I attended the North Carolina Genealogical Society Webinar yesterday about DEEDS hosted by David M. McCorkle who created nclandgrants.com. It was a very insightful Webinar that I wish was longer, because I learned so much!
After the Webinar, it took me less than 5 minutes to unearth a new record for Peter Vess! Below is an 1846 Deed Record that is forcing to me re-write Peter’s timeline.
The Deed record has Peter and Josiah Vess as the Grantors and Joseph Souther as the Grantee.
“This the 21st of December 1846 State of North Carolina Rutherford County
Know all men by [illegible] presents that whereas Joseph Souther stands Peter Vests [illegible] for the prosecution of a suit in the Superior Court of our County [cut off] [illegible] Thomas Young deceased Executor or administrator William Young [cut off] [illegible] And Now Know Ye that in order to save harmless the said Souther [illegible] in said Suit and to secure said dee and for the further consideration of the [cut off] [illegible] dollars to us Peter Vess and Joseph Vess in hand paid by Joseph Souther [cut off] [illegible]and payment whereof we do hereby acknowledge have bargained sold [cut off] [illegible] conveyed and confirmed and by these presents do bargain [illegible] alien convey and [illegible] unto the said Joseph Souther his heirs and [illegible] forever the following [cut off[ [illegible] parcel of land situated lying and being in the county and state [cut off] [illegible] including the place on which the said Peter Vest now resides on the waters [cut off] [illegible] creek begining on a Red oak on the North rock of [Fills Creek] thru 18 [cut off] [illegible] a Red oak thru North 20 poles to a Black oak in a hollow thru West 154 poles to a stake on a line of a 25 acre [illegible] [illegible][illegible] it South 15 [cut off] 30 poles to [illegible] on the side of a hill corner of the 25 acres [illegible] [cut off] out to west 22 poles to a stake on the top of a ridge then South to [illegible] Whiteoak then 168 poles to a white oak on the line of the [illegible] to the beginning [illegible] one hundred and nine acres to be the [illegible] [cut off] less together with all and singular the rights members [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] and appurtenances to the said [illegible’ belonging or in any [cut off] [illegible] appertaining to have and to hold with appurtenances unto the said Joseph his heirs and [illegible] forever And we the said Peter Vest and Josiah vest [cut off] [illegible] [illegible] herby [illegible][illegible]our heirs Executor administrators to warrant [cut off] [illegible] defend the aforesaid land and tenements unto the said Joseph Souther [cut off] heirs and [illegible] forever provided always nevertheless and ur us the [cut off] [illegible] and meaning of these presents that if the said Peter Vest shall and [cut off] [illegible] and [illegible] have harmless the said Joseph Souther as his security in said [cut off] [illegible] and that [illegible] am [illegible] pay the said fifty dollars to the said Jospeh Souther in that ease this deed shall [illegible’ determine and become absolutely null and [cut off] [illegible] otherwise to remain in full [illegible] and effect. in Testimony whereof [cut off] [illegible] unto [illegible] hands [illegible] seals this the 14th day of November 1846.
The [illegible] after signing John Vess
his X mark Josiah Vests Peter Vests
State of North Carolina Rutherford County
Fall Court 1846 No 11 Josiah Vess and Peter Vess acknowledge in open court the Execution of the above deed it is therefore records and ordered to be registered.
G. E. Logan“
Familysearch.org Deed Book 45 Minutes, Pleas, and Quarter Sessions Familysearch.org
This changes my timeline for Peter Vess. Previously, he was nowhere to be found after 1840 with Catherine Vess rejoining Bill’s Creek Baptist Church in 1844 without him, as if he had passed away. But, here he is on a deed record that states this is land in which Peter Vess “now resides,” which I am assuming means he is still alive in 1846.
It appears that he owed a debt that he could not pay and gave his land to Joseph Souther to clear his debt. It is interesting to note that his sons, John, Josiah, Andrew, and Alfred joined Bill’s Creek Baptist Church at this time. But, if Peter is still alive, what happened to him? Why did he not return to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Catherine and his sons?
