INMONROE-L Archives

From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: Deckard/Vaughn Genealogy
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 13:22:56 -0500

Earlier today I corresponded with a Deckard genealogist now living in
California. I shared some information with him that some of you may find
of interest. Or maybe you can add to what I have.

My husband descends as follows:

1. King Anthony and Nancy Carolina (Clendennin) Deckard
2. Robert and Laura (Vaugh) Deckard
3. Ella Pearl (Deckard) and John McKinley Richardson
4. John Willis and Elizabeth Pauline (Skirvin) Richardson
5. Richard T. Richardson

My Deckard database starts with John Deckard, father of Elizabeth and
grandfather of King Anthony. Even though significantly more generations
have been identified by others, the information has not been well
documented. I am primarily interested in those with a direct line of
ascent/descent from King. Although I have searched for a death date for
John Stuart, father of King A. Deckard, I haven't yet found one. Do you
have this information.

While I am on the subject of missing information, I am also curious as to
what you might know regarding Wesley and Betsy (Medaris) Vaughn, parents of
Laura (Vaughn) Deckard. The best I have been able to determine is that
Wesley died around 1882 and Betsy predeceased him. I have heard a story
from two separate sources that did not know each other. The story goes
something like this.

Betsy was an Indian. She married Wesley, a white man, and they had several
children (I think four). Soon after Laura was born, Betsy died. Members
of the community wanted Wesley to send his half-breed children away. He
refused. Soon after, he was whitecapped. During the course of the
whitecapping his oldest son, about 16, pulled a gun on the whitecappers but
did not shoot. Wesley died as a result of the beating and the children
were placed into foster care. My mother-in-law remembers Laura (Vaughn)
Deckard tell how she was mistreated during those years.

About five years ago I put a lot of energy into trying to prove this story.
I've worked with the Monroe County court records and did locate where
Wesley's oldest son was charged with pulling a gun on a man but not
shooting him (or maybe it was just carrying a loaded weapon). A couple of
years later he was noted again in the court records because he behaved in a
way that enabled a prisoner being transported to be released
inappropriately. I am recalling all this off the top of my head, but I
have accumulated a rather large file. I have not been able to find
anything pertaining to a specific date of death for Wesley. What have you
got on this? Have you heard this story before?

Randi Richardson

This thread:

• Deckard/Vaughn Genealogy by Randi Richardson <>