Van Ness Family History & Genealogy
Van Ness Last Name History & Origin
AddHistory
We don't have any information on the history of the Van Ness name. Have information to share?
Name Origin
We don't have any information on the origins of the Van Ness name. Have information to share?
Spellings & Pronunciations
We don't have any alternate spellings or pronunciation information on the Van Ness name. Have information to share?
Nationality & Ethnicity
We don't have any information on the nationality / ethnicity of the Van Ness name. Have information to share?
Famous People named Van Ness
Are there famous people from the Van Ness family? Share their story.
Early Van Nesses
These are the earliest records we have of the Van Ness family.











Van Ness Family Photos
Discover Van Ness family photos shared by the community. These photos contain people and places related to the Van Ness last name.


Wilma J Van Ness and Robert C Jervis Wedding: Banquo Christian Church, Banquo Indiana-Wayne Township.
Group is our parents:
L- My parents, Nolan V Van Ness, Georgia M H and R is Bob Stepmom Lela Moorman Jervis, and father Donald Hiatt Jervis. Bob mother was Gladys M Line of Marion Indiana.
Date & Place:
July 12, 1975
Banquo Christian Church, Banquo Indiana - Wedding of Van Ness-Jervis, in Banquo, Huntington County, Indiana


My Great Grandparents:
Jacob Girton Van Ness, born 1845 Oxford, Butler Co OH-1936 IN s/o Daniel VAN NESTE-Van Nest to VAN NESS by mother Abigail Warne and Mary Ellen Christman/Chrisman/Crisman/Crissman d/o Henry Christman/Chrisman/Crisman/Crissman 1781-1830 and Susannah Shup/Schupp 1785-1852. [Jacob G Van Ness/VAN NEST[E] ancestor line to Pieter/Peter Pieterszen Van Neste [immigrant from Netherlands to NY, to NJ] and Judith Jorise De Rapalje.
Jacob married: September 28, 1871 • Centerville, Wayne, Indiana to Martha Helmsing.
Martha Ellen Helmsing[e], born 1855 Lancaster, Fairfield Co OH-d 1928 IN. d/o Henry Helmsing[e]-Helmsting 1830-1860 and Susannah Fisher 1837-1890
Lived on farm near New Lancaster, Tipton County, Indaian.
Jacob and Martha is buried at Elwood, Madison Co Indiana at Elwood City Cemetery.

![Jacob and Martha Ellen Helmsing[e] Van Ness family of Indiana](https://media-af-photos.ancientfaces.com/957/1398759/1398759-small.jpeg)
MY Great Grandparents with some children in Indiana.
front row:
Lydia, JACOB VAN NESS, MARTHA HELMSING VN, Ada
back row:
Loren, Walter, Shirley Van Ness on R.
My Great Grandparents:
Jacob Girton Van Ness, born 1845 Oxford, Butler Co OH-1936 IN s/o Daniel VAN NESTE-Van Nest to VAN NESS by mother Abigail Warne and Mary Ellen Christman/Chrisman/Crisman/Crissman d/o Henry Christman/Chrisman/Crisman/Crissman 1781-1830 and Susannah Shup/Schupp 1785-1852. [Jacob G Van Ness/VAN NEST[E] ancestor line to Pieter/Peter Pieterszen Van Neste [immigrant from Netherlands to NY, to NJ] and Judith Jorise De Rapalje.
Martha Ellen Helmsing[e], born 1855 Lancaster, Fairfield Co OH-d 1928 IN. d/o Henry Helmsing[e]-Helmsting 1830-1860 and Susannah Fisher 1837-1890


