Charles Augustus Vaughn. Audrey’s, Edith’s and John’s maternal grandfather

As you enter through the gate, the first gravestones you see are those of Audrey Mae’s, Edith Anna’s and John Edward’s maternal grandparents, Charles Augustus Vaughn and Lydia Edith Vaughn. Charles was born December 13, 1836 and died October 15, 1902. Lydia Edith (née Spencer) Vaughn was born July 28, 1844 and died April 23, 1917.
Audrey Mae wrote the number 8 above Charles’ and Lydia’s headstones to signify that they are eighth generation Vaughns in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.  In her drawing of the Vaughn family cemetery, Audrey Mae wrote the words grandma and grandpa under their gravestones.

Charles and Lydia had five daughters and three sons. Their fourth daughter, Mary Jane (née Vaughn) Spencer is the mother of Edith Anna, John Edward and Audrey Mae. The Vaughn family homestead was on South County Trail, just south of Division Road in East Greenwich, R.I.

The website, www.findagrave.com, lists two of their children, Margaret Allen Vaughn Gardiner (1867-1936) and Susan Harriet Vaughn Wilson (1875-1931).

Audrey Mae’s second daughter, Crystal, inherited Audrey Mae’s birthday book(s).  Crystal reported that these books give the following information on Charles Augustus and Lydia Edith’s children.  Audrey Mae (or another ancestor) wrote the number 9 over each of the children to show they are in the 9th generation in East Greenwich, R.I. area:

• Margaret A. Vaughn Gardiner B. 1867   D. 1/27/38
• Martha  E. Vaughn Kirby      B. 4/25/71   D  1960
• Mary Jane Vaughn Spencer  B  1/14/1877  D. 2/11/55  mother wrote Sunday over her name..Maybe born on Sunday…
• Eben James Vaughn   B.  5/22/1884   D. 1960?
• Walter Augustus Vaughn   B. 1879   D. 1931
• Charles Edgar Vaughn   B.  4/9/1872 or 1873   D. 1950
• Susan Vaughn     B. 1875  D. 2/23/1931
• Rachael Edna Vaughn Smith  B. 5/21/1882   D. 1959?

Audrey Mae’s map of her Vaughn family cemetery has her maternal grandparents and her aunt Margaret buried in the cemetery.  Web site author does not know if other aunts or uncles are buried there.  Audrey Mae and her mother, Mary Jane, are buried in Rathbun Cemetery, off knotty Oak Road in Coventry (spencersofeastgreenwichri.org).

In East Greenwich, Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Inscriptions, Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle’s numbering system has gravestone 7 for Lydia Edith,  gravestone 8 for Charles Augustus and gravestone number 1 for their first daughter, Margaret.

“Vaughn, Spencer, Gardiner, Kirby and Wilson descendants, if you have any additional information on Charles Augustus Vaughn & Lydia Edith (née Spencer) Vaughn and their children,  please add a comment to this web site and the web site author will add this to the site.  Thanks!”

The shared gravestone in the center of Audrey Mae’s map behind Charles’ and Lydia’s headstone is the headstone for Margaret Allen (née Vaughn) Gardiner and George Byron Gardiner.  Margaret, Audrey Mae’s, John Edward’s and Edith Anna’s maternal aunt,  is the first daughter of Charles and Lydia. She married a Mr. George Gardiner.  Margaret is a 9th generation Vaughn in East Greenwich and, therefore, Audrey Mae designated this by printing  the number 9 above their gravestone.   Connecting lines are drawn from Margaret’s and George’s shared gravestone to their two sons’ gravestones. Margaret and George’s son, Charles, died in 1958 and Earl died at seven months in 1887.  Both of these sons are 10th generation Vaughns in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

The website, www.findagrave.com, records Margaret’s birth as 1867 and her death in January 27, 1936, in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island.  The website reports George’s birth in 1862 and death in 1936.

Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle – 1

“Vaughn descendants, if you have any additional information on Margaret Allen (née Vaughn) and George Bryon Gardiner,  please add a comment to this web site and the web site author will add this to the site.  Thanks!”

Why is the Henry Matteson family of interest to descendants of Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward, the three children of Mary Jane (née Vaughn) and William J.B. Spencer?  Because the three children’s great, great-grandmother, Roby (née Tarbox) Spencer, was a descendant from Henry and Hannah (née Parson) Matteson!  Hence, the three children and their descendants are also descendants of Henry and Hannah Matteson.

On her artistically designed map of the Vaughn cemetery, Audrey Mae drew the commemorative plaque (or placque) on the gravestone monument to Henry Matteson.  This monument is located at the back of the cemetery or at the west end which is farthest from the east side front gate.   Audrey Mae printed the Matteson name and the date 1670 on her artistically designed map of the Vaughn family cemetery.  Web site author does not know why she printed the 1670 date.   Henry Matteson’s birth date is recorded elsewhere as October 27, 1646 and his death is recorded as 1690.  However, 1670 was the date of Henry and Hannah’s marriage.

