From "A Historical Tour Through Monmouthshire" by William Coxe, Davies & Co., Hereford, 1904.
Excerpts that include early history, a manor and mansion of Welsh Bicknor in possession of the Vaughan family and an interesting anecdote about the son of John Vaughan, the lord of Welsh Bicknor who prevented the extinction of the family:
"I shall not attempt to trace the early pedigree of the Vaughan family, which is undoubtedly of high antiquity; I shall only observe, that as the Vaughans of Clifford, as well as those of Bredwardin, Hergest, Cliro, Llewes, Tretowre, and Talgarth, were descended from Sir Roger Vaughan, first husband of Gladys, daughter of Sir David Gam, and as the present proprietors of Courtfield still possess Cliro and part of Llewes, the Vaughans of Courtfield are probably descended from the same illustrious ancestry. But as the Herbert arms seem to have been borne by the family from the earliest residence in this place to the present time, some persons have supposed them a collateral branch of the Herberts. The crest, however, is that of the Vaughans; a child's head couped, the neck entwined with a serpent."
"... Sir John de Montacute, her son, doing homage, had livery of all her lands; among which was the manor of Welsh Bicknor. ... "
"From this period I can discover no documents concerning the proprietors of Welsh Bicknor, until I find the manor and mansion of Courtfield in the possession of the Vaughan family. It appears from a pedigree in the Heralds' office, that in the reign of Elizabeth, John Vaughan, of Clifford Park, in the county of Hereford, was lord of Welsh Bicknor. He married Anne, daughter of John Powell, of Perthir, and left one son, Richard, who died in 1697, aged 96, and who prevented the extinction of the family, by taking a second wife, at the advanced age of 75; of which event a singular anecdote is related in the family. His only son who was settled at Huntsholme, having been long married without issue, the father frequently rallied him on the subject. Walking out with him one day, he said, "Son, let me see if you can leap over this gate;" the son attempted but did not succeed; on which the old gentleman vaulted over with great agility, and exclaimed, "As I have cleared the gate for you, so I believe I must e'en provide you with an heir." Soon after this event he fulfilled his promise, and espousing Agatha, daughter of John Berrigton, Esq., of Cowarne Court, in the county of Herford, had three daughters, and a son named John, who, by the death of his elder brother, became sole heir,, and left issue by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Philip Jones, Esq., of Lanarth Court; from his second son, Richard, who was a general in the Spanish service, William Vaughan, Esq., the present proprietor of Courtfield is descended."