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“Henry Topper was a much travelled and generally impoverished gunsmith. He apparently learned his craft in the area of Gettysburg, Adams County. He was listed as a gunsmith on the tax rolls of Cumberland Twp., Adams County. We cannot account for Topper’s location again until 1810. From 1810 through 1812 Topper was listed as a gunsmith in Gettysburg. He then left for Virginia.
“In 1814 Henry Topper purchased 106 acres in Hampshire County, Virginia [now West Virginia] {Deed Book 19, p. 208}. The land was described as being on the Great Cacapon, a few miles from the seat of Romney. Tax list of Virginia of that era did not list occupations, but Topper is found on the contemporary tax lists. In the Census of Industry of 1820 Henry Topper, gunsmith, reports that he employed one man and had purchased wood, steel and iron wherewith to make his guns. In the previous twelve months Topper had made a dozen guns valued at $18 each. In 1820, an $18 gun would have been a rather substantial piece.
“Topper remained in Hampshire County until 1827. On 7 March 1827, sold his land, house and gunshop to Christopher Sloniker {Deed Book 25 p. 377}. Sloniker [or Slonaker] was also a gunsmith. Topper may have taught the trade to Sloniker. He may have remained in Hampshire County a few more years. We cannot account for his location until 1832 when his name appeared on the tax lists of Napier Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He was located in the then unincorporated town of Schellsburg where he rented a house and a shop.
“A son, Josiah, had been born in 1813, presumably in Gettysburg, since he said in the Census of 1850 that he had been born in Pennsylvania. Since he was a gunsmith too, we may assume that Josiah was learning his trade while Henry was in Hampshire County and coming to man in Schellsburg.
“By 1838 Henry Topper was living in Youngstown, Westmoreland County. It may be that Henry occupied the shop owned by Isaac Mills. Henry was a gunsmith on the tax rolls of Youngstown in 1838, 1839 and 1840, the last year being the year of his death. There are no estate records or a Will on file in Westmoreland County Court House for Henry Topper.
“In the 1850 Census, Josiah Topper, age 37, was still living in Youngstown, carrying on his father’s business. In 1851, Josiah was listed as a laborer, and that is the last reference we have on Josiah.”
Are the Topper shotguns related to our gunsmith? Does anyone know the derivation of the term Topper shotgun, where does the name come from?