JOHN "HENRY" TOPPER

WANTED HENRY TOPPER RIFLES? PLEASE USE THE CONTACT FORM IF YOU HAVE ONE OR KNOW OF ONE FOR SALE.

                                                               HENRY TOPPER
                                                          Click For Larger View                       

John "Henry" Topper was born in 1777 in Northampton, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Andrew Topper from 1747-1831. Andrew was the son of Christian Topper 1715-1789. Christian left Germany in 1748 to settle in America.

Henry Topper can be found in early 1800 records of Cumberland Township, Adams County, PA. Henry may have learned the gunsmith trade near Gettysburg, PA, and may have had a gun shop there.

In the 1810 and 1820 census, Topper is found in Hampshire County, Virginia, now West Virginia.

1810 Census

1820 Census

In the 1820 Census of Industry, Henry stated that he had one employee engaged in the gun-making business. Indicating that he had purchased wood and iron.  The previous year, he made twelve guns. Toppers Gun shop was on Cold Stream Road, near the Edwards Run Public Hunting & Fishing area today. Probably not much more than a stone's throw from where the gun shop of Zebulon Sheetz' was located. This was an ideal location with running water from the waters of Edwards Run and the Cacapon River combined with Iron from nearby Bloomery. Some years later, Benjamin F Shane, James Rinehart, and Christopher Slonaker would find this area just as suitable for making guns as their predecessors.

The Other Surviving " Henry Topper Rifle" Pictured on page 163 "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntington & Somerset Counties" by James Whisker & Larry W Yantz also pictured on page 98 " Long Rifles of Virginia" by James Butler & James Whisker." 

There is an old private cemetery on Cold Stream Road where two of Topper's children are buried. Henry engraved the headstones for his daughters. In the following pictures, you will see " Asterisk-like" symbols on the headstones and on this rifle. The rifle has three on the barrel, four on the cheekpiece inlay, and four on the toe plate.

Maria Ann Topper

Born 1807

Died 1809

Susanna Topper

Born 1809

Died 1810

* H * T * on the top flat of the octagon barrel & asterisk to the right.

Click Pictures For a larger view

            

The flintlock rifle made by Henry Topper has a 44-inch long rifled 50 cal barrel.

Even the side plate below has a design that closely resembles the etching on the bottom of Maria's headstone.

Similar designs on both the side plate above & the headstone below.

1827 Henry Topper sold his gun shop, house, and land to Christopher Slonaker, another Hampshire County Gunsmith. In the 1830 Census, Henry Topper is in Napier, Bedford County Pennsylvania. A few years later, he is found living in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.  He died there and was buried in Saint Vincent Cemetery in Latrobe in 1839.

 Any information on John "Henry" Topper or the guns he made would be appreciated.

THANKS TO THE COLLECTORS WHO ALLOWED US TO POST PICTURES OF THEIR RIFLES.   DO NOT COPY PICTURES.

WILLIAM BRITTON

                                                           WILLIAM BRITTON
                                                   Click on Pictures for Large View

Little seems to be known of William Britton. In "Gunsmiths of Maryland" by Hartzler & Whisker , He is listed as a Armorer at Harper's Ferry Arsenal. In the 1850 census he is living in Hampshire County, with a family by the name of Baker. If I am following the census taker correctly he was a mile or so down Dans Run Road from the stop light in present day Fort Ashby, Mineral County WV.  He gives 1794 as his year of birth and Maryland his birthplace. His occupation listed as a Gunsmith. We have found  no land records for Britton.

In William H Ansels article "Gunsmiths of Hampshire County" he states that in the "Manufactures Census" that the census taker indicated  Britton was illiterate. William Britton was a skilled gunsmith and his rifles are above average. He did relief and incise carving. His  best known  relief work can be seen on  page 173 in Bowers  "Gunsmiths of Pen-MAR-VA 1790-1840.  Many of his rifles  were originally flintlock. We have seen a few  original percussion.

                                                                                  

                            More Pictures of This Rifle can bee seen on Page 154 of

                    "Virginia Gunsmiths and Allied Professions" by James B. Whisker.

After the 1850 census , we  lose  track of William Britton.  We would appreciate any information that you may have on this excellent gunsmith.

                       This Rifle is Pictured on Page 64 of "Gunsmiths of  West Virginia"

   For more pictures of Brittons work see James B. Whiskers " Gunsmiths of West Virginia" Page 62.

Thanks to the collectors who allowed us to enjoy their rifles. We thank Mark Elliott for the top and bottom three photos. Here is a link to Mark Elliotts site to see more of his work.

                                     http://www.markelliottva.com/wordpress/intro/

                                                                                  
                                                                           
                                                                           

WEST VIRGINIA GUNSMITH LIST BY COUNTY

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