families residing in the Saints Crossroad area in Franklin County; which means, there is a good chance, especially, if Littleberry Matlock is a neighbor to Willis Vess, that there might be an earlier Vess ancestor mentioned in an early record pertaining to one of these early families (probate, court, financial, etc.). Further research is needed.
Jarvis Willis Possible Connection To Peter and William Vess/Voss of Patrick County, VA
It is widely believed that Willis Vess was likely named after the Willis family and we know that a couple of the older children of Willis Vess married into the Willis family in Franklin County, Alabama, as Willis Vess and John Willis were close neighbors [as shown on the map below].
According to a document on Ancestry.com titled, “Willis Land in 1850s Huntsvills, AL,” posted 20 Feb 2019 by MySNPs, John Lewis Willis (son-in-law of Willis Vess) is the grandson of Jarvis Willis from Dorchester County, Maryland. The document states that the Willis and Vess families may have “crossed paths” in Stokes County, North Carolina and then migrated together to Alabama through Tennessee. It is noted that this is based on census records showing Jarvis Willis in Stokes County, NC and ancestral trees indicating that John Vess (father of Willis Vess) was born in Stokes County, NC.
Current research now strongly suggests that John Vess of Stokes County, NC is most likely John VEST, the son of William Tunwell Vest who we have confirmed via Y-DNA analysis is not related to our VESS family. HOWEVER, this doesn’t mean that the Willis and Vess families didn’t migrate together to Alabama. In fact, this document might further support a connection between Willis Vess and the Vess/Voss family in Patrick County, VA!
As per a previous post, we found a land record for Willis Vess in White County, Tennessee on Caney Fork near a Peter and William Vess. It is believed that this Peter and William Vess may be the same Peter and William Vess of Patrick County, VA as shown on the 1790-1801 Patrick County, VA deed list. Well, turns out now that Jarvis Willis wasn’t too far behind Peter and William in Tennessee.
There is an early Tennessee land record for Jarvis Willis on the waters of Beam Creek; unfortunately, there is no county listed. However, looking at maps, I found Beam Creek in Cumberland County, Tennessee. Zooming out, we find that White County and Cumberland County are next to each other. Zooming in to Beam Creek and we find that Beam Creek turns into Caney Fork, which then extends down into White County, Tennessee where Peter, William, and Willis Vess have land records! What are the odds!
Beam Creek and Caney Fork in Cumberland County, TN
Willis Family Come From Dorchester/Caroline Co. Maryland
According to, “Willis Land in 1850s Huntsvills, AL,” posted 20 Feb 2019 by MySNPs, Jarvis Willis is from Dorchester Maryland and notes that Lucinda Fisher is also listed on the Franklin County, AL plat map, next to Willis Vess, John Willis, and Charles Willis [map above]. Her daughter married Jasper Willis, son of Charles Willis. And, the author notes, that the Fisher and Willis families “intermarry often in the 1800’s, back up in Caroline County, Maryland [once part of Dorchester Co., Maryland].”
This is a VERY intriguing note, now that we know we are closely genetically related (via Y-DNA) to the Travers family of Lancashire England who settled in Dorchester County, Maryland!
According to research by Albert E. Casey M.D., there are two (2) Travers families in America, one having settled in Dorchester County, Maryland from England and the other having settled in Albermarle County [abolishedcounty], North Carolina from Ireland. There is no proof (as to date) whether these two (2) Travers families are related; however, records show that at least one line from the Travers family from Maryland joined the Travers family in North Carolina.
Based on the results of just a few Y-DNA testers, DNA analysis suggests the VESS family likely branched off the TRAVERS family line, at least those who settled in Maryland, sometime before 1665 in Britain or Scotland. We need more Y-DNA testers from different VESS, TRAVERS, and TRAVIS lines to be able to better pin-point not only which specific Travers line we broke off from, but when and where!
Geographically Close Families
I always found it very interesting that the Voss and Travers families often appear to be geographically close to one another in America.
In Dorchester Co. Maryland (Taylors Island), we have the Travers family from England and not too far away, in Caroline Co., Maryland, there is a Voss family (John Voss). In North Carolina, not too far from the Travers family from Ireland, we have clusters of Voss/Vass families.
