Frances Vaughan, Countess of Carbery


Frances Vaughan was the second wife of Richard Vaughan, 2nd Earl of Carbery. Her second son, John, became the 3rd earl following his father's death in 1686.
Frances was one of the two daughters of Sir James Altham of Oxhey and his wife Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Richard Sutton. Her sister Elizabeth married Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey. As co-heiresses, the Altham sisters had a considerable inheritance.
Frances and her husband had three sons, including the 3rd Earl. The other two were Francis, who became MP for Carmarthen in 1661 and died in 1667, some years before his father. Their third son, Altham, succeeded his father and brothers as MP for Carmarthen in 1679.
The Anglican writer Jeremy Taylor spent some time with the Earl and Countess at their Carmarthenshire residence, Gelli Aur. Taylor dedicated the third volume of his work The Great Exemplar to Frances, and the sermon he gave at her funeral was published. Taylor said of the late countess that "she did not love her fortune for making her noble; but thought it would be a dishonour to her, if she did not continue a nobleness and excellency of virtue..."