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July 2006 We have found that John Gagg  born in 1759 in Misterton  the son of William and Amie in this tree is the John Gagg that married Elizabeth Topott and gave the Topott Gagg name to the 'London family.

 so  now  the London tree can be joined to the Misterton tree, giving us the largest single Gagg family group  and making us that much nearer to joining all the Gagg families together

This information has just come from  a request I made to Joan Mason (related through the London family) in Canada and with the details she gave and requests to  the rootsweb list I have managed to

integrate the various bits of information  to this point.

Other research Joan and I have done along with the invaluable help given to us by Judy Lester, Tells us a story about the harshness of life in the mid 1800's.

Harriet Mason, who married Thomas Gagg (born 1819) was admitted to the workhouse in 1855 where her son Francis (Mason) was born, she discharged herself after the birth a few months later was re-admitted.

In 1861 again Harriet had to go into the workhouse, her son Christopher was born there ,he was to live only a year.

In 1863 Harriet was once again in the workhouse for the birth of her son Charles William Gagg. Thomas had also been in the workhouse being described as destitute.

In 1865 after the death of Thomas's first wife Harriet and Thomas finally got married. They were to remain together until Thomas's death in November 1897.Harriet died in 1910.

They never had to be admitted to the workhouse again.

They had  three daughters after their marriage and in 1875 a son was born whom they called Christopher in memorence of the dead baby son.

Francis was sent to a school in Surrey in his younger years but was reunited with Harriet in 1861.We think he may have gone back there. We know that he went to Hull and became a fisherman there.

He married and had several children,At this time we are not certain if Thomas Gagg is Francis's Father although it does seem likely.

The photo we have of Francis certainly suggests a family likeness to my gt grandfather (Francis's younger brother) Christopher and to my grandfather Christopher.

I have made up a photo of them and allowing for the age differences and the style of clothing you can see a strong resemblance..

This photo is on the  Family photos page

Joan  is Francis's gt granddaughter. Her father took his young family to Canada in the early 1950's to enjoy a better life.

He was a naval man and became a Captain. All of his family  have been successful in their lives.

Charles William was to become a successful business man in the insurance industry, he moved with his young family to the west country ,where he remained until his death.

One of his daughters was an art teacher ,following in the footsteps of her grandfather Thomas Topott Gagg the artist.

A fuller account of the London family will be put on a new page soon.

Alan