FAGGER (VAGGERE), William, of Hamsey by Lewes, Suss.

In 1426 Fagger, described as ‘of Hamsey’, acquired a messuage, six acres of arable land and an acre of meadow there. He was a member of juries at Lewes in October 1424 and January 1431, on each occasion testifying about the confiscated goods of a fugitive thief.1CP25(1)241/86/15; E368/199, Mich. rot. 2, 203, Hil. rot. 10.

It was probably this William Fagger who served as bailiff of Steyning for two terms, and who purchased property in the borough. When acting as a juror at a coroner’s inquest held in Steyning in March 1436, that William was said to have come ‘from a neighbouring township’. Following his death, which occurred before January 1466, his son and namesake did homage for four burgages at Steyning.2W. Suss. RO, Add. ms 4198; Suss. Arch. Colls. xcv. 54; SC2/206/43. The younger William Fagger acquired the manor of Oram in 1452, served as bailiff of Steyning 1480-1, and died bef. 1486: Suss. Feet of Fines (Suss. Rec. Soc. xxiii), no. 3107; SC2/206/43; Cat. Suss. Deeds Magdalen Coll. ed. Macray, Ashurst and Lancing, no. 8.