William R. Topping was born on March 15, 1802, in St. Georges Parish, Accomack County, Virginia. His parents were Garrett Topping (born 1759, died 1817) and Scarborough Snead (born 1758, died 1804).
On January 26, 1818, at the age of 15, William R. Topping, an orphan of Garrett Topping, chose John S. Topping as his guardian in Accomack County, Virginia. John S. Topping provided a bond of $2000 with William D. Chandler, Tully Snead, and Thomas Snead as securities thereto.
William R. Topping was married twice. His first marriage was to Hannah Morris (born 1795, died 1854) on April 27 or 28, 1824, when he was 22 years old. They had three children: John Garrett Topping (1828-1909), Sarah A. Topping (born 1831), and William Henry Topping (1834-1890).
The 1830 Census (June 1) in York County, Virginia, shows William R. Topping's household consisted of five free white persons: one male under 5 (possibly son, John Garrett), one male 15-19, one male 20-29 (William R.), one female 30-39 (possibly wife, Hannah), and one female 40-49. There were also five total persons in the household (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored).
By the 1840 Census (June 1) in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, his household had grown to include six free white persons and four slaves, totaling ten people. The free white persons included: one male under 5, one male 5-9 (possibly son, William H.), one male 10-14 (possibly son, John Garrett), one male 30-39 (William R.), one female 5-9, and one female 40-49 (possibly wife, Hannah). He also had one male slave under 10, two male slaves 24-35, and one female slave 24-35. Three persons were employed in agriculture, and one white person over 20 could not read and write.
On February 20, 1847, William R. Topping, at age 44, was chosen as a delegate to the Whig Party Convention at the Court House in Yorktown, VA. The convention was to be held on March 16, 1847, to select a suitable congressional candidate for the district.
In August 1850, the agricultural census for Elizabeth City County, Virginia, reported William R. Topping's farm had 43 acres of improved land and 33 acres of unimproved land. His farm was worth $300 and his farming implements were worth $20. He owned one horse, two milch (dairy) cows, six other cattle, and nine hogs, with the total value of his livestock $115. For the year ending June 1, 1850, he produced 100 bushels of Indian corn, 10 bushels of peas and beans, 10 bushels of Irish potatoes, 50 bushels of sweet potatoes, 100 pounds of butter, and 3/4-ton of hay. The animals he slaughtered during the year were worth $50. The September 6, 1850 census listed him as the slave owner for two slaves: one female 45 years old, and one female 8 years old, in Back River District, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. His household that day included himself (age 48, farmer, born in Virginia), Hannah Topping (age 55, born in Virginia, could not read or write), and William H. Topping (age 15, born in Virginia). They were living on a farm next to his older son, Garrett Topping.
William R. Topping married his second wife, Susanna Reeding (born 1809, died 1874), on July 3, 1856, in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia. They were both widowed and married by Thomas Hume. William was 53, born in Accomack County, VA, and Susanna was 47 and born in PA. William was a farmer, and his parents were listed as Jarrett and Scarbrough Topping. Susanna's parents were James and Mary Reeding.
He was not found in the 1860 census. It is suspected he may have lived in the Jefferson Ward of Portsmouth, VA, where he was living in the 1870 census, as he married his second wife in 1856 in Portsmouth, making it sensible for him to live there after the marriage. Several of his 1870 census neighbors were listed in the 1860 census. However, the enumerator in the 1860 census listed several entries throughout Jefferson Ward as "Unoccupied," with no indication he ever returned to enumerate those dwellings. Therefore, William and Susanna may have been missed in the 1860 census, which is also suspected to be why he is not listed in the 1860 agricultural census for Portsmouth.
In May 1865, around age 63, a tax assessment showed he owed $10 for being a "Retail Dealer" in Virginia.
