Dr Richard TORLESSE [7108]

  General Notes:

Richard entered St Johns College Oxford 1653 Founders Kin. BA 29 Jan 1656; MA 14 Jun 1659; MD 1666; of Budge Row London, FRCP 1675; Physcian St Thomas's Hospital London, resigned 1708. Register of University puts entry at 28 Mar 1655.
They had a further 6 children. Died 1717

Torles(se) Richard Gent, St Johns Coll, matric, 28 Mar 1655; BA 29 Jan 1656/7; MA 14 Jun 1659; B & D Med 19 Jun 1666; of Budge Row London, Fellow Coll Phys 1675; Licenced (VG) 21 Feb 1680-81; (then a widower), to marry Bridget Browne of St Martins Ludgate, spinster, physician to St Thomas's hospital; died before 1717. See Munks Roll, i, 387.
Oxford Alumni.

Richard Torlesse, MD
Was descended from an old Berkshire family. He was entered at St John's college, Oxford, as "of founder's kin," in 1653, and proceeded doctor of medicine, as a member of that house, 19th June, 1666. He was admitted a Candidate of the College of Physicians 1st October, 1672, and a Fellow 29th July, 1675. He was Censor in 1694, 1695, 1696, 1700, 1701, and was named Elect, in place of Dr Downes, deceased, 17th October, 1694. Dr Torlesse resided in Budge-row, in the parish of St Antholins, and was physician to St Thomas's hospital, where his name might be seen among the "benefactors towards the new building and adorning of this hospital, which was begun in the year 1693," as the donor in 1694 of 3l. About that time St Thomas's hospital was under an engagement with the Government for the care of sick and wounded seamen, who were sent there, and it is stated that owing to some neglect of duty or breach of contract in this matter Dr Torlesse was very heavily fined*. This may partly account for the fact that as he advanced in years he fell into great poverty, and on the 12th September, 1705, "The President proposed to all the members the case of Dr Torlesse, who had fallen into poverty, and it was agreed that the Beadle should go to every member of the College, to collect their charity for him." On the 21st September, 1708, he resigned his place of Elect. Dr Torlesse married Bridget, the youngest daughter of Christopher Browne, esquire, of Tolethorpe, Stamford, by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Harrington, of Ridlington, bart, and left by her two sons, Christopher and Anthony. In 1717 his widow married again.(1)
William Munk (Munks Roll)
References:(1) Information from Edward Living, MD.
(Volume I, page 387)
* Torlesse and a Dr Thomas Elton, on 25th Mar 1702, without the knowledge of the Hospital Govenors, arranged a large payment to themselves from the Commissioners for Sick & Wounded Seamen the Government funders of the Hospital. This was subsequently discovered the next year when the men where deemed to have acted illegally suspended and the funds confiscated.
Ref http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=z5lDg7wjAa0C&pg=PA107&lpg=PA10&dq=Richard+Torlesse+St+Thomas+Hospital&source=bl&ots=3rk6pnoAZb&sig=HD0EMLJXpZMYl_Bs3NKBORK1Sk&hl=en&ei=ovfITPvvIoS6sQOctdiIDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Richard%20Torlesse%20St%20Thomas%20Hospital&f=true
Richard is reported elsewhere with some of his collegues to be persons of "factious principles"

Edward H Liveing has a note to his Torlesse Tree dated June 1923, at Longstanton Cambridge, that while he has traced earlier Torlesse family members the relationships are not proven back from Richard.

