202 CATTLE 



Early Hereford breeders date back well into the eighteenth 

 century. Among the earliest of prominence were the Messrs. 

 Haywood of Clifton-on-Teme, William Galliers of Wigmore 

 Grange and his sons William and John, Richard Tomkins of 

 New House, King's Pyon, and his son " Benjamin the Elder," 

 and the latter's son " Benjamin the Younger." Besides these 

 the Tullys of Huntington, Haywood, and Clyro, and the Skyrmes 

 of Stretton and Dewsall, were prominently identified with early 

 Hereford improvement. 



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 fifty-two 

 animals was sold at auction, 28 head of breeding stock bring- 

 ing 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 1 7 5 5 and died in 1828. Another son, William, 

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



