Observations on the Family of Samuel Vaughan and Prudence Hood

Samuel Vaughan and Prudence Hood settled in Washington Co., KY and died there later. They had eight sons and several daughters. Six of his sons have remarkably well proven descendants. As to the other two sons Samuel Jr. and Chesley, we only have a head count from census records, and a lot of frustrating clues. Also, it is important to note that many of Samuel’s sons each named a son Samuel. Figuring these out and matching them up has been daunting. The purpose of this summary is to draw some conclusions that cannot be proven, but are entirely consistent with the records we know about at this time.

✔          There are two Luke Vaughans in early Washington Co., KY. Both started paying taxes in 1796. One paid through 1812, then vanishes. The other (the son of Samuel & Prudence) then pays taxes through 1815 and moves to Owen, IN. Samuel is not known to have a brother named Luke. The second Luke is a complete mystery.

✔          Now for a few observations and conclusions. William, son of Samuel had a son Samuel and two daughters. The two daughters and Samuel C. Vaughan settled in Osage, MO. The conclusion is that Samuel C. is the son of William.

✔          Clayborn Vaughan, son of Samuel and Prudence left Washington Co. and married his second wife Katherine in Bartholomew, IN. He d. there. After he died, she moved back to Washington Co., KY. Then she m. Johnsey Dorsey in 1846. From the 1850 census, she was b. in abt. 1791.

✔          Samuel Vaughan m. Rosa Gregory 28 March 1824 and then moved to Shelby Co., IN. This identifies him as a son of Clayborn Vaughan.

✔          Luke m. twice in Washington Co. and then moved to Owen Co., IN. He died there. In his will he left everything to his wife and children, none of whom were named in his will. The second marriage is not likely to be that of a son or nephew, due to Luke’s age and the fact that neither Samuel nor Chesley have any sons old enough to be a younger Luke.

✔          Samuel Vaughan m. Esther McElroy 20 Nov 1815. The only person he fits to be a son of is John Vaughan, son of Samuel and Prudence. This Samuel died in 1832 and his widow Esther moved to Marion Co., MO.

✔          Peter Vaughan, son of Samuel and Prudence is easy. He m. in Washington Co. and then took off for Tennessee.

✔          Reuben Vaughan is most likely the son of William Vaughan and his wife Margaret. He fits perfectly in the Census Records.

✔          Samuel, Jr., son of son of Samuel and Prudence, m. twice. He first m. Betsy Dyer 5 Nov 1804. There is a later marriage of a Samuel to Mary Cambron 7 Oct 1817. Two facts lead to the conclusion that this was a second marriage. First, this second marriage does not fit any of the other Samuels. Second, there is an 1850 census record in Marion Co, KY for Polly Vaughan b. in 1790. The only place she fits is the widow of Samuel, Jr.

✔          Now it is time to address the children of Samuel, Jr. and Chesley that are only identified statistically in census records. The younger children of Samuel are known as his widow appears in the 1850 and 1860 Census.

✔          This leaves Joel. He was a real head scratcher until you realize that William Vaughan, son of Samuel and Prudence had seven children, not just the three named in a deed record. He can only fit as a son of William and Margaret. He has some inconsistent census data in terms of age brackets for he and his wife in 1840. However, the age brackets for his children match 1850 and 1860 census records. He is shown in 1850 as being born in IA. This is a scrivener’s error. The two families above Joel are from IA and the ditto symbol was used for many lines. It is likely that the census taker overshot one line. In 1860 he states he was b. in KY.

✔          John Vaughan who m. Celia Murphy 27 Nov 1845 Putnam, IN was b. in 1824. There is an important DNA observation to be made here. Samuel Vaughan, Sr. is a proven member to the FTDNA Vaughan Cyan Subgroup. So is John Vaughan who m. Celia Murphy. This is an important clue as the family of Samuel Vaughan is the only known branch of the Cyan Subgroup to move to Kentucky and later to Indiana.

✔          John Vaughan and Herod Vaughan may have traveled together to Putnam Co., IN.

✔          On account of the possible connection to Herod and the DNA clues, there is a strong possibility John comes from Washington Co., KY.

Here is what is left from Census Records.

That sums it up. Most of these puzzle pieces fit together. The remaining pieces are very frustrating. Unfortunately, solid proof is not to be found within the records found so far.

Compiled By: David H. Robertson, 159 Hickory St., Roswell, GA 30075 davidhr@hushmail.com