GARRETT TOPPING
HOUSEHOLD 20
[A54]
Garrett Topping was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1759. Garrett died before 29 September 1817.
He married twice. He married a daughter of Benjamin Phillips circa 1783 in Accomack Co., VA. She was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1765. She was the daughter of Benjamin Phillips and Susanna Fisher [A55] of John. She died before 22 March 1785. He married Scarburgh Snead on 22 March 1785 in Accomack Co., VA (Turman 291). The record reads: "Garrett Topping to Scarburgh Snead on 22 March 1785. Tully Snead Security."
Scarburgh was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1767. Garrett registered to pay taxes in 1787 in Accomack Co., VA (Yantis-Schreiner). The record reads: "Garrett Topping charged with the tax, 3 blacks above 16, 2 Blacks under 16, 2 Horses, mares or colts, 4 cattle."
On 29 May 1781 Garret Topping was recommended as Captain instead of John Riley Parker.
The text reads: "Recommemded: William Drummond, Lieutenant in the room of Tomas Slocomb; Garret Topping in the room of John Riley
Parker" (Soldiers and Sailors 4). NOTE: There are no orders previous
to this, in this book, that John Riley Parker was made Captain during the Revolutionary War, but it is possible, knowing that he was approximately 36 at the time of the war, that he was made Captain of the militia before the start of the war.
On or about 6 November 1783 Garrett Topping was allowed £3.13.0 for services performed in the
Militia (Soldiers and Sailors 5).
In 1792 Bennet and George Scarburgh sold 150 acres of land to Garret Topping. This land was in the middle of the neck and is called Dahl’s Swamp. Previous to this sale it was Scarburgh land. Whitelaw notes a house at A54E known as the Topping Place or the Dahl’s Swamp House. (Whitelaw 811). There were two burial plots noted on page xxxiv in Graven Stones. One is noted as 245 Dahl’s Swamp, where no stones remain. The information was supplied by James Belote. He stated that an African American by the name of Tom Jackson, who was born in North Carolina and died 1939, was buried there, and that he was noted for his white oak baskets (Graven Stones 134). The other is noted as 246 Topping Lot. This plot is a good distance into the Swamp and was once a large family plot with Finneys and Mears. With information again supplied by James Belote, it was noted that the stones have disappeared (Graven Stones xxxiv).
On 25 April 1792 the estate of Elizabeth "Betty" Colony to her son Bennet Scarburgh with Garrett Topping as security (Nottingham).
The Procession of 1795, as it originally reads: "Eleventh District Decr 29th 1795 -" Lines between John R. Parker & Garrett Topping... Lines between Garrett Topping & John Teackle..."(Processioners Returns). Garrett Topping did not witness this procession.
Garrett was listed as the head of a family on the 1800 Census in Accomack Co., VA (Powell 45). The text reads: "Garriot Topping 3 males 0-10, 2 females 10-16, 1 female 16-26, 1 female 26-45."
The 1810 census in Accomack Co., VA, lists Garrett Topping (Powell 94). The text reads: "Garrett Topping 1 male 0-10, 2 males to 16, 1 male to 26, 1 male 45+, 1 female to 16 1 female to 45, 1 female 45+."
Garrett made a will on 22 April 1812 in Accomack Co., VA. It was probated 29 September 1817 (Miles 540). An abstract of his will reads: "TOPPING GARRETT 22 April 1812 - 29 September 1817. Thomas Snead & son Nathaniel S. Topping Extrs. to son Nathaniel S. Topping the plantation where I now live containing 75 acres & Negro man Obadiah. To son John S. Topping then remainder of my land adjoining Teackle and Scarburgh lands. If either son dies under age 21 or without issue, then to son Littleton T. Topping & also to Littleton my Negro man Elijah & 1/2 of boy Levin. To son William R. Topping Negro Caleb & 1/2 my Negro boy Levin. To daughter Nancy T. Topping girl Anney & 1/2 of Negro Betty & old Comfort. Witt: Charles Snead, Tully Snead & Sarah Snead. Prob. Smith Snead, John B. Revell & John Custis securities."
Garrett Topping and his first wife the daughter of Benjamin Phillips had the following child:
1 i. William Phillips Topping was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1793. William died before 1803. In Benjamin Phillips' will on 16 January 1795 in Accomack Co., VA, William was named as an heir. It was probated 29 September 1795 (Nottingham). W illiam Topping died before 1817.
Garrett Topping and Scarburgh Snead had the following children:
2 ii. Nathaniel Topping was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1793. He married Sally Riley on 18 January 1819 in Accomack Co., VA (Turman 292). The record reads: "Nathaniel Topping to Sally Riley of John on 18 January 1819. Dennis Clayton security." Sally was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1801.3 iii. John S. Topping was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1798.
5 iv. Littleton Topping was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1800.
6 v. William R. Topping was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1803.
7 vi. Nancy Topping was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1805.
8 vii. Zipporah Topping was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1808. She married Charles B. West on 11 March 1826 in Accomack Co., VA (Turman 315). The record reads: "Charles B. West of Thomas to Zipporah Topping of Garret Topping decd." Charles was born circa 1801.
Sources:
Mihalyka, Jean and Faye Downing Wilson. Graven Stones. Inscriptions from Lower Accomack County, Virginia, including Liberty and Parksley Cemeteries. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1966.
Miles, Barry W., & Moody K. Miles III. Wills and Administrations of Accomack Co., VA 1800-1860. Bowie MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 2000.
Nottingham, Stratton. Soldiers and Sailors of The Eastern Shore of Virginia In the Revolutionary
War. Westminster MD: Family Line Publications, 1995.
Nottingham, Stratton. Wills and Administrations of Accomack County, Virginia
1663-1800. Bowie MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990.
Powell, Jody. Accomac County Virginia 1800 1810 1820 Census. Roanoke, TX: Jody Powell, 1991.
Turman, Nora Miller. Marriage Records of Accomack County, Virginia 1776-1854, Recorded in Bonds, Licenses and Ministers'
Returns. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1994.
Walczyk, Gail M. Accomack County Processioners Returns 1796 - 1816 for Accomack and St. George's
Parishes. Coram NY: Peter's Row, 2004.
Whitelaw, Ralph T. Virginia's Eastern Shore A History of Northampton and Accomack
Counties. Volume Two. Gloucester MA: Peter Smith.
Yantis-Schreiner, Netti & Florence Love. The Personal Property Tax Lists for the Year 1787 for Accomack County,
Virginia. Springfield, VA: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987.