Hugh Tinnin, Austin Texas: Tinnin Ford Road
I think it’s always interesting when I discover a relative that leaves his mark on the landscape. Since I don’t have many “famous” ancestors to speak of (except my one connection to Abraham Lincoln - my relative was his mother’s step-father), it’s always nice to find visible remnants of my relatives.
While looking on Google Maps I found a road called “Tinnin Ford Road”. This road is named after my relative Hugh Tinnin who purchased 500 acres of Colorado River frontage land (land now that would be included almost entirely in Austin City limits) in the 1850’s. His daughter - Lucy Jane Tinnin - from his first wife Betsy Rutherford was my third great grandmother.
Here’s a small history on him:
Hugh Tinnin
Born in 1800, died in Burleson County, Texas 13 December 1869.
HISTORY: Hugh Tinnin moved with his family from Mississippi to Washington County, Arkansas in about 1836. When his first wife Betsy Rutherford died, he married her sister Fanny Rutherford. Betsy probably died while the family still lived in Mississippi. Fanny died in Washington County where he met his third wife, Helen Mary Kirkpatrick, whose family had moved from Kentucky to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Letters addressed to him were addressed to Mr. Hugh Tinnin, Esquire, Boonsboro, Arkansas. Federal Census shows his residence in Mountain Township.
John Carr, Tinnin’s brother-in-law, persuaded Tinnin to try his lot in Texas. The Tinnins took a route that would avoid the swollen streams and evade Indian attacks as much as possible. In order to finance the trip they stopped off along the way to buy supplies for soldiers quartered at various camps. The family and many of the slaves they brought with them fell ill with malaria fever. This delayed their progress and it took the greater part of 2 years to make the trip.
The Tinnins arrived in Texas in 1850. Hugh bought about 500 acres of fine bottom land south of the Colorado River - land that is completely within the boundaries of Austin. He had about two miles of river frontage. The old crossing where cattle were driven up the Chishold Trail was on Tinnin land. It was called the Tinnin Ford.
Hugh and Helen Mary made a trip to Burleson County to look after some property they had there . Hugh fell ill, died, and had to be buried there. Helen returned to Austin. Later, a son by his first wife, came to Texas to claim his portion of the estate. A general division was made to all the surviving children: thus a very large plantation was broken into many parts.
MORE DETAILS: (I have many more dates and family that what is included here) Hugh first married Betsy Rutherford daughter of John “Jack” Rutherford and Winnifred “Winnie” Grigsby.
Their children were:
1. Rachal, born January 15, 1826, died in 1903 or 1904, she married Andrew Alexander Crawford of Washington County, Arkansas
2. Elizabeth, born August 17, 1827,
3. Lucy Jane, born August 12, 1828 in Clinton, Mississippi. Lucy married first to Col. William T. Neal, second to Col J.P. Neal. Her tombstone inscription says she came to Arkansas in 1836. Both William and James Preston Neal were prominent figures in Washington County, Arkansas having come to that county with their mother and stepfather Reverend and Mrs. Andrew Buchanan in 1829. James P. Neal was a noted lawyer.
4. Granville, born 1829.
Betsy (Rutherford) Tinnin died and Hugh married her sister, Fanny Rutherford. Fanny died in 1 846.
Their children were
1. John, born July 7, 1836,
2. Harriet, born July 22, 1839 in Arkansas. She married Richard Barron August 16, 1869 in Washington County, Arkasas. See “Joseph Barron And His Decendants” by Jack L. Barron.
3. William born August 13, 1840,
4. Emaline, born 1842,
5. Hugh, born December 12, 1843, died February 21, 1846.
Hugh Tinnin married third to Helen Mary Kirkpatrick. Helen was born in 1825 in Kentucky. She died June 24, 1893, buried in Oak Wood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.
Their children were
1. Albert, b. May 8, 1849, d. 1875
2. Mary Melvina, born August 15, 1850, died May 25, 1851,
3. Cleopatra (Miss Clippy), born May 24, 1852, married Henry Roberts,
4. Pinckney, born March 12 , 1854, died August 30, 1916, married Effie Littlepage,
5. Susanella, born August 25, 1855,
6. Matison, born February 1, 1857, died February 14, 1931,
7. Eddie, born August 25, 1860, died May 29, 1861.
Matison Tinnin who was born February 1, 1857 married Elizabeth Angeline Willoughby, January 13, 1884.
SOURCE: See “Women In Early Texas” Edited by Evelyn M. Carrington, PhD. This information was developed from boxes of old letters and papers belonging to Hugh Tinnin’ s family of Austin, Texas. The greatest contributor was Miss Helen Tinnin (Matison’s daughter ), Dorothy Jean Joyner and Allan Illfrey. Mattie Mae Tinnin, age 90, of Austin made it possible for me to collect it all. - By Ruth Lee - Included in the History of Washington County, Arkansas. 1989. pgs 1416-1417
There’s a mention of Hugh Tinnin that says he purchased the first sewing machine in Austin in the Austin History Center’s Exibit of Austin Firsts.
If anyone knows more about Tinnin Ford, or this family, I’d love to hear about it. I wish there was more information included online about it in the history of Austin, Texas that would list this family’s contributions to the area.
February 15th, 2007 at 10:21 am
We are a large family of Tinnin s living in Colorado, with a past in South Dakota.
Just thought I’d drop a line to this site…………….
