John Francis Vaughan is the son of William Michael Thomas John Vaughan (1781-1861) and Theresa Maria Weld (1782-1832).

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Obituary from The Tablet, 25 DEC 1880.

Death of Colonet Vaughan

Vaughan expired on the 16th of December at the Hotel de Paris, Biarritz. His remains were laid, together with those of his beloved wife, whose death preceded his by ten days only, in the parish church. Owing to the Bishop of Bayonne being engaged in ordaining, the Mass was sung by the Rev. Father Bernard Vaughan, S.J., son of the deceased, assisted by the Rev. John Vaughan, another son, as Deacon, and the Abbe Latapie, Col. Vaughan's Confessor, as Sub-deacon. The Absolutions were pronounced by the Rev. John Vaughan, his youngest son, assisted by the Cure and many Priests of the Diocese.

The two bodies, covered with the same pall, lay side by side, surrounded by numerous wreaths and crosses of fresh flowers and immortelles, the affectionate tribute of many dear friends, both Catholic and Protestant, residing at Biarritz. The two nursing sisters, whose Religious training so admirably sustained them in their labour of love, knelt on either side of the bier. Captain Francis Vaughan, who had watched by his father's side since the commencement of his serious illness, and who succeeds him in the family estates, was chief mourner. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Parma were represented by the Comte de Fleurien, and while the dirge was being chanted in the parish church they attended, in their private oratory, a Requiem Mass which was offered for those whom they so affectionately mourn. Mr., the Hon. Mrs., and the Misses Scott Murray, of Danesfield, Mr. and Mrs. Galton, of Hadzor, Madame Rio, Mr. and Mrs. Gurdon, Countess Digby Boycott, Captain and Mrs. Digby Boycott, Mr. and Mrs. Burdon Smith, Lady Norris, Mr. Galway, and many others, both English and French, Catholic and Protestant, were present, being anxious to pay this last tribute of esteem previous to the remains being conveyed to Courtfield, where they will be interred in the family vault before the altar, after a second Requiem Mass there.

There is no-tradition of any member of the Vaughan family having ever embraced any other profession than that of arms or of the Church. They fought at Agincourt ; they were followers of the Stuarts, and were excepted from the general pardon, and they were afterwards exiled to Spain, where they served in the Spanish army. Many sons and daughters of the family became priests and nuns during the last three centuries. All Col. Vaughan's brothers became priests, and all his sisters but one— Mrs. Weld Blundell—became nuns. One of his brothers is Bishop of Plymouth, one a Jesuit, and one a Redemptorist. Of his children, two are Bishops—the Bishop of Salford and the Archbishop of Sydney, N.S.'W.; four are priests—Very Rev. Prior Jerome Vaughan, 0.S.B., Rev. F. Bernard Vaughan, S.J., the Rev. Kenelm Vaughan, and the Rev. John Vaughan. Thus, three sons became Religious and three seculars, and one of each is a Bishop. All the five daughters, with the exception of one, who is an invalid, have become nuns, one, a poor Clare at Amiens, having died in the odour of sanctity. Two younger sons, who also studied for some time and wished to become priests, were finally advised to go into the world and keep up the family. The estate of Courtfield, which was entailed upon the eldest son, having been declined by him and his three next brothers, has been settled upon the fifth, Captain Francis Vaughan, who is married and the father of a family.

Col. Vaughan was a magistrate for the counties of Hereford, Mon mouth, and Gloucester, and deputy-lieutenant for Monmouthshire. He was also for a long time Lieut.-Col. of the Royal Monmouthshire Engineers. For many years he took an active and prominent part in all county and public business, and was one of the first Catholics to assert his position after the passing of the Emancipation Act. Be served in the Crimean War as a volunteer, and invented a useful kind of rifle pit for use in front of the enemy. Col. Vaughan died of disease of the heart, after much suffering and with great devotion. Mrs. Vaughan died ten days before him, from the effects of a sudden stroke of paralysis ; both fortified with the rites of the Church. Captain Francis Vaughan, the Rev, F. Bernard Vaughan, S.J., who has been preaching the Advent at Biarritz, and the Rev. John Vaughan were all present at their father's death. R.I.P.