Topsham Devon Family History Guide

Topsham is an Ancient Parish and a market town in the county of Devon.

Parish church: St Margaret

Parish registers begin:

Parish registers: 1600
Bishop’s Transcripts: 1606

Nonconformists include: Independent/Congregational, Presbyterian, Protestant Dissenters, Roman Catholic, Society of Friends/Quaker, Unitarian, and Wesleyan Methodist.

Table of Contents

Adjacent Parishes

Topsham Parish Records

An index of parish records of people from Topsham. The index includes information from Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences Granted by the Bishop of Winchester 1689 to 1837

Marriage Licences and Allegations

Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences Granted by the Bishop of Winchester 1689 to 1837

The following have been extracted from Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences Granted by the Bishop of Winchester 1689 to 1837 Published 1893 Editor: William John Charles Moens. Parishes without a named county are parishes within the county of Hampshire.

Cox, George, of Topsham, co. Devon, mariner, & Mary Todd, of Northwood, at N., 27 Sep., 1741

Gribble, Alexander, of Topsham, co. Devon, mariner, 21, b., & Mary Canes, of Portsmouth, w., at P., 5 June, 1809.

Gudridge, Arthur, late of Topsham, co. Devon, shipwright, now of St. Michael’s, Southampton, & Sarah Munden, of the 8., w., at St. M., 24 Dec, 1736.

London Marriage Licences and Allegations 1521 to 1869

The following have been extracted from London Marriage Licences 1521 to 1869.
Abbreviations. — B. Bishop of London’s Office; D. Dean and Chapter of Westminster; F. Faculty Office of Archbishop of Canterbury; V. Registry of the Vicar-General of Canterbury.

Ashford, Thomas, of Axminster, co. Devon, clerk, bachelor, 36, and Milliam Galhampton, of Topsham, said county, spinster, 22, her father dead, and she at her own disposal — at Axminster, Kilmington, or Chardstoke, co. Devon. 24 Nov. 1662. F.

Source: London Marriage Licences 1521 to 1869; Edited by Joseph Foster; London 1887

FamilySearch

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

TOPSHAM, a small town, a parish, and a sub-district, in St. Thomas district, Devon.

The town stands on the river Exe, immediately above the influx of the Clist, and on the Exeter and Exmouth railway, 4 miles SSE of Exeter; was the only port of Exeter prior to the opening of the ship canal in 1544; had then a larger trade with Newfoundland than any other port of England; suffered an attack by the Earl of Warwick, on occasion of the siege of Exeter, in 1643; was the headquarters of Fairfax, prior to his removal to Ottery, in 1645.

It comprises one long street of irregular breadth, and several smaller streets; includes, in the S, a section called the Strand, consisting chiefly of genteel houses, and commanding very fine views; carries on ship-building, chain-making, rope-making, and a considerable coasting trade; and has a head post-office, a r. station with telegraph, two chief inns, a fine parish church, Independent and Wesleyan chapels, a national school, charities £151, and a fair on the Thursday after 18 July. Pop. in 1861, 2,772. Houses, 539.

The parish includes Countess-Weir chapelry, and comprises 1,570 acres of land and 170 of water. Real property, £11,085; of which £85 are in gasworks. Pop. in 1851, 3,377; in 1861, 3,503. Houses, 682.

The manor belonged anciently to the Crown, and afterwards was held, for a long period, by the Earls of Devon. Weir House is the seat of Sir J. T. B. Duckworth, Bart.; and there are numerous good residences.

The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Exeter. Value, £290. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of E. The p. curacy of Countess-Weir is a separate benefice.

The sub-district contains five parishes. Acres, 6,207. Pop., 4,777. Houses, 945.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

Historical Maps

Vision of Britain historical maps

Topsham 1904 Devon Sheet 92.04 This map gives excellent detailed coverage of the small town of Topsham, just S of Exeter. Features include railway with Topsham station and branch to the wharf, Exeter Canal, St Margaret's church, town centre with individual buildings clearly shown, Grove Hill, Marsh Barton, Odam's Manure & Chemical Factory with siding, River Exe, River Clyst, Ebford, Ebford Barton Farm etc. View Map Details*

Administration

County: Devon
Civil Registration District: St Thomas
Probate Court: Court of the Peculiars of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter
Diocese: Exeter
Rural Deanery: Pre-1848 – None, Post-1847 – Aylesbeare
Poor Law Union: St Thomas
Hundred: Wonford
Province: Canterbury