Heiress of Torrance

HEIRESS OF TORRANCE

According to John Anderson, Thomas Hamilton of Torrance married the heiress of Torrance of that Ilk and got with her the lands of Torrance. He cites Crawford, Gen. Coll. MS. Adv. Lib. pp. 24 and 27. Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton G. Harvey Johnston follows Anderson, saying that he is supposed to have married the heiress of Torrance. Heraldry of the Hamiltons

The Lands of Torrance

The lands of Torrance were formerly located within the parish of Saint Leonard of Torrance in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Canmore: St. Leonard's Chapel In 1589 the parish of Saint Leonard of Torrance was united with the parish of Kilbride, afterwards East Kilbride, and the lands of Torrance are presently located there. Canmore

John Stewart, Earl of Carrick, gave the lands of Torranys, together with Parc of Clounqwarn, Knocglas, Clonskeache Clayanysse, and Ardachryge, all in the barony of Kilbride and Sheriffdom of Lanark, to John Semple (aka Johanni Sympille), son and heir of Thomas Semple (aka Thome Sympille). Earl John of Carrick’s father, Robert II, King of Scots, confirmed his son’s gift at Dunfermline on 22 July 1373-74 with a charter issued under the Great Seal of Scotland [John Maitland Thomson, LL.D. (editor), Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1306-1424 (Scotland’s National Archives Reprinted by the Scottish Record Society in Conjunction with Clark Constable, Edinburgh, 1984), charter number 490 on page 177]

Thomas Hamilton of Torrance (aka Thomas Hamiltoune, lord of Torrens) acquired part of Torrance before 6 February 1416. National Records of Scotland: Crown Office Writs, reference AD1/34 It has been suggested that Torrance came to him through his marriage to the heiress of Torrance but evidence which might tend to support this proposition has not so far been found.

There is no evidence of a connection between the heiress of Torrance or her husband, Thomas Hamilton of Torrance, and the place named Torrance in East Dunbartonshire Wikipedia Nor is there any evidence of them having had a connection with the place named Torrance of Campsie in Stirlingshire. Stirlingshire Place-Names

Death

A death date has not been identified for the heiress of Torrance but her husband probably died before 5 October 1454, the date upon which his successor is first noticed, and it is supposed here that she probably died at about the same time as her husband, or soon after.

Marriage

According to John Anderson, Thomas Hamilton married the heiress of Torrance in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton However, there is no proof of this other than her putative husband's possession of Torrance.He is noticed as the Lord of Torrance on 6 February 1416 and it might be supposed, therefore, that he must have married the heiress before this date. National Records of Scotland, reference AD1/34

Thomas Hamilton's Successor at Torrance

Thomas Hamilton of Torrance was succeeded by:

1. Robert Hamilton of Torrance

Known Children of Thomas Hamilton of Torrance

Thomas Hamilton of Torrance is certainly known to be the father of:

1. Michael Hamilton of Lochhouse

Michael had a charter for Lochhouse in 1465 from Alexander, Lord Montgomery, in which he is identified as the son of the deceased Thomas Hamilton of Torrance.

Children Suggested for Thomas Hamilton of Torrance

G. harvey Johnston Heraldry of the Hamiltons and John Anderson Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton both say that Thomas Hamilton of Torrance is the father of:

1. James Hamilton of Woodhall

According to Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton, the British Museum Manuscript gives Thomas Hamilton of Torrance two daughters whose names are not known. [Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance]

1. Daughter married to the Laird of Tunninghame.
2. Daughter married to the Laird of Halcraig

Published Evidence for Thomas Hamilton of Torrance

6 February 1415/16: Charter of sale by Thomas Hamiltoun, lord of Torrens, to John Gynnis, burgess of Lynl[i]thcu, of annualrent of 16s. due to said Thomas from diverse built lands in said burgh, viz. 6s. from perch of land lying on east side of the market-place between tenement of John Leche, parson of Diserte on north and tenement of Robert Scot on south, and 10s. conjointly from two perches of land, one lying between tenement of deceased Robert Kyncawil on west and tenement of Patrick Ka on east, and the other lying near the church of said burgh between land of John Carnis and land of deceased Sir Robert Aldcathi, all which perches of land Alan Paisley, burgess of said burgh, holds in feu-ferm for said sum of 16s. National Records of Scotland: Crown Office Writs, reference AD1/34

Published Accounts of the Hamiltons of Torrance

1. John Anderson, Surgeon, Licenciate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton; with Genealogical Memoirs of the Several Branches of the Family (John Anderson, Jun., Edinburgh, MDCCCXXV), pp. 386-88 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance
2. G. Harvey Johnston, FSA Scot., Heraldry of the Hamiltons with Notes on All the Males of the Family, Descriptions of the Arms, Plates and Pedigrees (W. & A. K. Johnston, Limited, Edinburgh and London, MCMIX), pp. 88-91 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance
3. Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh 1933), 1167 pages.