Person:Samuel Torrance (2)

adopted parents: Albert Torrence and Unknown (1)

¶5. Captain Samuel Torrance 3 (Albert2 Sergeant Hugh1) came with his father to America between 1730 and 1740; landed in Philadelphia, and made his way to Woodbury, Connecticut, where he died January 14, 1788. The land records of Canterbury, reveal that he first bought about six acres of land there on October 16, 1747, together with dwelling houses and improvements, from James Kasson, a Scotch-Irishman of Voluntown, in the eastern part of Connecticut. The location of his purchase was at Cross Brook, north of Good Hill, in the present Roxbury part of Woodbury. Roxbury was originally called New Roxbury, said to have been named for Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Samuel Torrance's name appears as Captain in William Cothren's History of Ancient Woodbury, page 786, in connection with a list of Revolutionary soldiers. In the same list are Corporal Joseph Torrance, Private Samuel Torrence, Ezra Torrance, William Torrance and Thomas Torrance.37

He married in July, 1741,Note 38-1 Jemimah Parke, daughter of Robert Parke,Note 38-2 of Voluntown, who survived him, and was appointed administratrix of his estate. The files of the Woodbury Probate Court show, in his intestacy papers, Number 4562, that he died January 14, 1788, and that within the month the widow asked to be relieved of administration duties:

The widow Torrance declines being an administrator of the estate of the late Samuel Torrance and would wish to have Buel Hough appointed in her name.

(Signed) Jemimah Torrance. Witnesses

Daniel Sherman, Esq.

John Cramer

Buel Hough

38 Following this, Buel Hough, son-in-law of Samuel Torrance, made application for administrative papers, which were granted to him February 12, 1788, as shown by photostatic copy of the Court Minutes:

The Inventory of Captain Torrance's estate consisted of a full page of items, some of which were: Ten acres of land and dwellings thereon; one acre with barn; one house with land; seven acres of land; live stock; grain stores; one great wheel, one small wheel, flax; general household furnishings; tools, farming implements, etc. The distribution to the widow as her dower in her husband's estate included the dwelling house he last lived in, also the land adjoining on the north, called about nine acres, be it more or less.

Children of Captain Samuel and Jemimah (Parke) Torrance, from family records, with additions through quoted authorities, were eleven. (The order of birth is uncertain, but they were probably born in Connecticut.)

Thomas Torrance4 born in 1742; married Mary __________. In the distribution of his father's estate he received part of the land. The United States Census of 1790, lists a Thomas Torrance in under claim No.40582, will be found this information, which seems to apply to this Thomas Torrance: "Thomas Torrence took up refugee's land in Violet Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1811. Prior to this date he bad lived in Vermont. He was granted a pension, the last payment having been made in 1828. His wife was Mary. He served in Capt. Luke Day's Co., in Col. Alden's Massachusetts Regiment. He was present at the taking of Burgoyne, at Saratoga, and engaged in many skirmishes; was honorably discharged at West Point, N. Y., having served three years. Pension was allowed April 18, 1818, at which time he stated he had resided in Fairfield Co., Ohio, for seventeen years, having formerly lived in Vermont. He was about deprived of his sight and required assistance. (Comptroller General's Office, Certificate No.6513, issued February 2, 1819.) Rate of pay $8.00 per month. Pension started April 18, 1818, Ohio Agency. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, volume V, page 855: Thomas Torrance was in the list of men raised for service in the Continental Army, Lieutenant Phelps' Company, 4th Hampshire Regiment, as reported to Lt. Col. H. Woodbridge, Hadley, May 28, 1777. He was a private, then Sergeant of Belchertown Company, April 20, 1775, and served from May 15, 1777 to May 15, 1780. William Torrance4 served with the Connecticut troops in the French and Indian War under two enlistments: From July 1st to November 15, 1761, in Captain Archibald McNeal's Company, and from July 22nd to November 15, 1762, in Captain Pearce's Company.Note 40-1 He married, in Roxbury, Connecticut, March 30, 1768,Note 40-2 Lucy Castle, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Hurd) Castle, and later removed to Vermont. The following facts concerning their children are from the Torrance Family, by Frank L. Torrance, of Abington, Illinois, and Fred. A. Torrance, of Ausable Forks, New York. Issue, five:

Lewis Torrance5 Sergeant Daniel Torrance5 concerning whom the War Department's Letter No.1867267, dated February 5, 1912, says, "The record shows that one Daniel Torrance served as Corporal, August 1, 1813, to August 6, 1813; as Sergeant, September 2nd to 14th, 1814, in Captain Jesse Tobey's Company, under Major Reuben Sanford, War of 1812." Orrin Torrance5 Reuben Torrance5 John Torrance5 who is buried in Jay, New York, married Ruth Hurd. It will be remembered that his grandmother's name was Hurd.

Issue, three: Reily Torrance6 born May 18, 1801; died March 28, 1874; married, June 19, 1823, Lydia Fulton, born February 4, 1804, died October 27, 1873.

