Arthur Maning Topp (1844 - 1916)

Born 7 Oct 1844 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England

Husband of Leonora Leila (Sanders) Topp — married 28 Mar 1885 in South Yarra, Victoria, Australia

Died 17 Jan 1916 at age 71 in Hawksburn, Victoria, Australia

Biography

ARTHUR MANING TOPP (Topp-181)

BIRTH. 7 Oct 1844

Name Arthur Maning Topp

Event Type Birth Registration

Registration Quarter Oct-Nov-Dec

Registration Year 1844

Registration District Huddersfield

County Yorkshire

Event Place Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England

Volume 22, Page 327, Line Number 4

IMMIGRATION. 1858 on the ROYAL CHARTER, departed Liverpool 12 Jan 1858, arrived Melbourne 17 Mar 1858, via Sydney.

Index to Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria 1852-1923:

TOPP ALICE, A, MAR 1858, ROYAL CHARTER, B, 143 014

TOPP ARTHUR. A, MAR 1858, ROYAL CHARTER, B, 143 014

TOPP CHARLES, C, MAR 1858, ROYAL CHARTER, B, 143 014

TOPP HORATIO, C, MAR 1858, ROYAL CHARTER, B, 143 014

TOPP SAMUEL, A, MAR 1858, ROYAL CHARTER, B, 143 014

TOPP SARAH, A, MAR 1858, ROYAL CHARTER, B, 143 014

Key: A =Adult, B=Port, C=Child, MAR=March, 143=Fiche#, 014=Pg#

MARRIAGE. 28 Mar 1885, Leonora Leila Sanders, daughter of John Thomas Sanders & Charlotte Ellis (Shilcock) (Sanders) Chesterton

MARRIAGE (Mar 1885). TOPP—SANDERS.—On the 28th ult., by the Rev. H. F. Tucker, South Yarra, Arthur Manning Topp to Leonora Leila Sanders, both of South Yarra.

Children:

(1) Arthur Albert Topp, b. 3 Jan 1886, d. 29 May 1952, m. Emmie Locke, daughter of Alfred Arthur Locke & Margaret Jane (Watson) Locke

(2) William Blanchard Topp, b. 26 Aug 1887, d. 11 Jul 1953 (Reg#20001929 ACT BDM Death: http://bit.ly/1Px5wC7), m. 14 Oct 1922 Mabel Radclyffe Lewis, daughter of Mr and Mrs T.W. Lewis of Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa

Australian Dictionary of Biography: Arthur Maning Topp, by Jill Eastwood ^[1]

Arthur Maning Topp (1844-1916), journalist, was born on 7 October 1844 at Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, eldest son of Samuel Topp, wool-importer and merchant, and his wife Sarah, née Clapham. Arthur Maning arrived in Melbourne with his parents and brother Charles Alfred on 17 March 1858 in the Royal Charter [and sister, Alice, and brother, Horatio].

Arthur was one of the first pupils in April 1858 at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School before entering his father's business; in 1868-80 the firm was known as A. M. Topp & Co.

In 1867 in Melbourne he published a play Enderby: A Tragedy. He was one of the 'literary and journalistic friends' brought together by Henry Gyles Turner in November 1875 to launch the Melbourne Review, a quarterly journal of high standard and wide coverage. Topp was on the editorial committee for its first six years.

In his own contributions he used an historical approach to determine the basic socio-political forces of current European and colonial affairs. Of a speculative mind, he took 'the long view' of human society and although his generalizations could be shaken by specific analysis, he exposed in incisive prose the trends of his time.

Tender spots were touched in an article in 1879 on the social role of banks in Victoria, leading to a break with Turner who resigned from the editorial committee. One of Topp's themes was the role of the Roman-Teutonic race in Western civilization; the idea led him to admiration of Bismarck's Germany, opposition to Russian expansion and, on the local scene, to polemical attacks on the Celtic Irish as 'an alien and only partially civilized race'.

His English Institutions and the Irish Race, reprinted from the Melbourne Review, was published by himself in 1881. His ideas on race were linked with his study and admiration of Herbert Spencer's scientific method of philosophy, especially in analysis of religious belief.