According to The Vaulx Family of England, Virginia, and Maryland, by Michael L. Marshall, there was a Robert Vaulx from England in Dorchester, Maryland; however, no specific mention of any Vaulx, Voss, Vass families having been in Caroline County, Maryland [note: Caroline Co. was once part of Dorchester Co.]. Also, Marshall notes that there is no proof that the southern Voss/Vass families in the Carolina’s are related to the Vaulx families from England (De Vallibus line) and if they are, he notes they must be of a different lineage having arrived into America at different times.
Both the Vaulx (De Vallibus) and Travers families descend from ancient Norman families who arrived in England with William the Conquerer. Interestingly, they are geographically close in England as well. The Travers family can be found in Lancashire England, whereas the Vaulx family (those that migrated to America) come from Cumberland, England. Whether or not they are related or have any connections, is not yet known.
Now, when you add the Willis families (those that I’ve come across during research) to the map [below], we get a remarkable new perspective!
If we split from the Travers family in America, it would likely be from the Travers family in Ireland (based on our Vess family story), which would allow (in theory) for Peter and Willis Vess to be born in North Carolina and Nathan Vess in South Carolina. But could it explain Jonathan Vess of Texas or Peter and William Vess of Patrick County, VA? Perhaps, because based on research by A. Elder on the McCullouch family of Texas, James Heron, who maybe the father of Elizabeth Heron, wife of Jonathan Vess, not only had land in Virginia near Peter and William Vess in Patrick County, VA but even earlier dated land records in Abbeville County, South Carolina!
Different Migrations Seen In Records
From my observation, a pattern of migrations have begun to appear!
Along the east side of Virginia, we have the Virginia Voss/Vass families (connection to Vaulx family unknown) migrating south into North Carolina (Ambermarle, Orange, Casewell, Granville, etc.). The Willis family, based on numerous sources, did the same, but now we know they originated in Maryland. We also know at least one Travers family from Maryland also went to North Carolina and joined the Travers family from Ireland.
The Travers family from Ireland migrated into South Carolina: Frances Travers in Tyron County, NC with land on the South Carolina side and his brothers obtaining land in Abbeville co. South Carolina, and of course, Charles Travers (Ireland or Maryland origin is unknown) is found in Anson County, NC with the Sugg and Bellew family, noting the Benson family in South Carolina (implying a connection).
Records state one Virginia Voss family (possibly related to the Vaulx family) migrated to South Carolina, but South Carolina records are scarce (he supposedly owed a large debt to someone in Virginia).
Along the west side of Virginia, we have the Great Wagon Road. The Vice, Whitesides, Logan, Pettit, Gosnell, Ecker, Mooney, and Pool families all have records showing they once traveled along this route, through Frederick County, VA, down into Augusta Co. VA, Rockbridge Co. VA, and into Surry/Stokes County, North Carolina.
Nathaniel Vice and his family crossed over to Kentucky (via the Cumberland Gap) and John Vice continued South, down through Casewell Co. North Carolina and into South Carolina where he settled in the Tyger River Community. Many Rutherford County, NC residents come from Orange, Casewell, and Granville counties, such as the Owenby, Hill, Ledbetter, and Murphy families. Joseph Voss (from the Virginia Voss family) traveled this route also, with early records in Casewell, and settled in South Carolina. William Voss of the same family, settled in Mecklenburg Co., NC, married Elizabeth Orr, and then traveled to Tennessee where it is said they established Lawerence County, Tennessee (just north of Franklin County, Alabama).
After 1810, families began to head west! I used to think families only traveled in one direction, but records have proven me wrong. Families, especially prominent land owners, traveled back and forth. North Carolina farmers in Rutherford County, NC took their products to market all the way to Charleston, South Carolina using the rivers. War took families to the western frontier or back north where they first came from. Land grants and opportunity took many of them west too!
