On 22 April 1756, Robert & Martha (———-) Vaughan gifted their son Robert Vaughan, Jr., 200 acres of land on the lower side of Flat Creek for the “natural love and affection they bear unto thee the said son.” The deed mentions that the tract crossed Vaughan’s Creek [formerly Frank’s Creek] below Robert Vaughan’s plantation [Robert I, the father].^[1] Robert II’s siblings Phoebe (Vaughan) Mayes, Nicholas Vaughan, James Vaughan and Willis Vaughan all lived on adjacent tracts.       

About 1759, Robert Vaughan II married Elizabeth “Elsie” Motley, daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth (Forrest) Motley who also lived on Flat Creek.^[2] Both the Motley and Forrest families came to Amelia County from Gloucester County, Virginia. In 1762, Robert Vaughan II sold the 200-acre tract gifted by his parents.^[3]  He and Elsie moved further down Flat Creek into Nottoway Parish next to her family. Robert bought a 238-acre tract on both sides of Flat Creek from his brother-in-law, Thomas Pain who was married to Elsie’s sister Judith Motley. Adjacent landowners included her father Joseph Motley, Sr. and brother Joseph Motley, Jr.^[4]        

Revolutionary War

While some Virginians served in the Continental Army, most served as part of a county militia. Unless exempted, white men aged 16 to 50 were considered part of the militia. They could be called up for tours of duty for up to three months. Most served in Virginia, but also in the Carolinas. Unfortunately, few service records exist.^[5] Fortunately Amelia County militia officer appointments are include in the county’s court order books.

Robert Vaughan II was recommended as a 2nd Lt. in Captain Edmund Booker’s Company by the Amelia Court on 28 August 1777.[6] The following month, he produced a commission from his Excellency, the Governor and took his oath.[7] On 22 June 1780, Robert Vaughan was recommended by the court to be 1^st Lt. in Booker’s Company.[8]

 Nottoway County Created

In 1789,  Nottoway County was created out of the Nottoway Parish portion  of Amelia County. Robert Vaughan II’s land partly fell into the new county, but that same year he sold Samuel Jeter the 238 acre tract he bought in 1762.[9]  In 1791 Robert II purchased 1,111 acres on both sides of West Creek from Drury Thompson.[10] He added additional adjacent acreage in 1792 (30 acres from James Mann), 1797 (100 acres from Sarah & Osborne Jones, and 1800 (165 acres from Joseph Jennings.^[11] The Vaughan plantation on West Creek totaled 1,406 acres.      

Land Beyond Nottoway County and Virginia

Robert Vaughan II’s land holdings went beyond Nottoway County and Virginia. On 1 November 1769, John Vaughan of Nottoway Parish, County of Amelia to Robert Vaughan, Jr. of same for £100, 400 acres on both sides of Reese’s Fork in Charlotte County, Virginia.^[12] Reece’s Creek is east southeast of the Town of Drakes Branch. In 1789 Robert Vaughan bought 484 acres in Henrico County from William Ford for £400 adjacent to the Est. of Peyton Randolph, Archer Branch and the James River.^[13] 

Finally in 1793, Robert Vaughan II patented 5,000 in Washington County, Kentucky. In 1796, he entered in to a partnership with Matthew Walton of Washington County, Kentucky, whose role was to survey the tract and secure Vaughan’s patent. For that Walton was to receive an equal share of the land.^[14] In 1800, Robert II sold 2,500 acres to Robert Munford and also sold Mumford any interest he may have in the 2,500 acres he previously gave to Walton.^[15]

The Death of Robert Vaughan II

Robert Vaughan wrote his will on 6 March 1800. He was about 64 years old. The will was not proven and recorded until 5 December 1805, which suggests he died about 1804 or 1805. It is a long will – roughly four full pages in the will book. At his death he owned 2,290 acres of land in Virginia. To wife Elsie he lent part of the West Creek plantation for her natural life. To sons James and Asa, he left the West Creek plantation to be divided with James receiving the upper portion and Asa the lower portion. Son John received the 400 acres in Charlotte County where he was already living. Son Robert III received the 484 Henrico County tract and son Joseph received £1,000, the proceeds of the sale of his Kentucky lands.^[16]     

The Enslaved

While Robert Vaughan I (c.1710-c.1779) willed just six enslaved people to his children, his son Robert Vaughan II prospered greatly in a post-Revolutionary War Virginia economy. In 1774, Robert Vaughan purchased four enslaved people from Isaac Morris, Jr. for £100 including “a Negro wench named Gill and her three children.”^[17] The 1782 tax list for Amelia County includes Robert Vaughan as the head of a household with 19 enslaved people named Tony, Phil Will, Ben, Dick, Gill, Lyd. [Lydia], Chloe, Tan, Price, Arthur, Sall, Ellick, Clarissa, Barnett, Lucy, Pompy, Isaac and Peter.^[18]