Also, on the cemetery west end Audrey Mae drew twenty small field stones.  Web site author does not know whose burials these field stones represent or if they represent any colonial(s).

Audrey Mae (née Spencer) MacDonald tells the 1995 story of how a bus load of Matteson descendants from Ohio, believing their ancestor, Henry Matteson’s remains were in the Vaughn family cemetery, set up a monument for Henry Matteson at the back of the Vaughn family cemetery on the west side.  Following is information on this event recorded on web pages www.findagrave.com:

HOWEVER, There is a controversy among Henry Matteson descendants; some descendants feel strongly that Henry Matteson is buried elsewhere in East Greenwich.  This web site author has no additional  information to substantiate either side of this controversy and web site author is not certain what Audrey Mae’s opinion was on this subject.

Also, some descendants tell that Henry Matteson was the first Dane in America.  If so, that is really impressive. Again, web site author has no knowledge of this, outside of what is already on the internet.

The names of Henry Matteson and Thomas Matteson are on the East Greenwich Founders’ and Early Settlers’ Stone.  They are listed as early settlers of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, USA, but, apparently, they were not founders. Founders were “granted a first farm lot as compensation for service in the King Philip War 1675-1676”

Henry Matteson and Thomas Matteson, 3rd and 4th name on 3rd columm, EARLY SETTLERS OF THE TOWN OF EAST GREENWICH, R.I. 1677-1716

Since one of Henry’s and Hannah’s sons was named Thomas, the name on the memorial plaque on the Founders’ Stone could be their son, Thomas.  More Matteson research needed.

Audrey Mae (née Spencer) MacDonald corresponded for many years with Porter Matteson who was one of the original founders of The Matteson Historical Congress of America. Web site author believes Porter was living in Ohio at their time of correspondance. Audrey Mae often sent him historical papers that she had inherited from her family.  In 1949, Porter Matteson  sent her the Matteson Congress document Mattesons in America which gave the details on how Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward Spencer descend from Henry Matteson.  According to Porter Matteson, the three children descend from Henry Matteson through their father, William J. B. Spencer. The three children’s great, great-grandmother Roby (née Tarbox) Spencer was a descendant from Henry Matteson.  Roby Tarbox was married to Richard Anthony (“Deacon”) Spencer on April 3, 1817 in Exeter, Rhode Island. Roby and Richard (“Deacon”) first son was also named Richard Anthony.  Richard Anthony’s daughter, Anna Maria (pronounce Mar-eye-ah), was Audrey Mae’s Edith Anna’s and John Edward’s paternal grandmother.

The document from Porter Matteson:

Mattesons in America, Wm. J.B. Spencer’s lineage from the first Matteson emigrant, Henry Matteson

Mattesons in America, Wm. J.B. Spencer’s lineage from the first Matteson emigrant, Henry Matteson (end of page one)

Wm. Spencer is a lineal descendant of King Cunedda of Wales

Wm. Spencer is a lineal descendant of King Cunedda of Wales (end of page)

Audrey Mae’s, Edith Anna’s and John Edward’s descent – Nine Generations – from Henry Matteson

Using the above information from Porter Matteson , the web site author typed the following to show how the three children, Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward, descend from Henry and Hannah (née Parsons) Matteson.  (The information about Henry being the first Dane in American was found on the internet.)

Henry and Hannah Matteson descendants, if you have any further information on the Matteson ancestors as they relate to the three children’s, Audrey Mae’s, John Edward’s and Edith Anna’s, ancestry, please add a comment.  Web site author will add your information to this web site.  Thanks.

Mary (née Vaughn) Spencer is married to Thomas Spencer and their gravestones are in the middle to high left side of Audrey Mae’s map. Audrey Mae writes that Thomas died in 1814 at age 65 and Mary Vaughn died in 1853 at age 90.  Web site author is not certain how Mary is related to Charles and Lydia Edith Vaughn, the grandparents of the three children, Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward.

The web site, www.findagrave.com gives the following information information on this married couple.  Mary Vaughan Spencer was born December 10th, 1763 in East Greenwich, Kent county, Rhode Island and died May 4, 1853 in her 90th year.  Her parents were Christopher Vaughan (1735-1811) & Waite Wrightman (1739-?). Her spouse was Thomas Spencer.  Thomas Spencer was born in 1749 in East Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island and died December 6, 1814 in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island.  His parents were John Spencer (1722-1809) and Susanna Reynolds Spencer (1721-1812). His spouse was Mary Vaughan Spencer (1721-1812).

Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle – 3 (Mary) & 4 (Thomas)

“Vaughn, Spencer and Wrightman descendants, if you have any additional information on Mary (née Vaughn) and Thomas Spencer,  please add a comment to this web site and the web site author will add this to the site.  Thanks!”

