WAYNE COUNTY, KENTUCKY

VAUGHAN FAMMILY

Analysis John Vaughan (1784-1850)

John Vaughan has been identified as the son of Stephen Vaughan of Wake Co,, NC. Now on one level that makes good sense. John was b. in NC and named a son Stephen. But here are a few more facts that tend to diminish that conclusion.

1. Reuben Vaughan paid a poll tax in Wayne Co. 1809-1811; and a Stephen Vaughan paid a poll tax 1810-1811. John Vaughan started paying taxes in 1811; and James Vaughan (b. in GA- an unexplained anomaly) started paying taxes in 1813. There was no 1812 tax digest. Both John and James paid taxes through at least 1850.

2. When James Vaughan sold his first piece of property, John Vaughan witnessed the deed. (KY Wayne DB E.277, 25 Oct 1830). Being James and John are about the same age, this deed strongly hints at them being brothers or at least cousins.

Stephen Vaughan of Wake Co., NC named no son James or Reuben in his will. There is another Stephen Vaughan in Nash, NC, b. before 1755. He appears in deeds there from 1785 to 1809. His last appearance is in a 1809 deed (NC Nash DB 05.178 dated 27 Nov 1809). That dovetails with the first appearance of Stephen Vaughan in the 1810 tax digest in Wayne Co., KY. To be fair there is no Reuben in Nash, NC.

The names Reuben and Stephen are suggestive of brothers of those names who lived in Mecklenburg Co., VA The names Reuben and Stephen are repeated often in their families.

Now, I am not saying which ones of these is true, without new facts. But I did want to bring up these possibilities for consideration. David Robertson. https://www.genealogyfacts.org/.

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