Lieut. Joseph Torrey1,2,3,4

M, b. before 16 April 1621, d. circa 1676
FatherPhilip Torrey d. b 27 Jun 1621
MotherAlicia Richards b. Jan 1581, d. a 24 Apr 1634
     Joseph was born before 16 April 1621 in Combe St. Nicholas, Somersetshire, England. On this date, his father bequeathed him 10 pounds in this will. This will was probated on the 27th of June in the same year. He was christened there on 21 June 1621 in the church of St. Nicholas.5 He immigrated to America in 1640 with his three brothers. Joseph settled in Weymouth and was made a freeman in 1643. The next year he moved on to Rehoboth. On the 31st day of the fourth month of 1644, he received shares of woodland there. A year later, lots where drawn for the great plain which he was a part of. Joseph married Mary (?) circa 1645. By 1654, the family had moved to Warwick. In 1671 he received the appointment of Attorney General for the colony. Joseph served as a Lieutenant of the militia, and also served seven years as General Recorder for the colony of Rhode Island. Joseph departed this life circa 1676 in Newport County, Rhode Island.6

Family

Mary (?)
Children

Citations

  1. [S123] John Torrey, Genealogical Notes Showing the Paternal Line of Descent From William Torrey of Combe St Nicholas, Somerset County, England, page 9.
  2. [S1195] Clifford L. Stott, Humphrey Blake & His Descendants in New England & South Carolina, Pages 70-71 - Joseph Torrey (Alice Richards, Alice Blake, John, Humphrey) was baptised at Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset, 21 June 1621. He died probably in Newport, Rhode Island, between 16 May 1673, when he testified in court, and 24 December 1677, when he was referred to as “deceased” in the will of Benedict Arnold of Newport. Joseph married, but the name of his wife is unknown. He had at least one daughter and probably a son. The wife and daughter are mentioned, but not named, in a letter by Samuel Hubbartd of Newport to Dr. Edward Stennett of London on 29 November 1676.
         "In the beginning of these troubles of the wars Lieut. Joseph Torrey, elder of Mr. Clarke's church, having but one daughter, living at Squamicut, Misquamicut [Westerly, Rhode Island], and his wife being there, he said unto me - come let us send a boat to Squamicut, my all is there and part of yours. We sent a boat so as his wife and daughter, and his son-in-law and all their children and my two daughters and their children (one had eight and the other three) with an apprentice boy, all came, and brother John Crandall and his family, with as many others as could possibly come, &c."
    Joseph Torrey settled first at Weymouth, where he was a freeman in 1643. The following year he was in Rehoboth, Plymouth Colony. Soom after 1650 he removed to Newport. Joseph was General Recorder for Providence and Warwick in 1654. He was a Commissioner from 1656 to 1663. In 1671 he wa appointed Attorney General of the colony. Joseph also served as a lieutenant of militia and for seven years was General Recorder for the colony of Rhode Island. Children of Joseph Torrey i. Daughter Torrey, possibly identical with Elizabeth, wife of John Randall; ii. Probably Joseph Torrey b. ca. 1647. Joseph Torrey Jr. was made a freeman of Newport on 29 October 1668. Perhaps he was dead by 29 November 1676, when Samuel Hubbard quoted Joseph Torrey as saying “my all” was in Squamicut.
  3. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume IV, page 313 - JOSEPH, Rehoboth 1643, went to Newport in 1654 or earlier, was on the freemen'slist 1655; with an assoc. met Dennison and Danforth, Mass. Comsnrs. in 1664 at Rehoboth, a. some quest, of jurisdict. was a lieut. and in 1670 sent with John Greene and others as comsnrs. to adjust bounds with Conn. rul. elder of the ch. of John Clark, at the time of his d. 1676. Perhaps he m. a d. wh. may have been the eldest, of that John Greene, as by the Geneal. I have seen. [Note - John Green's daughrters were born in 1630 and 1633; too young to be the wife of Joseph. - KLM]
  4. [S143] Frederic Crosby Torrey, The Torrey Families in America, Volume 1, page 20-21.
  5. [S1195] Clifford L. Stott, Humphrey Blake & His Descendants in New England & South Carolina, page 69 - Joseph christened 21 June 1621 at Comb.
  6. [S1195] Clifford L. Stott, Humphrey Blake & His Descendants in New England & South Carolina, Page 70 - He died probably in Newport, Rhode Island, between 16 May 1673, when he testified in court, and 24 December 1677, when he was referred to as “deceased” in the will of Benedict Arnold of Newport.