 When he wrote his will in 1800, Robert Vaughan mentioned 28 enslaved people by name, but the wording suggests that those named had children and/or grandchildren that were not named. Those named included Phill, Len, Ben, Barnett, Fanny, Lyddia, young Len and Syrita, Arthur & Judy, Daniel & Phillis, Phillis & Lucy, Lucy & Amy, Pompey & Clarissa, Ellick & Sally, Dick & Patt, Prue, Nancy, Claiborne, Anderson, Wilson and Vina

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[1] Amelia County Deed Book 5 1749-1754, p. 435; Deed books, 1734-1869; general indexes to deeds, 1734-1974 (familysearch.org); accessed 11 November 2022

[2] Joseph Motley bought 400 acres from Richard Royall on 28 November 1751 “on the lower side of Flatt Creek adjacent to Binns, Mayes, Craddock (now Cock), Robert Vaughan, Thomas Vaughan and Tabb (now Dunn). Amelia County, Virginia Deed Book No. 4 1750-1754, p. 239; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKW-MS5M-Z?i=405&cat=282005

[3] Deed. Robert Vaughan, Jr. to Thomas Friend. Amelia County Deed Book No. 8 1762-1765, p. 71;  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-Q9JF-R?i=445&cat=282005

[4] Deed. Dated 11 December 1762; rec. 27 January 1763. Thomas Payne to Robert Vaughan, Jr. Amelia County Deed Book 8, p. 61:  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-Q9JN-7?i=440&cat=282005

[5] Guide to Virginia Revolutionary War Service Records, Library of Virginia; https://lva-virginia.libguides.com/c.php?g=1197762&p=8760262#:~:text=All%20%22free%20male%20persons%2C%20hired%20servants%2C%20and%20apprentices%22,mostly%20within%20Virginia%20but%20also%20in%20the%20Carolinas. 

[6] Amelia County, Virginia Order Book No. 13 1772-1778, p. 37; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-Q9FF-D?i=195&cat=275453  

[7] Amelia County, Virginia Order Book No. 13 1772-1778, p. 39; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-Q9FV-S?cat=275453

[8] Amelia County, Virginia Order Book No. 14 1776-1780, p, 434; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-Q969-G?i=584&cat=275453

[9] Nottoway County, Virginia Deed Book  No. 1 1789-1797, p. 87; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-R9W7-D?i=74&cat=370534

[10] Nottoway County, Virginia Deed Book  No. 1 1789-1797, p. 128; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-R9W3-J?i=92&cat=370534

[11] Deeds. 1792 – Mann to Vaughan. Nottoway County Deed Book 1 1789-1797, p. 221;  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-R97T-2?i=138&cat=370534; 1797 – Jones to Vaughan. Nottoway County Deed Book 1 1789-1797, p. 595;  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-R94V-7?i=339&cat=370534; 1800 – Jennings to Vaughan. Nottoway County Deed Book 2 1789-1797, p. 136;  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-R946-C?i=460&cat=370534  

[12] Charlotte County, Virginia Deed Book 2 1768-1771, p. 241; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4C-99Y2-F?view=fullText&keywords=Robert%20Vaughan&groupId=M9N9-LFY 

[13] Henrico County, Virginia, Deed Book No. 3 1789-1792, p. 182; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKJ-9SFP-J?view=fullText&keywords=Robert%20Vaughan&groupId=M9N5-DR6 

[14] Deed dated 9 September 1796; recorded 3 January 1797. Washington County, Kentucky Deeds 1792-1811, p. 442; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS45-T8FS?view=fullText&keywords=Robert%20Vaughan&groupId=TH-909-61046-8818-39    

[15] Deeds. Vaughan to Munford. D. 8 February 1800; Rec.15 September 1812. Hardin Kentucky Deed Books 1805-1808, p. 591; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK8-CZ8X?view=fullText&keywords=Robert%20Vaughan&groupId=TH-909-71439-9028-64; Nelson County, Kentucky Deed Books 1793-1813; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK6-1WXK-H?view=fullText&keywords=Robert%20Vaughan&groupId=TH-909-71519-174520-88

[16] Will of Robert Vaughan II. Nottoway County, Virginia Will Book No. 2, p. 226;  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99PX-646J?i=447&cat=379144

[17] Amelia County Deed Book NO. 13 1774-1776, p. 181; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYD-LS95-W?i=241&cat=282005

[18] 1782 Amelia County tax list. Amelia County, Virginia Personal Property Tax lists 1782-1813; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQF-2BGP?i=29&cat=775675

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