Having originally been a retainer of the Ukita clan, a Sengoku daimyo, the Togawa clan was given Hatamoto status because of their acquaintance with Ieyasu TOKUGAWA related with his intermediacy on internal issues of the Ukita family.
戸川氏は、元は戦国大名宇喜多氏の家臣であったが、宇喜多家の内紛の際に徳川家康の仲介があった縁で、のちに旗本に取り立てられた。