Abigail [Warne] Van Nest[e]/Van Nest b OH, [a Pioneer Doctor] d/o Joseph Montgomery Warne and Margaret 'Peggy' Van Vliet/Vliet/Van Vliedt [pioneer doctor] of Mansfield NJ and Washington NJ d/o Capt Daniel Van Vliet. John Van Nest[e] s/o John/Jan Van Neste d 1781 in Rev War and Sarah Bodine of New Jersey.
This branch of family goes back to Pieter Pieterszen Van Neste, immigrant and Judith De Rapalje of NY.
PHOTO:
Wilma J Van Ness and Myron 'Buck' Van Ness-- cousins at Indian Creek Pioneer Salute near Oxford, Butler Co Ohio.
Wilma from Marion IN, living in Florida and Myron lived at Oxford Ohio. We were 4th Cousins, Myron dad is MY 3rd Cousin LeRoy Van Ness s/o Charles Vandlandingham Van Ness., s/o Joseph E Van Ness s/o Elijah Van Nest[e].
Abigail Warne and m1 John Van Nest[e] of New Jersey is parents to Elijah Van Nest[e]/Van Ness [Myron ancestor line], and their son Daniel Van Nest[e]-Van Ness [MY-Wilma ancestor line].
John Van Nest[e] m2 Catherine Heppinger/Hoppinger and lived York Co PA after John left NJ. They moved to Wayne Co Ohio about ?1838 and John d near Millbrook, Wayne Co OH in 1862, age 88y., a postmaster. John buried near West Moreland, Wayne Co OH according to elder Van Ness families. Abigail lived Reily, Butler Co Ohio after leaving New Jersey.
Abigail and m1 John Van Neste/Van Nest were to divorce in 1806 by family elders passed down.
Name Changed story given by MY line and Many others elders and in OLD Letters at Butler County Ohio:
Abigail Changed the VAN NESTE/Van Nest name to VAN NESS, that today descendants still use.
John m2 family use VAN NEST name today.
Abigail changed the name when leaving New Jersey to Ohio so John wouldn't know the where about and couldn't find her and children. Story goes Abigail mother Margaret [famous dr in Revolutionary War], urged her to leave a mean man. Stated the father of John VN seen letter and destroyed it due to the fact it mess with the character of the Van Nest family.
Abigail and John children thought father was dead and about 50 years learn he was still living. Sons went to see John and they corresponded over time after that.
John urged his sons to use the Ancestor paternal name of VAN NESTE/Van Nest, but they refused to and also John Van Nest[e] grandchildren. Letters from John stated how he missed Abigail and children even though he had another family with m2 Catherine.
One family line give story it was the boys changed the name to Van Ness, due to they were teased badly at school and called Chicken Nest. ??


Francis La Fayette [Frank] Van Ness & Victoria Mae [went by Mae/May] Machmer d/o Philip Machmer b Germany d Indiana and Elizabeth Knapp b Indiana d/o Frederick Knapp b Germany d Indiana and Anna Elizabeth Goetz b Germany d IND
bottom photo:
[R] Nolan-my father, Frank-my grandpa, &
Orville-my uncle. Nolan & Orville is Frank son's
taken at Nolan farm: Charles Road, Marion Indiana-Grant Co-Washington Twp.
Frank and Victoria Machmer- Van Ness
MY Grandparents:
Victoria Mae [went by Mae/May] Machmer
b 1881 Hamilton Co Indiana poss near Arcadia IN.-d 1946 Huntington Co IN at dau Gladys Home, not far from Banquo, Hunt Co IN. Burial New Lancaster Cemetery/Cook Cem at New Lancaster, Tipton Co Indiana.
d/o Philip Machmer b abt 1825 Germany d 1899 at home, Jackson Township, Atlanta, Hamilton Co. Indiana and Elizabeth Knapp b 1836 Wayne Co Indiana d 1918 Jackson Twp, Atlanta, Hamilton Co Indiana.
d/o Frederick Knapp b Germany d Indiana and Anna Elizabeth Goetz b Germany d IND.
Francis La Fayette [Frank] Van Ness
b 1879 New Lancaster, Tipton Co Indiana-d 1967 Folwerton Nursing Home at Fowlerton, Grant Co Indiana.
Burial New Lancaster Cemetery/Cook Cem at New Lancaster, Tipton Co Indiana.
s/o Jacob Girton Van Ness 1845-1936 and Martha Ellen Helmsing[e] 1855-1928, d/o Henry Helmsing 1830-1860 and Susannah Fisher 1837-1890
Grandpa frank and Victoria lived in Cicero, Tipton Co IN, New Lancaster IN area, Elwood IN, Van Buren IN, Marion Indiana.
Children of Victoria and Frank Van Ness:
Harry Arthur Van Ness; Floyd Chester Van Ness was an infant; Francis Orville Van Ness; Loren Leo Van Ness; MY Father Nolan Velmer Van Ness mar Georgia Marie Huffman, MY Parents; Gladys Pearl mar Jones


Georgia M. H & husband Nolan V. Van Ness
Marion, Indiana
top photo is taken in 1940, my parents got married in 1940 Feb 3.
My parents at home in Marion Indiana is top R and middle photo at camping travel trailer.
bottom photo:
Nolan and Georgia Van Ness on Left bottom photo with Donald [R] & 2nd wife Lela [Moorman] Jervis.
Donald son, Robert Carl [Bob] Jervis married Wilma J. Van Ness at Banquo Indiana, Banquo Christian Church.
Photo taken July 12, 1975 on Saturday at the Banquo Christian Church in
Banquo, Indiana-Huntington County-Wayne Twp.


