United States. An Order Of Americans Of Armorial Ancestry Membership Badge In Gold

In 14K Gold with red, white, blue and black enamels, weighing 9.8 grams, maker marked "CALDWELL & CO." and engraved in running script "Mrs. Cary Smith Loud Vaughan 99" on the reverse, measuring 36.3 mm (w) x 34 mm (h), horizontal pinback and suspension hook on the reverse, intact enamels, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry was organized on September 15, 1903 and was incorporated in the State of New York on December 30, 1903. The organization was founded by Mrs. William Gerry Slade, and others. The objectives of the Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry are to promote genealogical, biographical, and historical research, with emphasis on the ancestry of American families of armorial descent and as far as possible the publication of results stemming from such research. The Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry is the only order based upon the right to bear arms as a qualification for membership. Any person aged eighteen or over, of good moral character and reputation is eligible for membership in the Order provided the candidates prove descent from an immigrant ancestor who settled on or before July 4, 1776 within a territory that became the forty-eight contiguous states of the United States of America and who had a proven right to bear arms in the settler’s country of origin. An applicant is proposed by two members of the Order who know the applicant. Only one proposer is necessary if the applicant is a member of lineage societies with local chapters: DAR, SAR, SR, OFPA, DFPA, Colonial Wars, etc. Cary Smith Loud Vaughan was born on August 28, 1887 in South Carolina, the daughter of Philologus Hawkins Loud (1859-1914) and Willa Ida Smith Loud (1860-1905), and had one sister, Esther Ashton Loud Bethea (1889-1972). She was married to Guy Vaughan (1881-1968), the couple having one son: Guy Vaughan (1912-1989). Cary Smith Loud Vaughan was a member of the Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She died on September 27, 1979, at the age of 92 and is buried at Williston Cemetery in Williston, Barnwell County, South Carolina.