*New DNA evidence indicates that Joseph Ross may not be a direct descendant of Lord Francis Ross, but still likely related.

Francis Ross immigrated with his sons and daughters (James, John, Mary, and Elizabeth) to America from Ulster, Ireland anywhere from 1719 to 1724 first landing in Pennsylvania where it is believed his wife died, although there is no mention of her. The Ross family then moved to Frederick Co., VA in the 1740's from Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. Some of the family members then returned to North and South Carolina. Francis Ross was originally born in Scotland. Many first thought that Joseph Harve Ross' parents were James Ross (son to George Ross; signer of the Declaration of Independence), and Eleanor Reynolds Ross, but this information has no bearing and has now been debunked. Many family links to the Ross family in Frederick Co., VA and Pennsylvania help to substantiate this new information. Also, the family connections in Nelson County, and Meade, KY to Joseph's brother James Ross in Frederick Co., also helps to prove this particular Ross lineage. There are also Ross family connections to the Hogues, Hardins, Ashcrafts, Ashby's, McCulloughs, Van Meters, Wisemans, Hite, etc., that help to confirm this parentage to Joseph Ross. Also, both Thomas Ross born to John Ross and his nephew James Ross named one of their daughters Millender, which also helps contribute to this family connection. See Charles Brashears book "Descendants of Francis Ross," pub. 2011 or info online for further information. Charles Brashear is a descendant.

It is known that Joseph's father-in-law Evan Williams traveled by wagon in 1774 to present day Nelson Co., KY before moving to Jefferson Co., abt 1783 and then back to Nelson County by 1820. Perhaps his son-in-law also made this same trip in 1774 through the Daniel Boone Cumberland Gap / and McCullough Path. It is also possible that Joseph traveled with his brother James Ross born about the same time after their father James Ross died in Virginia in 1784. Or perhaps Joseph Ross came first and then his brother followed later. So, it could be that James and Joseph arrived in VA a couple of years after Evan, Sarah, and Nancy Williams did; possibly with Col. James Rogers who was the grandson of Matthew Rogers; a close friend of James Ross, a brother to John Ross who was grandfather to Joseph Harve Ross.

Joseph Harve Ross married Nancy (Williams) abt 1782. Joseph Ross was a wheelwright. Joseph and Nancy's parents were probably living in or near Fort Roger that was built about 5 miles from present day Bardstown, Nelson County. Nancy Williams (Ross) was born to Evan Williams and Sarah Downs (Williams) abt 1765 in Maryland. Evan Williams' sister Nancy married Jesse Ashby, a father-in-law to many of Joseph Ross' children. Evan's sister Sara also married into the Ashby family; William Wilton Ashby. William was a son to Captain Thomas Ashby.

Joseph and Nancy Ross had about 15 children. At least three of their sons married into the Ashby family; Thomas Ross married Elizabeth Ashby (daughter of Jesse Ashby and Tamar), Evan Ross married Catharine Ashby (daughter of Jesse Ashby and Tamar), and Joseph Harve Ross II married Margaret Jane Morton who was a daughter of Thomas Morton and Garner Ashby Morton (Garner was the daughter of Jesse Ashby and Nancy Williams; first wife). This close connection to the Ashby family in Virginia also shows a close connection to George Washington. Jesse Ashby's Father Capt. Thomas Ashby and Uncles; Capt. John Rufus Ashby, Lt. Benjamin Ashby, Capt. Stephen Ashby, Capt. Robert Ashby and Surveyor/Private Henry Ashby were all friends or acquaintances of Col. George Washington. Kentucky was a part of Virginia until 1792 when it became the 15th state.