• Born: 17 September 1837, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ^{3 4 5}
• Christened: 4 October 1837, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland ³
• Died: 2 December 1916, Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland at age 79 ^{2 6 7}
• Buried: 1916, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland

   Other names for Robert were Robert McGaven TOPEN,³ Robert M. TOPPING ^{4 5} and Robert McG. TOPPING.

  Birth Notes

• Octor..  Robert McGaven, son of David Topen, shipmaster, halfway near Irvine, and Mary Boyd spouses; was born seventeenth ult., and baptized fourth instant, their seventh child.

  Christening Notes

Relief Congregation

  Burial Notes

Irvine Old Parish Churchyard, Gravestone U46

  Recorded Events in His Life

• 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 sewn muslin designer on 7 April 1861 in Govan, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

• He appeared on the 1861 Census of Scotland on 7 April 1861 in Govan, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
  

Mary Topping      Head   58   Irvine, Ayrshire   Shipmaster's Wife
Margt Topping     Dau    32   Irvine, Ayrshire  
Anne Topping      Dau    27   Irvine, Ayrshire  
John Topping      Son    25   Irvine, Ayrshire   Shipbuilders Cl
Robert Topping    Son    23   Irvine, Ayrshire   Sewd Musling Desegner
Barbara Topping   Dau    15   Irvine, Ayrshire   Scholar

• He worked as a "Saver Machie Mannfs" (sewing machine manufacturer?) on 2 April 1871 in Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ⁴

• He appeared on the 1871 Census of Scotland on 2 April 1871 in Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ⁴
  

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 an Iron Founder employing 50 Men and 10 Boys on 3 April 1881 in Govan Church, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ⁵

• He appeared on the 1881 Census of Scotland on 3 April 1881 in Govan Church, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ⁵
  

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 worked as an iron founder on 5 April 1891 in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

• He appeared on the 1891 Census of Scotland on 5 April 1891 in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
  

Ann Ferguson           Head       57   Irvine, Ayrshire
Mary B Ferguson        Daughter   26   Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Elizabeth G Ferguson   Daughter   24   Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Margaret Topping       Relative   62   Irvine, Ayrshire
Robert Mcg Topping     Relative   52   Irvine, Ayrshire       Iron Founder

• He worked as a retired iron founder on 31 March 1901 in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

• He appeared on the 1901 Census of Scotland on 31 March 1901 in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
  

Annie Ferguson         Head   67   Irvine, Ayrshire
Elizabeth G Ferguson   Dau    34   Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Robert Mc G Topping    Bro    62   Irvine, Ayrshire         Retired Iron Founder
Letitia Davies         Ser    17   Blackwood, Lanarkshire   Servant Domestic

• He was buried at the Irvine Old Parish Churchyard in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland in 1916.
  
  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.

• He had an estate probated on 24 January 1917 in London, England. ⁷