Hugh Tinnin
Birth – 1800, Tennessee
Death – 13 Dec 1869, Burleson Co., Texas

Father – John Tinnin (1770-1835)
Mother – Elizabeth “Betsy” Moore (1775-1840)

Married (1):

Betsy Rutherford
Birth – Mississippi
Death – bef 1836, Mississippi

Father – John “Jack” Rutherford (~1780-~1858)
Mother – Winnifred “Winnie” Grigsby (~1785-~1865)

Their Children:

1 F – Rachel Tinnin
Birth – 15 Jan 1826, Mississippi
Death – ABT 1903/1904
Spouse – Andrew Alexander Crawford

2 F – Elizabeth Tinnin
Birth – 17 Aug 1827, Mississippi
Death – aft 1850

3 F – Lucille Jane Tinnin
Birth – 12 Aug 1828, Clinton, Mississippi
Death – 9 Aug 1893, Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Arkansas
Spouse (1) – William Thomas Neal Col./Col.
Marriage 19 Nov 1846, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas
Spouse (2) – James Preston Neal Col./Col.
Marriage Jan 1869, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

4 M – Granville Tinnin
Birth – 19 Sep 1829, Hinds, Mississippi
Death – 1840

Married (2):

Fanny Rutherford
Marriage – aft 1829
Birth – abt 1808, Tennessee
Death – 1846, Washington Co., Arkansas

Father – John “Jack” Rutherford (~1780-~1858)
Mother – Winnifred “Winnie” Grigsby (~1785-~1865)

Their Children:

1 M – John Tinnin
Birth – 7 Jul 1836, Arkansas

2 F – Harriet Tinnin
Birth – 22 Jul 1839, Arkansas
Spouse – Richard S. Barron
Marriage – 16 Aug 1869, Washington Co., Arkansas

3 M – William Hugh Tinnin
Birth – 13 Aug 1840, Arkansas

4 F – Emiline Tinnin
Birth – 1842, Arkansas
Spouse – John Ray Billingsley
Marriage – 7 Jul 1864, Travis Co., Texas

5 M – Hugh Tinnin
Birth – 12 Dec 1843
Death – 21 Feb 1846

Married (3):

Helen Mary Kirkpatrick
Marriage – aft 1843
Birth – abt 1825, Kentucky
Death – 24 Jun 1893, Austin, Travis Co., Texas
Burial – Oakwood Cem. Austin, Travis Co., Texas

Their Children:

1 M – Albert Tinnin
Birth – 8 May 1849, Arkansas
Death – 1875

2 F – Mary Melvina Tinnin
Birth – 15 Aug 1850
Death – 25 May 1851

3 F – Cleopatra “Miss Clippy” Tinnin
Birth – 24 May 1852
Spouse – Henry Roberts

4 M – Pinckney Tinnin
Birth – 12 Mar 1854
Death – 30 Aug 1916
Spouse – Effie Littlepage

5 F – Susanella Tinnin
Birth 25 Aug 1855

6 M – Matison Tinnin
Birth – 1 Feb 1857, Austin
Death – 14 Feb 1931
Spouse – Elizabeth Angeline Willoughby
Marriage – 13 Jan 1884

7 M – Eddie Tinnin
Birth – 25 Aug 1860
Death – 29 May 1861

Andrew Alexander Crawford would have been the husband of my 3rd Great Grandmother’s older sister Rachel.

Andrew Alexander Crawford was born November 11, 1812 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. He was the son of John Crawford and his first wife, Margaret Buchanan. See decendants of Alexander and Mary McPheeters Crawford by Forbes and Sammis and Decendants of the Buchanan Families of Washington County by Allan S. Humphries. Both his grandfathers were Revolutionary War patriots. His paternal grandfather William Crawford served as Private and patriot manufacturing and supplying arms to the Continental Army, Augusta County, Virginia. His maternal grandfather, Andrew Buchanan, also from Augusta County, Virginia served in the Continental Army and attained the rank of Captain.

Andrew first married Minerva Buchanan. It’s thought she was the daughter of Moses Buchanan. They had one child, Robert who later became a lawyer in Spearfish, South Dakota. Minerva was murdered by a negro slave named Caroline. Robert was just a small child. See an account of this murder and trial written by Mrs. Maurice Cruse in Flashback, Vol VII, #4 Jul 1957.