Quote from a letter from Edward Liveing [100] to his son Edward 11 Aug 1887.
"I do not know whether I told you the history of my securing a letter of your G G G G Grandfather Dr Richard Torlefse thro' the kindness of Dr Munk. One day he bought a long extract from a M.S. diary kept by a Dr Young of Plymouth at end of 17th & beginning of the 18th century; it contained an account of his examination for the Licence as a Physician - very amusing indeed & very Pepys like. He thought it would interest Pitman & myself and he lent it me to copy, when I got it home I found it contained complete details of the exam as conducted by the Presidents House, Sir T Millington by himself and the Censors of whom Dr Torlefse was one, with amusing remarks on their various characters and manners - then "Dr so & so a grim and sour old man" and at the end he wound up with - "but sweeter men than the present & Dr Torlefse I never met". When I returned it to Dr Munk I said how much amused and interested I had been in such a lively picture of the College a century and half ago and then added "but it has been an interest for me quite independently for Dr Torlefse who figures in it was my childrens four times great grandfather in a single line on their mothers side" He then said "If that's the case you would like to see a letter I formerly had of Dr Torlesfe's; if I can find it you shall have it." He did find it and gave it me - it is his letter to the President when he fell into ill health & the gout, owing partly to the trouble & poverty which had come on him resigning his office of "Elect". It has his little seal with the stork crest - rather rudely executed. There are of course numerous entries in our annals (which go back to H(enry) VIII) of his share taken in College business; I have noted a few but have not had leisure to look them up. Dr Munk furnished me with another piece of information about him which helped to fill up a blank & reconcile a difficulty. There were of Dr Torlefse's children, besides Christopher & Anthony from the former of whom you are descended, & who took their names from their mother's family, the Browns of Stamford, two other sons at least, one "Richard Torlefse Jnr." who witnesses a will of one of the family and William Torlefse of Barnards Inn Holborn, buried in St Andrews Ch. yard Holborn, who bequeathed his money to his dear friend Mrs Bleunerhafset, and cuts "his brothers Christopher & Anthony" off with a shilling" #
The wills of old Christopher Brown of Stamford and his son bequeath money on the contrary to Dr Torlesse & Christopher & Anthony only of his children. Now Dr Munk showed me an extract from the registers of the Savoy Chapel containing the marriage of Dr Richard Torlefse with Mary …………………….* I cant remember the rather peculiar name. This was evidently a former marriage & Richard & William the children of it and only half brothers to Christ^r & Ant^y.
Having Dr R Torlefs's writing, with the letter of Christopher's I found in the Brit Mussm,- and the family bible of his son John, and at least the will, probably letters also with the Torlefses, of the 2^nd John (Mr Torlefses father at Stanmore) we have the series of handwritings from contempy of C.(arles)II downwards, Dr Monk found me the earliest signature of Dr Torlefse on his admission to the College to show me its firmnefs as a young man compared with his last letter. I also wrote to the Vicar of Charlton, near Woolwich, where Bridget Torlefse his 2nd wife is buried asking him to search his register about the time Dr T died to see if he had been buried there too. His answer was in the negative & I have now no doubt he was buried in the grave of his first wife wherever that may have been in London, not impossibly in the Savoy Ch or yard".

*Vicar General of Archbishop of Canterbury.
1670 Richard Torlefse of St Antholins Londⁿ Dr of Physic Wed Apr 30 to Mary De Cardonnell of St Margarets Westminster sp^er about 22 at own dispose at St Mary Savoy
Fr 181 Harleian ……. Publications Vol XXIII for 1886
Given me by Dr Munk 2 Jun /87
Ref: Liveing Archive - Miscellaneous 2
# See will of John Torlesse [18747] re statement in letter above

  Research Notes:

Papers relating to dispute between the Governors of St Thomas' Hospital and their physician, Richard Torless, and surgeon, Thomas Elton, concerning their dismissal for receiving payment for treating sick and wounded seamen at St Thomas' Hospital
ACC/2866/01/001-009 Jan - May 1703
These documents are held at London Metropolitan Archives

Richard Torlesse
Year: 1678 - 1735
Record Type: Hospital and Guild Records: Minutes of the Court of Governors
Source: St Thomas's Hospital
Reference Number: LMTHMG55301

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 17th March 1703
Discharged from their places And upon further Debate, it was upon the Question resolved and Ordered That the said Doctor RichardTorlesse and Mr: Thomas Elton shall be and are hereby dismissed and discharged from the . . . . .