Also, I do not know who Joseph Souther is, except that him and his family were dismissed from Bill’s Creek Baptist Church prior to 1830. I wonder if there is any relation to Joshua Souther who later married the wife of John Vess (Elizabeth Taylor)?
I wonder if there is a connection between the Abner Hodge family and Vest/Vess family in White County, TN? I have traced Abner’s line to Robert Hodge of Franklin County, Virginia living near Chestnut Mountain.
On the 1820 census for White County, Tennessee, we see Peter VEST next to Abner Hodge and Ephraim Hodge (brothers) living on Caney Fork.
I decided to review the family tree for Abner and Ephriam Hodge, which states their father is Josiah Hodges (son of Robert Hodge). According to online sources, Josiah Hodges was born in 1740 in Henry County, Virginia. The problem is, Henry County was not established until 1777.
He was likely born in Pittsylvania County, which parts later became Henry County. With that said, it wasn’t until 1785 that parts of Henry County (and a portion of Bedford Co) later became Franklin County, VA.
The Chestnut Mountain area was once part of Henry County. Chestnut Mountain is also less than 30 miles away from where we find Samuel, William, and Peter Vess in Patrick County, VA (formed in 1791) on Koger Creek and North Mayo River (border of Patrick Co and Henry Co).
Samuel Vess has tax records as early as 1782 in Henry County, VA, so I decided to check to see if there are any Hodges nearby AND there is!
Josiah Hodges is listed on the page prior, and Samuel Vest and Abemingo (Josiah’s brother) are listed on the same page (or same slide).
I do not know if families listed on tax lists are neighbors of a specific community; however, this does show that the Hodges and Vest families were in the same county at the same time.
If the families listed above are neighbors, then Samuel Vest at the time had not obtained land yet from Abraham Penn, for that the names of families in the Koger/North Mayo River (1791 deed list), including Abraham Penn, are listed a couple-several pages back on this 1782 tax list.
The Hodges family, including Robert Hodges (likely Robert Hodges Jr., brother of Abner Hodge) is listed on the 1783 tax list; however, the 1783 tax list and moving forward are in alphabetical order.
If they knew each other in Henry County, VA; perhaps it was through a local church or they lived close to each other, but were later separated by the formation of a county line (Franklin Co.); as Chestnut Mountain is very close to the Henry County border.
Also, I discovered a Richard Vest in Franklin County, Virginia on the 1788 tax list. He is the only VEST family listed. However, there is also a VEST family in Bedford County, VA, but from what I can tell, none of the VEST family trees seem to have this particular Richard Vest.
Richard Vest and the Hodges family (Abner Hodge) appear on the Franklin Co. VA tax lists until 1794. The 1793 tax list is the last time Richard Vest appears and the 1794 tax list is the last time Abner Hodge appears. In 1795, there are no Hodges or Vest families listed.
In fact, they disappear around the same time as Peter and William Vest!
Is there a connection? Who is Richard Vest? And could Samuel, Peter, and William Vest actually be part of our VESS family – Haplogroup R1a1??
Also, it is interesting to note that Robert Hodges is supposedly from the Isle of Wight, VA (1704). Not too far from there is the Travers family of Jamestown Island who have connections with both England and Ireland (post about later).
But of course, that is probably stretching it a bit too thin…
The earliest record of the VESS name in America appears on Revolutionary War records for Samuel, Peter, and William Vess. A vast number of records with the VESS name are for Samuel Vess dated 1777-1779 under the command of Captain Machen Boswell of the 2nd Virginia State Regiment. We also have an earlier Revolutionary War record for Samuel and William Vess dated 1775 for Dunmore County, VA under the command of Captain Joseph Bowman.
Further research strongly suggests that the Samuel Vess named in all these records are likely the same person.
A Look At Dunmore County, VA records: Samuel and William Vess
The records above are dated 1775. Samuel and William Vess are teenagers and are listed as privates living in the lower district of Dunmore County, VA (modern Warren County, VA area) serving under Captain Joseph Bowman’s command.
Captain Joseph Bowman’s militia was called to serve during Dunmore’s War (likely the Battle of Point Pleasant) in 1774 which took place in West Virginia regarding conflict in an area which included parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania (Ohio River territory).