Les Tinnin
March 3rd, 2007 at 5:39 pm
I am somehow kin to you. My grandfather was a Hugh Tinnin. I thought his mother’s name was Helen but maybe not. He divorced my grandmother early on leaving her with three small children. I thought that he died in about 1960 or after but because we did not have any relation with him, I am not sure. The three children that he had with Ruth Dawson Tinnin were: Elizabeth Tinnin, Mary Jane Tinnin, and Dawson Tinnin. I know that it was the same family because of Tinnin Ford.
I am also a decendent of Nicholas Dawson. His sister was Mollie Dawson, a famous educator. A school is named for her in South Austin. Fred Tinnin was an administrator for AISD and a friend of mine professionally. We talked briefly about the Tinnin Family several years before his death.
Do you know the names of Hugh Tinnin’s children (Son of Betsy Rutherford) I am thinking that my grandfather must have been his son.I think that Hugh was about one generation to early to be my grandfather.
March 24th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I am not sure if your Granville Tinnin is the same one I am searching for. He was married to Mary Catherine Koen (sp?) and was apparently involved in a shooting in West Texas. Mary Koen Tinnin later married Samuel Kelly Kendall, brother to my gr. gr. grandfather, Daniel J. Kendall (born in KY, lived in TX, died in OK.)
I am still in the process of verifying this info.
You have a very interesting website. Many thanks.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:05 am
Very interesting site. I live about 60 miles north of Austin and have a Hugh Tinnin in my maternal line. However this Hugh Tinnin was born in 1770 in North Carolina. His sister, Elizabeth, is my gggg-grandmother. She married a Rogers and their daughter, Elifair, married Wiley Curry. They were in the first Texas Census in 1835. Wiley is said to have died at San Jacinto but this has not been proven. He was in the San Augustine militia and was not heard of after the Battle. No proof…he may have just left without telling anyone. The name Tinnin has been used in my Rogers family as a middle name for several generations.
One other interesting twist. Do you know who sold the land in Austin to your Hugh? Another of my lines, Saunders/Sanders, were land speculators in Travis County about that time. They made many land deals. Other names connect with Saunders and land dealings were Grigsby and Reid. They traveled in a “pack” across the southern part of the States as cheap land became available. Again, well done site.
July 18th, 2007 at 8:33 am
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September 19th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I stumbled on this website by typing in the surname Tinnin. Tinnin was my maiden name. My dad is named Hugh Tinnin. He was born in 1935. His father’s name was Charles Tinnin and his mother’s name was Nancy Gromer. My father has some relatives that live in Texas. We live in Michigan. My dad left Missouri in 1953.
October 16th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
While doing some property research at the Austin History Center I discovered the transcript of an interview of Miss Helen Tinnin of Austin from 1973. It’s quite interesting and includes a great description of the Tinnin’s family move to Austin, and what life was like on the plantation. If you contact me I’ll try send you a copy.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I am surveying slave cemeteries in Travis County, Austin, Tx. and would like to have more information on Slaves. Where they lived, worked, died and are buried in Travis County.
Thanks,
E. Thompson
June 11th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
My mother’s name was Myra Tinnin. She was the youngest (born 1925) of three girls that my grandfather, Hugh Tinnin, had by his wife, Mattie May Carter. The other sisters were Helen Lou Tinnin, a doctor who taught in North Carolina. And Dorothy Tinnin, married to Troy Joyner who had a son, Henry and daughter Jeannie. She lived in Shreveport, LA, most of her life. Dorothy (Dot as we called her) has passed on, I believe in 2003, and my mother passed on in 2000.
Hugh has a spinster sister named Helen who lived on an adjacent section of land to his. Grandpa Hugh died in 1960 or 61 while our family was stationed in Puerto Rico.
My mom was married to my dad, Harold Snyder. I am the oldest with a sister Karen, brother, Hugh, and sister, Karol.
I was born in Austin when my dad was stationed at Bergstrom AFB. We often visited the farm on the very road shown on the map here. I walked along that river road many a day in my youth.
Let me know if this sounds at all like we may be related.
I do have a certificate of slave ownership somewhere that my grandmother Mattie, gave me. I will see if I can find it for more details for Ms. Thompson.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
My ancestor was Rev.War Col. Hugh Tinnin of Orange Co., NC and Montgomery Co., TN. His son, Hugh Tinnin, was an early Ark State Representive. Azariah Tinnin started first Mason lodge west of Miss. River in Ark. Moved to Saledo, TX where he is buried. My grandmother’s maiden name was Tinnin, and my father’s middle name was Tinnin. A good name!!
November 10th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Hi, great Info!
I am the descendant of Hugh Tinnin, through his daughter Lucy, and her First Husband, Lt. Col. William Thomas Neal, then their daughter, Annie Neal, who married Steven Guthrie Nees, and produced my Gr. grandfather Albert Nees.
Anyhow, Hugh Tinnin was my 4th Gr. Grandfather. (that saves a lot of typing!)
I would love anything you can spare, or direct me to. I live in Cleburne, Texas. about 2.5 hrs. n. of Austin.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Hello, for your info Mary Katherine Kate Tinnin Kendall is buried next to her first spouse, G. B. Tinnin, and her second, Samuel Kelly Kendall, in the City of Abilene, TX, Municipal Cemetery. Her son Pat Tinnin’s grave is located nearby. The cemetery roster is available on the City of Abilene/Cemetery website.
Betty