abt. 1820 - Edward is born in Paddington, Middlesex.

1839 - 24th June. Enlisted 15th Kings Hussars Regiment age 18.5.

1859 - 17th March, birth of Samuel Collins Vagg at West Fordington Barracks, Dorchester to Edward and Jessy Vagg (nee Damerel).

1863 - 10th September. Obtained his honourable discharge from the the 15th Kings Hussars Regiment. After 14 years service in India. Next served a further 12 years in the Enrolled Force, West Australia, a sort of militia force. (chap 3)

1863 - Jessie Vagg is born.

1867 - Arrived in Fremantle, Australia. 13th July Guard aboard the Convict ship Norwood With Jessie his wife. (chap 3)

Norwood - arrived in WA in 1867

This 849 ton ship was built in Sunderland in 1854 and although [Bateson] agrees that it was employed twice as a convict transport for Western Australia, he claimed that this voyage's ship was only 786 tons. All accounts agree that on this second voyage she left Portland, England on April 18, 1867 bound for the Swan River Colony and carried the thirty sixth of 37 shipments of male convicts destined for Western Australia. The voyage took 86 days and the Norwood arrived in Fremantle on July 13, 1867 with 81 passengers and 253 convicts [Erickson]. Frank Bristow and W.M. Saunders were the captain and surgeon respectively.

The only death recorded on the convict shipping and description lists was for James Smith (9571) and other sources indicate that he died during the voyage out. There were 254 convict numbers assigned for the voyage ranging from (9377 to 9630) and [Bateson] agreed with the other sources on this occasion, claiming that 254 convicts embarked and 253 arrived.

Of the 81 passengers mentioned above, 77 were pensioner guards and their families, the number being made up of 30 pensioner guards, 17 wives, 14 sons and 16 daughters. The other 4 passengers have not been accounted for but were possibly cabin passengers or regular soldiers.

W.M. Saunders' surgeon's journal for the voyage is preserved in the Public Record Office (PRO) in London. Researchers can view a copy on the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) microfilm reel 3181 which is held in most major libraries and archives offices throughout Australia.

The following list is an alphabetically sorted list of the names associated with each of the 254 convict numbers assigned to this voyage. The comments field gives alternative names attributed to the various convicts, many of which are not only spelling variations, but alternative names used in later life or in subsequent re-convictions. The age quoted seems to refer to the age of the convict when he was taken to trial.

Pensioner Guards and Families

Surname Christian Name(s) Age Rank; Regiment & Remarks
Vagg Edward 49 private; 15th Dragoon Guards
Vagg Jessie .. wife
Vagg .... .... .... .. three children
Vagg .... .... .... .. child; still born; born at sea

(http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/con-wa41.html)

1867 - Granted land at Cockburn Sound, Lot 230, 20 acres at Wilagee Swamp.

1868 - James Vagg is born in Freemantle.

1869 - Elizabeth Sylvia Vagg is born.

1873 - Thomas Vagg is born in Freemantle.

1896 - Died 24.12.1896, in Freemantle aged 78 years.

1958 - In 1958 Florence Vagg of Freemantle, an elderly widow had known her late husband's grandfather "Edward the ex-soldier" from whom she had heard confirmation of his relationship with Samuel Vagg.

References