Adam Torrence

Adam Torrence Sr. (1732-June 20, 1780) was the owner of Torrence's Tavern in Rowan County, North Carolina before 1780. He was a soldier in the Mecklenburg County Regiment, North Carolina militia and killed at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill in Lincoln County, North Carolina during the American Revolution. After his death, his wife, Ann (Bonar) Torrence was managing the tavern when the Battle of Torrence's Tavern took place nearby.[1][2][3]

Private

Adam Torrence Sr.
Birth nameAdam Torrence
Born1722
Ireland
DiedJune 20, 1780
Ramsour's Mill, Lincoln County, North Carolina
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchMilitia
Years of service1780
RankPrivate
UnitMecklenburg County Regiment, North Carolina Militia
Battles/warsBattle of Ramsour's Mill
Spouse(s)Anna Brandon
RelationsSons: Adam Torrence Jr, Hugh Torrence

Family
The historical marker located near the site of the Battle of Torrence's Tavern in present-day Mount Mourne

Adam was the son of Hugh Torrence and Sarah Marjory (Cunningham) Torrence of Londonderry, Ireland. His parents migrated to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, where Adam married Ann Bonar. Adam and Ann moved to Rowan County, North Carolina before the American Revolution. They had the following children: Hugh Torrence, Adam Torrence Jr., George Torrence, Barnabas Torrence, Elizabeth (Torrence) McKnight, Alexander Torrence and Margaret Torrence. They owned a tavern in Rowan County (currently Iredell County near Mount Mourne), Province of North Carolina.[1] Hugh Torrence became the first sheriff of Iredell County.[4]

Revolutionary War Service

Both Adam Torrence Sr. and his son, Adam Torrence Jr. were members of the Mecklenburg County Regiment under Captain James Houston. Adam was killed at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill and his son, Adam Jr. was wounded at the battle. His son stated in his pension application: "at the Battle of Ramsour's Lincoln County where I saw my Father fall on the field of Battle being shot dead through the head by a ball & a few moments afterwards I was shot in the hip & which hurt me all my life since."[3][5]

The Battle of Torrence's Tavern[6] was fought on February 1, 1781, near Torrence's Tavern. It was the only major battle or skirmish to be fought during the Revolutionary War in what became Iredell County in 1788.[7]

References
  1. Torrence, Robert McIlvaine (1938). Torrence and Allied Families. Wickersham Press.
  2. Transcript of Revolutionary War Pension of Adam Torrence Jr. by William Graves; "Revolutionary War Pension Application S14663 for Adam Torrence, Jr" (PDF). October 5, 1824. Retrieved Feb 9, 2019.
  3. Lewis, J. D. "The American Revolutionary in North Carolina, Rowan County Regiment, Adam Torrences, Sr. and Jr". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  4. "History of the Iredell Sheriff's Department". Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  5. Keever, Homer M. (1976). Iredell County Bicentennial Commission (ed.). Iredell Piedmont County, with illustrations by Louise Gilbert and maps by Mild red Jenkins Miller. Brady Printing Company from type set by the Statesville Record and Landmark.
  6. Also referred to as Tarrant's Tavern
  7. Lewis, J.D. "Battle of Tarrant's Tavern". Retrieved February 9, 2019.
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