How Willis Vess ended up in Alabama, so far away from Peter VESS in North Carolina is still a mystery, but I think we are beginning to narrow down some really good plausible ideas. Maybe the Vess family did split up in Surry County, NC? Maybe our family has earlier roots in South Carolina and War took the Willis Vess line to Tennessee? Maybe we came down the Great Wagon Road? Maybe we did split from one of the Travers families in America?
Only further research and Y-Testing will help us unravel the mysteries of our Vess family!
Research strongly suggests that Peter, Willis, and Nathan Vess may have common connections in South Carolina. In this post, we begin to explore these possible connections.
Please note that the opinions and thoughts in this post are based on my own personal point of view researching these families. Links to sources are provided to allow the reader / researcher to form their own opinions, thoughts, and conclusions.
Mapping Out Families
Using information obtained by South Carolina Digital Records, I was able to map a few families that may have connections with our earliest known ancestors: Pool, Pettit, Bellew, and Willis families. *Toney and Nicholl records have also been found, but are not mapped above.
Pool and Pettit families lived along the Pacelot River below Lawson’s Fork.
Bellew and Willis families lived along Fair Forest Creek.
Vice and Hembree families lived along Cain Creek branching out from the Tyger River.
Peter Vess: Pettit & Toney Families
According to Peter’s 1820 census record, he is listed next to David Mooney, Henry Pettit, James Young, and Abraham Toney. The Pettit and Toney families married each other and were members of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Peter Vess. [Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History, by Helen M. Lu].
According to North Carolina’s Land grants and deed website and various other sources, David Mooney’s family has been in this area of North Carolina since the 1760’s (Tryon County), having traveled with the Eacker family. Living nearby in Lincoln County, North Carolina is the Boston Best and Charles Gosnell family. Boston Best has early land records in Tryon County, but I not sure if those properties are in modern-day North Carolina or South Carolina.
Interestingly, Boston Best (I believe to be Jr.) is on the 1790 Spartanburg County, South Carolina census record [below] near Henry Pettit, while his father Boston Best Sr. is listed next to Charles Gosnell in the 1790 Lincoln County, North Carolina census record. Charles Gosnell’s son, Joshua Gosnell, is listed next to Abraham Belue (Bellew) on the 1790 Spartanburg County, South Carolina census record – a few pages over from Henry Pettit.
Also, John Vice/Vise is on the same page of the 1790 Spartanburg County, South Carolina census record as Henry Pettit, but listed as John “Wise.” We can safely assume John “Wise” is John Vice, based on other families on the same page, such as Joel Hembree (Embry) who is a neighbor of John Vice per land records.
We know the Toney family was also in South Carolina. They appear to have been in South Carolina as early as the Revolutionary War (like Henry Pettit). I found a Toney family with a land record in Tyger River dated the same year that John Vice obtained land in the Tyger River area too [below].
According to family trees for the Toney family, Abraham Toney of Rutherford County, North Carolina (with Peter Vess) is supposedly related to Timothy Toney of South Carolina. There are numerous Abraham’s on the family tree and 2 of them went by William (Abraham William Toney) which has caused a lot of confusion, so further research is needed to confirm the two Toney families are related.
Also, I see John Stovall next to Henry Pettit on the 1790 census. I believe Ann Pool, Henry’s wife, is related to the Stovall family (her maternal line) and the Stovall family had connections with the prominent PENN and HAIRSTON families in Patrick County, Virginia where we find William and Peter Vess [1790-1801 Patrick County Deeds].
Dunneway is also an interesting name on the 1790 census [above]. There is a marriage record for Nathaniel Vice and Sarah Dunaway in Kentucky (1802). This is supposedly Nathaniel Vice Jr., brother of John Vice Sr. in South Carolina. There appears to be confusion over the numerous Nathaniels in the Vice family tree, so it is not certain how they are actually connected, further research is needed.
According to the Vice family trees, Nathaniel and John Vice are brothers…do they, perhaps have a brother named Peter? And, would this Peter have been the Peter from Patrick County, Virginia? If the VICE and VESS families are the same family, is this where our oral tradition about the three brothers: Peter, John, and Nathaniel come from?
