Robert McIlvaine Torrence, 1873-1965

Robert McIlvaine Torrence 1873-1965 The Society reports with deep regret the death of Robert McIlvaine Torrence in his ninety-third year on 27 November 1965, in Baltimore. Elected to membership in the Genealogical Society 20 October 1936, he became a Life Member 31 December 1937, was elected a Director of the Society in 1943, a Vice-President in 1948, and an Honorary VicePresident in 1962. He had been elected a Fellow of the Society in November 1950. Born 3 February 1873, in New Haven, Pennsylvania, third child of Lt. Thomas Rogers Torrence and his wife Gertrude Olivia McIlvaine, he was graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1895. For a time he engaged in newspaper work on the Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph, then became interested in the manufacturing of glass in Washington, Pennsylvania. Though long a resident of Baltimore, after his retirement from business he maintained a continuing interest in the Genealogical Society, and was a frequent contributor to this Magazine. He presented photostatic copies to the Society of the records of the Upper Conococheague Presbyterian Church, Mercersburg, Franklin County, a transcript of which appeared in 1947 in this Magazine. The same year an article on "Robert Greer (Grier) from Ireland to Pennsylvania-Georgia" appeared. "The Six Sons of Samuel Findley of Mercersburg, Pa., and an Incident in the White House" was published in 1948; in 1955, "Descendants of James Smith of York, Pa. A Signer of the Declaration of Independence;" in 1957, "The McClean Family and the Mason-Dixon Line," and in 1959, "Sunflower Oil." In addition to these articles he published several books, the first of which was his comprehensive Torrence and Allied Families in 1938. American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin County, Pa. came out in 1947. With Robert L. Whittenburg he published Colonel "Davy" Crochet in 1956. The Barnitz Family, published in 1961, was his most recent work. A member of the Military Order of Loyal Legion of the United 238 Robert Mclivaine Torrence 239 States, Mr. Torrence also held memberships in the Virginia and Maryland Historical Societies. On 1 5 February 1922, he married Helen H. Leeds of Springdale, York, by whom he had one son, Robert Grier P. Torrence. In addition to his widow and son he is survived by four grandchildren and a sister Pauline, Mrs. Walter van Baman of York, Pennsylvania. To them the Society extends its gratitude for his faithful interest and generous contributions. Corrections The Editor regrets the error which appeared in Volume XXIV, No. 2, page 143, in the memorial notice of Lewis Bonsai Beatty. Mr. Beatty was the son of Robert Walter Beatty and his wife Hetty Boman, not the son of Mary Penrose Maddock, as reported. She was his grandmother In the same volume, page 38, the extracts translated by Edward W. Hooker from Christopher Sower's German newspapers are from his Pensylvanische Berichte, the name to which the Pensylvanische Geschict-Schreiber was changed in October, 1745. Also in the same volume, page 99, Note 110, line 3, it was David Davis, "said to have married Margaret Evans 8 March 1686," who died 23 March 1686, not 1683 as given. Information Wanted Sarah M. Wallace, 196 West, 100 South, St. George, Utah, 84770, will pay for data on, or exchange information on the parents of Thomas HAMILTON, Revolutionary soldier, born 1752 near Easton, Pa. Also for information on the parents of his wife, Sarah Westfall (Weatfeal). They were the parents of six children, most of them born in Sussex Co., New Jersey.