Topp was a member of the Eclectic Association; his close friends included fellow members Arthur Patchett Martin, Theodore Fink, Alfred Deakin and David Mickle. He became cable sub-editor for the Argus in 1882 and later leader-writer and reviewer for the Argus and the Australasian until his retirement in 1911.

Bedridden for two years, he died at South Yarra on 17 January 1916, survived by his wife Leila Leonora, née Sanders, whom he had married at South Yarra in 1884, and by his two sons. His estate was valued for probate at £1412.

DEATH. TOPP. - On the 17th January, 1916, at his residence, "Feronia" 12 Cromwell road, Hawksburn, Arthur Manning, eldest son of the late Samuel and Sarah Topp of Huddersfield, Yorkshire, husband of Leila Leonora Topp and father of Arthur Albert and William Blanchard Topp, aged 71 years. (Interred privately, January 18th)

OBITUARY. The many friends of Mr. Arthur Manning Topp will be grieved to learn of his death, which occurred on Monday night at his residence, Cromwell road, Hawksburn.

Mr. Topp was born at Huddersfield, Yorkshire in 1844, and was the eldest son of the late Samuel Topp, who came to Melbourne in 1855, and was for many years engaged in the woollen trade.

The family came out in 1858, and Mr. A. M. Topp was one of the pupils who attended on the day of the opening of the Church of England Grammar school. Later on he joined his father in business, but his tastes soon led him into literary work, with which he was identified for many years.

He was one of the founders of the "Melbourne Review" in 1876, and was a member of the editorial committee. In 1882 he joined the staff of "The Argus" as cable sub-editor, and he held that position for about 20 years. Subsequently he regularly contributed reviews and leading articles to "The Argus" and "The Austral- asian," until failing health compelled him to relinquish this service.

For nearly two years he was practically bed-ridden, and his condition unhappily left no hope of his recovery. He leaves a widow and two sons —Mr. A. A. Topp and Mr. W. B. Topp, the latter being a member of the Australian Imperial Forces in Egypt.

One of his brothers, Mr. S. St. John Topp, the well- known equity barrister, died several years ago, and his surviving brother is Mr. C. A. Topp, I.S.O., formerly public service commissioner of Victoria.

The late Mr. A. M. Topp was a man of very wide reading; he had a remarkable knowledge of inter- national affairs and politics. His literary gifts were of a high order, and his colleagues will ever remember him for his power of incisive criticism, for his sane outlook, and for his happy temperament, which endeared him to everyone.

Will of Arthur Maning Topp: Arthur M Topp Journalist Hawksburn 17 Jan 1916 143/750 VPRS 28/P3, unit 613; VPRS 7591/P2, unit 542

Application for Grant of Probate: NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof application will be made to the Supreme Court of the State of Victoria, in its Probate jurisdiction that PROBATE of the LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of ARTHUR MANNING TOPP, late of Number 12 Cromwell road, Hawksburn, in the said State (in the said will described as of Melbourne), journalist deceased, may be granted to Leonora Leila Topp of Number 12 Cromwell road, Hawksburn aforesaid, the widow of the said deceased, and the sole executrix named in and appointed by the said will. Dated this twenty-second day of January, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, GEO. BULLEN and SON, 60 Queen street Mel bourne, proctors for the said executrix.

Burial: St Kilda Cemetery, Topp Arthur, Buried 18/01/1916, Baptist, Compartment D, Grave 91

Death of Spouse: Vic BDM Death Reg: #05779: 1 Jun 1954, Leila Leanora Topp, aged 90. Father John T Sanders, Mother Charlotte E Shilcock.

Sources

1. ↑ See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Topp

• Birth: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26PD-12B

• Immigration: http://prov.vic.gov.au/

• Marriage: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 7 Apr 1885, p1 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/6074020

• Australian Dictionary of Biography: Arthur Maning Topp: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/topp-arthur-maning-4734

• Death Notice: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 19 Jan 1916, p1 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2093240

• Burial: http://mgc.smct.org.au/deceasedsearch/

• Obituary: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 19 Jan 1916, p10 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2093303

• Will of Arthur Maning Topp: http://prov.vic.gov.au/

• Application for Grant of Probate: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 24 Jan 1916, p10 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2095838