Nathan Vess: Bellew & Gosnell Families
Nathan’s wife, Clarinda Bellew is supposedly a descendant of the Gosnell/Bellew families of the Dark Corners of South Carolina (Glassy Mountain, Greenville Co. SC) with her father being John Bellew and her mother being Clarinda Gosnell.
We can find Nathan Vess and John Bellew on the 1830 Rutherford County, North Carolina census record.
On the 1790 Spartanburg County, South Carolina census record [below], we have Joshua Gosnell (son of Charles Gosnell of Lincoln County, NC) and Abraham Bellew, who is supposedly Clarinda Bellew’s grandfather.
There are numerous records for the Bellew (Belue, Bellew) family in South Carolina, prior to them settling in Glassy Mountain, Greenville County. One record of interest, is a 1774 record for Abraham Belue on Dutchmans Creek along Tyger River [below]. This is dated much earlier than the Vice family; however, Pruitt is a name that appears to be connected to the Pettit and Vice families. Of course, further investigation is needed here too.
Coincidence or Fact: Mac-Hugh Story
According to one of our family’s oral traditions about an O’Donnell-Vess, the Vess family supposedly came over with an O’Neil and an O’Donnell family from Ireland. O’Neill, wanted by the English Crown, supposedly changed his name to Mac Hugh (for his red hair) and was highly respected by the Vess family.
This oral tradition is said to have been very important to the Vess family (descendants of David Andrew Vess and Magnolia Gosnell). Upon further investigation, I found that this story appears to be similar to 2 actual historical events: The O’Donnell and O’Neil clans from Northern Ireland (1500’s) and the infamous outlaw of South Carolina’s Dark Corners, Lewis Redmond.
Knowing more about the Dark Corners of South Carolina and its residents, it is extremely interesting a William “Readmond” and Thomas “Neal”are listed next to the Gosnell and Bellew families on the 1790 Spartanburg County, South Carolina census [above]; especially, since the Gosnell and Bellew families settled in Greenville County, South Carolina, in an area where Lewis Redmond will become a well-respected outlaw. Is he a descendant of William Readmond and were the Bellew, Gosnell, and Vess families connected to the Readmond and Neil families?
Willis Vess: Willis, Ligon, and Other Families
Willis Vess was supposedly born in 1810 in North Carolina, but records of him do not appear until 1830 in Franklin County, Alabama. Interestingly, sources say some of the Vice families migrated to Alabama and there is a document on Ancestry.com that was posted in 2011, stating John Roebuck Vise Sr. and Martha Pruitt having had a child named Willis born in 1810. Unfortunately, this does not confirm Willis Vise and Willis Vess are the same person. But, perhaps there is a connection…
The oldest children of Willis Vess and Talitha Whitlock married into the John Willis family who are shown to be neighbors in Foxtrap, Franklin County, Alabama [below].
Looking at South Carolina records, I came across the Ligon name (Robert Ligon) on a land record for John Pool [below]. Note: Pool, Rogers and Meadows have connections with the Vice family.
Then, looking at the Franklin Co. Alabama plat map [below], there in the Foxtrap area with Willis Vess and John Willis, is listed James and Abner Ligon. Further research states that James and Abner Ligon are the sons of Robert Ligon in South Carolina. Also, James Dubois is a family that was in Foxtrap as early as 1820, possibly one of the earlier settlers of the area and Dubois is also a name found in early records of Tyger River community in South Carolina.
Below is another interesting record. Here we find the Nicholls family (also found in Franklin County, Alabama) on a land record with the following families: Meadows (married Nathaniel Vice) Pettit (married Mary Vice) Rogers (neighbors of John Vice) Willis (maybe related to John Willis)
So, I can’t help but wonder: Could Willis Vess be related to the Vice family of South Carolina? And, could John Willis, neighbors of Willis Vess, be related to Richard Willis?
So many interesting discoveries and still so many more questions; butit appears that South Carolina may be the key to unraveling the mysteries of the Vess family!
While investigating Willis Vess, I may have found my way back to the Patrick County, VA Vess/Vest family!
My game plan to try to uncover the origins of the Alabama Vess family include looking at maps, neighbors, spouses, genealogy records (census, land, probate, etc), and the history of Alabama.