The September 1870 Agricultural Census for Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia, indicated he had 22 acres of improved land and 28 acres of unimproved land on his property. His farm was worth $500 and his farming implements were worth $12. He had one horse and seven hogs, with the total value of his livestock $100. For the year ending June 1, 1870, he produced 100 bushels of Indian corn, 1 bushel of peas and beans, 20 bushels of Irish potatoes, and $25 of forest products. The total value of farm production was $120. The August 5, 1870 census shows William (age 68, worked as a Painter, born in VA) and Susanna (age 59, Keeping house, had real estate worth $3000, born in PA) sharing a dwelling with Mary A. Diggs and her family.
On April 25, 1871, William R. Topping (age 69) and his wife, Susanna, submitted a claim to the Southern Claims Commission for reimbursement due to the Union Army taking livestock and other farm products during the Civil War. Both he and his wife were deposed, along with a witness.
William testified that he was born in Accomack County Virginia, and had never resided outside of the State. During the time referred to, he was personally present and had his residence on a little farm near Portsmouth in Norfolk County. He stated that he and his family were threatened because he forbade and prevented his son from joining the Confederate army, and his son went to Washington and joined the Union Army by his advice. He solemnly declared that from the beginning of hostilities to the end he always warmly sympathized with the cause of the United States, and never did, or attempted to do any thing to injure or retard its success, and that he was at all times ready and willing as far as circumstances enabled him to assist and that he voted against the ordinance of Secession, and ever since has voted with the Republican party. Regarding the taking of property, he stated his little farm was on the side of the Rail Road about a mile and a half of Getty's Station. In the fall of 1863, Union Troops encamped at Getty's Station and along the line of the Rail Road. He was furnishing Major Vincent, who was stationed at Norfolk, with wood for the Union Army. He had sixty cords piled up by the Rail Road track for delivery to him, for which Major Vincent gave him three dollars and a half per cord. Troops came with five four horse wagons and carried away ten cords, stating they wanted it for the government, without paying him. He complained to Major Vincent, who promised to stop their taking his wood, and did so, but never paid him for what they had taken. The same soldiers came at night and took eleven large hogs. They gathered his corn and sweet potatoes, and took his fowls both in the day and night. The Cavalry took his oats in the day before his face. He made a rough memorandum of the amount taken at the time, and its value, which was fairly and moderately placed at $383.25. He had never before made any claim for it, and did not know until quite lately that he could do so.
His wife, Susanna Topping, testified that they were living near Getty's Station in the fall of 1863. Their hogs were taken by soldiers of the 4th New Hampshire regiment, who had that mark on their caps, and were under the command of Capt. Oliver Reid. They took and penned the hogs, killed them there, and carried them away without cleaning them, stating they were suffering for fresh provisions and had an order to take them wherever they could get them. The hogs were not very large, but were in good order. A Sergeant came in very rainy weather and said Major Vincent had ordered him to take the wood, and he did so. Mr. Topping went to see Major Vincent about it. Several wagon loads were taken. A Cavalry Company was encamped within 150 yards of their place. They took 60 head of fowls in the night, only leaving one. There was a Sergeant with them, but she did not know who was in command. The 4th New Hampshire Regiment gathered corn green in the field around September 20th, saying they were ordered to take it as they were in want of fresh Commissary supplies. A very large patch of sweet potatoes were gathered before they were quite matured, with the men saying they were acting under an order from Genl Getty. Their oats were cut and curing, and were taken under the order of Capt. Oliver Reid of the 4th New Hampshire, the quantity being considerable.
William itemized $383.25 in damages. He was awarded $153.75. In their final judgement, the Commission stated: "We find Mr. Topping loyal. He voted against the Ordinance of Secession - prevented his son from joining the Confederate Army, and his son by his advice went North and joined the Union Army. He was always and decidedly loyal. See his testimony and that of his neighbor Stafford. He lived on a small farm near Portsmouth."
William R. Topping died in 1872, at approximately 70 years of age, in Accomack County, Virginia. Research of William in FamilySearch's full-text search records shows he was involved in many court cases where he was ordered to repay a debt. This could be one reason why he moved from Elizabeth City County, VA, to Portsmouth, VA, in the mid-1850's, along with marrying his second wife who was from Portsmouth in 1856.