Looking At the LONG LIST of Revolutionary War Records: Samuel Vess
All these records for Samuel Vess (1777-1779) are under the command of Captain Machen Boswell of the 2nd Virginia State Regiment.
According to Familysearch.org, the 2nd Virginia State Regiment replaced the 13th Virginia Regiment. The 13th Virginia Regiment was formed in 1777 from Fort Pitt, which is located in Pennsylvania and recruited men who were living in the area which was affected by Dunmore’s War.
Trying To Work Out A Timeline
In 1774, Captain Jospeh Bowman’s militia (Dunmore County) fought in Dunmore’s War.
In 1775, census was taken and Samuel and William Vess appear to be teenagers and listed as Privates for the Revolutionary War. This would have been the start of the Revolutionary War.
In 1776, Captain Joseph Bowman and “other colonists” ventured west. Samuel Vess could have been one of them, because…
In 1777, we have Samuel Vess serving under Captain Machen Boswell’s command (who replaced Captain John Lewis) who took over the 13th Regiment and recruited men from the West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvannia area.
SO, the question remains…is this Samuel Vess of Henry County, Virginia in 1782?? Did he try following the Great Wagon Road south, but just ended up settling on the North Mayo River??
Note: Abraham Penn of Patrick County, VA is said to have been born in Carolina County, VA and raised in Amherst County, VA. He served in Dunmore’s War (Battle of Point Pleasant) 1774. He owned Popular Grove Plantation in Patrick County, VA. Samuel Vess was given 13 acres of his land (1,000 acres 1783). Is there a connection?
Evidence This Is Not Samuel Vest, Son of William Tunwell Vest
One known Samuel Vess/Vest who had a brother named William Vess/Vest and served in the Revolutionary War, is the son of William Tunwell Vest. His pension records state he entered service in Bedford County, VA in 1779 and was under the command of Captain James Adams. The records continue listing other officers he served under and places he had served; none of them reference Dunmore County, County or Machen Boswell. So, this is certainly not the same Samuel Vess/Vest in the above Revolutionary War records.
Frederick County, Virginia – Vice Family
Maybe Samuel and William Vess of Dunmore County are part of the VICE family?? Dunmore County was created from Frederick County, VA in 1772. It is said that the VICE family (Kentucky and South Carolina) can be traced back to Frederick County, VA via John Vessey; unfortunately, I have not found any records of him yet. However, I did find a 1791 tax record for Frederick County, VA with Nathaniel, Robert, and William VICE – so we did have a VICE family in Frederick County, VA, but not sure how long they were there prior to 1790.
Corporal Peter Vess Revolutionary War Record
This is an interesting record. Bauman’s company was authorized on 28 October 1775 and recruited in New York (2nd Continental Artillery Regiment), later becoming known as Lamb’s Continental Artillery Regiment. I wonder if this supposed to be Peter VAN NESS, rather than Peter VESS??
Samuel, William, and Peter Vess of Patrick County, VA: Still A Mystery
In short, Samuel, William, and Peter Vess of Henry/Patrick County, VA still remain a mystery. I have yet to find any evidence to suggest where they came from prior to 1782. Although the VEST family is nearby in Bedford County, VA, there is no evidence to suggest a connection with them either.
The VESS family of Patrick County, VA appear out of nowhere like Peter, Willis, and Nathaniel Vess!
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
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.
In August of 2020, I discovered two John Vess families in South Carolina whose origins are a mystery.
The first is an 1850 census record for John and William E. Vess of Saluda Regiment, Abbeville, South Carolina. Both of them are in their 20’s, they are listed as carpenters, and they claim to be born in North Carolina.
The second is an 1850 census record for John Vess and Drucilla Vess of Saluda, Abbeville, South Carolina. John is 25 and he is listed as a farmer. 1860 census, suggests John Vess died, for that it is just Drucilla Turner and James Vest (assuming their son).
Today, I came across Civil War records for John Vess and William VESTZ (pretty sure it’s William Vess). The first record, John Vess states he enlisted in Greenville, South Carolina and his occupation is a carpenter. These two records, might be referring to John and William Vess from the 1850 census. According to these records, John Vess was hospitalized and William was captured. I am not sure if they survived the war though.
