This paper was written by C. M. Vagg in 1985 as an addendum to his book "The Vagg Odyssey" which was written in 1982. I do not know how many copies were produced or where they may have been sent, but this version is from the library of the Genealogical Society of Victoria, Australia.

In view of certain omissions and corrections needed to put the record right in our book, I feel it necessary to append the following:

When the manuscript was in the hands of the printer, I knew there were a number of undisclosed facts that would fail to appear in the completed book. Principal among these was the person and antecedents of John Vagg (2), one-time Yeoman, then later Auctioneer. Despite the years of research we were unable to establish anything beyond the entry on his marriage certificate when he wed Mary Tilly at Langport in 1814, that he was John Vagg, Yeoman, abode Ilminster. Equally vague were the details of' his brother Robert's marriage certificate at Langport in 1829. Happily these questions are now resolved, but we have no baptismal record of his first child and daughter Elizabeth. However we presume it was at Ilminster, as the Ilminster census returns lists John, son of John Vagg, Yeoman, having been born there on 2-2-1817.

The detailed information re John Vagg (2) was of vital importance to me to enable me to construct an accurate pedigree chart based on our descent from Richard Vagg, Bap. 1599. As time for me was running out, I took it upon myself to commission a researcher I had met in the Somerset Record Office. Taunton, who was a full-time officer there, at a fee of approximately $8 per hour. I was advised it could take up to 18 months for a complete record as it would be a part-time task. Eventually I received (a year after publication of our book) a packet of typed sheets containing a fully detailed record of every Vagg born, married and deceased in the Parish of South Petherton, which includes East Lambrook, Yeovil, East Coker and Kingsbury-Episcopi. This information cost us $200, which, in view of the information we now have, is invaluable, as it has enabled me to complete and update the "Vagg Pedigree Chart 1984". This naturally negates the previous family tree which was compiled and distributed prior to the knowledge we now have; unfortunate, but that's research and its problems.

These records follow the accepted pattern that links the son to his father. As an example, John (2). the son of John (1) and Mary Elliott of South Petherton, and so on until the commencement of the records in 1599. There is a rather sad sequel to John (2)'s life, as his early death at South Petherton in 1832, in his 43rd year, meant he was never to witness the marriage of any of his children. I visited his grave in South Petherton: many thoughts ran through my mind as I stood and pondered on the caprice of fate and what his early demise meant to us.

We should accord full marks to Queen Elizabeth I for her decreeing that a complete record of all Births, Deaths and Marriages be kept, and preserved for all time, this responsibility to be a charge on the Churches. It is from that point, happily, that our church of St. Peter and Paul accepted and faithfully discharged their responsibility, as we have from that remote date been able to track an accurate record of our; descent from our ancestor, one Richard, son of James Vagg, Bap. 17th June, 1599, in the parish of South Petherton, Somerset. This has enabled me to produce a complete "Vagg Pedigree Chart 1984" wherein everyone so listed has the same genes, also having a relationship one with the other. I feel we should appreciate the fact that our Vagg ancestors chose good women to become the mothers of their children.

Before we move away from our pedigree chart, look at Richard, Bap. 1599. He is the son of James Vagg, the legal man featured in the Jacobean document (p. 88). We have no details of his birth, only that he was born in Kingsbury-Episcopi this before the royal decree operated. Apart from information in the above document, I have some brief references relating to his presence and activities in East Lambrook. It appears that apart from being an Attorney at Law, he was not above engaging in some manual labour as the following extract from the Churchwarden's account for East Lambrook of 1621-27 indicates - "Wherein James Vagg with one other, under discussments for timber about scaffolder and to cover the stayers and for carpenters, work 31s. 8d. (For work on the Church. A lot of work was undertaken on the fabric of the building in this year. There is also a payment of 48s. 2d. for 4 Vanes brought from London to Illchester and then to Kingsbury.) (Note; These extracts appear rather garbled, but they are an exact copy. M.V.) The rate for 1627-8 has James Vagg (3) and Mr. Vagge (lid) as ratepayers of East Lambrook."

I feel there is every likelihood that our James would have been responsible for the construction of our Vagg cottage in South Petherton, this to be the home of his son, Richard. Further to the Vaggs in and around East Lambrook. We have seen, at Kingsbury-Episcopi, baptisms for children of John Vagg, Vicar, in the 1620's and 1630's.

