Person:John Torrance (14)

Information on John Torrance

http://www.4qd.org/torrens/books/rmt05.html

14. John Torrence4 (Aaron8 Albert2 Sergeant Hugh1), was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1759, and died June 29, 1840, in Xenia, Ohio, where he was buried in the Seceder's Graveyard on West Market Street. Later, his remains were removed to the lot of his son Aaron, in Woodlawn Cemetery. He accompanied his parents in or about 1768, from Cumberland County to the Redstone Settlement, now embraced in Fayette County, but after the death of his mother in 1772, returned with his father and brothers to the former home in Peter's Township, Cumberland, later Franklin County. From here, in 1777, he enlisted for service in the Revolution.

His pension papers, on file in the Revolutionary War Archives in Washington, D. C., Navy Building, Wing 8, under Numbers S 6257, 13026, give many interesting facts as can be surmised from the few excerpts given:

John Torrence, of Green County, Ohio, Was a Sergeant in Company of Capt. Eskew, of the Regiment commanded by Col. James Dunlop, Pennsylvania Militia; served for seven months. Subscribed on Roll of Ohio, rate $35.83 per annum, to commence 4 March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued a May, 1833, sent to Xenia, Ohio. "Declaration: 15 September, 1832, personally appeared John Torrence, aged 74,Note 58-1 in November; entered services of United States, month of August in 1777; militiaman under Capt. Eskew, in regiment attached to Col. Dunlop; that be lived in Cumberland County, Pa." Then follows a detailed account of their marching from Shippensburg to Carlisle, Lancaster, and Marcus58 Hook, where they were under General Potter. Next, the army marched to Chester and Philadelphia. Here he took sick and in consequence thereof was sent home, his time being nearly out. In the Spring of 1780, he thinks he went to Lexington, Kentucky, where he, with others, lived at "the station," until the Spring of 1783. "Every man, at that time, was a soldier and under arms on call for excursions against the Indians." In the Fall of 1782, he was in the campaign of General George Rogers Clark. His Captain was under McConnell and he thinks that Col. Robert Patterson commanded the regiment to which his company was attached. During the three years he remained at "the station," he was subject to frequent emergency calls which were all under the command of Col. John Todd, who was, at that time, County Lieutenant. "There was not an inhabitant on the north side of the Kentucky River, who to his knowledge and recollection did not live in forts or 'Stations'." Subscribed to. Personally appeared John Torrence, of Green County, Ohio, 19 March, 1833. "I served as a private soldier and drafted militiaman under Capt. Eskew for two months until discharged on account of sickness. I served under General Clark as a Sergeant.

Family letters clearly prove that John Torrence lived for a time at Lexington. Unfortunately, the Court House at Lexington was destroyed by fire January 31, 1803. But the records saved show him to have been one of the original settlers of that town. His name appears in the list placed on the books of "Town Trustees" under date of March 21, 1781. He drew "In-Lot-No. 82" and was awarded "Out-Lot-K." His receipt for these indicate be had been in Lexington at least six months earlier, as he had planted crops the year before, hence there in 1780. Later, he exchanged his first lots for "In-Lot 27, Out-Lot 16".

The County Records also show that John Torrence on August 13, 1804, sold his properties in Lexington to William Mitchell, after which be went to Ohio, settling in Sugar Creek Township, Green County. The Court records of Xenia, Ohio, disclose that he acquired land there through a grant from that State.

His will, dated August 9, 1838, was admitted to probate in Green County Court, August 24, 1840.Note 59-1 Among the papers filed with the account is a receipt for digging grave of John Torrence, June 80, 1840, indicating that he died on June 29.

He married in 1785, possibly, though not certainly, at Lexington, Jane (McConnell) Jolly, widow of Captain Jolly, of Xenia; born June 24, 1762; died July 18, 1840. Diligent search has not disclosed her59 parentage. A present-day historian of Lexington is authority for the statement there were four distinct McConnell families there. One, Captain William McConnell, known as "Buck" McConnell, established McConnell Station in 1779.Note 60-1 It is his belief that these McConnells came from Pennsylvania to Kentucky.

By her first marriage Jane (McConnell) Jolly had one son, John Jolly, born March 22, 1782; killed in the War of 1812; married a Mrs. White and had four daughters: Martha Richards, Hilda Irwin, Mary Jolly and Dalla Jolly.