Issue, sixteen: William Torrance7 born February 14, 1824, died February 24, 1824. Manerva Torrance7 born April 28, 1825; married Edward Washburn. There is a picture of Manerva's grave Jane Ann Torrance7 born July 18, 1826; died September 18, 1830. Parker Torrance7 born November 28, 1827; died December 21, 1900; married twice. Caroline Torrance7 born August 31, 1829; died August 31, 1831. John Torrance7 born April 15, 1831; died May 15, 1899; married Marion Johnson. Daniel Torrance7 born December 6, 1832; married Perlena Burt. Charles Torrance7 born November 17, 1834; died December 3, 1915; married Margaret Hindman. Fannie Torrance7 born January 8, 1837; married James Monroe Trumbull. Margaret Torrance7 born March 31, 1889; died February 28, 1877; married Adolphus Burt. W. Andrew Torrance7 born December 6, 1840; married Julia Colbeck. Cyrus B. Torrance7 born January 10, 1843; died May 12, 1890; served as private in Company F, Second Regiment of New York Mounted Volunteers, from August 31, 1864, to June 5, 1865; married, April 7, 1867, Mary E. Bokus, who died August 18, 1913.

Issue, two: Frank L. Torrance8 of Abington, Illinois, one of the compilers of the Torrance Family, heretofore mentioned, was born August 29, 1869; married, February 12, 1893, Addie Z. Meadows.

Issue, three: La Merle Torrance9 born July, 1893; died August 29, 1894. Morell Torrance9 born January 24, 1895; died May 2, 1936; entered the Flying Service of the United States, December 13, 1917; assigned to the 278th Squadron; to Hempstead Field, No. 2, Long Island, July 8, 1918; served overseas from August 16, 1918, to close of World War; married, August 17, 1920, Bessie M. Ellis.

Issue, two: Margaret Lee Torrance10 born August 9, 1921. Robert E. Torrance10 born February 24, 1923. Grace A. Torrance9 unmarried. Grace Torrance9 born December 16, 1871. George Torrance7 born July 17, 1844; died November 12, 1904; married Mary James. Marie Torrance7 born April 2, 1846; did February 4, 1866. Luena Torrance7 born November 28, 1848; died June 6, 1867. Clara A. Torrance7 born January 18, 1851; died December 20, 1910; married Robert Taylor. Lydia Torrance6 born February 4, 1804; died October 27, 1873. Russell Torrance6 born 40 July 10, 1810, in Bennington County, Vermont; married, July 21, 1831, Rhoda Taylor, born January 26, 1818, by whom he had seven children, whose names will be found under Russell Torrance, son of Captain Lewis Torrance. A letter, written by Lucy E. Torrance, in 1916, attributes this Russell Torrance to Captain Lewis Torrance. A similar reference is found in a record in the War Department.Note 41-1 Nancy Torrance4 married Noah Woodward, Jr., September 27, 1764. Elizabeth Torrance4 born June 12, 1748; married, September 5, 1770, Buel Rough, who is elsewhere noted as administrator of her father's estate. Joseph Torrance4 received due portion of his father's estate under division thereof. Alexander Torrance4 born 1749; died 1828; was private in Lieutenant Aaron Phelps' Company.Note 41-2 His pension papers No.15211, show he was residing at Oneida, New York, 14 April, 1819; that he enlisted in 1776, in Captain Perry's Company, at Boston, Massachusetts, Colonel Thomas Nixon's Regiment, for one year; that he enlisted again and served three years; was at the capture of Burgoyne and in the battle of Bennington; that he was then 69 years old and infirm. In record No.517, is shown that Phebe Hall, former widow of Alexander Torrance, was granted a pension of $96.00 per annum, to commence 4 March, 1848. She testified that she had married Alexander Torrance in 1800, as his second wife; that her maiden name was Phebe Gears, daughter of Eleazer Gears; that her husband had died in 1823 and that she had married Eleazer Hall 17 July, 1829.

Issue, two by each marriage. Four: Sampson Torrance5 born 1790. Samuel Torrance5 born 1799. Lydia Torrance5 born 1810, George Torrance5 born 1812. Samuel Torrance, Jn4 died June 17, 1836. Like others of his family, he served in the Revolutionary War, from Woodbury, Connecticut.Note 41-3 On October 29, 1788, he was deeded by Buel Hough, administrator of Captain Samuel Torrance, the family homestead, subject to the widow's dower; later, his mother conveyed to him her dower right, being a one third interest. He married, January 4, 1785, Anna ______; is said to have had two sons and a daughter; and removed to the State of New York. Lydia Torrance4 married a Mr. Huff (Hough). Ezra Torrance4 was a private in the Revolutionary War, from Woodbury,Note 41-4 His name is mentioned in the family records, but no details as to his family. The History of Fairfield County, Ohio, affords some clue thereto: "Mr. Ezra 41 Torrance, a medical practitioner, came to Lancaster County, Ohio, in 1802, and died there April 14, 1823. He left a minor son, Thomas Torrance5 and a daughter, Delilah Torrance5 His wife's name, as shown on deeds, was Ann." Abigail Torrance4 born November 29, 1754; Note 42-1 married in 1779, a Mr. Welsh. John Torrance4 married, in 1788, Rhoda Lacey, at Litchfield, Connecticut,Note 42-2 (possibly she was his second wife). During the French and Indian War, he served in Colonel Whitney's 10th Regiment, in the Company of Captain Gideon Stoddard, from April 16th to December, 1759. Note 42-3

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} 5. Captain Samuel Torrence³, in Torrence, Robert M. Torrence and allied families. (United States: s.n., 19--)
   37-42.

   The above text was substantially taken from this source.