Married Jeannine Sayers. Myron s/o Leroy Van Ness and Susan C. Hann. Lived Oxford Ohio. Jeannine Sayres d/o Stephen Douglas Sayres and Dessie May Sizemore of Ohio.
Myron-Jeannine Children: Of Butler County Ohio.
Marcia Christine Vanness 1953
Myron Roy Vanness Jr 1954
Stephanie Lynn Vanness 1958
Valerie Lee Vanness 1960
Myron is My 4th Cousin Wilma J Van Ness--his ancestors:
Myron Roy 'Buck' Van Ness-Van Nest-Van Neste Sr 1928-2008
4th cousin
s/o
LeRoy Van Ness-Van Nest-Van Neste 1893-1982 and Susan Christina Hann 1900-1952 Oxford, Butler Co OH
s/o
Charles Vanlandingham Van Ness-Van Nest-Van Neste 1863-1938
s/o
Joseph E Van Ness-Van Nest-Van Neste 1825-1908
s/o
Elijah Elisha Van Ness-Van Nest-Van Neste Sr 1801-1883
s/o
John/Jan ["PETER?" or W-warne?] VAN NEST-Van Neste 1774-1862
[My sources give Peter, in Old Letter at Butler Co OH where his m1 Abigail Warne lived. at Reily, Butler Co OH.--some give Warne but that was Abigail Maiden Name?-maybe children but not John] m1 Abigail Warne of NJ.
s/o
John/Jan VAN NESTE-Van Nest 1731 Somerset Co NJ-bapt Somerville NJ-d 1781 Revolutionary War. and Sarah Bodine
s/o
Peter Van Neste-Van Nest 1700-1771 and Margaret Ariaense 1703-1771
s/o
George Van Neste 1676-1747 and Maria/Marytje Reynierson Van Hengelan 1677-1744
s/o
Peter/Pieter Pieterszen Van Neste [immigrant from Netherlands/Belguim] and Judith Jorise De Rapalje-Rappelje-Rapareilliet of Brooklyn, Kings Co NY, they later went to Somerset Co NJ near Raritan/Somerville NJ area.


Wilma Van Ness-Jervis
photo taken 08-13-1971 Family Photo:Marion, Indiana
Wilma, Donald [Donnie], Wayne, Jacob [Jake], Michael [Mike].
Bottom row left~ Velma [Darlene, Nolan {DAD} & Georgia {MOM}, Wanda [twin to Wilma].
[brother Richard Allen VN died-infant]







Does anyone know of this person. If he is still alive or passed away. We would like to know how Ida and her son come into our family line. Would appreciate any information you could give us.
People in photo include: Raymond Ward Van Ness
Van Ness Family Tree
Discover the most common names, oldest records and life expectancy of people with the last name Van Ness.
Updated Van Ness Biographies



















Popular Van Ness Biographies



















Van Ness Death Records & Life Expectancy
The average age of a Van Ness family member is 72.0 years old according to our database of 522 people with the last name Van Ness that have a birth and death date listed.
Life Expectancy
Oldest Van Nesses
These are the longest-lived members of the Van Ness family on AncientFaces.











Other Van Ness Records
Share memories about your Van Ness family
Leave comments and ask questions related to the Van Ness family.

Followers & Sources

Nolan is my father. Nolan V VN wife was Georgia M H------ Van Ness.
Our last name today is Van Ness, was changed by my gggggrandmother Abigail from Van Nest/VAN NESTE in New Jersey. The family ancestor line is Pieter [Peter] Pieterszen Van Neste from Nes, Netherlands, Ameland Island some family give; recent research of Belgium to Netherlands to NY, NJ.
Nolan is s/o Francis [Frank] La Fayette Van Ness b Indiana, and Victoria Mae/May Machmer Van Ness. Frank s/o Jacob Girton b Oxford, Butler Co OH & Martha Helmsinge. Daniel b NJ, was Jacob father with mother Mary E Chrisman/Crisman/Crissman. Daniel born NJ, lived Ohio of Butler County near Reily & Oxford. Came to Indiana near New Lancaster, In-Tipton County. Many relatives lived in Tipton, Elwood, Marion, Van Buren, Anderson,IN etc..
Would like Van Ness/Van Nest photos, genealogy from other families.