📄 Letter, Adam Torrence to William Gray Torrence, Nov 6 1871

A letter from Adam Torrence (1801-1881) to William Gray Torrence (1799-1878) covering some family and revolutionary war history.

Found in an envelope labeled "Uncle Adam Torrence's letter" and "Family Record" along with 📄 Poem attributed to William Gray Torrence and 📄 Edwards family history

New Alexandria, Pa
Nov. 6th 1871

Dear Brother William,

After two or three unsuccessful searches for my genealogical memorandum I succeeded this morning in finding it, and will now proceed to answer your inquiries as contained in your letter of the 30th unreadable, so far as my information will enable me.

Hugh Torrance our great grandfather was a native of Ireland (date of birth & death unknown) was a sergeant in the British army in Ireland. He fought and suffered in the siege of Londonderry, in the year 1689 during the memorable struggle made by James the second to recover the throne of England from Wm and Mary.

He had three sons: viz. James, Albert, and Hugh . Hugh (our grandfather) emigrated to America and settled in Cumberland County near Newville. The year not known. He had three wives. By the first he had four children. By the second, none. His third wife was a Mrs. Cunningham, having had five children by her first hisband, she bore three to our grandfather, viz., James, Hugh, and Sarah. He was born, as I said, in Ireland, Oct. 10th 1701 and died in Cumberland County July 22, 1784.

Hugh, his youngest son, and our father was born Nov. 5th 1745. He served four tours in the revolutionary war. Twice he was drafted and twice he volunteered.

1st in the year 1776, bearing the commision of ensign, in Captain Shannon's company of Cumberland County.

2nd in '76 and '77 with the commision of ensign, at Middleton and Red Bank, N.J., assisted in capturing the 100 wagon loads of provisions from the British.

3rd, in 1777. He was at Marcus Hook, at Wilmington, in the battle of Brandywine on the 11th Sept.-- in the skirmish with the British at "White Horse Tavern" and in the battle of Germantown. In this tour he held an adjustant's commision under Col Dunlap, of Cumberland Co.

4th In 1778 at the standing stone, bearing a Brigade Major's commision under Col. Dunlap.

The date of his first and second marriages I do not know.

Our half brother Samuel was a babe on his mother's breast, when our father moved from his native spot in Cumberland Co. to Fayette Co in 1780.

On the 3rd of April 1787 he moved into his log cabin (the old kitchen) in Westmoreland county.

He died June 23rd 1830.

I have given you the most important facts in my possession, connected with the direct line of our ancestors.

I could fill half a dozen pages with names and dates and biographical sketches of collateral friends, but they are not material to the object of your present inquiries. Besides, it would require considerable time and labor to collate and arrange them in proper order.

I might have stated that our father was one of a Company of armed men who marched from Jacobs Creek settlement for the relief of Hannachstown, arriving at unreadable the next morning after the burning and pursuing the Indians to their place of crossing the Kiskinminitas, also some interesting facts in his efforts to resist the spread of the spirit of thw Whiskey rebellion in Western Penn, but I have not time to write them out just now.

We are all in our usual health and unite in kindest regards to you. I saw Albert in Johnstown three weeks since-- He was well and intended soon to commence teaching in a country school.

Your affectionate brother,
Adam

Notes:

• Cumberland County and Newville are in south-central Pennsylvania
• Marcus Hook is a borough in Delaware County, Pa, in the southeastern corner of the state.
• Fayette County is in southwestern Pa on the border with Maryland and West Virginia.
• Westmoreland County is just north of Fayette County
• "Hannachstown" may be Hanna's Town, a historic site in Westmoreland County.
• The Kiskinminitas river is in Western Pennsylvania, between Westmoreland and Indiana counties.
• Jacobs creek is an unincorporated area in Westmoreland County.

• The White Horse Tavern is in southeastern Pa. Wikipedia says that
  > General George Washington used the older part as his headquarters following the Battle of Brandywine and during the aborted "Battle of the Clouds."

• "Albert" apparently refers to Albert B. Torrence (1803-1879).