📄 Torrence Family History

From an unsigned, undated, handwritten Torrence family history. The text is somewhat inconsistent-- it gives conflicting dates for William Gray Torrence (1799-1878)'s death, for example. It includes some relatives of Margaret R. McCabe (1802-1880).

Details in the text suggest it was written by one of William Gray Torrence (1799-1878)'s granchildren, and including Oliver Perry Torrence (1835-1871)'s children suggests it was one of them.

Hugh Torrance - Mary Borland (Gray)

Hugh Torrence
Born 1745
Died June 23, 1830
Wednesday

Mary Borland
Sister of Prof John Borland. Proj. in one of the colleges in New York City. Married first to William Gray. Three sons born, John, James, and George Gray.

Mary Borland Gray Torrence died Sept 5, 1838

Hugh Torrence married twice. First family two sons, Hugh Jr. and Samuel. Two daughters-- Mrs. Mary (Wm.) Parks and Jane Torrence. Hugh Torrence settled in West Moreland County at Manor Station, coming first from Cumberland County, Pa. Hugh was [?] a soldier in Revolutionary War.

Family of 2nd marriage = five. James, Adam, William Gray, Joseph and Albert Torrence.

James Torrence - Dayton Ohio (unreadable). Mail agent bet. Cin. and Dayton Oh.

Adam Torrence married Rev. Graham's daughter, a pres. ministre. Graham Torrence - Ely Torrence, one of Adam's sons a judge of courts in Minneapolis, Minn. Uncle Adam was a Presbyterian Preacher in Alexandria (or Salem) in West Moreland Co. For 30 years. 3 dau. married to preachers.

Joseph Torrence a blacksmith by trade, died in Blairsville Pa. Three sons Albert, Reed, and John. Reed was a resedent of Wilkinsburg. John and Albert, Blairsville. Albert a dry-goods merchant.

Albert B. - a school teacher in Johnstown Penna -> (our grandfather's brother)

Hugh Torrence, Pa half bro. of William Gray Torrence married Mary Gray (1st wife)

Hugh Jr. a farmer in Manor. William and Fenton. Hugh Jr. and Samuel inherited the Torrence home stead consisting of two farms.

Samuel Torrence - wife's name was Peeble (aunt Amanda not certain about name). Sons William and Hitchman. 1 daughter Mrs. Ellen Guthrie lived at Reynoldsville Pa.

William Gray Torrence married Margaret Riddle McCabe in 1820 July 15th or 1821 in the month of July in Allegheny Co. Pa. W.G. a teacher in Allegheny Co. or perhaps near Mourngahela [?]. Wm and Margaret left home to be married, her father refusing to give his consent because Margaret was the only child left at home. Her step-mother however favored the match and assisted the bride in her flight. Margaret R. McCabe was the daughter of William McCabe-- her mother's name was probably Riddle. She died when Margaret was a very young infant. 2nd wife Willow Cummings.

William McCabe Jr. Allegheny Co., Pa

John McCabe - Washington Pike Road bet. Washington, Pa and Pittsburgh.

Samuel McCabe (White Smith on the Yellowstone or Red River)

James (2 farms upon which is built the town of Coraopolis, Pa)

Joseph Edmundson lived on old home stead at Gnel Station near Mansfield Pa, now called Carnegie-- Thompson and Mary Bunreadable.

Robert unreadable unreadable wife Mahala.

Catherine

Elizabeth

Margaret Riddle

Grandpa Torrence. 79 on the 2nd day of March died on unreadable May 1878. 17-99

The McCabes are all Presbyterians. James McCabe was an Elder for over 40 years.

Hugh Torrence Sr. sent for Grandpa and Grandma to come home soon after their marriage and they lived there for over a year until after the birth of their first child Hugh Milo Torrence. Grandpa still teaching school. In the county around about they lived for a while on Crosby's farm and on Wood's farm, then moved to Greensbury Pa, then to Clarkson, Columbiana Ohio, for 5 or 6 years and then moved to Gilford, Col. Co Ohio and then to Wellseville Col. Co Ohio. Grandpa was born May 1st 1799 died March 2nd 1878.
Grandma was born in December or November 1802, died August 28th 1880.

Grandpa's family--
Hugh Milo Torrence born June 12 1822 died Jany 11 1895
William Cyrus Torrence born July 4, 1824 died Feb 17 1857
Anna Margaret
Oliver Amanda Corrie [?] Amanda John

Hugh Milo - went into War of Rebellion as 1st lieutenant, 115th Reg. Ohio Volun. Was on Gen'l Thomas's staff as a topo-graphical engineer, laid out block houses and railroads for governments. H was ably discharged 1865.

Cyrus went into Mexican War when war first broke out. enlisted in 3rd Ohop at Massillon, Stark Co. Col Curtis. Stayed until war was over, honorably discharged, returned to Texas married and died there, coach and buggy maker.

Amanda Malvina, Wellsville Ohio

Mary Armenta married Michael Bowers Wellsville Ohio

Elizabeth Minerva married Alexander Bunting, Wellsville Ohio

Alexander Hamilton, died when 6 weeks old.

Grandpa a United Presbyterian religiously and a Whig and Republican politically.

Daniel Webster Torrence

Oliver Perry December 17 1835, died August 12th 1871 married Elizabeth Edwards
Cyrus Marvin
Kate Amanda
Margaret Love
Emma Blanche
James Frederick
James Madison, born in February 15 1837 or 1838. War of rebellion
Joseph Edmundson, War of rebellion
Sylvanus died when 2 yrs old
Grandpa went into the war of rebellion 115th Ohio Volunteers. Served 3 years as Regimental Post Master. One of commanding generals was unreadable. Grandpa was one of the two oldest men in the Army of the Cumberland .Gen'l Van Cleve being the other one, he and Gen'l Van Cleve being near in age.

General Van Cleve was commanding officer. 115 Vol. guarded the Capital at Columbus for 1 year.

Notes:

• Manor Station seems to be Manor, Pa
• Mentioning Albert B. Torrence as "our grandfather's brother" means possible authors include all of William Gray Torrence (1799-1878)'s grandchildren, which includes Emma Blanche Torrence (1868-1925) and her siblings. It could be a number of other people, but since I eventually inherited the document, this seems likeliest. There's also the mention of "Grandpa and Grandma" and "their first child Hugh Milo Torrence".
• The mention of "William and Fenton" is puzzling. Hugh Sr. married Mary Fenton (1753-1795). "William and Fenton"?
• Other info I've found indicates that Margaret R. McCabe (1802-1880) outlived William Gray Torrence (1799-1878). Willow Cummings may have been Margaret's father's second wife, though the text is unclear.
• From Wikipedia: "A whitesmith is a metalworker who does finishing work on iron and steel such as filing, lathing, burnishing or polishing. The term also refers to a person who works with "white" or light-coloured metals, and is sometimes used as a synonym for tinsmith."
• Coraopolis, Pa is in Allegheny County, Pa. The Wikipedia page for Coraopolis says in part that
  > The History of Pennsylvania, Page 1577, indicates that the city was built on land, then owned, by James Harvey McCabe and when the borough charter was granted, he was elected first burgess. "and, under his careful and interested administration the departments of the new government and were, in an astonishing short time, working with great lubricity and resulting high efficiency. As he took the lead in the matter of establishing the new form of government, so it was his energetic championing of the projected laying of the tracks of the Pittsburg and Lake Erie through thr borough that made that enterprise possible, his active assistance in securing rights of way being an important factor in its success."