Thomas Torrance (1776-1818)

He was born at Gatehouse of Fleet in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. He and his brothers emigrated to Montreal via New York in 1800. Thomas - the eldest - established a profitable retail and wholesale business for which they all worked, each heading up individual departments in the principal Canadian cities. After Thomas' death, the family increased their fortune by moving into steamboats and railroads. Thomas' nephew, Daniel, married one of the daughters of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Thomas built Belmont Hall which after his death was sold to the Molson family. He was survived by his widow (name unknown), one son (Andrew, who died unmarried) and seven "handsome" daughters: (1) Margaret, Mrs Eckhard (2) Marion, married James Gibb (3) Catherine, Mrs Shaw (4) Eliza, Mrs Orkney (5) Amelia, married Thomas Gibb (6) Marie, married Dr. Wishart, of Toronto (7) Isabella, married Dr John Stephenson (1796-1842).