Keys to Numbering System
The format for numbering in this book is that of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly Numbering System. Under the System, the progenitor and each descendant is identified by an Arabic numeral, with progenitor John Tope being 1, George Tope being 2 (the first child of John), Levi being 11, and Hiram J. Tope, Levi's oldest child, being 16 (George Tope and Elizabeth Bower had four more children after Levi), etc.
• Hiram is in the 4th generation of the Tope family, thus the chapter
for his family and all successive chapters are considered as the 4th generation.
• The
children in each family are assigned small roman numerals be
tween the
Arabic number and name.
• A
plus sign (+) to the left of the Arabic number indicates a more de
tailed
discussion will follow.
A superscript number identifies the generations as shown in the following example: Hiram J.4 Tope (Levi3, George2, John1).
v