Person:Joseph Torrance (8)

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12. The Honorable Joseph Torrence4 (Aaron, Albert2 Sergeant Hugh1), born in York, now Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, December 2, 1751; died in Fayette County, February 23, 1831. He accompanied his parents when they left Cumberland County to take up residence in the Redstone Settlement, prior to 1768. Redstone Settlement was the name given to that territory in the southwest part of Pennsylvania, then claimed by Virginia, embracing what now constitutes the counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene and parts of Westmoreland and Allegheny. It took its name from a creek which enters the Monongahela River near Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and which passes by Redstone Old Fort, later Fort Burd.

Leaving this section, Joseph Torrence journeyed through the then wilderness trails, down through Virginia. While at Back Creek, in Frederick County, he met and became a friend of Captain George Paull, who had a large plantation at this place.52

Paull-Irwin, by Elizabeth Maxwell Paull, before referred to, says Captain Paull, youngest son of Hugh Paull, the pioneer, decided to take advantage of the lands opened to settlers in the northern part of Virginia at that time. He sold his plantation at Back Creek on November 21, 1768. By pack team, he and his family, accompanied by Joseph Torrence, travelled on until they reached the Redstone Settlement, and established themselves near the base of Laurel Hill. Here they became neighbors of Aaron Torrence and his family, whom Joseph rejoined, and remained with them until the death of his mother in 1772. Later, his father returned to his former home in Peters Township, Franklin County, with his four sons, where Joseph remained until he entered the Revolutionary Army. He was ensign in the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment, in 1777, under Colonel Irvine; 2nd Lieutenant in Captain Jeremiah Talbott's Company, as it stood, November 30, 1777, under Colonel David Grier, who succeeded Colonel William Irvine when he was made prisoner. Lieutenant Torrence was with the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment when it was under Washington at Valley Forge. Heitman Note 53-1 lists him as: "Penna. 2nd. Lt. Penna. 7th. June 1777, 1st Lt. 2 February, 1778. Resigned April 15, 1779." War service ended, he returned to Fayette County, where the United States Census of 1790 ascribed to him three white males over 16, two under sixteen, five females and one slave. He took a prominent part in State and County civil affairs and was elected to the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, October 12, 1784.Note 53-2 Other positions of trust followed in quick succession as set forth by Ellis:Note 53-3

On October 25, 1787, Joseph Torrence was elected Sheriff, re-elected November 5, 1788, and again October 30,1789.

In 1790, he was elected County Commissioner. In the years 1791-93, he was a member of the 'louse of Representatives of Pennsylvania. On September a, 1789, he was elected County Lieutenant. (An office that existed in Pennsylvania from 1776 to 1789, and carried with it the title of Colonel. It gave to the person holding it command of the Militia and the management of the military fiscal affairs for the county.)

He was elected a delegate to the First Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania, held at Philadelphia, Pa.7 during the winters of 1792 and 1793.

He was elected County Auditor for 1809-1810.

53 Meanwhile he acquired by grant and purchase considerable land not only in Fayette County, but also in Washington and Allegheny, and did much business in real estate as well as overseeing his plantations. His earliest warrants, grants or purchases were:

August 30, 1785. A tract of land called Berresford, on Raccoon Creek, in Washington County, beginning at a white oak, at said Creek, thence by John Bavington's land, N. 87 degrees, (etc.), 333 acres, 20 perches.Note 54-1 This land was conveyed to Samuel Strain, September 28, 1798, by Joseph Torrence and his wife Mary Torrence.Note 54-2 October 26, 1787. Land called Peace, containing 21314 acres in Franklin Township, Fayette County.:Note 54-3 October 26, 1787. To Joseph Torrence, 200 acres, Franklin Township, Fayette County. July 28, 1790. Described as Joseph Torrence, Esq., purchased at Uniontown, 156½ acres on Waters Creek, Brown's Run in German Township, for £81.0-0.Note 54-4 April, 1793. Pleasant Grove, 161 acres in Fayette County.Note 54-5 December 3, 1825, Joseph Torrence sold to William Scott, Warrant No. 60, dated March 31, 1794, for 400 acres in Mercer Township, Allegheny County.Note 54-6 The Connellsville Navigation Company, formed October 8, 1816, carried on the first banking business in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Of this Mr. Torrence was a director, and acted as Chairman of its Board of Directors at the meeting when Isaac Meason, Jr., was made its president.

Mr. Torrence's activity in civic and business affairs was supplemented by his vital interest in the religious life of the Community and his Church. This was recognized in his selection and election as the second Ruling Elder of the Laurel Hill United Presbyterian Church, succeeding Mr. Samuel Finley and serving acceptably until his death.On January 18, 1781, he was married by the Reverend James Dunlop54 to Mary Paull, second child of Captain George and Martha (Irwin) Paull. She was born in Frederick County, Virginia, in 1762 and died September 30, 1842. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Torrence resided on their plantation "Peace", where they long dispensed a charming and wide hospitality. Both are buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, as are the parents of Mrs. Torrence, whose gravestones are marked:

In Memory of George Paull who departed This Life on the 81st Day of March, 1778. In the 44 Year of his Age. In Memory of Martha Paull who Departed This Life on the 11th Day of May, 1802. In the 69th Year of her Age. The Will of Colonel Joseph Torrence, dated January 25, 1827, proved April 15, 1831 is of record at Uniontown.Note 55-1 By it he gave the plantation on which he lived to his wife and son, Joseph; his bank stock of the Old Bank of Pittsburgh to his daughter Clarissa; lands in Hamilton County, Ohio, to son, George Paull Torrence. Bequests were made to his daughter Jane, wife of Colonel William Ludlum Miller; to his son Aaron the house in which he lives; $2000.00 and a house and lot to his son Samuel, His grandson, Joseph Torrence Power was also a devisee.

Children of the Honorable Joseph and Mary (Paull) Torrence, all probably born at "Peace Plantation", ten:

¶20. George Paull Torrence,5 married Mary Brownson Findlay. ¶21. Susannah Torrence5 married James Power, M.D. iii. Clarissa Torrence5 born 1793; married Samuel Russell. No issue. ¶22. Jane Torrence5 married Colonel William Ludlum Miller. ¶23. Joseph Torrence5married Catherine Rogers. Samuel Torrence5 born 1806; was graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in Class of 1828; was lieutenant in the Army, and died of Yellow Fever at flock Island Arsenal, September 1, 1832; buried at Fort Armstrong, Illinois. Aaron Torrence, M. D5 born in 1812; died June 7, 1880; married Mary Gibson Rogers, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gibson) Rogers. She died at Mount Pleasant, October 26, 1846, in her fortysecond year. In a letter written by her to her husband, dated February 21, 1829, addressed to 341 Market Street, Philadelphia, she asks,"what prospect have you of bringing to me your miniature?" He was graduated, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania in 1829.Note 55-2 55 Elizabeth Torrence5 married John B. Trevor, son of Samuel and Sarah Trevor of Philadelphia. They took residence at Connellsville, between 1794 and 1795, where he was cashier of the Connellsville Navigation Company; was elected State Treasurer in 1820; served as Prothonotary. of Fayette County, and became a bank president in Philadelphia.Note 56-1 His son was a member of the firm of Trevor & Colgate, New York. Mary Torrence5 died an infant. Martha Torrence5 married Joseph Guthrie.