Investigating Land Records
Franklin County, Alabama was first established in 1818, before Alabama became a state (December 14, 1819). Records of early settlers of northern portions of Alabama may be found in the Mississippi Territory records. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any records of interest.
The earliest record I’ve found on Willis Vess is an 1830 census record for Franklin County, Alabama. However, he is listed as being between the ages of 30-40, living with two females between the ages of 15-30. This does not appear to match the timeline reported on family trees. Also, he is 10 years younger in the 1840 census (listed as being between the ages of 20-30). Census records are notorious for their mistakes.
Interestingly, on the 1830 census record, I do recognize two familiar family names next to Willis Vess: SUGG and THARP.
Willis Vess lived near both of them and the Sugg family has records as early as 1819. In fact, despite the 1820 Alabama census record being supposedly incomplete, it does contain some families from the Foxtrap area [THARP, SUGG, MATLOCK, THOMPSON, and DEBOIS].
Littleberry Matlock is shown on the Alabama Genweb plat map, living next to Willis Vess. Further research reveals that he married Phoebe Tharp whose father is Robert Tharp (1820 censusabove) and supposedly (not confirmed yet) her mother is a Thompson from Rutherford County, North Carolina. Interesting!
After 1830, we believe Willis Vess married Talitha Whitlock; unfortunately, I have not been able to find a marriage record. However, we do know a lot about the Whitlock family due to extensive research by Anna Popejoy and published works by the Whitlock Newsletter via Google. The Whitlock family arrived in Alabama in 1820 and lived in an area referred to as Saints cross (which is near Foxtrap). I figure this may be how Willis Vess and Talitha Whitlock met each other.
The oldest children of Willis and Talitha Vess married into the Willis family, which may suggest the Vess and Willis families were close (they were close neighbors shown on the map below) and it is believed that the Willis family may have connections with the parents of Willis Vess (no evidence yet).
I do not know when the Willis family arrived in Franklin Alabama, however, both John Willis and Willis Vess appear on the 1830 census record (several pages apart).
Looking at the President’s name on their undated land records for Franklin County, Alabama, it appears that John Willis purchased land near the Foxtrap area before Willis Vess. John Willis’ record [No. 5972] was signed by Andrew Jackson who was President between 1829-1837 and Willis Vess’ record [No. 8737] was signed by Martin Van Buren who was President between 1837-1841.
The map below (looking at surrounding families) seem to have been something that was put together sometime after the 1850’s. The earliest known neighbor near Willis Vess is James Dubois [No. 8705, also issued in 1837] who is seen on the 1820 census record (above). The land record for John Willis signed by Present Andrew Jackson is not dated, but was likely issued between 1829-1837 and land records No. 19711 and 19712 was signed between 1857-1861 when James Buchanan was President. Unfortunately, nothing seems to reveal any clues about the Vess family prior to 1830.
Willis Vess appears to have owned several properties in the Foxtrap area.
I found 3 land records for Willis Vess: No. 8737 August 5, 1837 No. 20457 & 20252 April 2, 1857*No. 20451 & 20452 on map (above) No. 25798 March 1, 1858 (William Vess as heir) *No. 25797 on map (above)
Who is William Vess? None of the family trees I have come across for Willis Vess have a William Vess on them, so I am not entirely sure who he is; however, it certainly makes my next discovery extremely intriguing…
1846 Tennessee Record: Peter, Willis, William Vess/ Vest
There is one Willis Vess record that intrigues me the most and it is a land record for White County, Tennessee (1846) on Caney Fork.
Willis Vess of White County, Tennessee, appears to have 2 land records for a property on Caney Fork: No. 2012 dated 1831 No. 9156 (addition to No. 2012) dated 1849
The property interestingly joins Daniel Dotson (Dodson).
Looking at census records, I do not see a Willis Vess; however, there is an 1820 and 1830 census record for Peter Vest, whose neighbor is Daniel Dotson (Dodson).