In between John Vess and William Vestz, is a Civil War record for JOHN VEST. He too was enlisted in Greenville, South Carolina. What makes his record so interesting, is that he was forced to write a letter asking to be discharged from the military due to his age. The discharge was granted, which means this John Vest was born sometime before 1815.
Fold3: Civil War Record and Letter Certifying His Age
I found an 1880 census record for a John Vest in Greenville, South Carolina with a birth year that would put him at the approx. same age as John Vest in the Civil War record above. This John Vest (1880 census) was born about 1815 in South Carolina and states both his parents were born in South Carolina.
This is very intriguing, because there are no early records of a VEST or VESS family in South Carolina. All we know is that we have records that strongly suggest that Nathaniel Vess was born in South Carolina in 1794 with a connection to Greenville, South Carolina via Clarinda Bellew who also states both his parents were born in South Carolina (below). Could Nathan Vess and John Vest be related???
I don’t like wild goose chases, but this one is pretty interesting and has really caught my attention.
Interesting Notes On Peter’s 1840 Census
Looking at Peter’s 1840 census record, he appears to be near the Pettit, Mooney, and Toney families again. What happened to Cedar Creek?
The most fascinating thing about Peter’s 1840 census is that everyone listed (below) has, at one time or another, been associated with Bill’s Creek Baptist Church. This blew my mind, but I don’t know if it means anything.
The Hambrick Family
In a previous post, Vince sent me a link about the Sparks family living in Rutherford County, North Carolina via Lewis Morgan Sparks. Lewis Morgan Sparks married Sarah Bridges, daughter of Samuel Bridges and Mary Hamrick.
Peter is also shown on the 1820 census with the Hambrick and Bridges family (below). According to The Hambricks Generations, the Blantons, Greens, Bridges, Champions, Washburns, Bowens, and McSwains came to America with the Hamrick / Hambrick family (pg.13). This publication also states the Bridges and Logan families were close. This is very interesting, because we find Peter Vess smack dab in the middle of all those inter-related families. For example, James Young is married to a Blanton. McSwine (McSwain) is listed on the 1820 census, with Logan on the next page with more Bridges. Even more interesting, is that these families also have connections with Bill’s Creek Baptist Church.
Henry Pettit 1810 Census: John BEAS
Since Peter is on census records listed closely with the Pettit family and we know Henry Pettit is from Spartanburg County, South Carolina, I decided to take another look at his 1810 census record.
On the list with Henry Pettit is John BEAS. Now, at first, I thought maybe this name was suppose to be “BIAS” and BIAS is often associated with BYERS (because of the sounds of I and E). However, there is a BYERS listed here, so the census taker clearly knew how to spell BYERS, so BEAS is likely not a mistake and is probably spelled to sound like “BESS.” Interesting.
John Bess of Thicketty Creek
I can’t find anything on John “BEAS,” however, I did find a South Carolina land record for John BESS with a Cantrell neighbor. On the 1810 census record (above), John BEAS is listed next to Reubin Cantrell.
1800 Census Record: John BESS
I found John Bess on an 1800 census record for Spartanburg County, South Carolina. This is an interesting record, because the page prior, we have Henry Pettit’s father listed (Joshua Pettit). We also have him listed near Samuel Dunaway. John Bess land record for 1810, also mentions DUNWAY.
Thicketty Creek: Broad River Basin – Tryon County
The Thicketty Creek area is very interesting, because it used to be part of Tryon County, North Carolina. It is directly beneath Sandy Run and Shoal Creek where we later find Peter Vess with the Hambrick and Bridges families. It is also near the Pacelot River where we find the Pool, Pettit, Willis, and many other interesting families.
SPARKS Family Near Enoree River
Listed on the 1810 census with John BEAS and Henry PETTIT are a few PENNINGTON families. According to Anna Popejoy, the Pennington and Whitlock family traveled to Franklin County, Alabama together and we know that the Pennington family had a lot of land near FoxTrap. In short, Pennington is a family of interest.
