Joseph John Toop, missionary in China

[Jill on the A272]

Joseph was born in 1880 in Pimlico, London, son of grocer John Toop and my relative Jessie Hawes.

I've found him in the UK Incoming Passengers from China where he and his wife Rosetta and their children were missionaries, and incoming from Canada.

There appear to be records for him in the US Passenger & Immigration Lists index, Canada/US border crossings, Canadian passenger lists which need worlwide sub which I don't have - I'd be grateful if someone could take a look for me as I'm not sure if these are just part of his homeward travels from China or whether he was resident in either country at any time.

[Velma Dinkley]

Can't help with the passenger lists, Jill, but have you found out what organisation he worked for? I have a missionary in India who worked for the Church Missionary Society. Their archive is held at Birmingham University http://www.mundus.ac.uk/cats/44/1215.htm and may well have something on him

[Jill on the A272]

Thanks Velma - since my post I've found an account by his son William

http://www.ericliddell.org/eric-liddell/recollections/williamtoop.html

who describes their route in the 20s & 30s from China-UK as being crossing the Pacific to Canada/USA, transcontinental railway to New York or Quebec then ship to Liverpool, so I guess that explains all the border crossings. His daughter travelled back by the Trans- Siberian railway, (Great Railway Journeys The World Stuff!)

[Elaine ..Spain]

Can see him on passenger lists:

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
Joseph James Toop - born c1880 England
Port of Departure - Kobe, Japan
Port of Arrival - Vancouver, British Columbia
Arrival date - 24 Nov 1933
Vessel: Hiye Maru


Seattle Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1957
Joseph James Toop - born c 1880 England
Last Residence: CHN
Port of Departure - Kobe, Japan
Port of Arrival - Seattle, Washington
Date of arrival - 31 Jul 1941
Ship Name: Heian Maru

[Jessbowbag]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikawa_Maru_class_ocean_liner

might help with dates

[Jill on the A272]

Thankyou Elaine, looks like they were not in China during WW2.

Thanks too to Ozgirl for your pm.

[Jill on the A272]

we were posting at the same time Jess - thanks, off to take a look

[Jill on the A272]

I had a message about the Toops on Ancestry last night, someone who lives In New Zealand has sent me a page from his parents' visitors book from 1944 when they were missionaries in China which has the signature of John Kenneth Toop (son of JJ Toop) who with his twin brother William was a doctor and medical missionary.

[Janet in Yorkshire]

Excellent Jill. Just goes to show the importance of "NEVER give up," which is my genealogy mantra !

[cbcarolyn]

ooh good news, something always turns up...just took a while!