Hugh Tinnin (1800-1869) – Published Biography
Hugh Tinnin was my 4th great grandfather through his daughter Lucille who married William T. Neal. The following is a history I found of him included in the History of Washington County, Arkansas. 1989. pgs 1416-1417. Most of this history I referenced in my post about Tinnin Road, but here’s the entire copy.
Hugh Tinnin
James Tinnin of Scotland, born 1758, died 1844, married Hannah. James is listed in D. A. R. Patriot Idex as pensioned and PVT. of North Carolina. He had one son, possibly others of Orange County, North Carolina, Hugh Tinnin, married Isabella Thompson, who was a sister of Laurence Thompson of Scotland. Hugh and Isabella has the following children: 1. Azaria, 2. Hugh, 3. Laurence, 4. Thomas, 5. John 1770-1835; married to Elizabeth Moore, 6. Lemuel, 7. Mary Jane married Richard Harrison, 8. Sarah married Andrew Allen.
John Tinnin married Elizabeth Moore in Nashville, Tennessee. Her mother was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had the following children: 1. Rachel, born 1798, 2. Hugh, born 1800/died December 13, 1869 in Burleson County, Texas, 3. Graville moved to Austin, Texas, 4. Asa was living in Hinds County, Mississippi in 1830 census, 5. John moved to Lampasas, Texas, 6. Brown, born 1805, married Susan Fletcher, stayed in Mississippi, 7. Martha, married John E. Shephard in 1843, 8. Jane married John Carr and moved to Austin, Texas.
Hugh Tinnin, born in 1800, died in Burleson County, Texas. Hugh first married Betsy Rutherford. Their children were: 1. Rachal, born January 15, 1826, died in 1903 or 1904, she married Andrew Alexander Crawford of Washington County, Arkansas (see A. A. Crawford_. 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 1846. 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. Their children were: 1. Helen Mary, born October 23, 1885, died March 24, 1979, 2. Elmira, born October 28, 1887, died September 2, 1877 married William Lawrence Ilfrey, born December 29, 1897, died May 8, 1977, both are buried in Baytown, Texas. Their children are William Tinnin Ilfrey and Allen Ilfrey BA BS University of Texas. 3. Hugh, born March 30, 1889, died april 12, 1962, married first to Ruth Dawson, their children were: Elizabeth, Mary Jane and Dawson. He married a second time to Mattie Mae Carter, born December 7, 1896, their children were Helen Lou and Dorthy Jean, Ph. D., married Troy L. Joyner.
Hugh Tinnin moved with his family from Mississippi to Washington County, Arkansas in about 1836. His first wife was Betsy Rutherford and when she died he married her sister, Fanny Rutherford. Betsy probably died while the family still lived in Mississippi. Fanny died in Washington County where he found 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 avoide 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. 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 Ilfrey. Mattie Mae Tinnin, age 90, of Austin made it possible for me to collect it all.
- By: Ruth Lee
Hello, My grandparents were Hugh & Mattie Mae Tinnin, they had 3 daughters. My mother Myra was their youngest daughter, she was my mother. She married Harold Snyder, US Air Force and traveled all over the world where he was assigned. Most of us do not know the family genealogy of the Tinnin family. Hope you will correct this error. Thank you
Hugh, born March 30, 1889, died April 12, 1962, married first to Ruth Dawson, their children were: Elizabeth, Mary Jane and Dawson. He married a second time to Mattie Mae Carter, born December 7, 1896, their children were Helen Lou Ph. D., and Dorothy Jean, married Troy L. Joyner and Myra, married to Harold R. Snyder.
I started this place on facebook, & it’s not very well known, it’s for living descendants of Colonel Hugh Tinnin.
I can share some family genealogy with you.