Vince is looking into triangulating with Pennington families who are supposedly descendants of an “Ephriam Pennington.” He mentioned Kentucky, but I did find an Ephraim Pennington in South Carolina via an early marriage record (not specifically dated though). I not sure if it means anything right now.
While investigating the Pennington families on the 1810 census with John BEAS, I found Isaac Pennington (1715-1760) whose son-in-law is Charles King to be very interesting. His neighbor, per land records, was Zachariah SPARKS and they lived near the Enoree River.
Quick note: Isaac Pennington had a son that went to Kentucky, so maybe there is a connection with what Vince is looking at with the descendants of Ephraim Pennington??
Zachariah Sparks 1790 Union County, SC Census: GEORGE VOST
Zachariah is not found on any records for Spartanburg County, NC, but it is important to note that boundaries of early South Carolina were a mess and early records could be listed under anything.
However, I did find him on a 1790 census record which has some very interesting names: George VOST, RAINEY BELLEW Jr., and Zachary SPARKS.
So, I don’t know if this just another wild-goose chase or a really good lead that should be further investigated. This John BEAS is in a really good location. He is listed on a Samuel Dunaway Will dated 1815, so I think I am going to look a little more into Dunaway. Maybe, there are connections to other familiar families.
I am very excited to have found a new record for Peter Vess!
1838 Rutherford County, NC Court Minutes
In the Fall of 1838, Peter Vess was selected as a Juror for next January; however, later records indicate he failed to appear.
Unraveling Peter and Catherine’s Past
Many sources say Peter Vess died a pauper and is buried in Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, but is that true?
Peter obtained land in 1831 on Cedar Creek in the Broad River Township of Rutherford County, North Carolina (below). According to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church: Two Hundred Year History, by Helen M. Lu, Peter and Catherine were members until 1836.
The last record I discovered of Peter Vess was a church record dated 1838 for Bethlehem Baptist Church in Burke County, which explains what happened to them after 1836.
Bethlehem Baptist Church is located in today’s McDowell County (below), not far from Peter’s property on Cedar Creek in the Broad River Township of Rutherford County, NC. McDowell County did not exist until 1842 and Broad River Township area didn’t become part of McDowell County until 1844. So, it makes sense that we find Peter in two different places in 1838.
With Peter being a resident of Rutherford County, NC (1840 census), but yet a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church across the county border in Burke/McDowell County, NC, certainly makes it difficult to find records on him.
According to Helen M. Lu, Catherine Vess came back to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church in October 1844 without Peter. We can probably accurately conclude that Peter had died and if so, records of his death would be floating between Rutherford and McDowell Counties, because his property in Broad River Township of Rutherford County, became part of McDowell County in 1844!
So the question is, which county settled his estate?? If Catherine moved back to Bill’s Creek in 1844 (1850 census), his property must have been sold and if so, to who?
Zilla Vess, wife of Josiah Vess (son of Peter), is the only VESS buried in Bill’s Creek Baptist Church cemetery (per church cemetery records) and recent research suggests the Vess family (Catherine and her younger children) may have moved to Buncombe County, NC after 1850. To be honest, I think Peter is buried in McDowell County whose tombstone is likely too deteriorated to recognize.
In addition, I do not think Catherine died in Rutherford County either. Despite her last record showing her in Bill’s Creek, her younger children are shown on the 1860 census record living with Dempsey Sumners in Buncombe County, NC. Dempsey Sumners has spent his entire life in Buncombe County, so the only way I can assume he ended up with the VESS children is if Catherine had moved to Buncombe County in between 1850-1860.
I am not sure if Dempsey Sumners is kin, but his mother is Elizabeth Grace Davis. I am told that the Davis and Vess families are very close. Andrew Logan Vess is buried in Davistown Cemetery, which originally was a private Davis family cemetery.
I still do not know how the Davis and Vess families are considered close. My VESS family tree only has 1 DAVIS relative (Dicie Augustus Davis) and it doesn’t look like her family has any connection with Elizabeth Grace Davis. However, the Davis family that Nathaniel Vess line married into is related to Elizabeth Grace Davis – is there a connection?