In addition, there is also a William Vess. He also purchases land in 1831 No. 2071, whose property takes over land once owned by John Medley (see 1820 censusabove). William Dodson and Sam Moore are witnesses listed on the record. William Vess can be found on the 1830 census record. Is this William Vess, the William Vess who is “heir” to the Willis Vess of Alabama’s 1858 land record in Franklin County, Alabama??
And, furthermore, is this Peter Vest, the same Peter Vest listed on the Patrick Co. Deeds (1791-1941 Indexes, grantor pg. 77 on FHL Film 33,333) with wife “Margaret,” who appears to have land next to the Dodson family on North Fork in Patrick County, Virginia? A 1793 transaction which was witnessed by George Dodson Sr., George Dodson Junior, Benjamin Fletcher, and Thomas Dodson.
Perhaps, it is Peter and William Vess of Patrick County, Virginia (Deed Records) on North Fork with William Willis??
Is there an actual connection or is this just coincidence?
Conclusions
Wow!
A Franklin County, Alabama land record for Willis Vess and “heir” William Vess. A Willis and William Vess in White County, Tennessee, with a Peter Vest. All near a Dodson family. And… interestingly, there is a Peter Vess and William Vess in Patrick County, Virginia, not only living next to a Dodson family, but ALSO a Willis family.
I don’t have enough documented evidence to make any solid connections, but I am absolutely intrigued! Tennessee is a mixing pot of Vest, Voss, Vaulx, and Vess families! Hopefully, with more research, we can determine which family the Vess/Vest family of White County, Tennessee belongs to!
I am so thrilled to have finally reached a new chapter in Vess Genealogy!
When I started this blog last Fall (August 2020), it was simply just a place to organize digital sources and share my genealogy experiences researching the Vess name. I gave it 2 months!
Remarkably, Vess Genealogy kept on going! I never would have ever imagined I would get to work with so many different people interested in the VESS name nor get an opportunity to meet so many different VESS families! This has been such an amazing genealogy adventure!
A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone helping me unravel the mysteries of the VESS family!
If New To Vess Genealogy, Here’s What You Missed!
For generations, three different VESS lines (maybe more) haven’t been able find their ancestors prior to 1820. A frustrating endeavor leaving many of us to just give up.
However, since last Fall, we achieved the following:
1. We learned more about Peter Vess and his family. 2. We learned a lot about Andrew Logan Vess and his family. 3. We likely uncovered Nathan’s origins in the Dark Corners of South Carolina. 4. We discovered that Peter and Willis Vess are closely related and that our family is closely related to the Travers family! 5. We explored families in Knob’s Creek from Peter’s 1820 census record. 6. We discovered “Vess” records in Virginia connected to an unknown Vest/Vess family! 8. We confirmed (via DNA) that the VESS family is not related to the BASS, BEST, WEST, or VEST families; eliminating them as possible family connections.
Brief Recap On Vess Genealogy
We now know that Peter, Willis, and Nathan Vess are related; however, we have not yet determined how they are related to each other.
Peter and Willis were born in North Carolina and Nathan was born in South Carolina. Peter first appears on record in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1820 on Knobs Creek with the Toney, Pettit, and Mooney families (all members of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church).
Nathan’s first appearance on record is also in Rutherford County, North Carolina, but in 1830 with his in-laws, the Bellew family. The Bellew and Gosnell families are related and are prominent families in Glassy Mountain, Greenville County, South Carolina (aka Dark Corners). Also, Peter’s grandson, David Andrew Vess married Magnolia “Maggie” Gosnell, who is related to Nathan’s wife, Clarinda Bellew.
Willis first appears on record in Franklin County, Alabama in 1830. According to Anna Popejoy, long time researcher of the Vess and Whitlock families, states that the father of Willis Vess (John Vess) had been living in Foxtrap since 1819. Y-DNA analysis, via familytreedna.com, confirms Willis Vess and Peter Vess (Andrew Logan Vess) are definitely part of the same VESS family.
Familytreedna.com (FTDNA) also shows that the VESS and TRAVERS family are closely related; however, we do not know how they are related. There are several reasons as to why FTDNA may group two different surnames closely together; either we are extremely close cousins, one family that split apart during a time before surnames, or a male Travers ancestor took on the Vess name (orvice versa).To unravel this mystery, it would be extremely helpful to have more male Vess descendants participate in Y-DNA Testing.
