The Vaughan family of Llanelli

Hugh Vaughan

 John Vaughan (d. 1574)

Walter Vaughan (d. 1597)

Walter Vaughan (d. 1635)

Francis Vaughan (d. 1637)

John Vaughan (d. 1669)

Margaret Vaughan (d. 1733)

Welsh gentry families occupied a position of authority and they ruled unquestioned, unchallenged and obeyed. They owned most of Wales and from the time of the Acts of Union 1536 until 1889 when the County Councils were established they administered both national and local government as country squires. They had sole Parliamentary representation and enjoyed a monopoly of all official judicial posts including Lieutenant, Deputy Lieutenant, Sheriff, Magistrate, and acted as commissioners of parliamentary acts.

They could and very often did render Acts of Parliament ineffective when they conflicted with their own interests or convictions.

It was from the gentry or their nominees that Clerks of the Peace, County Treasurers, Customs and Excise Officers, Stewards of Crown lands, were recruited and as unpaid governors they administered their counties mainly through Quarter Sessions. The gentry were the only people who received an education, training, enjoyed leisure, great wealth and ruled by tradition in both national and local government.

It was Hugh Vaughan who claimed descent from the Welsh Princes and kinsman of the Tudor family, who founded the powerful, influential and wealthy family that became known as the Vaughans of Golden Grove. It was from this family that the Llanelli Vaughan family was descended.

The Vaughans of Golden Grove owned land in the Llanelli area before 1600 and members connected with Llanelli were:

Walter Vaughan (d. 1635). He was the 4th son of Walter Vaughan of Golden Grove and his wife Mary Rice of Newton (Dynevor) and was the first Vaughan to settle at Llanelli following his marriage to Anne Lewis.

Francis Vaughan (d. 1637). The elder son of Walter and Anne Vaughan, he married Elizabeth Pryce of Aberbychan, Montgomeryshire.

John Vaughan (d. 1669). Younger son of Walter and Anne Vaughan. He married Margaret Lloyd of Maesyfelin near Lampeter.

Walter Vaughan (d. 1683). He never married and was the only surviving son of John and Margaret Vaughan.

Margaret Vaughan (d. 1733). Daughter of John and Margaret Vaughan married Thomas Stepney of Prendergast who became the 5th Baronet.