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Born in 1832, Tomson became a ribbon-weaver in 1844 and led a nonconformist campaign to end Holy Trinity Vicar's Rate; he was in partnership with Eliza Dunn in 1857 (see PA101/12/229), was a J.P. in 1900, and was mayor in 1881, 1882, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1896, 1901 and 1902. Tomson promoted the Technical Institute and lived at "Graylands", Warwick Road in 1900. See PA101/12/220. Radford's Tomson Avenue is eponymous. A mortgagee for Sowe Fields Farm in 1902, Tomson died on 6 Oct 1904 (see PA202/25/15,17). See PA31/3 fol.1. See PA14/9/17,18 (1881-82 mayoralty). PA279/44/1838 refers to the 1882 mayoralty. See also PA279/44/4864: PA1681/9/13.XI. Tomson was in 1887 a Coventry & Warwickshire Building Benefit Society trustee - see PA436/3/27-29: see also PA1681/66/28: PA2398/2/1/3/3 (1892). He chaired the meeting which agreed to sale of the Coventry Institute's property in 1888 - see PA436/8/4. In 1891 Tomson was mortgage-assignee for both 69, Cross Cheaping (see PA466/4/1 pp.69,529; PA466/4/2 p.76) and 59, Middleborough Road (see PA466/4/1 p.192). On the city council, 1874 - 1904. PA500/107/1 shows that he built "Graylands", c.1880. PA1681/64 is a series which relates to his stocks and shares, 1873 - 1901. As an executor of the watchmaker William Henry Hill (q.v.), see PA1681/65/1,14: PA491/77/4 (1892 - 1903); as one of the draper David Spencer (q.v.), see PA1681/77/2.XI: PA2398/6/4/1/4; PA2398/6/4/14/3 (1886 - 1904). Tomson was a trustee of the General Municipal Charities, 1901 (PA488/1/1/8/3). Qua Bablake School trustee, see PA489/4/33/7,9; PA489/4/34/5; PA489/4/41/6. Qua Norton's Charity trustee, see PA488/6/1/6. Qua Baker's and Billing's Charities trustee, see PA489/4/42/12; PA489/4/45/5, wherein he is in 1895-96 described as a ribbon-dresser. In 1889 he was appointed a Church Charities trustee - see PA2297/2/3. PA2398/6/5/1/1 is a cash book for Tomson's Trust, 1912-43. As mortgage-assignee for Cross Cheaping and Great Butcher Row premises from 1891 until his death, see CCA/2/3/157/71. With John Rotherham (q.v.), Tomson was a vestee of 39, Earl Street, 1890-92 - see CCA/2/3/442/51 (endorsement),53,54. Qua Coventry & Warwickshire Benefit Building Society trustee,1885ff , see CCA/2/3/170/47; CCA/2/3/430/66; CCA/2/3/432/12.IX: PA1508/1/3.IV; PA1508/4/27,IV,VIII-XI; PA1508/11/4(endorsements). CCA/2/3/168/31 shows that he was appointed a West Orchard Chapel trustee in 1882. Tomson's Greyfriars' Lane works and 15, Union Street were sold in 1911 - see PA2710/8/11. For Tomson's dealings with the antiquarian schoolmaster William George Fretton(q.v.), 1883-89, see PA2409/2/6/1/9; PA2409/2/15/62,134-136. As an executor of David Spencer (q.v.), 1886-92, see PA2770/27/18; PA2770/60/1.LXVIII,LXXV. CCA/2/3/396/36 shows that Tomson bought 11-13, Much Park Street in 1890. He was appointed a Crow's Charity trustee in 1880 - see PA2999/3.