Henry Topham
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
HENRY TOPHAM
WHO DIED 4TH FEBRUARY 1907
AGED 44 YEARS
In spite of extensive searches. I have failed to find a confirmed Henry Topham in the 1871 and 1881 Censuses. Perhaps he was abroad, or the name was significantly misspelt.
An Ancestry family tree thinks that a Henry Topping Hodgson, living in Egremont in 1881 but born in Ulverston, is the right person. I do not.
Henry Topham was baptised in the Ulverston Registration District in Q4 1862.
Henry Topham married Mary Jane High in Ulverston during Q2 1888. Information about Mary Jane High can be found on the page for her brother, Joseph High, who is buried nearby and has his own page on this website. It would not be surprising if both Henry Topham and Joseph High died of Phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis or a similar progressive wasting disease), a disease common among miners.
1891 Census
The 1891 Census has the Topham family at Loppergarth. Henry Topham (28) Iron Ore Miner, born Ulverston, shares the house with wife Mary J. Topham (26) born Pennington; Henry Topham (2), born Pennington, and Bryan H. Topham (1) born Pennington.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census the Topham’s are listed at Swarthmoor. Henry Topham (37) Underlooker Gold Mines (according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an Underlooker is an assistant manager (as of a mine) usually engaged in superintendence and overseeing), born Ulverston; and the rest of the household is Mary Jane Topham (36) Wife, born Pennington; Henry Topham (12); Bryan High Topham (11); Elizabeth Ann Topham (8) and John High Topham (6). All the children were born in Pennington, and none have a recorded occupation, though they were probably all Scholars. Presumably father Henry had recently been working in South Africa, since the Pennington gold mines have yet to be discovered.
A Henry Topham is on the Electoral Registers for the Lonsdale Constituency in 1900 and 1905, by dint of owning a dwelling house on Trinkeld Road, Swarthmoor. This is almost certainly the right Henry Topham. It is NOT Henry Couperthwaite Topham, who lived variously in Hart Street, Town Bank Terrace, Ford Park and Kilner Park, and was a grocer and tea dealer with a shop at 15 Market Street, and was later a shipping agent. His wife was called Mary Jane Topham (née Longson) too.
A Mr. H. Topham (36) Miner, sailed from Southampton on the R.M.S. Tantallon Castle, bound for Cape Town, on 9 July 1898.
A Mr. H. Topham (43) Miner, arrived in Southampton from Natal (South Africa) on the R.M.S. Kinfauns Castle (Union Castle Line) on 23 December 1905. A Mr. J. High, four years older than H. Topham, was on both voyages. This is probably Mary Jane Topham’s brother Joseph. However, it cannot be guaranteed that they are from Swarthmoor/Pennington.
1911 Census
Henry’s widow Mary Jane Topham was living at Trinklett (sic) Road, Swarthmoor in the 1911 Census along with Elizabeth Ann Topham (18) Daughter, Single, No occupation recorded; John High Topham (16) Engineers Fitter Apprentice; and John Dennison (21) Boarder, Single, Iron Ore Miner, born Pennington.
Mary Jane Topham died in Q4 1934. It is surprising that she is not mentioned on the headstone.
