Family and Education

b. by 1553, 5th s. of Robert Vaughan of Castlemartin by Janet, da. of Nicholas Gilbert of Oldcastle, Herefs. m. 1561, Catherine, da. of Owain ap John ap Tryhaiarn, 1da.

Offices Held

Customer, Milford Haven, Pemb. 1574-97 or later.

Biography

The Vaughans of Castlemartin were a branch of the Vaughans of Tyleglas, Breconshire. Vaughan himself, as a younger son, had to make his way in a profession. The post of customer of Milford Haven (which presumably accounts for his return to Parliament for the county town) covered the coasts from Worms Head in Gower to Barmouth in Merioneth. It was of some importance in view of the brisk trade of this region with France, and Vaughan held it for over 20 years, thanks to the favour of his distant kinsman Lord Burghley. He seems to have executed his duties, consisting chiefly of measures against smuggling, with some vigour; though there were two or three complaints against him, and on one occasion he was summoned before the Privy Council. Vaughan is last heard of in May 1597.

Dwnn, Vis. Wales, i. 127; E. Laws, Little England beyond Wales, 307; Welsh Port Bks. (Cymmrod Soc. rec. ser. xii), pp. xxxi-xxxvi; CSP Dom. 1547-80, p. 408; 1581-90, p. 58; HMC Hatfield, vi. 449; vii. 228; xiii. 347; Exchequer, ed. E. G. Jones (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. iv), 214; APC, xx. 84; Arch. Camb. (ser. 5), xiv. 319-20.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A.H.D.

Notes