254 CATTLE 



The Tomkins family has the greatest fame among early Here- 

 ford improvers. Richard Tomkins, of whose history little is 

 known, who died in 1723, left to his son Benjamin of Court 

 House, Canon Pyon, some cattle above the average, including 

 the cow Silver and her calf. This son, Benjamin the Elder, was 

 born in 1714 and died in 1789 at Wellington Court, where he 

 had lived since 1758. He was a most successful breeder and 

 possessed a noted herd of cattle. A son of his, also named Ben- 

 jamin, and designated " the Younger," was born in 1745 and 

 died in 1815. He farmed at Blackball, King's Pyon, and later 

 at Wellington Court and Brook House, King's Pyon. This latter 

 member of the family was the great improver. He bred closely 

 in-and-in, using only bulls of his own breeding, one of which, 

 Silver Bull (41), was a famous sire and perhaps his best, being 

 a noted improver of stock. The bull Wellington (4) was also an 

 almost equally famous sire. Through Tomkins's efforts Here- 

 fords gradually matured earlier, produced less offal, became 

 shorter of leg and more refined, and better covered over the back. 

 He also gave the breed more character. His cattle presented 

 some range of Hereford color. In 1819 his herd of 52 animals 

 was sold at auction, 28 head of breeding stock bringing over 

 $20,000, averaging nearly $750 (^149) each, the bull Phoenix 

 (55) bringing $2800. $ 



William Galliers of Wigmore Grange was born in 1713 and 

 died in 1779. He was intimate with Benjamin Tomkins the Elder, 

 and they used much of the same blood in developing their herds. 

 .His cattle passed into the hands of his son, John Galliers of Frog- 

 don, who was born in 1755 and died in 1 8 2 8 . Another son, William, 

 Jr., a celebrated breeder, was born in 1744 and died in 1832. 



John Price of Ryall was born in 1776 and died in 1843. He 

 spent his more active years as a breeder near the town of Upton 

 in Worcestershire. He was a close friend and disciple of Tomkins 

 the Younger and adhered to Tomkins's blood lines. He practiced 

 in-and-in breeding and developed a famous herd. He is said 

 to have been rather independent on color markings and dairy 

 qualities, giving them slight attention, but emphasizing a wide- 

 spread forerib, strong constitution, great scale, and smoothness 

 at the hind quarters. He purchased from Tomkins the famous 



