This letter was written by Robert G Torrence to Hugh Simon Torrens (elder son of Robert George Torrens) in response to Hugh's letter informing him of the death of Robert George Torrens
Robert G. Torrens Blake Hill - Route 4 East Woodstock Vermont 05091 June 3 1891 Dear Hugh Your letter arrived yesterday. I hasten to send my sincerest sympathies to you and all the family. I had no idea that your father had suffered a second stroke, and, though life for him afterwards as you described it must have been unbearable, I know what sort of a gap the death of one's parent leaves, no matter how much one rationalises the circumstances. The news came as quite a shock to me. I had grown very fond of my "pen-pal" so to speak. His devotion to genealogy and his precise approach to it reminded me so of my own father that doing what I could to help gave me real pleasure. Perhaps the high point was finding those Kernohan papers he so dearly wanted to see. I find it interesting to learn that you were the imaginative chap who thought of locating me through Millbrook School, and that you will be continuing your father's genealogical efforts. Concerning the references on page 30 and 40 of TAF, I wonder whether you have my letter of April 24 addressed to your father and which I expect he may not have received or, if so, coped with. In it I asked whether he had ever received a reply from a letter written by him November 26, 1979 to Mrs. Paul Nelson of State College, PA. She was the closest relative to Miss Elizabeth H K Torrens I could unearth and, I thought, possibly might have the book he was seeking. I am still working on the p.40 reference, so far without success. My records show that 253 copies of TAF were distributed. As this is an odd number and no record of others exist, I suspect that 250 copies were printed and that there was an overrun which would account for the extra three. At any rate copies of the book are held by those who have it with some tenacity. I have been trying to locate a bound copy for my fourth child - we have three for the other three children including my own copy - and have been politely turned down by several owners who I had reason to believe may be willing to swap for a photo-flood. With respect to the papers you have at hand from me, I would suggest you keep them at least for the time being. It will be a pleasure to keep in touch with you and I do hope one day we may meet. You may be sure that I have the same sort of respect for your father that he held for mine. This, I feel gives us all a sort of bond and it is nice to see you bear the name of Hugh to whom our lines owe so much. Most sincerely Bob.