Children of John and Jane (McConnell) Jolly Torrence, ten: i. Susan Torrence5 born at Lexington, Ky., April 19, 1787; married William Andrew. Issue, two: 1. John Torrence Andrew6 married and had eight children: i. Robert McClellan Andrew7 married and had issue, three: 1. Elizabeth Jane Andrew8 married Robert Thompson, and had issue, two: i. Rebe Thompson9 ii. Robert Andrew Thompson9 2. George M. Andrew5 married, and had one child: i. Edith Thompson Andrew9 3. Mary Matilda Andrew8 married Floyd Sturkhard; had two children: i. Floyd Sturkhard9 ii. Dora Sturkhard9 ii. Susan Ruth Andrew7 married Mr. Kuntz. iii. Elizabeth Rebecca Andrew7 married Mr. Dunn. iv. William A. Andrew7 v. John Torrence Andrew7 vi. Mary Matilda Andrew7 vii. Margaret Jane Andrew, 7 married Charles Montgomery and had one son: 1. Charles Montgomery8 viii. Hugh Rankin Andrew7 married and had seven children; 1. Albert Andrew8 2. Gertrude Andrew8 married Mr. Armstrong. 3. George Andrew9 4. Viola Agnes Andrew8 married Mr. Wheeler. 5. Edward Andrew8 6. Margaret Andrew8 married Mr. Glascock. 7. Dora Andrew8 married Mr. Barnard. Issue, three: i. Gertrude Barnard9 ii. Elizabeth Barnard9 iii. Martin Barnard9 2. Elizabeth Morrow Andrew6second child of William and Susan (Torrence) Andrew, married Mr. Davidson and had four children: i. Margaret Matilda Davidson7 ii. William Andrew Davidson7 iii. Susan Jane Davidson7 iv. Martha Eliza Davidson7 married Mr. Wolfe. Issue, one: i. Edith Fiorella Wolfe8 married Mr. Maddux and had issue, one: Etta Bell Maddux9 ¶ 25. ii. William Torrence5 married (1) Jane Laurence; (2) Mary Watt; (3) Mrs. Margaret Espy; had eleven children by his first and second marriages60 iii. Jane Torrence5 born at Lexington, Kentucky, November 29, 1791; married James Currie. No issue. iv. Betsy Torrence5 born at Lexington, Ky., January 15, 1793; married George Junkins. No issue. ¶ 26. v. Mary Torrence5 married Hugh Tate. ¶ 27. vi. Aaron Torrence5 married Mary Jane Winter. ¶ 28. vii. Anne Torrence5 married (1) Archibald Jackson; (2) Mr. Winter. viii. John Torrence5 born at Lexington, Ky., November 10, 1801; died January 1, 1856; was Colonel of Militia; married in 1837, Catherine Foster. Issue, three: 1. Henry Torrance6 2. Ellen Jane Torrence6 married James Carson and had issue, one: i. Eva Carson7who married Matthew J. Donaldson of Pittsburgh, Pa. 3. Fannie B. Torrence6 born 1851; married, May 8 1878 in Xenia, Ohio, the Rev. Seth Reed Gordon, Presbyterian clergyman of Mercer, Pennsylvania. Issue, three: i. William Edward Gordon7 born at Pittsburgh, Pa., August 19, 1881; died January 14, 1917; married, April 3, 1907, Emma Byer, of Punxsutawney, Pa., three children: 1. William Edward Gordon, Jr8 born at Tulsa, Okla., April 7, 1908. 2. Torrance Byer Gordon8 born at Tulsa, Okla., February 14, 1912. 3. Frances Jane Gordon8 born at Tulsa, Okla., June 28, 1915. ii. Frances Katharine Gordon7 born at Parnassus, Pa., 7 May, 1884; died April 17, 1907; married, June 20, 1906, Arthur E. Crow, M.D., of Uniontown, Pa. iii. Seth Paul Gordon7 born at Parnassus, Pa., September 18, 1885; died August 2, 1908. ¶ 29. ix. David Torrence5 married (1) Sarah Finney; (2) Ann Ingram Stewart. x. Clarissa Torrence5 born at Xenia, Ohio, October 29, 1806, died October 29, 1869, unmarried.