The family of John Vagg, Labourer of South Petherton has often been confused with that of John Vagg, Auctioneer of South Petherton. The fact that both men were approximatly the same age and both had wives named Mary only adds to this confusion. As a result family trees based on incorrect assumptions are to be found across the internet. The following information, in conjunction with the corresponding page on John Vagg, auctioneer will hopefully serve as a way of untangling the two families.

The root of this confusion lies in the fact that we are unable to prove conclusivly who the parents of both John Vagg's were. Here is what I currently believe the situation to be:

John Vagg (1)
Bor: c. 1790	Probably at South Petherton.
Bap: 31st Oct 1790	At South Petherton church, son of John and Mary.
Mar: 11th Jan 1818	At South Petherton church, to Mary Wines. Witnessed by Robert Martin and Sarah Vagg.
Bur: 28th Dec 1832	At South Petherton church, age 43.
Children:
William Vagg	Baptised 6th October 1818 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, labourer.
Annice Vagg	Baptised 5th November 1820 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, labourer.
Betsy Vagg	Baptised 25th August 1822 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, labourer.
John Vagg	Baptised 31st July 1825 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, labourer.
Robert Vagg	Baptised 7th November 1827 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, labourer.
Henry Vagg	Baptised 7th July 1833 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, labourer.
Notes:	This John was the son of John Vagg and Mary Elliot. Who were married in South Petherton, 11th February 1783.

John Vagg (2)
Bor: c.1799	Based on his age at burial.
Bap: 1797?	Possibly at Isle Brewers. son of William and Betty Vagg. (Not Proven)
Mar: 21st Feb 1814	At Langport church, to Mary Tilley. John was of Ilminster. Witnessed by William Hart and Maria Cattle.
Bur: 24th Jul 1836	At South Petherton church, age 37.
Children:
Elizabeth Vagg	Born c.1814.
John Vagg	Baptised 2nd February 1817 at Ilminster, son of John Vagg, yeoman.
George Tilly Vagg	Baptised 16th July 1820 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, auctioneer.
Harry Vagg	Baptised 7th July 1822 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, labourer.
Harriet Vagg	Baptised 6th January 1826 at South Petherton, son of John Vagg, auctioneer.
Notes:	Possibly the person mentioned in (PRO/WO/97/1059/14) John Vagg. Born South Petherton, Somerset. Served in 98th Foot Regiment. Discharged aged 28, 1826-1838.

Reasoning:

1. John Vagg 1's wedding was witnessed by Sarah Vagg. If this is his sister it would correlate with a Sarah Vagg daughter of John and Mary Elliot, baptised in South Petherton, 25th January 1788.

2. The first indication John Vagg 2 has of a link with South Petherton is in 1820 at the baptism of his son George Tilly Vagg. His earliest proven residence is Ilminster in 1814.

3. Sarah Vagg mentioned in point 1 seems to have married Samuel Deane at Chard in 1806, if this is the case, it may be the same Samuel Deane that Richard Vagg, Sarah's brother was apprenticed to, as mentioned in the 1825 settlement examination of his wife Grace Vagg.

4. If point 3 is correct it would prove that 'John Vagg the younger, yeoman of South Petherton' mentioned in the same settlement examination was John Vagg 1.

Counter indications:

1. We can prove that John Vagg 2 had a brother Robert, through the 1851 census return for South Petherton showing Robert Vagg's children living with their Aunt Mary Vagg (nee Tilly). This Robert was buried in Langport in 1844 age 36, making his approximate date of birth 1808. John Vagg and Mary Elliot also had a son Robert who was baptised 31st January 1806 in South Petherton. If this is the same Robert then it would indicate John Vagg 2 is the son of John Vagg and Mary Elliot and not John Vagg 1.

2. John Vagg 1 is never described as a Yeoman, apart from in the 1825 settlement examination. However in the 1817 baptism of his son, John Vagg 2 is, although from 1820-26 he was described as an Auctioneer or Labourer. A yeoman is a farmer who cultivates his own land, especially a member of a former class of small freeholders in England.

3. Henry Vagg, John Vagg 1's youngest child was baptised 7th July 1833, five months after the supposed burial of his father. This could indicate that the date of burial and therefore birth and parentage of John Vagg 1 is incorrect. Although it may just mean Mary was pregnant at the time of her husbands death.

Other John Vagg's in South Petherton in the same era:

YEAR DATE   T NAME	ASSOCIATED NAME		LOCATION	   NOTES
1759 11 NOV C JOHN VAGG	EDWARD/ELIZABETH VAGG	SOUTH PETHERTON PC
1783 11 FEB M JOHN VAGG	MARY ELLIOTT		SOUTH PETHERTON PC
1832 29 MAR B JOHN VAGG 			SOUTH PETHERTON PC AGE 73 (1759) OF ILCHESTER

1779 -- --- C *MISSING BAPTISM*			------------------
---- -- --- M *MISSING MARRIAGE*		------------------
1847 30 OCT B JOHN VAGG 			SOUTH PETHERTON PC AGE 68 (1779)