The good stuff is often found in unindexed microfilmed records that force us to skim through each individual record hoping to come across a familiar family name. Oddly, as a genealogist, the one thing I hate to do is read…
It’s not that I don’t know how to read or I struggle to read, I just don’t have time to read. I am a kind of person that reads the summary on the back of books and waits for the movie (except Harry Potter- I read those books).
I’ve come to a point in my research, where I think I’ve pretty much found as much as I could about the VESS family via Indexed records. You know, type in a few keywords and Whola! Desired records appears like magic! Only just recently have I started to make time, with a few cups of coffee, to scour thousands of microfilmed records.
I must admit, once the brain adjusts to deciphering Old English, local history bursts into life!
These records appear to be “continuance” notes. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find the original entry about what the dispute may have been about nor an entry about it’s resolution. I also cannot make out the last entry above. Others listed above, do have recorded resolutions. Either I missed it, due to the handwriting or the dispute was dismissed entirely and not worth recording.
Land Transfer 1793
Below is the deed transfer between Peter Vess and John Dunkin (Duncan) to John Spencer in 1793. The transcribed typed document, Patrick County deeds 1791-1801, mentions Peter’s wife, but Peter’s wife is not mentioned here.
Other Interesting Records: 1794
In 1794, we can probably safely assume that Peter Vess had left Patrick County, VA; however, there are a couple of records I think are pretty interesting.
Below, we see that Charles Vest, father of William Tunwell Vest, was in Patrick County, VA in 1794. Is this proof that Peter Vess belongs to the Charles Vest family (Haplogroup I)?
Not necessarily, largely because Charles Vest, per other court records, tells us he traveled a lot. He was a manufacturer (builder) by occupation and he often traveled to other counties putting in building bids. An interesting account is via a record in Guilford County, NC where he put in a bid to rebuild the Guilford Court house (after it was destroyed by a battle); however, he “walked out” and never came back. Due to his absence, the bid was granted to another bidder.
Another record I found interesting, looks to be like a record for a John Gosnell. It would be interesting if the Gosnell family was also in Patrick County, VA at the same time as Peter and William Vess, as that may further support a connection between Nathaniel Vess and Peter Vess. The Whitlock family is also in Patrick County, VA.
A genetic genealogy method known as Triangulation recently suggests the VESS family may have a SPARKS – ROSE maternal ancestor. I think this is incredible, unfortunately, I was on a hot trail until I accidentally lost all my recent research due to epic user error. So, below is a look at the bits and pieces of what I’ve been working on lately…
Not Too Far From Foxtrap
Hidden in plain sight, I discovered SPARKS, HESTER, and WILLIS families west of Foxtrap (Franklin County, AL). Interestingly, these families have documented history with records dating back as early as 1820! FINALLY!
A few SPARKS family websites reference Russellville, but they also mention an earlier place called, “Frankfort,” which is actually on the plat-map (below). I am guessing Frankfort came first, as we know that many of the early residents in the area had to travel north for supplies.
Below, I outlined Foxtrap and Mountain Star (red box) where Willis VESS and John WILLIS have property. And I outlined (blue box) the SPARKS, HESTER, and WILLIS, west of Foxtrap area. I also highlighted Frankfort, family cemeteries and Foxtrap / Mt. Star, just to give you an idea where the families are geographically from one another.
It is strongly believed that Willis VESS was named after the WILLIS family, suggesting the two families may have a longer history together. At this time, I do not know if John WILLIS (neighbor to Willis Vess) is connected to the WILLIS family in the Frankfort area; however, further research strongly suggests a likely connection.
Andrew Jackson Willis & Artamissa Sparks
My discovery of the SPARKS, HESTER, and WILLIS families, was accidental. Somehow I came across records of Andrew Jackson Willis and Artamissa Sparks.
Again, I am not sure if Andrew Willis and John Willis are related. It pretty much led me to a dead end. However, I was able to find information on the Sparks family:
Artamissa was born in Spartanburg County, SC (1816).
Her parents are William Sparks and Eunice Woodruff.
William Sparks lived on the Enoree River. In the 1820 census, he is listed on a page with Nancy Pool, Woodruff family, and looks like a John Willis.
He was born in Wilkes County, NC.