Daniel is the son of Margaret A and Christopher Champlin Vaughn, the only 7th generation couple that Audrey Mae marks on her map as being in the Seventh generation of Vaughns in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.  Daniel is buried to the right of his parents’ stone. He died at the young age of 27 years. Audrey Mae also commented that his stone is broken down, so she drew grass growing around the stone.  He died in 1868 and he would be 8th generation Vaughn in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

Are Charles Augustus, Daniel W., and Christopher Rhodes Vaughn brothers?  Audrey Mae drew lines to and from their three gravestones (or names) and wrote the number three (3) and wrote “brother” on one of the lines.  More genealogical research is needed.

Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle – 9

“Vaughn descendants, if you have any additional information on Daniel W. Vaughn,  please add a comment to this web site and the web site author will add this to the site.  Thanks!”

According to Audrey Mae’s map diagram,  her grandfather Charles Augustus Vaughn’s brother is Christopher Rhodes Vaughn who married Lulu M. (née Tennant) Vaughn. Lulu and Christopher are 8th generation Vaughns in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.  Lulu’s gravestone is in the lower left corner of Audrey Mae’s sketch of the cemetery.  Web author is unsure if Christopher Rhodes Vaughn is also buried here. Their daughter, Bessie, died at 1 year and 3 months and she is also buried here.  Her gravestone is located in the left center in Audrey Mae’s map.

Audrey Mae drew a line from Charles Augustus Vaughn’s stone to Christopher Rhodes Vaughn’s name and wrote “brother” to show their relationship.

Again, Christopher Rhodes Vaughn would not be in Audrey Mae’s, Edith Anna’s and John Edward’s direct line.  Christopher Rhodes Vaughn is the brother of Charles Augustus, the three children’s maternal grandfather.

The web site, www.findagrave.com give the following information on Christopher’s spouse, Lula M. Tennant Vaughn.  Lula was born November 18, 1857 and died April 4th, 1888.  She died at 39 years, 4 months and 16 days. Her spouse was Christopher Rhodes Vaughn and her parents were James Smith Tennant and Sarah Sunderland. Her child was Bessie Louise Vaughn (1887-1888). Bessie was born September 8, 1887 in East Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island and died December 25, 1888 in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island. No dates on stone.

Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle – 11 (Lula) & 10 (Bessie)

“Vaughn, Tennant, and Sunderland descendants, if you have any additional information on Lula M.( née Tennant ) Vaughn,  Christopher Rhodes Vaughn and daughter, Bessie Louise Vaughn,  please add a comment to this web site and the web site author will add this to the site.  Thanks!”

Margaret A. Vaughn, wife of Christopher Champlin Vaughn, is the only 7th generation Vaughn in East Greenwich, Rhode Island that Audrey Mae marked on her family cemetery map. Web author does not know if Christopher Champlin Vaughn is also buried here with his spouse.  Audrey Mae drew a line from Margaret’s gravestone to Daniel W. Vaughn’s gravestone and wrote “son” on this connecting line.

Web site author can not be sure if this 7th generation couple are the parents of Charles who married Lydia Edith Spencer.  Charles is the maternal grandfather of Audrey Mae, Edith Anna, and John Edward. If so, Margaret and Christopher would be the great-grandparents of Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward.  More research is needed.

The web site, www.findagrave.com, gives the following information:  Margaret Allen Slocum Vaughn was born 1811 and died February 9th, 1864. She died at age 43 years, 8 months and 24 days. (Author’s note: Both Audrey Mae and Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle report age 53 as age of death.)  Her spouse was Christopher C. Vaughn.  Her parents were Ebenezer Slocum and Alice Spencer.  Her son was Daniel W. Vaughn who died February 27, 1868.

Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle – 6

“Vaughn, Spencer and Slocum descendants, if you have any additional information on Margaret Allen (née Slocum) Vaughn and Christopher Champlin Vaughn,  please add a comment to this web site and the web site author will add this to the site.  Thanks!”

Audrey Mae drew a connecting line from Margaret A. (née Vaughn)’s and George Gardner’s gravestone  to  their two sons’ gravestones.  Charles died June  in 1958 and Earl died at seven months in 1887.  Both of these sons are 10th generation Vaughns in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

The website, findagrave.com, records Charles was born July 16, 1889 in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island and died June 11th, 1958.  His brother, Earl, was born in 1897 and died, August 18, 1897 in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island.

Again, these two sons are the children of the sister of Mary Jane (née Vaughn) Spencer, the mother of Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward.

Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle – 2 (Charles) & 5 – (Earle)

“Vaughn and Gardiner descendants, if you have any additional information on brothers, Charles Vaughn Gardiner & Earle Gardiner,  please add a comment to this web site and the web site author will add this to the site.  Thanks!”