His wife was descended from Howel Dda, King of South
Wales, in 907.

Descended was Gronwy, Earl of Herford, through a series
of Lords of Maylors and Oswestry. They descended to John
Vaughan, son of Rhys Ap Llewellyn, of Plas Thomas in
Shrewsbury. From some of the many early records
researchers examined, manuscripts such as the Domesday
Book, the Pipe Rolls, Hearth Rolls, the Black Book of the
Exchequer, the Curia Regis Rolls, the Vaughn family name
was traced in many different forms. Although Vaughn was
mentioned in several different records, it was spelt Vaughan,
Vaughn, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred,
even between father and son. It was not uncommon for a
person to be born with one spelling, marry with another,
and still have another on the headstone in his or her resting
place.

The Norman Conquest of Wales was less than conclusive.
A testimony to the Welsh fighting spirit is that there are more
castles, or ruins of castles, to the square mile in Wales than
anywhere else in the world.

The Welsh tactic was to thrust, then retire to their bleak
mountain homes to plan their next attack. As peace gradually
returned to this country, the Welsh, attracted by the economic opportunities, moved eastward into the English cities. This
distinguished Welsh family name emerged in Shropshire.
They remained seated at Dudliston in that shire for several
centuries, playing an important role on the English/Welsh
border. They branched to Burlton and Plas Thomas, and to
Chilton Grove.

The chief of the line in the 11th century was Sir Robert
William Vaughan, who married into the descendants of
Meuric, ancesor of the family of Nanau. The Vaughans
branched to Merionethshire where they had a distinguished
history of political involvement in that shire. They were seated
at Dolymelynllyn in that county. Their present seats are at
Shoborough House, Humphreston, Nanau, Burlton Hall, the
Castle at Builth Wells, and Hallowell in Maine.

Prominent amongst the family during the late middle ages
was Sir Robert Vaughan. For the next two or three centuries
the surname Vaughan- Vaughn flourished and played an
important role in the local county politics and in the affairs
of Britain in general. Religious conflicts followed. The newly
found passionate fervor of Cromwellianism found the Roman
Church still fighting to regain its status and rights. The power
of the Church, and the Crown, their assessments, tithes, and
demands imposed a heavy burden on rich and poor alike.
They looked to the New World for their salvation. Many
became pirates who roamed the islands of the West Indies
such as Captain Morgan.

Some were shipped to Ireland where they were known as the
'Adventurers for land in Ireland'.

Essentially, they contracted to keep the Protestant faith, being
granted lands for small sums, previously owned by the Catholic
Irish. In Ireland they settled in Ulster in the 16th century. The
New World also held many attractions. They sailed across the
stormy Atlantic aboard the tiny sailing ships, built for 100
passengers, but sometimes carrying 400 or 500, ships which
were to become known as the "White Sails". The overcrowded
ships, sometimes spending two months at sea, were wracked
with disease. Those that survived the elements were often
striken with small pox, dysentery and typhoid, sometimes
landing with only 60 to 70 % of the original passenger list.

In North America, one of the first migrants which could be
considered a kinsman of the Vaughn family or having a
variation of the family surname spelling, was:

George Vaughan who settled in Maine in 1629;
Patrick Vaughan settled in Virginia in 1635;
Elizabeth Vaughan settled in Virginia in 1654;
John Vaughan settled in Virginia in 1636;
Christopher Vaughan settled in Virginia in 1652;
Rowland Vaughan settled in Virginia in 1635;
Lewis Vaughan settled in Virginia in 1636;
John Vaughan from Milford Haven settled in St. John's
Newfoundland in 1825.
William Vaughan was a planter in Mulleys Cove, Conception
Bay, Newfoundland in 1844.

While researching the family name Coat of Arms we traced
the most ancient recording and grant of Arms. Those many
branch Coat of Arms which were granted down through the
ages may also be appropriate to the name. The most ancient
grant of a Coat of Arms found was; Black a chevron between
three silver fleur de lis.

The Crest is; An arm holding the fleur de lis. The ancient
family motto for this distinguished name is; "Non Revertar
Inultus"

Linda_Welden@vaughan-vaughn.org

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