Hamilton of Torrance

ORIGIN OF THE FAMILY

The Hamiltons of Torrance were an important branch of the family which descended from Walter son of Gilbert, the fourteenth century lord of the barony of Cadzow. It gave rise to numerous cadet branches during the sixteenth century, including the Hamiltons of Aikenhead, the Hamiltons of Ardoch, the Hamiltons of Bogton, the Hamiltons of Inchmauchan, the Hamiltons of the Inch of Bathgate, the Hamiltons of Piell (Peill-Thornton), and the Hamiltons of Shawtoun.

Image right Torrance House, Courtesy of Scottish Castles Association

THE LANDS OF TORRANCE

The lands of Torrance are located in the Lanarkshire parish of East Kilbride but up until 1589 they formed a seperate parish A vision of Britain through time, the parish of St. Leonard of Torrance. The place name Torrance is derived from an artificial mound known as the Tor History of Rutherglen and East Kilbride

John Stewart, Earl of Carrick, gave part at least of 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 or all of the lands 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 Thomas Hamilton of Torrance and the place named Torrance in East Dunbartonshire Wikipedia Nor is there any evidence of him having had a connection with Torrance of Campsie in Stirlingshire. Stirlingshire Place-Names

TORRANCE HOUSE

Torrance House was the principal dwelling place of the family. It is located about two miles South-East of the new town of East Kilbride, in a defensive position high above the left bank of the Rotten Calder Water. The original dwelling was a L-shaped tower house, the oldest part of which was probably built during the fourteenth century. A vision of Britain through time There is a wall tablet in the tower which has the inscription: "Built 1605" "Restored 1875" and the arms of the Stuarts of Torrance, the family who purchased Torrance from the Hamilton family. Canmore: Torrance House

SOURCES AND FURTHER READING

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 https://archive.org/stream/historicalgeneal00ande#page/386/mode/1up
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 https://archive.org/stream/heraldryofhamils00john#page/88/mode/1up
   

Image above Torrance House, Courtesy of Scottish Castles Association