1723
Death of R Tomkins May 6th. Benjamin Tomkins (The
Elder), born 1714 succeeds under his father's will
to the cow Silver with her calf.
1769
Benjamin (The Younger) takes Blackhall, Kings
Pyon. At this time father and son occupied four
farms, together 840 acres.
1775
Herefords introduced into Co. Westmeath, Ireland,
by Mr Richard Reynall.
1779
William Galliers of Wigmore Grange died, aged 66,
his herd passing to his son, John Galliers; his
other son, also William, became a famous breeder
of Herefords, winning thirteen cups for his cattle
from the Hereford Agricultural Society between
1802-1815.
1789
Rural Economy of the West of England published by
W Marshall. The markings of the Hereford are
described; Its colour of a middle red with a bald
face, the last being an esteemed characteristic of
the true Hereford Breed. Benjamin the Elder died
and Benjamin the Younger went to Wellington
Court.
1795
Sale of Herefords belonging to John Galliers,
Wigmore Grange. Prices and buyers' names were
recorded at this first ever documented sale of the
breed.
1797
Herefordshire Agricultural Socirty founded.
1799
Champion Prize won at first Smithfield Show by Mr
John Westcar of Onslow, Buckingham, with Hereford
ox, bred by a Mr Tully of Huntingdon. The animal
was six years old and weighed 2,198 lbs. It
changed hands for 100 guineas.
1806
A Silver cow bred by Mr George Tomkins, nephew of
Benjamin The Younger was calved. This cow was
painted by Wheeler. The importance attached to the
Silver strain is clearly shown.
1808
Sale of Mr Gwillim's herd at Purslow Hall. Sale
average for cows; £ 65. 3s. 6d. Top price for a cow
and calf; L225.
1812
Challenge by Mr Price of Ryall to show 20 of his
Hereford cows in milk against 20 Longhorn cows.
Challenge accepted by a Mr Meek and decided in Mr
Price's favour.
1813
Mr Price of Ryall had a sale of his stock which
realised high prices, the total being £ 4,134
1815
Benjamin The Younger dies.
1816
On October 17th and 18th, Mr John Price held an
extensive sale at Ryall;116 head averaged £58.0s.0d, in
total £ 6,728. The stock was described as being
wholly descended from that of Benjamin Tomkins.
His bull Wellington (160) was sold to Mr M
Jellicoe for £ 283.
1817
Exportation to the United States, two pairs of
Herefords by the Hon. Henry Clay of Kentucky.
1824
The bull Sir Isaac bred by Mr J G Cotterell,
Garnons, presented to the Massachusetts Society by
Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin.
1825
First Herefords exported to Australia.
1836
Hereford bull Cotmore (376) calved. Bred by by T
Jeffries and acknowledged the greatest bull ever
produced to that day. His weight at 9 years was
3,920 lbs.
1838
Youatt's book on cattle shows that Herefords were
the predominant breed in 15 English and Welsh
counties.
1839
Miss Tomkins' final sale. First Royal Show at
Oxford. Devons, Herefords and Shorthorns were the
only breeds shown. First prize for best cow in
milk won by Hereford. Cotmore wins first prize.
Hereford ox, bred and exhibited by Mr Joseph Hill
of Collington, weighed 3,600 lbs. Mr W H Sotham
made his first imports of Herefords to America.
1841
Mr Price's third sale on October 15th; 99 head
averaged £ 56 16s 4d, in total £ 5,328. He
considered this his best sale. The three sales; in
1813, in 1816 and in 1841, realised in total
£ 16,690. Mr Price was presented with his portrait.
This now hangs in the Society's boardroom.
1843
Death of Mr J Price.
1846
Mr T C Eyton of Donnerville, Wellington, Salop,
published the first Herd Book.
1849
Sir David (349), probably the most famous Hereford
sire, shown by Mr Edward Price, Court House,
Pembridge, wins first prize at Norwich Royal Show.
He sired Sir Benjamin who sired Sir Thomas, the
sire of Sir Roger who sired Lord Wilton.
1852
Second volume of Eyton's Herd Book published.
1856
Mr W C Powell of Hereford bought Eyton's copyright
in the Herd Book and published first part of third
volume.
1857
Herefordshire Agricultural Society bought the Herd
Book copyright from Mr Powell's executors,
following his death, for ten pounds. It was
boughtfor the same sum by Mr Thomas Duckham, who
continued to publish until 1878.
1865
Outbreak of cattle plague. Royal Show cancelled
until 1868.
1866
Sir Benjamin (2228) bought by Mr Benjamin Rogers
for £ 409 10s 0d.
1867
Horace (3877), one of the most impressive sires
ever calved, bred by Mr J Davies of Preston Court,
used by Mr J Price of the Court House, Pembridge.
His rare wealth of flesh and magnificent quality
were carried through successive generations. His
strain was used with that of Regulus, another
highly successful Court House bull. Sale of Mr
Edward Price's catlle at Court House. Highest
price paid for the bull Paragon.
1873
New South Wales Agricultural Society published
first volume of their Herd Book, in which 152
Herefords and their produce were entered. The
clebrated bull Lord Wilton calved 30th August,
bred by Mr W Tudge, Adforton, sold to Mr L Lloyd,
Addington, Surrey.
1875
Lord Wilton wins Royal and other major Shows.
1877
Exhibits of Herefords at Philidelphia Centennial
Exhibition created great impression and led to
wide extension of the breed in the United
States.