He is a descendant of Mathew Sparks and Sarah Thompson. (Thompson is a big name in Franklin County, AL too)
I match with the Sparks family on both sides of my family (just to make it more challenging). However, I do match with a Hester line from Franklin County, Alabama (they are shown on the map above too, with Sparks and Willis families). This is a 5th-8th cousin, descendant of William Sparks and Eunice Woodruff.
Artamissa’s brother, married Nancy Benson who is from White County, Tennessee. I am not sure if she is related to David Benson who is in connection with Charles Travers in Anson County, NC.
Now, I also match with a descendant of William Sparks (1783-1869) and Rhoda Pennington (4-6th cousin) of White County, Tennessee.
This William Sparks is brother to Solomon Sparks Sr. who married Sarah Thompson. Solomon and Sarah had Reuben Sparks, who had John Sparks that married Elizabeth Rose, daughter of Emmanuel Rose (Wilkes County, NC).
I also match with descendants of Solomon’s other son, John Wesley Sparks who married Sarah Shores.
It appears all these Spark families are related, but the family tree is a little complicated.
William Sparks, husband of Eunice Woodruff, is a descendant of Matthew Sparks, who is supposedly (it differs between sources) the brother of William and Solomon Sparks (mentioned above). Between different sources, the generations differ, but all of them at one point or another connect to Joseph Sparks. It’s very confusing.
Also, I match with a descendant of Jonas James Sparks from Tazewell County, VA. I am not sure how he falls on the Sparks family tree.
So, there is definitely a Sparks connection on the Vess side!
William Sparks and Rhoda Pennington are very intriguing because they settled in White County, Tennessee. Pennington is a big name in Franklin County, Alabama. Anna Popejoy says Pennington families traveled with the Whitlock family. Rhoda Pennington is supposedly the daughter of Major Jacob David Pennington and Mary Tuttle (both born in SC). I don’t know how William Sparks ended up in White County, TN, but he’s not the only Sparks to do so. It probably had something to do with the War of 1812 or crossing over from Wilkes County, NC.
Sparks has a connection with Duncan and Watson, which are family names on the Patrick County, VA deed list with Peter and William Vess. I am not sure if it’s related, but I just wanted to make note of it.
*Note: Some of my DNA matches to descendants of the Sparks Family of Wilkes County, VA may also be via the COX family. My great-grandmother Pearl Lena Cox married my great-grandfather James Elmer Vess. At this time, I believe my DNA matches with the VICE family (South Carolina and KY) and VESS family from Tazewell County, VA might also be through my COX line connected through the Cordell family. [Not confirmed yet]
Exploring Wilkes County, North Carolina: William Vest
We find a William Vest in Wilkes County, as early as 1789. Records confirm he is not William Tunwell Vest of Stokes County, NC. William is listed on the 1790 census record next to Thomas Hodge.
Thomas Hodge was born in Virginia, possibly having ties with the Hodge family in Franklin County, Virginia (Vess family has genetic ties to the Hodge family in VA-specific connection not known yet). Thomas Hodge has a documented history which states his family settled in a place called Hodges Gap.
Hodges Gap is located in the town of Boone, in today’s Watauga County, NC. Watauga County was established in 1849 from parts of Ashe, Caldwell, Yancey, and Wilkes. The town Boone was named after Daniel Boone of Wilkes County. From my perspective, overlaying these county maps, Hodges Gap appears to have once been part of Wilkes County (which explains why Thomas Hodge and William Vest are close together on a Wilkes County census record).
Also, on the same page of the 1790 census are numerous Rose families. The Sparks family (related to Solomon Sparks) is also in Wilkes County, NC at this time, but there is also a few Sparks families in Surry County, NC too.
Now, Wilkes County is a mess when it comes to boundary changes. Wilkes County was established in 1778 from Surry County, NC and Washington District.
State of Franklin and Washington District (Watauga Association)
There is no better place than here for ancestors to disappear!
Portions of Wilkes County, NC was once part of the Washington District, which was part of the brief existence of the State of Franklin. The State of Franklin comprised of several Tennessee Counties and the Washington District, where the Washington District eventually dissolved into Washington County, TN, that once extended to parts of Wilkes County (which is now part of Watauga County).
