Person:Thomas Topping (15)

"Topping, Thomas: [Origin] Unknown; [Emigration] 1639; [Resided] Wethersfield, Milford, Southampton, Branford [CCCR 1:29; MiTR 2; MiChR 1; Miner Anc 172-74; Wethersfield 2:699]."

"Tappan, (Tappin, Tapping, etc.) Capt. Thomas, prob. in Weth. as early as 1636; an orig. ppr. of several parcels of Id. (See Chapt. VII, Vol. I); was a Capt. of militia and a man of note; rem., 1639, to and was one of the first founders of Milford, Ct.; fm. there, abt. 1651, rem. to Southampton, L. I., afterwards to Branford, Ct. In Branford Rec., II, p. 45, we read that Capt. Tho. Tapping gives to his sons Elnathan and James, 'now living in the confines of Southampton, upon Long Island, his lds. in the precincts of S. 'at Tratsworth or Saggabonnock.' 5 Oct., 1686. He d. prior to 1688, leaving wid. Lydia, and 2 daus. Martha (Herrick) and Mary (Quincy)."

"Thomas Topping, the first of this name in Southampton, according to family tradition, was a refugee from religious persecution in England. … From the Southampton Records it is clear that the Thomas Topping mentioned by Savage resided several years in Southampton, then removed to Branford, and there remained till his death. Capt. Thomas the first settler gave his son 5 Capt. Thomas his homestead at the south end. The latter dies in 1682, and in 1683 Capt. Thomas of Branford confirms the gift of the same to Thomas, oldest son of 5 Capt. Thomas.

'Capt. Thomas Topping, first of the name in Southampton, was born in Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, England. He was son of John and Selena Blacket Crossman Topping and was baptized March 19, 1608. Capt. Topping was made a freeman of Southampton in 1650 after residence in Wethersfield, Conn. (1636) and Milford, Conn. (1640) and Hempstead, L.I. (1644), leaving his mark as a man of strong character and action upon each community. He lived in Southampton from 1649 to 1673, and was one of the most active developers of the town, a magistrate, a Captain of militia, served many terms as representative of Southampton at Hartford when the eastern Long Island towns were under Connecticut Colony; was one of New York Governor Nicolls' Council in 1664, a member of the Hempstead Convention, and one of the Commissioners of Admiralty in 1665, High Sheriff in 1666. He made the Topping Purchase of land west of Canoe Place, which was turned over to Southampton town after some years' controversy and now forms its western half. He eventually returned to Milford, then settled in Branford, serving also from there, as representative to the legislature in Hartford; and died there in 1687. Capt. Topping's home lot was on South Main Street, Southampton His house still stands; today it is a part of the Episcopal Rectory. His sons' James, John, and Elnathan were among the founders of the hamlet of Sagaponack, between Southampton and East Hampton villages and so near Wainscott (in E.H. Town) that its families have always been intimately associated with East Hampton. Toppings have always lived close to the Town Line on both sides."

"Thomas (Tappan), Milford 1639, but earlier was of Wethersfield and rep. 1639, join. the ch. of M. with his w. Emma in 1640, had Elnathan, bapt. 2 Aug. of that yr. and James, 12 Feb. 1643. In 1651, he was a capt. and chos. Assist. and in that rank by an. elect. most of the next twelve yrs. kept on acco. evid. of resid. at Southampton, on L. I. On 20 Oct. 1666 a contr. made at Milford for his m. with Mary, wid. of Timothy Baldwin is by her refer. to ten yrs. later, when she was dispos. of her prop. in conform. with said contr. to her childr. He had, bef. June 1678, made Lydia, the wid. of John Wilford, his w. and for the resid. of his days liv. at Branford, where 5 Oct. 1686 he gave by deed to his s. Elnathan and James at Southampton all his lds. at S. to d. Mary Quinny (or some such name) ten cows; to d. Martha Herrick £10 in add. to what she had rec. to be paid by the s. wh. when had the keep. of the cows also. His wid. in Oct. 1688, transact. with those s. and d. Nov. 1694."

"TAPPING, Thomas¹ (bef 1688) & 1/wf Emma _____; by 1640; Wethersfield, CT/Milford, CT/Branford,CT/Southampton, LI {Wethersfield 2:699; Southampton 394-5; Miner Anc. 172; Sv. 4:255; Coe-Ward 80; NYGBR 10:13; TAG 9:103; Fellows (1940) 146}"
"[TOPPING], Thomas¹ (-1688±) & 2/wf Mary (_____) (MAPHAM) BALDWIN (-1676), w John, w Timothy; m cont 20 Oct 1666; Milford, CT {Miner Anc. 172; Botsford Marble 29; Baldwin 403; Coe-Ward 8; Hale (1952) 781}"
"[TOPPING], Thomas¹ & 3/wf Lydia (_____) [WILFORD] (-1694), w John; by 1678; Milford, CT/Branford, CT {Miner Anc. 172; Wethersfield 2:699; Coe-Ward 80; Southampton 395; Baldwin 403; TAG 12:107}}"

"Bond of Thomas Topping and Robert Coe to deliver provisions in part payment of the ship Amandare purchased by Mr. Broughton

[158k] We, Tomas Toppingh and Robert Coe, residing at Heemstede, promise and bind our persons and property that we will deliver in the month of October next, in part payment of the ship Tamandaree, for account of Mr. Broughton, three thousand guilders' worth of provisions, such as pork, beef, peas, flour and butter, at the price agreed upon with Mr. Broughton on the last of May; for which provisions the aforesaid Broughton has promised to send us commodities. And in case the aforesaid Broughton remains in default we, the undersigned, are released from this our promise and bond. In testimony whereof this is signed by us, the subscribers, in the presence of Adriaen van Tienhoven and Jacob Kip, witnesses hereto invited. Done the 6th of July A^o, 1647, In New Amsterdam.

Tho. Topping
Robart Coe"