1809 08 FEB C JOHN VAGG	JNO/ELIZABETH VAGG	SOUTH PETHERTON PC
---- -- --- M *MISSING MARRIAGE*		------------------
1840 25 JUN B JOHN VAGG 			SOUTH PETHERTON PC AGE 31 (1809)

I cannot be 100% certain, but John Vagg (b. 1759) and Mary Elliot. Had a son John who was baptised 31st October 1790 at South Petherton parish church. There were also baptisms for Jenny (b. 1784), Sarah (b. 1788), Elizabeth (b. 1801), Mary (b. 1803), Robert (b. 1806) and Thomas Grey (b. 1809) in the same church. However, there were also baptisms for Betty (b. 1793), Richard (b. 1796) and Harriet (b. 1799) at Bower Hinton Protestant Dissenters Chapel, Martock. These dates seem to fit the gap in baptisms at South Petherton, nicely and possibly indicate a change in the familes Religious habits between 1793-1799. After which they returned to the Church of England. It may also indicate that the South Petherton baptisms after 1800 belong to another John and Mary Vagg.

Based on the 1820 marriage certificate of Richard Vagg to Grace Harding in St. Peter Port, Guernsey, which gives Richards' fathers name as John Vagg of South Petherton. And the 1825 Settlement Examination of Grace Vagg, which includes a testimony from John Vagg, brother of Richard. I am almost certain that the early South Petherton baptisms and the Bower Hinton baptisms belong to the same John and Mary Vagg (nee Elliot).

1818 - 11th January. John Vagg of South Petherton and Mary Wines of the same are married in South Petherton parish church. Witnesses, Robert Martin and Sarah Vagg.
(Note: A Sarah Vagg was baptised, 25th January 1788, daughter of John and Mary Vagg. If this Sarah was acting as a witness to her brothers marriage, it would indicate that this John was the son of John and Mary Vagg.)

1818 - 6th October. William Vagg son of John and Mary Vagg, labourer is baptised in South Petherton parish church. Abode South Petherton.

1820 - 5th November. Anice Vagg daughter of John and Mary Vagg, labourer is baptised in South Petherton parish church. Abode South Petherton.

1822 - 25th August. Betsy Vagg daughter of John and Mary Vagg, labourer is baptised in South Petherton parish church. Abode South Petherton.

1825 - 31st July. John Vagg son of John and Mary Vagg, labourer is baptised in South Petherton parish church. Abode South Petherton.

1825 - 26 January. Examination of Grace Vagg. Before J. B. Uttermare and W. Hanning.

Grace Vagg, a widow residing in South Petherton, states that she was born at Buckfastleigh, Devonshire. She was married on 1 December 1820 at St Peter Port church, Guernsey, to Richard Vagg, now deceased. She has two children by her late husband, Mary aged three years and five months and Ellen aged two. Her late husband had done no act to gain a settlement since their marriage.

Signed
Grace Vagg

Examination of John Vagg the younger, yeoman of South Petherton, as to the settlement of Grace Vagg, widow of his brother Richard. Richard had been bound apprentice by indenture to Samuel Dean of Yeovil, blacksmith, to serve him for seven years. Richard had served over six years when he became ill, and returned to his father's house at South Petherton for two or three months, he then returned to Dean and served out his apprenticeship, after which he worked as a journeyman.

Signed
John Vagg

26 January 1825
Removal Order: Grace Vagg and her two children from South Petherton to Yeovil.

(SRO settlement examination D/PS/ILM. 6/16.34. (Illminster petty session))

1827 - 7th Nov. Robert Vagg son of John and Mary Vagg, labourer is baptised in South Petherton parish church. Abode South Petherton.

1832 - 28th December. John Vagg is buried in South Petherton, age 43.

1833 - 7th July. Henry Vagg son of John and Mary Vagg, labourer is baptised in South Petherton parish church. Abode South Petherton.

1841 Census - South Petherton, Somerset

Name			Age	Occupation	Birthplace
-----------------------------------------------------------
Mary Vagg		40	Ag. Lab.	Somerset
Annis Vagg		20	Glover		Somerset
Betsy Vagg		18	Glover	 	Somerset
John Vagg		16	Ag. Lab.	Somerset
Robert Vagg		15	Ag. Lab.	Somerset
Henry Vagg		8			Somerset
Prudence Penny		20	Glover		Somerset

1844 - William Vagg and Hannah Durstone are married in Martock.

1849 - 16th September. John Vagg, labourer and Edith Walters are married in South Petherton. Father John Vagg, labourer.

1852 - 11th July. Mary Vagg widow of John Vagg Labourer dies in South Street, South Petherton.

1851 Census - South Petherton - H.O. 107/1929

Name	      Age Occupation			Birthplace
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Vagg Mary     55  Pauper 			   South Petherton,  Som
Vagg Robert   24  On Furlough Royal Marines  	   South Petherton,  Som
Vagg Henry    17  Ag. Lab.  			   South Petherton,  Som

1853 - Henry Vagg a minor, labourer and Mary Gentle are married in South Petherton. Son of John Vagg, labourer. Daughter of John Gentle, labourer. Witnesses Thomas and Jane Gentle.