Andrew then married Rachel Tinnin, the daughter of Hugh and Betsy (Rutherford) Tinnin. In April of 1849, Andrew, in the company of 85 men from Washington and surrounding counties left for the gold fields of California. Lewis Evans was captain of this group of “Fourty Niners”. Andrew suffered from scurvy on the trip. Some men were never heard from, but Andrew made the trip home safely. He managed to bring each child a gold nuggett. In the year of 1859, he was serving as Justice of the Peace in Washington County, performing marriages, etc. Then in the first part of the Civil War, he was serving as County Judge. He then enlisted in the Confederate Army and fought in the battle of Pea Ridge and other western battles. He died at Rienzi, near Corinth, Mississippi from heat exposure during the Battle of Shiloh, May 23, 1862.

In the memoirs of Col., J.P. Neal, who was married to Lucy Tinnin, Rachel’s sister, Col. Neal mentions a house raising in the Prairie Grove valley in 1839. The house was on the east side of Cane Hill and belonged to Andy Crawford. He also mentions that the morning after the battle of Prairie Grove he was climbing a hill and met 200 Federal prisoners under guard on Andy Crawford’s farm. It was later the Mike Nail place. We don’t know how Rachel managed after the war, but she had lost her husband and oldest son, Hugh when it was over. She may have been homeless after it’s destruction. It was with the aid of the Catholic Sisters that she was given a milk cow to help provide for her children. Later in the 1870 Federal Census, she was living with her children in the home of William D. Crawford, Andrew’s brother and his family.

The only child of Andrew and Minerva was Robert, born about 1838. Rachel Tinnin was born in Mississippi January 15, 1826 and died 1903 or 1904 according to her widow’s pension records. The children of Andrew and Rachel were: Hugh, born about 1845 and died unmarried in the Civil War. Margaret, born about 1847 and married John “Lum” Henson. Susan “Sug” born about 1853 and married first: Isham House and second: H. Covey. Martha Halbert (Mattie) Crawford, born Feburary 11, 1854 – died January 16, 1899 in Floyd County, Texas, married John Washington Smith November 11, 1877 in Washington County, Arkansas (See J.W. Smith Family). Andrew Neal Crawford, born March 13, 1856 – died in Florida, married Laura Baird, children: Mrs. C.M. Garrett, Mrs. P.W. Wybrecht, Mrs. S.K. Booth and Alvin A. Crawford from his obituary. Lucy Crawford, born August 30, 1856 – died December 10, 1938, married Alexander Cruse, January 13, 1878 see To Kimberly, with Love by Lillian Cruse Woods and Buell Beverly Woods. Emily (Emma) Crawford, married first: George McKinzie on September 9, 1880, second: Huff, this family moved to Belton, in Bell County, Texas. Alice Crawford married Frank Parkhurst on January 25, 1880, she died leaving at least one daughter.

Source: Ruth Lee, History of Washington County Arkansas, Shiloh Museum, Springdale, Arkansas, 1989 – Family History Library – US/CAN 976.714 D3n

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

This is the record of his family, as complete as it was the date of this post:

William Thomas Neal, Col.
Birth – 23 Feb 1822, Kentucky
Death – 1 Apr 1864, Clarksville, Johnson, Arkansas
Burial – Prairie Grove Cem., Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

Father – William Neal (~1797-1821)
Mother – Sinai Harreld (1797-1883)

Married:

Lucille Jane Tinnin
Marriage – 19 Nov 1846, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas
Birth – 12 Aug 1828, Clinton, Mississippi
Death – 9 Aug 1893, Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Arkansas
Burial – Prairie Grove Cem., Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

Father – Hugh Tinnin (1800-1869)
Mother – Betsy Rutherford (-<1836)
Other spouses James Preston Neal, Col.

Their Children:

1 M – James Neal
Birth 1848, Arkansas
Death – ?
Spouse – ?
Marriage – ?

2 F Mary Neal
Birth – 1849, Arkansas
Death – ?
Spouse – ?
Marriage – ?

3 M – Andrew Buchanan Neal
Birth – abt 1851, Arkansas
Death – ?
Spouse – Callie (Sawyers or Crawford?)
Marriage – ?

4 M – William Thomas “Tom” Neal
Birth – 22 Sep 1852, Arkansas
Death – 22 Aug 1933, Arkansas
Spouse – M. Annie Rogers
Marriage – 3 Oct 1882, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

5 M – Hugh Tinnin Neal
Birth – 1856, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas
Death – 6 Dec 1882, Arkansas River
Spouse – ?
Marriage – ?

6 M – Joseph or Joel Perry Neal
Birth – 1860, Arkansas
Death – ?
Spouse – ?
Marriage – ?

7 F – Anna Eliza Neal
Birth – 28 Jun 1863, Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Arkansas
Death – 17 Jun 1935, Inola, Rogers Co., Oklahoma
Spouse – Steven Guthrie Nees
Marriage – 8 Jul 1881, Washington, Arkansas

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

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

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.