He ran a large business as a land agent with 3 of his sons. He managed the Cornwallis estate. A thousand people are said to have attended his funeral. The 1851 census states him as farming 1275 acres and employing 66 men. In 1851 he was living at Pullington House, Benenden with six children.
In 1841 he was living in Tenterden at Kingston House farm (Oakhouse Farm, Appledore) at the time of his death. Around 1824 he moved from Rolvenden to Benenden.
A newspaper report of his impending death runs thus: "Mr Hope went on to say – I come now to another subject which I must approach with different feelings, for it is an event which I am afraid in the course of nature is very near, and which will be a great misfortune to the parish of Goudhurst, as indeed it will be to the whole parish. I refer to the serious and dangerous illness of a gentleman whom I believe we all in the Weald are more indebted for many years of good devoted services to our interests than to any other living man. I mean the venerable Mr Thomas Neve. For many years past, as you know, I have been on terms of intimate familiarity with him through business relations, but business relations with a man of that sort must become the relations of intimate friendship – I have been able to see much of him and to know his mind, and I verily believe there is not a more just, or wise, or good man living – a man more thoroughly devoted to the interests of all he has to do with, and yet of that honest and independent spirit that he would not sacrifice one inch of what he thought right to please any friend or patron. (Hear, hear,) If he thought the landlord unjust to the tenant he would tell that landlord so and right the tenant, and if he thought the tenant did not do justice to the landlord, he would as fearlessly go to the tenant and tell him he was not in the right way. (Cheers) And being so just a man he was eminently a peace maker. He always took up what was right and stuck to it fearlessly, and those who had to deal with him might feel pretty sure if they went against his judgement it was a serious risk and responsibility on their part to do so. They were dealing with a man who had reason for what he said and who had courage to stand up for those reasons. (Hear, hear.) I am afraid he will be past hearing of your sympathy for him, but in any case his family will not; and I am sure we should not meet tonight without mutually confessing to each other how great and grievous a loss that venerable old man will be to all in this part of the country whenever he shall be called away.”
His estate at his death amounted to £80,000. His will was proved by William Tanner of Patcham, Sussex, Charles Neve of Chart Sutton and George Neve of Cranbrook (Sons).
A Monumental Iinscription on a vault in Benenden Parish Churchyard states : "Sacred to the memory of Thomas Neve late of Pullington in this parish who departed this life 17 February 1867 aged 78 years." and "Sacred to the memory of Sarah wife of Thomas Neve of this parish. She died 4 March 1853 aged 66 years. Also in memory of Marthe third daughter of Thomas and Sarah Neve. She died 15 September 1880 aged 57 years."