1878
Hereford Herd Book Society founded under the
patronage of Queen Victoria.
1879
Mr Carwardine buys Lord wilton at Kilburn Royal
Show from Mr Lloyd.
1880
Volume 1 of the American Hereford Book
published.
1881
The bull Anxiety (5188), bred by Mr T J C
Carwardine, Stocktonbury, Leominster was exported
to the United States where he was bought by Mr
Culbertson. Anxiety sired a number of important
bulls including Anxiety 3rd (4466) and Anxiety 5th
(9904), afterwards famous in the herds of Mr
Clarke, Mr Gudgell and Mr Simpson.
1882
Mr Thomas Clarke ships 152 Herefords in one lot to
New York
1884
Death of William H Sotham, for 50 years the
champion of Herefords in the United States.
Stocktonbury Sale, when Lord Wilton was sold for
£ 3,990.
1886
MacDonald and Sinclair's History of Hereford
Cattle published. This carefully prepared volume
showed that there were two Benjamin Tomkins,
father and son.
1890
Australian Hereford Herd Book Society
inaugurated.
1898
New Zealand Cattle Breeders' Association
formed.
1900
The bull Protector (19660) bred by Mr Allen
Hughes, sold for £ 1200 by Mr C T Pulley, to
the United States.
1901
Sale for Mr W Tudge of Leinthall; average £53
pounds; total £4,1519. Sale for Mr John
Price, Court House, Pembridge; average £54;
total £9,152. King Edward VII becomes patron
of the Society.
1902
History of Hereford Cattle, written by Mr T L
Miller, published by T F B Sotham, Cillicote,
Missouri, USA. 202 head exported in one shipment
to Mr Armour of Kansas City.
1904
First Herefords exported to Russia.
1909
Irish Hereford Breeders' Association founded.
1910
King George V becomes patron of the Society.
1914
The Story of Herefords, by Alvin H Sanders,
published at Chicago.
1919
Sale by auction of Mr L L Moores herd at Brampton
Bryan when 152 head averaged 121 pounds sterling
each.
1920
Sale of Mr W Griffiths' herd at Aldersend; 104
head averaged £ 474.16s each; the bull calf
Alderend Conqueror changed hands for 3,150 pounds.
Sale by auction of Mr T R Thompson's herd when 59
head averaged £ 446 each. The first Premier
Show and Sale was held in February.
1926
Senor Carlos Pereyra Iraola invited to judge
Hereford cattle at the R.A.S.E. Show at
Reading.
1929
The bull Free Town director, bred by Mr P E
Bradstock, exported to Australia, purchased by E C
Tanner.
1932
The bull Free Town Admiral wins the championship
at the Royal Show for the 3rd year.
1935
The female Britannia, bred and exhibited by Mr H R
Griffiths, won the female chamionship at the Royal
Show for the third time.
1936
The bull Tarrington Idol exported to Argentina,
bought by Mr R L P Duncan. King Edward VIII
becomes patron of the Society.
1937
King George VI becomes patron of the Society
1939
September 8th, Vern Robert born, five days after
outbreak of World War II. Later to become known as
the Bill Beyond Price
1940
A ship carrying a consignment of Herefords to
America was torpedoed in the Atlantic. Two of them
swam ashore to Ireland, showing the stamina of the
breed.
1942
Brookhouse Sale, dispersal for Mr W H Jones of
Lyonshall. 75 head sold for 7,087 pounds 10s.
Wickton dispersal sale for the Exors of the late
Mr F J Newman of Leominster. 98 head sold for
£ 9,308.9s.0d
1946
The bull Weston Masterpiece, bred by Mr C H Morris
sets a record price for a Hereford bull sold at
auction, 12,500 guineas, a record which stood for
20 years.
1947
Sales restricted to TB attested cattle. Herefords
the first breed to become fully attested.
1948
The bull Weston Masterpiece won First, Senior and
Grand Champion at R.A.S.E.
1949
First record of Hereford exported to Norway. April
4th, first poll Hereford registered in Britain.
1950
North British Hereford Breeders' Association
founded. British Polled Hereford Socirty
founded.
1951
First World Hereford Conference held in Hereford
under the Chairmanship of the Hereford Herd Book
Society's Patron, Sir R G Cotterall, Bt., and
attended by delegates from nine countries;
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New
Zealand, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, the United
Sates of America and The Union of South Africa.
First recorded exports of Herefords to Israel.
1952
The Vern herd reduced realising a record average
of 670 pounds for 66 lots offered, breaking a
record which had existed since 1918. South of
England Hereford Breeders' Association founded.
Death of Mr H R Griffiths, Tarrington. The bull
Lothian Dollar sold for 1000 guineas and exported
to Argentina.
1953
The bull Vern Diamond sold for record price of
16,000 pounds to Wyoming Hereford Ranch, USA.
Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders'
Association founded.
1954
The bull Eaton Eastern Venture, bred by Mr O S
Hellyer, wins the Queen's Cup for the Best Beef
Bull at the Royal Show, Windsor.
1955
Pentatok Crusader became the first Bull of the
Year and co-winner with Sugwas Oyster Lassie 5th,
of the Burke Trophy, awarded for the first time,
for the best pair of beef animals. Toko Excelior
was imported from New Zealand by Messrs Cooper,
McDougal and Robertson of Berkhamstead, the first
poll to found the Poll Herefords. Record price
paid for bull calf, Haven Just Do, of 4,000
guineas to Argentina.
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