Benjamin Vaughan and his brother Charles could be considered early “founding fathers” of Hallowell, Maine. While not the earliest of Hallowell settlers they were men of importance who settled in the region in its formative days.
Benjamin Vaughan was friends with Benjamin Franklin and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson for many years.
The Vaughan family home built in 1794 can still be seen and visited in Hallowell on the 194 acre property.
I painted Mr. Vaughan in the act writing a letter to President Jefferson to show his importance to the nation and influence with the nation’s founding fathers.
Artist, Chris Cart
Born in 1751 and lived until 1835, Vaughan was a Medical doctor, diplomat, political economist, merchant and British commissioner whose role was to smooth negotiations between Britain and U.S. during the drafting of the Treaty of Paris.
the Vaughan family history
There was some discussion with the Vaughan Woods and Historic Homestead organization about how to portray Mr. Vaughan. While his personal connection and influence on early Hallowell was grandly beneficial, the family wealth was originally derived from his father’s sugar plantations in the Caribbean, worked by enslaved people.
Benjamin Vaughan spent his early life in England until moving his family to Hallowell. He never had any direct connection with the plantations from which his wealth was derived.
Outside the window I included barrels of plantation sugar to reference the legacy of slavery in the family wealth.
artist, Chris Cart
When Benjamin Vaughan moved his family from England to Hallowell, Maine in 1797, he brought his extensive library, which rivalled the library at Harvard University of the time with close to ten thousand volumes.
Vaughan was beloved by Hallowell for his philanthropic efforts in the community.
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