The First Age ended with the Great Battle, in which the Host of Valinor broke Thangorodrim and overthrew Morgoth. Then most of the Noldor returned into the Far West and dwelt in Eressea within sight of Valinor; and many of the Sindar went over Sea also.

The Second Age ended with the first overthrow of Saron, servant of Morgoth, and the taking of the One Ring.

The Third Age came to its end in the War of the Ring; but the Fourth Age was not held to have begun until Master Elrond departed, and the time was come for the dominion of Men and the decline of all other 'speaking-people' in Middle-earth.

These were the fading years of the Eldar. For long they were at peace, weilding the Three Rings while Saron slept and the One Ring was lost; but they attempted nothing new, living in the memory of the past. The Dwarves hid themselves in deep places, guarding their hoards; but when evil began to stir again and dragons reappeared, one by one their ancient treasures were plundered, and they became a wandering people. Moria for long remained secure, but its numbers dwindled until many of its vast mansions became dark and empty. The wisdom and the life-span of Numenoreans also waned as they becames mingles with lesser Men.

When maybe a thousand years had passed, and the first shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Istari or Wizards appeared in Middle-earth. It was afterwards they said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Saron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbiden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force and fear.

They came therefore in the shapes of Men, though they were never young and aged only slowly, and they had many powers of mind and hand. They revealed their true names to few, but used such names as were given to them. The two highest of this order (of whom there were said to be five) were called by the Eldar Curunir, 'the Man of Skill', and Mithrandir, 'the Grey Pilgrim', but by Men in the North Saruman and Galdalf. Curunir journeyed often into the East, but dwelt at last in Isengard. Mithrandir was closest in friendship with the Eldar, and wandered mostly in the West and never made for himself any lasting abode.

Throughout the Third Age the guardianship of the Three Rings was known only to those who possessed them. But at the end it became known that they had been held at first by the three greatest of the Eldar, Gil-galad, Galadriel and Cirdan. Gil-galad before he died gave his ring to Elrond; Cirdan later surrendered his to Mithrandir. For Cirdan saw further and deeper than any other in Middle-earth, and he welcomed Mithrandir at the Grey Havens, knowing whence he came and whither he would return.

After the fall of the Dark Tower and the passing of Sauron the Shadow was lifted from all the hearts of all who opposed him, but fear and despair fell upon his servants and allies. Three times Lorien had been assailed from Dol Guldur, but besides the valor of the elven people of that land, the power that dwelt there was too great for any to overcome, unless Sauron had come there himself. Through grevious harm was done to the fair woods on the borders, the assaults were driven back; and when the Shadow passed, Celeborn came forth and led the host of Lorien over Auduin in many boats. They took Dol Guldur, and Galadriel threw down its walls and laid bare its pits, and the forest was cleansed.

At the same time as the great armies besieged Minas Tirith a host of allies of Sauron that had long threatened the borders of King Brand crossed the River Carnen, and Brand was driven back to Dale. There he had the aid of the Dwarves of Erebor; and there was a great battle at the mountain's feet. It lasted three days, but in the end both King Brand and King Dain Ironfoot were slain, and the Easterlings had the victory. But they could not take the Gate, and many, both Dwarves and Men, took refuge in Erebor, and there withstood a siege.

Gimli, Gloin's son is renowned, for he was one of the Nine Walkers that set out with the Ring; and he remained in the company of King Elessar throughout the War. He was named Elf-friend because of the great love that grew between him and Legolas, son of King Thranduil, and because of his reverence for the Lady Galadriel.

After the fall of Saron, Gimli brought south a part of the Dwarf-folk of Erebor, and he became Lord of the Glittering Caves. He and his people did great works in Gondor and Rohan. For Minas Tirith they forged gates of mithril and steel to replace those broken by the Witch-king. Legolas his friend also brought south Elves out of Greenwood, and they dwelt in Ithilien, and it became once again the fairest country in all the westlands.
 

But when King Elessar gave up his life Legolas followed at last the desire of his heart and sailed over Sea.
 

(Taken from Appendix B).

1482. Death of Mistress Rose, wife of Master Samwise, on Mid-year's Day. On September 22, Master Samwise rides out from Bag End. He comes to the Tower Hills, and is last seen by Elanor (his daughter), to whom he gives the Red Book afterwards kept by the Fairbairns. Among them the tradition is handed down from Elanor that Samwise passed the Towers, and went to the Grey Havens, and passed over Sea, last of the Ring-bearers.

1484. In the spring of the year, a message came from Rohan to Buckland that king Eomer wished to see Master Holdwine once again. Meriadoc was the old (102) but still hale. He took counsel with his friend the Thain (Pippin), and soon after they handed over the goods and offices to their sons and rode away over the Sarn Ford, and they were not seen again in the Shire. It was heard after that master Meriadoc came to Edoras and was with King Eomer before he died in that autumn. Then he and Thain Peregrin went to Gondor and passed what short years were left to them in that realm, until they died and were laid in Rath Dinen among the great of Gondor.

My question was..."Who are Tom Bombadil and Goldberry?"

In Book 1 Chapter VII, Goldberry answers this very same question as posed by Frodo...
"He is...Tom Bombadil is the Master."

My good friend, Jolly, thoroughly expanded this for me:

"Tom Bombadil (Larwain Ben-adar) and Goldberry are actually Maiar which along with the Valar, are considered by men to be gods, and contributed to the making of Arda...

"So in other words...when the world was made the Ainur (holy ones) came out of the timeless halls (heaven?) and inhabited it taking various forms and shapes. The mightiest (of which were 15) were the Valar (the last and most evil of these was Morgoth). The Maiar are servants to the Valar, with lesser powers, and not often mentioned in histories, as they are more concerned with the Valar....but amoungst them are the Istari (Olorin/Gandalf considered the wisest of the Maiar) Sauron, Tom, Goldberry and many more! "

My most sincere thanx to Ms Jolly!