1924
To try to follow the line of Torrances back to the first of the name would be a task for the most patient of writers. According to different authorities the name is abundantly found in Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, and is known in France and Spain. So to trace it through all of these countries would be a most difficult undertaking.
But we have tried to find our immediate line of ancestors, and, in so doing, have found that the line dates back to the year 1600. We find that James Torrance, who was born that year in Scotland, was the great-grandfather of Hugh Torrance, whose birth year was 1695. Also, James was grandfather of Thomas Torrance, Drumbo, County Downs, Ireland. Thomas Torrance was born about the year 1635. Still on down the line we find Aaron Torrance, Sr., born in Scotland in the year 1665, then Hugh Torrance, born in Mayoghle, County Londonderry, Ireland, in the year 1695.
Next comes Thomas Torrance, born in Ireland in the year 1700. He is a great-great-grandfather of the writer. He married Anna Root (year unknown). He emigrated to America in the year 1740 and settled at Woodbury, Connecticut. Samuel Torrance (son of Thomas), born in the year 1752, married Anne Mitchell.
Next in line is Timothy M. Torrance, born September 1, 1782, at Roxbury, Connecticut; married Zurvina Hitchcock, who was born October 28, 1782. Then next is Garwood M. Torrance, born August 4, 1814; married Percis C Bassett, who was born April 5, 1817.
Next is Mitchell T Torrance, born July 3, 1845. Married Sarah J Cross, born September 19, 1847.
James Torrance, great-grandfather of Hugh, was born in Scotland about 1600. He married Mary ______ about 1635. To this union were born one son and two daughters, viz:
1. Thomas Torrance, grandfather of Hugh, was born in Scotland about the year 1635. He married Sally ______. To this union were born two sons, viz.:
1. Aaron Torrance, Sr., was born in Scotland in 1665. He married Sally, daughter of ______, born in 1668. To this union were born four sons, viz.:
1. Hugh Torrance was born in 1695, in Ireland.
He married Eleanor ______. To this union were born three sons and three daughters, viz.:
1. Jean Torrance, daughter of Hugh and Eleanor Torrance, was born on Mayoghle, Ireland, in 1729; she married ______ Torrance, a cousin; she died in October, 1803. They had fourteen children. Three of their sons were:
1. John Torrance, son of ______ and Jean (Torrance) Torrance, of Mayoghle, Ireland, emigrated to Chester, Pennsylvania, fifteen miles from Philadelphia. He was living in Chester in 1754. He had five sons, viz.:
1. John Torrance, grandson of ______ and Jean (Torrance) Torrance, of Mayoghle, Ireland, lived in Chester county, Pennsylvania. He had eight sons, viz.:
1. Albert Torrance, son of John Torrance and grandfather of A.U.Torrance, of Fostoria, Ohio, moved from Chester county, Pennsylvania, between the years 1820 and 1825, to Meigs county, Ohio, where he settled on a farm. It is thought that he gave the name Chester to that village when it was founded soon afterwards. He had three sons, viz.:
1. John Francis Torrance, father of A.U.Torrance, was born in 1831, at Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. He had eight children, viz.:
1. James Wilbert Torrance, son of John Francis Torrance, died at Parkersburg, West Virginia.
2. Sarah Frances Quick, daughter of John Francis Torrance, lives at Parkersburg, West Virginia.
3. Malinda Alice Lytle, daughter of John Francis Torrance, lives at Parkersburg, West Virginia.
4. Joseph Emery Torrance, son of John Francis Torrance, lives at Long Bottom, Ohio.
5. Luella Torrance Stansbury, daughter of John Francis Torrance, lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
6. Alvin U. Torrance, son of John Francis Torrance, lives at Fostoria, Ohio.
7. Judson B. Torrance, son of John Francis Torrance, lives at Reedsville, Ohio.
8. Blanch Torrance Corey, daughter of John Francis Torrance, lives at Cotopaxi, California.
3. William Torrence, son of Albert Torrence of Chester, had three sons:
1. Martin Luther
(Quoted from genealogy compiled by Jared Sidney Torrance)
Hugh Torrance, who resided in Mayoghle (now Mayoughill), County Londonderry, Parish of Oughednway, near Nocarrah. Londonderry, Ireland, was b. 1695; d. Mayoghle, Ireland, ______ 1779, aet. 84. His wife, Eleanor, was b. _____ 1706; d. Mayoghle, Ireland, ____ 1769, aet 63. He was descended from Scotch ancestors, who were among the covenanters who fled from Scotland in the seventeenth century, to escape religious persecution. He was a farmer. They had children:
etc.
pages 5 through 64 (reports Elbert W Philips) of this book merely repeat essentially word-for-word the data on the descendants of Robert Torrance contained in Jared Sidney Torrance's book....