[Merry]

Ever since I got a PCC will where the widow of the dec'd was named as Frances in one instance (correct) and Thomas in another (definitely wrong!) I am left constantly wondering how many other mistakes are hiding that we might not recognise!

You are quite right that James doesn't get a mention before he becomes "the said James Bagwell". Before I read on I wondered if he was the only child of Peter and had been named as such before a helpful solicitor had come along and pointed out Peter could have more children, however unlikely, so that part of the will was re-written to reflect that potential situation, but "the said" was not changed, in error. However, when I realised James was an adult with children himself, I thought it was pushing things for Mary Bagwell to have great-great-grandchildren even if she was quite elderly, so dismissed that idea!