"Alumni Oxoniensis" (Members of the University of Oxford) lists Edw. Vagge, son of John, of Pendomer, Somerset, minister. Pembroke College, 19 March 1688-9 aged 17: John Vagge. B.A. from St. Mary Hall, 12 June 1618, MA. 7 May 1621: Rector of East Lambrook, 1620, and of Pendomer, Somerset, 1660-71 father of Edward. It appears that our Lambrook ancestors were people of substance and learning.

VAGG HILL. This mound arouses much speculation in my mind as I find indications there as pointers to the origin of our Vagg name in Somerset, in particular. Firstly there is no evidence on record I can find that prior to the engagement in 878 (p. 99) when King Alfred defeated the Danes at Aller of any specific name applying to that hill. Note, this engagement was, as Eric Linklater wrote in his book, "The Conquest of England" (p. 100) a large-scale and determined attempt at conquest - this Alfred recognised as something very different to any of the many previous sporadic raids that had marked the Danes' endless intrusions over a long period. Hence it is reasonable to accept it as a major effort wherein the Danes fielded a considerable force under the command of their tried and trusted chieftains, among whom some Vaggs would most likely figure, so following that line of reasoning it is most likely that a Vagn chieftain would be facing Alfred as the subsequent "Treaty of Wedmore" was thrashed out. In addition to Eric Linklater's "Conquest of England". I have a historic document taken from the Danish archives entitled "The Saga of Olav Trggvesson, SNORRV, Kings Sagas" which in its numerous pages leaves no doubt in my mind re the Important role that the Vagg Chiefs occupied in that remote time and place; also the role they would play in the attempted conquest.

It is now history as to how the contending forces accepted each other and produced a situation wherein King Edward I referred to his Anglo-Danish followers. Man has a long-standing penchant to label a person, or place, with his name, or honour some prominent person, so we find in Norway a VAGG FJORD, plus a couple of villages likewise. As a further example we refer to p. 98 wherein we find that Norman Knight, Richard le Vag, named a hill on his property. Then we have our Tilly ancestor (p. 61), one "Ralph de Tilo", that acquisitive Norman Knight,: who, in the best tradition of his rapacious fellows, laid claim to vast areas of Somerset, Dorset and Devon, then staked his claim by naming an unoffending little hill with his own name, "Tilly". So, dear readers, I may not be too far off the mark as I follow a well-established pattern when claiming that the naming of Vagg Hill was a tribute to a Vagg notable who as a consequence introduced our historic name, with its Viking-Danish flavour.

Now let us follow briefly our Danish forefathers. I quote from an article that has appeared in print under the title "Ilchester, a Study in Continuity" in Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological Society, Vol. 119, p. 44-50.

"In the 12th century there was a family living just south of Ilchester with property bordering on the town, a family called in Latin, Dacus, the Dane, and later Dennis, hence the parish of Sock Dennis between Ilchester and Chilthorne. Add-to that the existence in Ilchester of a church dedicated to St. Olave (Olaf) and there is the possibility of a Danish settlement in the area. (Note: This located at the foot of Vagg Hill. M.V.) Note how the name changed, adopting an Anglo-Saxon flavour.

Delving through some old letters of Mac Vagg's written in August 1975, one caught my attention where he states "when in England earlier this year, I was able to spend half a day reading and making notes from a rare old collection of ecclesiastical wills that rejoices in the magnificent title of "The Tutelaries of Montacute". When I was reading a translation of these wills, I came across one in 1006 that referred to the old manor of Chilthorne Vagg. My feeling is that any Vagg manor that was considered old nearly 1100 years ago is certainly old today.

We know a John Vagg lived only a mile from Montacute in 1330 (p. 97) and could well have been involved in the events so aptly described by Mac, but what is more to the point is the fact that his family were most likely the folk who constituted and peopled the same manor, which lay at the foot of Vagg Hill. This same John Vagg is most likely to be the Vagg who is listed in "Historical notes on parts of Somerset" which states that John Vagg was a juror (Magistrate) at Ievele (Yeovil) at Pope Nicholas's Taxation of 1341. This appointment would be made by the King who was busy reconstructing the whole legal system in England, and no doubt the King's choice would fall on tried and trusted followers. These events were taking place when the population of England was reckoned at less than five million.

Correction, p. 69. I state John Vagg (2) was not a South Petherton man. We now know that he was born and died at South Petherton. I have had to remove the John Vagg who married Mary Wines in South Petherton from our Pedigree Chart as research reveals he not a South Petherton man or related to our family. I need to correct our relationship (as of the book) with Robert Vagg of Chilcompton where I stated they were brothers. This is not so - they were cousins.

MERVYN VAGG,
SECRETARY, VAGG REUNION COMMITTEE.
1985.