Author Topic: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare  (Read 972 times)

Offline mark foot

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Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« on: Sunday 21 January 18 11:56 GMT (UK) »
Dick Tolley married Frances Foot in 1918. For a time they ran Stileway Farm in Meare nr Glastonbury. Unfortunately he had money troubles and he tried on more than one occasion to take his life. A newspaper advert in Jan 1937 has him as the owner, but a month later it was his wife selling. He died on the 13.2.1937. The family understand that he shot himself in the cowstall. I have been unable to trace a report of his death which would surely have been reported.  Any help regarding Dick and his family and previous background would be very helpful.

Many thanks  Mark

Offline avm228

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Re: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 21 January 18 12:03 GMT (UK) »
His death certificate would tell you the cause of death.  The informant would be the coroner in circumstances such as you have described.

Registered Mar qtr 1937: Thomas R Tolley aged 61, Wells 5c 562.

Is there any particular reason to think there would be reports (by which I presume you mean news reports) about the death?  Most deaths of private citizens, including suicides, are not the subject of news reports.
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Offline KGarrad

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Re: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 21 January 18 12:17 GMT (UK) »
From his age at death, you can work out his approx. birth year.
Then you can find his birth on FreeBMD.

Do you have him in any censuses?
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Offline mark foot

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Re: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 21 January 18 15:14 GMT (UK) »
I understand that in the past inquests would often be reported in newspapers. I think until 1961 those that survived a suicide attempt would expect to be prosecuted.

Many thanks for your info. Mark


Offline djm297

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Re: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 21 January 18 16:30 GMT (UK) »
There is a report in The Wells Journal of 24 June 1936 of an attempted suicide by Richard, saying that he had been brought before the Magistrate the previous year for  the same reason. He was bound over for 12 months and undertook to enter the Wells Institution Infirmary.

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Offline mark foot

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Re: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 21 January 18 19:01 GMT (UK) »
Many thanks. I did know about this report but farming difficuties still got on top of him and he killed himself when his farm was being advertised just months later.

Thank you for your help.

Mark

Offline mark foot

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Re: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 04 February 18 23:24 GMT (UK) »
There are Tolley's in the Mosterton area, with a Thomas Richard Tolley being born at near by Beaminister in 1875. This might well be my Thomas Tolley. The Mosterton Tolley's were farming and my Thomas Richard tried farming before taking his life. Any help confirming the birth and his parents and siblings and area were they lived would be hekpful.

Thanks Mark

Offline Annette7

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Re: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« Reply #7 on: Monday 05 February 18 00:52 GMT (UK) »
Growing up he appears to have been known with his names switched around.   GRO index confirms his mmn was Webb.

His parents were Thomas Richard Tolley and Adelaide Webb who married 1861 - they had 10 children although only 4 of them survived:

Martha Ann b.Dec.1862, died Mar.1871 (surname Tolly on GRO own index)
Elizabeth Harriott b.Sept.1865, died Mar.1871
Lucy b.Dec.1866
Richard William b.Jun.1868, died Dec.1870
Susan Sophia b.Sept.1869, died Mar.1870
John Thomas b.Sept.1870, died Mar.1871
Baldwin Pitard b.Sept.1871 (surname Talley on GRO own index)
Martha Ann b.Sept.1872
Rosetta b.Jun.1874, died Jun.1875
Thomas Richard b.Dec.1875

(GRO own index confirms all births were in registration district of Beaminster and mmn Webb).

Thomas Richard listed as Richard on 1881 census, Richard Thomas in 1891, Richard T. in 1901.

Thomas Richard senior bp.19/2/1836 Beaminster, son of Richard Tolley and Ann Chapell Pittard.

There are various trees on Ancestry featuring this family.

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Offline mark foot

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Re: Thomas Richard Tolley of Meare
« Reply #8 on: Monday 05 February 18 08:56 GMT (UK) »
Annette, very many thanks  and it is interesting to know that he changed his name around and it might explain why he was referrred to as Dick. Mark