The Travers family is from Lancashire, England and they have traced their family to Dorchester, Maryland. Whether there is a connection between the Vess and Travers family in Colonial America has yet to be discovered (the families may have split long before they arrived in America).
With the help of Y-DNA and documented family histories, we’ve been able to eliminate the BASS, BEST, WEST, and VEST families as potential ancestors for the Vess family.
The BASS family has a rich Native American background. The BEST family (original surname BOSCH) can trace their family back to their arrival in the 1740’s with the Ecker family (in-laws) from Germany. The WEST family has been ruled out by their extensive West Family DNA Project. And the VEST family, descendants of John Daniel Vest belong to an entirely different Haplogroup than our VESS family. To my knowledge, there is no available DNA information on the VASS/VOSS/ VAULX families.
We have recently discovered a VEST/VESS family in Patrick County, Virginia who may be related to the VEST/VESS family in Rockbridge, Virginia. We have yet to find any records suggesting that they may belong to the VEST family (John Daniel Vest), which is extremely encouraging for our VESS family, andtherefore a new chapter begins!
I am in the process of investigating the Life of Willis Vess and hopefully, with any luck, we can uncover some of Anna Popejoy’s research to help us! I plan to explore more families in and surrounding Patrick County, Virginia – including Surry and Stokes County, North Carolina. All in addition to finding out more about the VOSS/VASS/ VAULX families who seem to live very close to the TRAVERS family in both Dorchester, Maryland and the abolished Albemarle County in North Carolina.
This past weekend, I began to research Willis Vess of Alabama, just as extensively as Peter Vess of North Carolina; but I immediately stumbled upon a couple of genealogy road-blocks.
First of all, early Alabama records are weird.
Locating The Vess Family
In my opinion, the best way to research early families is to pin-point where they once lived and explore every part of their community, leaving no stone unturned.
Census records tell us that Willis Vess lived in Franklin County, Alabama (1830-1860) and then in Colbert County, Alabama (1870-1880). I suspect a county change rather than a physical move; which was later confirmed by maps.
Willis Vess was a farmer who had several properties and without the assistance of maps, I would have never been able to locate his properties; let alone find them in the correct county.
His land records state “Huntsville.”
Huntsville is in Madison county, a couple of counties east of Franklin and Colbert County.
This was confusing, especially, since the description of land does not reference rivers or creeks, but instead “Huntsville” coordinates; which kind of implies the property is in Huntsville.
Did Willis Vess live in Franklin / Colbert County, but had farm land in Madison County?
Well, turns out that Huntsville was just a place that sold land. It says so, on an official land record available for Willis Vess; as if it was written in Old English by Dr. Suess!
Image below reads: “the North West quarter of the North East quarter of Section two in Township six of Range seven West, in the District of Lands Subject to Sale at Huntsville Alabama, certifying forty acres and four hundredths of an acre.”
Or so, that is what I think it reads. I had to read it several times, before finally comprehending what it really says!
But yeah, the “district of lands subject to sale at Huntsville Alabama,” means Willis Vess purchased his land (located in Franklin County) through the Huntsville land-office in Madison County. And note, the only reference to “Franklin County” on this record, is its greeting to “Willis Vess of Franklin County, Alabama.”
And we wonder why so many records get lost!
Fox Trap Creek
If there are no creeks or rivers to reference, where does one start to look?
Fortunately, I got a hint from FindAGrave.com (of all places). If you look at the memorial for John Vess, father of Willis Vess, created by Anna Popejoy (long-time researcher), it states:
“Mr John Vess was in Foxtrap by 1818. He built a Log Cabin in 1819/20. Cabin is still standing.” I scoured the Internet. I didn’t know if Foxtrap was a community, creek, river, town, fort, plantation, mountain- or just some special spot only known to locals.
