My gt-gt-gt-gt-grandfather Richard Sterry married Ann Toomey (among the spellings) in 1794 at Minsterworth which is very close to Churcham, but I don't know of a connection between Ann and either of the two male Churcham Toomeys you're referring to. If you find such a connection I'd be most grateful to hear about it.

Hello Sid
I live in the area of Churcham parish which was once called Birdwood Common, in a house which was once owned by Toomeys. The title deeds tell us that John Toomey died in about March 1832 leaving his land to be shared by his two sons, John Toomey and Benjamin Toomey. We live in Benjamin’s house. It was lived in by Toomeys until 1979 and we bought it in 1984.

I have researched the Toomeys but have not as yet managed to get any further back that John who died in 1832. He was probably born c1775 or a little earlier, as he married in 1795. I don’t know if there is any link to the Richard Toomey you mention in your post.

I do have a copy of the inclosure map for Churcham, dated 1803, which shows that a Richard Toomey rented two small plots of land from the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral. At this date the tenant of the plot where I live was unnamed. I obtained this map about 20 years ago and played around with it on the photocopier so that I could compare it with a modern map. It is interesting to see that many field boundaries are still the same. However, the small plots owned by Richard Toomey (and any buildings there may have been) appear no longer to exist, judging by modern maps. Richard’s plots were very close to the road leading to Solomon’s Tump, which I think has been mentioned in one of your posts. (As is ours, sometimes we are referred to as being in Birdwood and sometimes as Huntley, as people don’t know that the parish boundary runs down the middle of Solomon’s Tump Lane. I think our plot is about half a mile at most from where Richard’s were and I do wonder if there is a link there to be discovered.)

I often visit Gloucestershire Archives so will see what I can find out about the Toomey criminal records – not just a Richard in 1786, but also a John in 1865, a Benjamin in 1827 and a William in 1825 and 1832. The records for Gloucester Goal have a lot of interesting information, including a written description of the prisoner’s appearance. (I have an ancestor who spent a year in Gloucester Goal from 1866-67 – I found his prison record and the record of the court proceedings, including witness statements and his statement in his own words!) I will also have a look for Toomeys in the Churcham parish records pre-1800.

I will get back to you if I find anything about Richard Toomey, particularly his family.

Stephanie

I have compiled a timeline for Richard TOOMEY/TUMMY from information on this site, FamilySearch and Ancestry. The Richard TUMMY mentioned as a father in 1773/1774 seems to be the best candidate for the one committed in 1785 since he had a son of an age where it is possible he was also committed. I also wonder if he was the Richard TUMMY who married Hannah MASON in 1783 – there is an intriguing 6/7-year gap before any recorded children. Or perhaps there were three Richard TOOMEYs at this time?

1773 23/03/1772-3 baptism of Benjamin TUMMY, father Richard, mother Sarah
1774 10/04/1774 baptism of John TUMMY, father Richard, mother Sarah
1775
1776 01/03/1776 burial of Sarah TUMMY
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783 12/05/1783 marriage of Richard TUMMY and Hannah MASON
1784 02/08/1784 marriage of Richard TUMMY and Anne MORGAN
1785 10/07/1785 baptism of Sarah TUMMEY, father Richard, mother Anne
Richard Toomy committed for sheep stealing (December 1785)
1786 Richard Toomey sentenced and reprieved (April 1786)
1787
1788 07/09/1788 baptism of Thomas TUMMEY, father Richard, mother Anne
1789
1790
1791
1792 05/08/1792 baptism of Jemima TOOMEY, father Richard, mother Hannah
1793
1794
1795
1796 11/04/1796 baptism of Phebe TOOMEY, father Richard, mother Hannah
1797
1798 23/12/1798 baptism of Comfort and Patience TOOMEY, father Richard,
mother Hannah