I am new to RootsChat so have only just read your post.
I have a similar problem in that my GGGF was an Andrew Torrance born c.1796 in Ireland, so was a contemporary of your Thomas. He first turns up in the 1851C in Edinburgh, under name TOLLANCE, aged 47/49. Then in 1861C under name TORRANCE with age as 65 therefore born 1796.
In his DC he is aged 70 in 1866 ie born 1796 also under name TOLLANCE & witnessed by son Wm.Tollance my GGF. The DC also gives his father as Andrew Torrance a Cooper in Ireland and mother Rose Ann McCairns. He married a Mary Morrison also from Ireland. The only Andrew Torrance marriage that fits is to Mary Torrance IN LESWALT in 1835!
Mary's DC says she had previously been married to a Surgeon in the Royal Navy so maybe there is a seaman connection here also?? If my Andrew was also in the Navy or Merchant navy, this might explain why there is no sign of him before 1851.
There are a lot of Torrens/Torrances from the Bann Valley in Derry. Most of them appear to be flax farmers and weavers who emigrated originally from Scotland in the 17th & 18th century. If you don't have it already there is an excellent Torrance Family site at
http://www.torrens.org.uk/Genealogy/Torrens/Trees/index.htmlI can't find my Andrew but there are several Thomas's so might be worth a look.
Have you looked for Thomas's DC on SP? There are 19 on SP between 1855 and 1900.
Hope this helps - you never know, they might be brothers or cousins!
Best regards,
Alastair McLean Torrance
PS I note that you are also searching for McKimmie's - I have an Elspat McKimmie b.1701 in Rothes Moray with parents George McKimmie & Marjorie Grant. Any interest?
