The Press., 1893-03-02
(Contributed.) THE TOPLIFF FAMILY.
BY G. FRANCIS ToPLIFF.


 In my first article think proved con- l clusively that the town of Willington was not settled by "eight men" who "came over from England in company" one of whom was named ''Topliff," also that the | first Topliff resident in Conn. was Samuel l (3), and not "Uncle Clem," and that Sam uel (3) settled in Lebanon, and probably remained there until 1739, leaving Milton, Mass, in 1735 or 1736. Since my first ar ticle was printed have ascertained from the town clerk of Lebanon that Samuel | (3) had son born to him in 1737, named | Luther, in Lebanon. From Philadelphia I have received record of one Richard, !, born in 1739, and he must have been a son of Samuel (3), though as yet l have not ascertained the place of his birth, nor the name of his parents. As Richard was not of the Dorchester line, itfolloRs most conclusively that he was born in Conn. and that Samuel (3) was his father. This Richard became a Quaker, settled in Philadelphia, and from him has sprung a line of Topliffs-that is sparsely scattered through Pennsylvania and Deleware- which l am now Investigating. I have noticed in the History of Holland County the same mis-statements attributed to tradition that have attempted to refute and correct. I regret that they should have taken such apparent authoritative form.
 l will now proceed to give a brief sketch of the early history of the family. From Clapp's History of Dorchester, 1859, I quote as follows:
 "Clement Topliff, born in England Nov | IT, 1903, was in Dorchester in 1637; @ member of the church in 1639; grantee of land, 1647. His children were: Jona- than, born 2d month, 1887. (Died young, as he is not mentioned in his fathers wilD. Sarah, 3d month, 1889, married David Jones, 1859; Obedience, Sth month, 1642, married Elder David Copp, 1859, of Boston (from whom Copp's Hill was named); Samuel, May, 1646; Patience, married Nathaniel Howes, 1867. Mr. Topliff died Dec. 24, 1762, aged 69. His wife, Sarah, died July 29th, 1893, aged 88 His inventory, f296. He lived in what is now known (1859) as Bowdoin-st., and owned the land where St.. Mary's church stands"
 He came to Dorchester in what is call ed the ''second emigration" in 1885 and 1636, and may have been of the company that came with Richard Mather in the "James" in 1885, though nothing more definite is known of his coming than this. Clements name appears often in the town book, and from these records infer that he was thrifty farmer, good citizen, and ''of good repute' in the church. He participated in the division of lands in Dorchester, Milton and Stoughton In connection with his daughter, Obedience, there is an interesting fact. As have previously mentioned, she married Elder David Copp, from whom Copp's Hill, Boston, was named. The oldest stone now remaining in 'Copps Hill burying ground' was erected in 1861 in memory of one of their children Clement was buried in the Dorchester burying ground, , at the corner of Boston and Stoughton streets, and the original stone is still standing, though the inscription is almost illegible. It reads as follows:
 Clement Topliff,
 Aged 69 years,
 Dyed ye 24 Day
 Of December, 1672.
 He spelled his name Toplife, but his son. Samuel (3), adopted the present form. Previous to 1700 the name appears in the town books in fifteen different spellings. I have had the pleasure of taking in my hand and reading the original will signed by Clement. I think an extract from it may be of interest to your readers:
 "The Lord having visited me with much infirmity X weakness & I being at this time very weak in body yet having the perfect use of my understanding X mem- ory, yet not knowing how it may please god to deal with me, do make this my last will x testament, comiting my Soul into the hands of my most mercifull Sa- viour < leaving my body unto my Deare l wife x loving children to be by them de- gently buried, do dispose of that Estate that god hath mercifully given me as fol loweth......1 ly my will is that my funeral expenses be satisfied out of my estate & that all my Debts should be paid 2 ly doe give unto my loving & Deare wife Sarah Topliff all my household goods af- ter my deceaSe & alsoe the use and benefit of all my houseing & lands & cattle & | whatever 1 die possesst of after the pai- ment of my Debts for her comfortable Subsistence during the whole time of he1 natural life provided that she remains a widow but in case she marry again then my will is what I have left her return to my children again." etc.. The win is | signed Clement Top1ffe.
 have seen autograph copy of. his sig nature attached to an instrument signed by the inhabitants of Dorchester, the Seaventh day of the Twelfth moneth ir the yeare 1641," "giving away from them selve & thir heires unto the Town of Dor chester aforesayd for & Towards the main tenance of free schoole in Dorchester aforesayd for the instructinge and Teach inge of Children youth in good litera ture X learninge." Clapp claims that thi. was the first free school established in ta aoorld. Whether this claim can be sub stantiated I cannot say, as I have not in vestigated the subject.
 Of Clements wife all that is known o her is her christian name-Sarah. Thei first child, Jonathan, was born April 1737, in Dorchester, and with this fact il mind it seems reasonable to infer tha they were married in England, and cam immediately to Dorchester.
 have spent considerable time endeav bring to trace Clement to the place fl BUILDERS,
 TAKE NOTICE!
 have on lot south of Springs large quantit