Person:Adam Torrance (1)

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45. Adam Torrance3 (Hugh2 Sergeant Hugh1), is mentioned as having 300 acres of land in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in June, 1762. Note 98-1 Note 98-2 He married Ann, surname unknown, who was born in 1736 and died November 3, 1802, aged 66. She is buried in Center Church Graveyard, in Iredell County, North Carolina, at which place these dates were obtained. Her will was dated September 5, 1802. I. D. Rupp, in his History of Dauphin and Cumberland Counties, (Vol.1), gives an account of the part taken by Adam Torrance in the first Indian Massacre, which occurred at Mahahany Creek, Penn's Run, a branch of the Susquehanna River, on October 26, 1755. It is a long account, and will not be repeated here. Had it not been for his knowledge of the Delaware Indian dialect, he and his associates would not have escaped the ambush prepared for them. As it was, a number of them lost their lives. Note 98-3

He sold his lands in Pennsylvania, and went to North Carolina, where he became the proprietor of Torrence Tavern, in Iredell County, one half-mile south of Mourne, where Cornwallis and his men camped on their way to Salisbury, in pursuit of General Green. This tavern was 98 destroyed when the British passed through this section in 1781. A tablet marks the spot where it stood. Note 99-1 Note 99-2

Adam Torrance joined the Revolutionary Forces of North Carolina, and was killed at Ramson's Mills, North Carolina, on June 20, 1780. His body lies there in an unmarked grave. He left no will, but an inventory of his estate is on record at Iredell County, North Carolina, dated as of March 23, 1808. The apparent discrepancy between the date of his death and that of the inventory cannot be accounted for, except by a deduction that the inventory was brought to light after the death of his wife (who died on November 3, 1802) because of litigation incident to the settlement of her estate.

Children of Adam and Ann Torrance were seven:

i. Hugh Torrance4 born in 1754, in Pennsylvania, died December 2, 1797; is buried in Center Churchyard, Iredell County, North Carolina, about one-half mile from the spot where Torrence Tavern stood. A deed was witnessed for this Hugh Torrence, by his brother Barnabas Torrence on April 29,1789, wherein it was stated that they were brothers. In a suit to recover some negroes, Adam Torrence testified that he had a brother Hugh Torrence. Hugh Torrence's name appears in the U. S. Census in 1790, as of Iredell County, North Carolina; 4 males over 16, none under, a females over 16, and five negroes. "Torrence was Sheriff of Rowan County in 1786, and was made an allowance in that capacity." Note 99-3 He was said to have been the first Sheriff of Iredell County. Note 99-4 There is no record of his issue. ii. Adam Torrence4 was born in Pennsylvania, in 1755, and died July 13, 1M4, aged 89. His will, dated February 20,1844, was signed Terrence, and was administered by his nephew, David Lawson Torrence. In connection with his pension papers, in Washington, D. C., numbered 1101, there is an affidavit signed by Adam Torrence, of Mount Mourne, North Carolina, dated 30 November, 1824, in which he states that he saw his father fall on the field of battle, being shot through the head by a ball, and a few moments afterwards, was shot in the hip, the result of which had disabled him through life; that at the age of 67, he found himself forced, by entire disability, to ask for a pension, because of wound in hip, received in the battle of Ramson's Mills. Another affidavit concerning Adam Terrence, of North Carolina, is numbered S-14663, and dated October 5, 1824. It was signed by Adam 99 Brevard, of Mount Mourne, North Carolina. "Deponent says Adam Torrence was with him in the battle of Ramson's Mills, in County of Lincoln, in the summer of 1780, as volunteers under Colonel Lock; that applicant received a wound from a bail which entered his left hip; that he had been a citizen of the State for fifty years." Another states that Adam Torrence was a private in Captain James Armstrong's Company, under Colonel Francis Locke. Lieutenant Galbreath Neal made a similar statement.

Adam Torrence's will was witnessed by Jane Johnson, and A. D. Torrence. He married Margaret, surname unknown, who died September 2, 1840, aged 67. Issue, six:

1. Adam Torrence5 married and had issue, two: i. Adam William White Torrence6 ii. George Torrence6 died July, 1835, aged 25 years. 2. Ann B. Torrence5 died January 10, 1847, aged 56. 3. Elizabeth Torrence5 4. Sarah Torrence5 5. Lovy Torrence5 died March 12, 1838, aged 58. 6. Margaret Torrence5 married a Mr. Jamison. iii. Barnabas Torrance4 born in 1761, died February 29, 1840, aged 79, in Iredell County, North Carolina. His will was administered by Alexander Torrence, who was probably his son. He is buried in Center Church Graveyard. Name of wife not known. Issue, three: 1. Alexander Torrence5 2. Catherine Torrence5 married a Mr. Johnson. 3. Ann Torrence5 married a Mr. Caldwell. iv. George Torrence4 married Margaret McKnight, on November 14, 1787, in Rowan County; moved to Mecklenburg. His will was dated March 11, 1843. He acted as executor to his mother's will. Issue, eight; 1. Nancy Torrence5 2. Tilliam Torrence5 3. Joseph Torrence5 4. Adam Torrence5 5. Mary Torrence5 who married William Emerson. 6. Barnabas Torrence5 7. Margaret Torrence5 married a Mr. Young. 8. Eliza Torrence5 who married a Mr. Sloan. ¶48. v. Alexander Torrence4 married Catherine, surname unknown. vi. Margaret Torrence,4 born in 1774, died, unmarried, on September 2, 1841, aged 67. Her will, dated April 1, 1841, mentions the names of all of her immediate family, including her nieces and nephews, and it has been possible, through her references, to properly place those mentioned. vii. Elizabeth Torrence,4 married, on September 10, 1801, the Reverend James McKnight. She died or November 30, 1880. It seems that her mother had loaned her several negroes, and after the death of Elizabeth, her brothers brought suit against the estate of the Reverend James McKnight, through his executor William Graham, to recover them. The testimony in this suit brought to light many relationships that were not known to the present descendants. Adam Torrence testified that he was a brother of the said Elizabeth, and that his mother was Ann Torrence, the mother of Elizabeth; that his mother, Ann, was the widow of Adam Torrence, Senior, who was killed in the Battle of Ramson's Mills in 1780; that George Torrence, brother of Adam Torrence Junior, had 100 bought negro Diana at the sale, and that he, Adam, had bought other negroes. These statements were verified by reference to the inventory of the sale. The original documents, from which the above facts were obtained, are in the possession of Mr. Harry Grady Torrence, of Beatty's Ford, North Carolina.

1. ↑ Birth year estimated based on birth year of his son Hugh, and on his military service in 1780.