Surprisingly, I found Foxtrap on Google maps, by searching around Mountain Star (per sources on Ancestry.com). It is a creek that starts in Colbert County and extends downward into Franklin County, crossing Mountain Star Rd; which accurately reflects the county change seen in the census records for Willis Vess.
Interestingly, there are a few creeks named after early families surrounding Mountain Star; most notably: DODSON Branch and WHITLOCK Branch.
And for a good chuckle, there is also Rock Creek, Mud Creek, & Spring Creek (I assume these particular creeks had rocks, mud, and a spring) and then there is also Stinking Bear Creek which I would love to hear the story behind that one!
Then, after I spent an hour doing it the hard way….I found this on Alabama Genweb (Land Patent Mapping)! It has everyone!
This is a great resource to help me research neighbors (like I did with Peter and Nathan VESS), but I wish it had a date on it. I mean, some of these neighbors could have settled in as late as the 1880’s, which is not exactly helpful in tracing early settlers prior to 1820.
Where Did John Vess Come From
Of course this is multi-million dollar question! Where in the world did John Vess come from!
Besides an old cabin, there really isn’t any proof that John Vess ever existed – no census records or even a grave stone.
Franklin County, Alabama was established in February 1818 and according to Anna Popejoy (FindAGrave.com), this is about the time John Vess arrived to Foxtrap and according to Whitlock sources, it wasn’t until the 1820’s that the Whitlock family arrived from Georgia with the Thompson and Pennington families.
Looking at old maps between 1810-1820, it’s all Indian territory (including the western parts of Tennessee directly above Alabama).
One doesn’t just pack up their entire family and head 400+ miles for Indian territory alone; so there is a really good chance the Vess family didn’t travel alone. And, the safest route (I can think of) from North Carolina to Foxtrap Creek in Alabama would have probably been to go through territory already owned by the United States: South Carolina, Georgia, then Alabama.
So instead of traveling through Tennessee, John might have gone down through Rutherford County, North Carolina (Willis family) into Greenville County, South Carolina (Bellew and Gosnell family), through Georgia (Whitlock family), and straight across into Madison County (Huntsville) and finally settling in Foxtrap.
Of course, that is just a theory; one that might change if we find evidence of a connection with the VEST family who seem to have migrated into Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio.
The 1820 Census Blunder
If John Vess was living in Foxtrap since 1818, why is he not found on the 1820 census? Was he so remote he got missed?
I guess I am not the only one who noticed, because apparently there is a very good chance he was missed!
According to an article posted on AL.com, there was a “mortifying miscount of the 1820 census,” where census workers supposedly quit during the census-taking process!
I don’t think any of the families in the Mountain Star area had been counted, because I do not recognize any of the names on the 1820 census for Franklin County, Alabama. There are no Whitlock, Dodson, Orr, Willis, Smith, Vandiver, or Isabell families listed on the census, but maybe they hadn’t arrived yet.
However, I still do not think the VESS family was alone.
Courthouse Fire
Not only do we have an incomplete census (when we really need one), but Franklin County also had a court house fire (in 1890). Who knows what records were lost (perhaps missing census tallies).
A Quick Recap Of What We Know
Despite such a stumbling start, we have learned quite a bit!
With DNA testing, we now know that Willis Vess of Alabama and Andrew Logan Vess of Rutherford County, North Carolina are closely related; but we have yet to figure out where they connect on the family tree.
Willis Vess appeared on record as early as 1837 (land record). He was a farmer who lived around Mountain Star along Foxtrap Creek in Colbert County, Alabama (once Franklin County). He married Talitha Whitlock, whose family arrived sometime during the 1820’s with the Thompson and Pennington families.
Records are scarce due to a census fail in 1820 and a courthouse fire in 1890.
Fortunately, we have a bunch of other resources to explore!
We have a map of neighbors, which means, we can explore records of close neighbors. We might also be able to locate the first settlers who may have traveled to Alabama with John Vess.
We also have the Mississippi Territory census record of 1816 to explore, which covered parts of Alabama before Alabama became a state! It really depends on when and where John Vess arrived in Alabama (via Tennessee or Georgia).
I really look forward to learning more about the VESS family of Alabama!
Vess Genealogy 