• Born: 12 August 1798, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ^{1 5 6}
• Marriage (1): Mary BOYD on 11 December 1825 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ^{1 2}
• Died: 15 December 1886, Plantation, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland at age 88 ^{2 7}
• Buried: 1886, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ²

   Other names for David were David TOPEN,^{8 9 10} David TOPIN,^{11 12} David TOPINS ¹³ and David TOPPIN.¹⁴

  Burial Notes

Irvine Old Parish Churchyard, Gravestone U46

  Recorded Events in His Life

• Gallery: Rear view (Side D) of the David Topping and Mary Boyd family obelisk in Irvine Kirkyard (gravestone U46), in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. Note there are no inscriptions carved on this side.

• He worked as a sailor on 13 November 1826 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ¹¹

• He had a residence on 13 November 1826 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ¹¹

• Gallery: Side B of the David Topping and Mary Boyd family obelisk in Irvine Kirkyard (gravestone U46), in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. The inscription on this panel is nearly identical to the inscription on the children's memorial (another gravestone in the churchyard).

• Gallery: Side C of the David Topping and Mary Boyd family obelisk in Irvine Kirkyard (gravestone U46), in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland.

• He resided at Halfway in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 13 May 1828. ¹³

• He worked as a shipmaster on 13 May 1828 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ¹³

• He resided at Halfway in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 21 September 1829. ⁸

• He worked as a shipmaster on 21 September 1829 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ⁸

• He resided at Halfway in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 30 May 1831. ¹²

• He worked as a shipmaster on 30 May 1831 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ¹²

• He resided at Halfway in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 29 May 1833. ¹⁴

• He worked as a shipmaster on 29 May 1833 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ¹⁴

• He resided at Halfway in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 19 October 1835. ⁹

• He worked as a shipmaster on 19 October 1835 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ⁹

• He resided at Halfway in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 4 October 1837. ¹⁰

• He worked as a shipmaster on 4 October 1837 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ¹⁰

• He worked as a mariner on 11 January 1851 in London, England. ⁵
  
  When the Mercantile Marine Act of 1850 made it compulsory for masters of foreign-going British merchant ships to obtain certificates of competency, David applied for his certificate on the basis of his many years' of service as an apprentice, mate and master. He began going to sea when he was only 10 years' old. First, he was an apprentice for 6 years, then a seaman for 4 years. Next, David served as chief mate for 7 years. Finally, he became a master in 1826, and David had been a shipmaster for 24 years. His application was dated 24 December 1850; David received his Master's Certificate of Service (certificate no. 47,867) on 11 January 1851 from the Port of London.

• He worked as a shipmaster in 1861.

• He worked as a ship husband on 2 April 1871 in Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ¹

• He appeared on the 1871 Census of Scotland on 2 April 1871 in Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ¹
  

David Topping       Head   73   Irvine, Ayrshire   Ship Hustand
Mary Topping        Wife   68   Irvine, Ayrshire
Margt Topping       Dau    42   Irvine, Ayrshire
Robt M Topping      Son    32   Irvine, Ayrshire   Saver Machie Mannfs
Barbara L Topping   Dau    25   Irvine, Ayrshire

• He worked as a ships overseer on 3 April 1881 in Govan Church, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ⁶

• He appeared on the 1881 Census of Scotland on 3 April 1881 in Govan Church, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ⁶
  

David Topping      Head            84   Irvine, Ayrshire       Ships Overseer
Margaret Topping   Daughter        52   Irvine, Ayrshire
Robert M Topping   Son             42   Irvine, Ayrshire       Iron Founder Employing 50 Men 10 Boy
Mary B Ferguson    Granddaughter   16   Glasgow, Lanarkshire   Scholar

• He was buried at the Irvine Old Parish Churchyard in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland in 1886.
  
  Monumental Inscriptions on the various sides of the David Topping and Mary Boyd family obelisk (gravestone U46):
  
  Side A
  SACRED
  To The Memory Of
  MARY BOYD
  THE BELOVED WIFE OF
  DAVID TOPPING
  SHIP MASTER GLASGOW,
  DIED 23RD NOVEMBER 1872,
  AGED 70 YEARS
  The Above
  DAVID TOPPING
  DIED 15TH DECEMBER 1886
  AGED 89 YEARS
  ROBERT McG. TOPPING their Son
  DIED 2ND DEC. 1916 AGED 79 YEARS
  
  Side B
  ALSO
  In Memory of Their Children
  BARBARA;
  DIED 25TH NOV., 1843, AGED 11 MONTHS.
  DAVID;
  DIED 15TH APRIL 1844, AGED 14½ YEARS.
  Also of
  JAMES TOPPING;
  SHIP MASTER,
  WHO WAS DROWNED ON THE MARGATE SANDS,
  JANY. 20 1855, AGED 23 YEARS.
  Much regretted.
  
  Side C
  ALSO
  MARGARET TOPPING, THEIR DAUGHTER
  DIED AT BLANTYRE 19TH JANUARY 1895
  AGED 65 YEARS
  IN MEMORY OF
  CAPT. T. B. FERGUSON
  WHO DIED AT CALCUTTA 7TH MARCH 1866
  Also
  MARY B. FERGUSON HIS DAUGHTER
  WHO DIED AT BLANTYRE 29TH JUNE 1902
  AGED 37 YEARS
  ALSO ANNIE TOPPING HIS WIFE
  WHO DIED AT BLANTYRE 1ST OCTOBER 1905
  AGED 72 YEARS
  AND ELIZABETH G. FERGUSON THEIR DAUGHTER
  WHO DIED AT BLANTYRE 28TH JUNE 1951
  AGED 84 YEARS
  
  Side D
  No monumental inscription on this panel.

David married Mary BOYD, daughter of James BOYD and Mary JAFFREY, on 11 December 1825 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland.^{1 2} (Mary BOYD was born on 4 August 1802 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ^{1 15}, christened on 5 August 1802 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland,¹⁶ died on 23 November 1872 in Govan, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland ^{2 17} and was buried in 1872 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ².)

  Recorded Events about their Marriage

• They have conflicting marriage information of 23 December 1825 and Dundonald, Dundonald Parish, Ayrshire, Scotland. ⁴ Topping and Boyd. David Topping of this parish and Mary Boyd of the parish of Irvine were married on the 23d day of December 1825. [Dundonald Parish Church]