I know, super confusing!
Anyway, the Washington District was established by settlers of the Watauga, Nolichucky, and Holston river valleys who created their own short-lived government called the Watauga Association.
The Holston River is where we find James Heron (who also has land in Abbeyville Co. SC as well as in Patrick County, VA along side William Vess/Voss and Peter Vess), Henry Vice, and the White family who later have connections with Johnathan Vess via his wife Elizabeth Heron who married Peter White.
So, clearly there is a lot going on up there in the Washington District area.
I haven’t looked up all the names above, but I can tell you that Zac Isbell stands out.
There is an Isbell family in Franklin County, Alabama near Willis Vess. Miller Isbell (below) is related to Zach Isbell (above). I am still in the process of researching more information about this, but I thought that was pretty interesting.
Sparks Family in Rutherford County, North Carolina: Possible Connections To Peter Vess
Vince sent me a potential lead about a Sparks family in Rutherford County, North Carolina, which really made things interesting!!
In Rutherford County, NC there is a Sparks family via Lewis Morgan Sparks, son of John Sparks.
According to the link Vince sent me, “Sparks Cemetery – A Civil War Era Memorial,” by David Abbott, John Sparks is often confused with John Sparks in Wilkes County, related to Solomon Sparks. So, there is a possibility that perhaps the Sparks-Rose connection we get via Triangulation may be referring to this line, instead of the Solomon line. Further research is needed though.
John Sparks in Rutherford County, NC supposedly has connections with Spartanburg County, South Carolina (Enroee / Tyger River area). There is a Sparks family in Spartanburg County, SC (Matthew Sparks 1790) who is from Maryland and they are neighbors with Richard Willis, which is interesting, because I believe John Willis in Franklin County, Alabama maybe related to Richard Willis of Spartanburg County, SC (not confirmed yet).
Early census records show the Sparks and Willis family are close to the Pool family, who has family connections with Henry Pettit (neighbor of Peter Vess in 1820).
The Sparks family in Rutherford County, North Carolina lived on Sandy Run and Shoal Creek, near Willis Branch (map below). Even in North Carolina, the Sparks and Willis families are close together. Interesting to note, Henry Pettit later obtains land in this area too.
This area is located in today’s Cleveland County (was once part of Rutherford County). North of Shoal Creek, we interestingly have “Knob Creek.” This is not the Knob Creek near Bill’s Creek, but Knob Creek near the Lincoln County line, where the Mooney family lives and where the Tryon courthouse was located (a family home). Turns out, Knob Creek is also Township 10 in Cleveland County.
According to Abbott, Lewis Morgan Sparks was married to Sarah Bridges, daughter of Samuel Bridges and Mary Hamrick. Bridges and Hamrick are super familiar family names and I can’t tell you how excited I was when I pulled up the record in which I remembered seeing those names: 1820 census record for Peter Vess!
Another interesting find, is that the neighbor of Samuel Bridges on the 1820 census is ALFRED WEBB. Could Alfred Webb Vess be named after Alfred Webb?? Also, James Logan is in the area too! Esom Logan (above) is the son of James Logan!
Further research on the Bridges and Hamrick families reveals they were once neighbors with a George Vaughn. Could he be related to Pugnance Vaughn, wife of Peter Vess of VA or Margaret Vaughn, wife of John Vess of AL??
Prior research narrowed Peter’s location to a Knob Creek and now current research appears to have narrowed it down even further, possibly to Sandy Run / Shoal Creek area!! Which makes total sense! The Mooney family had lots of property in this area too, which could explain David Mooney on the 1820 census record above.
My Final Thoughts
Current research strongly suggests some kind of triangle-connection between North /South Carolina border area – Franklin County, Alabama – and Tennessee/North Carolina area. Pretty much all the leads I come up with bounce between these three geographical places.
It is plausible our Vess family trail is lost in the area that was once part of the short-lived State of Franklin and there definitely appears to be a Vess connection somewhere with the Sparks family.
I am excited to have narrowed down Peter Vess to a more specific (much more plausible) area in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1820.
I still have a handful of leads to explore! I am so excited!
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.
Vess Genealogy 