The descendant of woodmen near or on the Drax Estate, Dorset, and mobile agricultural labourers who have been traced to Anderson and Tarrant Keyneston. Frederick was from a family needing parish relief and became a River Boat Captain on the Murray Darling Rivers. How he acquired a master’s certificate is a mystery.
Agricultural labourers traced to Anderson and Tarrant Keyneston - the Toomer family in the Dorset parishes.
In preparationWoodmen at Mapperton, near Almer - the family Frederick’s mother came from.
In preparationWidowed at forty, with five children and a parish that wanted them gone. Both removal orders were quashed, and Elizabeth brought up her family.
In preparationThe Murray years - the log books, masters’ letters and telegrams of Captain Frederick Toomer, 1866-1883.
In preparation PhotographsAlmer, Mapperton, Anderson and the Dorset parishes the Toomers and Dashwoods moved between - photographed on a visit in 2026.
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