• Born: 24 May 1831, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ³
• Christened: 30 May 1831, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ³
• Died: 20 January 1855, Margate, Kent, England at age 23
• Buried: 1855, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland

   Cause of his death was Drowned on the Margate Sands.

   Another name for James was James TOPIN.³

  Birth Notes

• 1831.  May.  James, son of David Topin, shipmaster halfway near Irvine, and Mary Boyd spouses, was born twenty fourth instant, and baptized thirtieth ditto, their fourth child.

  Christening Notes

Relief Congregation

  Death Notes

drowned on the Margate Sands

  Burial Notes

memorial in the Irvine Old Parish Churchyard

  Recorded Events in His Life

• He has conflicting birth information of 23 May 1831 and Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. ²

• He appeared on the 1841 Census of Scotland on 6 June 1841 in Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland.
  

Mary Topping      38   Ayrshire, Scotland   Sewer
Mary Topping      14   Ayrshire, Scotland
Margart Topping   12   Ayrshire, Scotland
David Topping     10   Ayrshire, Scotland
James Topping      8   Ayrshire, Scotland
Ann Topping        6   Ayrshire, Scotland
John Topping       4   Ayrshire, Scotland
Robert Topping     2   Ayrshire, Scotland

• He worked as a mariner on 16 January 1851 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ²
  
  James applied for his mate's certificate of service when the Mercantile Marine Act of 1850 made it compulsory to have such documentation. He became a ship's apprentice when he was 13 years old, and served for 4 years. Next he was a seaman for 10 months, and then a second mate for a year. He was 20 years old when he applied for his certificate at the port of Glasgow on 16 January 1851.

• James received his Mate's Certificate of Service (certificate no. 67,784) On 8 February 1852 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ²

• He was buried at the Irvine Old Parish Churchyard in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland in 1855.
  
  Note: There are two different stones in Irvine Kirkyard that honor the memory of Barbara, David, and James Topping (children of David Topping and Mary Boyd). First they are mentioned on the children's memorial stone near the front entrance to the church. Second, they are also mentioned on the family obelisk, gravestone U46, on side B.
  
  Monumental Inscription in Irvine Old Parish Churchyard on the children's memorial stone near the front entrance of the church:
  
  ERECTED
  BY
  DAVID TOPPING, SHIPMASTER
  AND MARY BOYD, HIS WIFE
  in Memory of their daughter BARBARA
  who died 25th Nov'r 1843, aged 11 months.
  Also their son DAVID, who died 15th April
  1844 aged 14½ years.  Also their son
  JAMES TOPPING, Shipmaster, who
  was drowned on the Margate Sands, on
  the 20th of January 1855, aged 23 years.

• In addition to the children's memorial stone, Barbara, David, and James Topping are also mentioned on the David Topping and Mary Boyd family obelisk (gravestone U46, side B).
  
  Monumental Inscriptions on the various sides of the family obelisk:
  
  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.