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 17th March 1703
ounded Seamen sent by the said Comr: order into the said Hospitall Between the Year 1689 and the 30 June 1698: At 6s:8d p head accounts to £1382. Richard Torlesse Mr. D. Thomas Elton Chyrurgion

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 17th March 1703
During the late Warr with France According to our Accounts delivered and adjusted by the said Comr: Wee say Received £460:13s:4d this 1s: May Richard Torlesse Mr: D: Thomas Elton Chyn

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 17th March 1703
as Hospitall Whereof the abovesaid £460:13s:04d is one and the first one Third parts Witnesse our Hands this 1st May 1702 Richard Torlesse Mr D Thomas Elton Chyn
Ref: London Lives 1690 - 1800
Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 17th March 1703
during the last Warr with France According to our Accounts Delivered in, adjusted and remaining in the said Office Wee say received this 22d June 1702£460:13s:4d Richard Torlesse Thomas Elton

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 17th March 1703
ttendance Medicines and Cures of Sick and Wounded Seamen Whereof the abovesaid £460:13s:04d: is the 2d 1/3d part paid to us Witnesse our hands this 22d: June 1702 Richard Torlesse Thomas Elton

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 5th May 1703
Dr: Briggs and Doctor Carr severally praying to be Admitted One of the Physitians of this Hospitall in the Roome of the said Dr: Richard Torlesse lately Displaced were read to this Court and Diverse Certificates and Testmonialls of their respective Skill and Ability

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 5th May 1703
e Peticons Orders Etc menconed in the foregoeing Report: vizt: To the Queens most Excellent Majesty in Councill The Humble peticon of Doctor Richard Torlesse and Thomas Elton Surgeon

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 5th May 1703
there. That in pursueance of this power The Governors. of the said Hospll. of St Thomas at a Generall Court in the yeare 1693: Chose Doctor Richard Torlesse to be Physitian of that Hospitall and in the yeare 1692. they Those Mr. Thomas Elton

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 5th May 1703
of the possessions Revenued and Goods of the Hospitalls of Christ Bridewell and Sr. Thomas the Apostle relateing to the dismissing Doctor Richard Torlesse Physician and Mr. Thomas Elton

Richard Torlesse
St Thomas's Hospital : Minutes of the Court of Governors TH | MG, 5th May 1703
homas the Apostle whereby they doe Beseech her Majesty to discharge her Majty: Order made the 29th. day of March last comanding then not proceed to Elect a Doctor and Surgeon in the places of Doctor Richard Torlesse and Mr. Thomas Elton who were lately Removed the Governors: of the Hospitall

  Other Records

1. Dr Richard Torlesse: Research Torlesse family Arms.

2. Dr Richard Torlesse: Extracts from St John Walbrook City Registers.

3. Dr Richard Torlesse: Royal College of Physicians records.

4. Dr Richard Torlesse: Research by Edward Liveing Jnr on Torlesse family & Merchant Taylors School.

5. Dr Richard Torlesse: Research by Edward Liveing Jnr on Torlesse family.

6. Dr Richard Torlesse: Extract from diary of James Young of Plymouth, 1702.
Re the examination of Young for admission to the Royal College of Physicians by Torlesse and others.

7. Edward Liveing: Copy of his letter to Dr Munk, 4 May 1887, 52 Queen Ann St Cavendish Sq Marylebone MDX.
To Dr Munk with thanks for Dr Richard Torlesse's autograph, he was unable to help with the date of his death.

The collator is unable to locate Torlesse's letter and signature ?.

Richard married Bridget BROWN [7109] [MRIN: 2360], daughter of Christopher BROWN of Tolethorpe [7110] and Elizabeth HARRINGTON [21981], on 21 Feb 1680/81 in St Peter Le Poer City of London. (Bridget BROWN [7109] was born in Tolethorpe and was buried in Charlton KEN.)

Richard next married Mary DE CARDONNELL [10513] [MRIN: 3509] on 30 Apr 1670 in Savoy Chapel London. (Mary DE CARDONNELL [10513] was buried on 11 Oct 1678 in St John Walbrook.)