VAUGHAN, ETC N EW S L E T T ER
January 1987
EDITOR; Verna Baker Banes
Page 21
A SUPPOSED TO BE TRUE LEGEND ABOUT WILLIAM VAUGHN
by BETTY BLAKE, Rt 2, Box 236, Chuckey, TN 37641
See page 3, January 1986 Newsletter
WILLIAM VAUGHN was living in a log cabin beside a river. I don't know where.The cabin tnay
have been unfinished, as there was no door, only a quilt hung over the opening. One day a neighbor
who lived on the other side of the river shouted across that his wife was sick and asked William to
bring his wife over to help take care of her. They crossed the river in a boat, leaving at home three
children —an older son whose name has been forgotten, son BERRY HENRY, and daughter
VINEY. While they were gone, a storm came causing the river to rise and become so swift that the
parents couldn't cross it to return home. That evening while the children were by themselves, a large
bear came and entered the cabin. The frightened children climbed to the loft. The bear ate all the
food he could find and then seemed to notice the children in the loft. He tried to reach the loft by
climbing up a loom standing in the cabin, but he was so heavy that the loom turned over with him
and threw him to the floor, so he left. The next morning William and his wife returned home to find
their dogs injured, their cabin in a shambles, but their children safe. William tracked the bear and
killed it, bringing home fresh meat for the family.
Family legends can be ways of finding- "long lost cousins" because they may be told by more than
one group of relatives* Do you recognize this one?
VAUGHN BRYANT, Rt 19. Box 253, Hot Springs Nati Park, AS 71913 has had interesting
correspondence with MARJORIE COOMBS, West 3028 Princeton Ave, Spokane, WA 99205
who is seeking information on her gr-gr grandmother SARAH JANE VAUGHN HAMNER.
Sarah was born 1830 in Stanford, Lincoln Co KY. As that is where Vaughn's family ties are
found, he felt sure that Sarah was the daughter of one of his gr-gr grandfather Thomas' (see p.
63, Nov. 1986 Newsletter) brother who stayed in Lincoln instead of moving with other family
to Missouri. Not so, Marjorie discovered. There are two Thomas Vaughns, almost of the same
age in Stanford. Marjoria was there recently and called on various sources that Vaughn had
given her which he thought would establish that they were "cousins." Not so. She did
extensive research and prepared a chart because she did find Sarah's parents and even grand-
parents; but the names did not fit Vaughn's data. This is another good example of the value of
double checking when it comes to identifying these Vaughans/Vaughns
FAYE FORD, 629 Atlanta Dr, Hermitage, TN 37076 searches for the parents of WILLIAM
THOMAS "JERRY" VAUGHAN who stated he migrated in 1861 from Mecklenburg Co VA
(via Trigg Co KY; to TN. Faye has abstracted the 1837 will of POLLY NEWTON,
Mecklenburg Co. Polly's dau LETTY married DAVID VAUGHAN. It appears that David,
who died 1859, had lost everything, so Polly went to the sale and bought it back for her daughter
Letty. The will mentions the furniture behind the south door is willed to her gr-dau ELIZABETH
FRANCES VAUGHAN. Other items purchased at the Constable sale were for the sole benefit
and usa of Letty. After Letty's death, there were to be equally divided among her children. Also
named in the will are Pollys daughters NANCY BOWEN (w/o JAMES BOWEN) & POLLY
NEWTON (w/o JAMES NEWTON). DANIEL ELAM was named trustee for Letty.
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