Dr. Robert Holmes Chinn          Bowie Family
 

Elbert A. Thompson & Anna Taliferro Thompon Chinn

Elbert A. Thompson was born in Georgia in 1816; was married to Ann Taliferro, daughter of Benjamin W. Taliferro and Martha Watkins, who was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1823.  Ann was reared in Demopolis, Alabama, and it was there, she married Elbert A. Thompson.

Thompson came to Texas and settled in Matagorda County about 1838.  He brought a number of acres of land and established a large plantation on the William Rabb League and it was to this country home that he brought his bride in 1840.

According to the 1850 Census, Elbert Thompson age 35 was listed as a planter with real estate valued at $7,000 and with 47 slaves.  In the household was Ann, age 25 and two children, Mary Louisiana age 3, and Martha 6 months.  D. S. P. Thompson, Elbert's brother, age 38, listed as a planter and from Georgia was also part of the household.  A third daughter, Elberta was born in 1852.

Elbert A. Thompson died in 1852 shortly after the birth of Elberta.

In personal papers by Vasser White Pier, a niece of Louisiana Thompson Bowie, she writes about Ann Taliferro Thompson Chinn and tells of Ann Chinn’s life and the plantation.

Ann Thompson Chinn was a woman of wonderful character, had a remarkable mind, and was well educated in literature and music.  Her talent of music was notable and her voice was lovely.  Her home life was truly refined, cultured and of religious environment. 

The Chinn plantation, as it became known, was the center of hospitality before and during the War Between the States and while there were hardships during the war and in Reconstruction days there was never a time that this home was not open to the stranger at the gate.  Many refugees from Louisiana and other states were taken in and given refuge at this home as well as the neighboring plantations.

A sister of Ann Chinn was among the refugees who were domiciled at the Chinn home.  She said: “It was truly a wonderful sight to see the immense caravan of covered wagons coming down the turn row to the house.  All the household goods of the family and the slaves and their effects in wagons with the flocks of sheep and herds of goats, horses and cattle, being driven behind were coming to Texas away from the dreadful scourge of the War.

Dr. Chinn, on his marriage to Ann Thompson, had assumed the care and management of the plantation.  He made improvements by erecting a saw mill, a gin and a brick kiln.  With the arrival of the refugees, he had the servant quarters laid out in a systematic way and built houses for them with lumber and bricks made on the place.

Ann Chinn’s greatest ambition was to see that her children were educated in a literary way as well as culture and home making.  Her two daughters were sent to Mrs. Wright’s Seminary in Matagorda and to the little log schoolhouse on the Bowie Plantation where the notable Mr. Gracie taught.  The servants were taught as well as the children to make cloth and sew it into clothes.  Some were taught the art of cooking, housemaids and hairdressing.  The men were taught the different trades on the farm.  The servants all loved Mrs. Chinn, who was strict with them as well as solicitous of their welfare.  Many refused to leave her when given their freedom and many of their descendants live in Matagorda County.

Dr. Chinn died after a short illness in 1868 and Mrs. Chinn was again left to battle for herself and three children as one of her daughters, Martha, died the year previous.

The Thompson-Chinn family and the  Bowie family had been very close friends through the years since 1850 when the Bowies came to Texas, and as they lived across Caney Creek from each other they became very intimate.  This intimacy was made closer in later years when Mr. Harris Bowie claimed Louisiana Thompson as his bride.  For a few years they lived at the Bowie plantation and then moved to the Chinn place where Harris assumed care of the plantation.

Ann Thompson Chinn died in 1892 surrounded by her children and dear friends.
 

Elbert A. Thompson

Obituary—Departed this life, at his residence, in this county, at 2 o’clock on the morning of the first inst., Elbert A. Thompson, in the 37^th year of his age.

The deceased was a native of Elbert county, Georgia, and in the fall of eighteen hundred and forty, emigrated to this State from his adopted home in Alabama. Kind and amiable in his disposition, generous and charitable in his feelings, and upright and honest in his intercourse with his fellow-men, he had won the esteem and attachment of a large circle of friends. Yet, modest and retiring in his manners—gentle and confiding in his nature and domestic in all his habits and feelings, it was reserved for those who knew him best to love him most. Possessing a heart full of tenderness and sympathy—a stranger alike to envy, detraction or malice, he was eminently endowed with those qualities and virtues, which elevate and adorn the character of man. A warm friend, an affectionate brother; a fond and devoted husband, and a kind and tender parent, he has left besides many friends and relations, a wife and three innocent children to lament his loss.

“Yet mourn ye not as they
Whose spirit’s light is quenched! For him the past
Is sealed. He may not fall, he may not cast
His birthright’s hope away:
All is not here of our beloved and blessed--
Leave ye the sleeper with his God to rest.”

Colorado Tribune, Matagorda, Texas, July 12, 1852
 

State of Texas, County of Matagorda

This my last will and testament which is to revoke and annul all former wills made by me and to divide my property both real and personal equally between my wife Ann Thompson and my two daughters Louisiana Thompson and Martha Thompson, and in the event that I should have more children my will is that my Estate be equally divided between my wife and children. I desire that so soon as my debts are paid that the division be made of my estate and I appoint my wife Ann Thompson my Executrix free of giving any security for the management of my Estate that she the said Ann Thompson is to have the entire management of my children’s property only that she can never sell or dispose of any Negro or Negroes or Land and that the cultivation of sugar cain be gradually stopped and the plantation cultivated in cotton, provided there is not a steam mill in operation on the plantation, this provision is made that my children may not be involved with a heavy debt for costly machinery. I have no objection to the cultivation of cain as long as it is profitable to be ground as I at present do (on a Horse Mill) I however recommend the cultivation of cotton. And it is further my will that my Brother Darwin S. P. Thompson be allowed to cultivate my land Jointly with my Estate as he at present does, at least for five years after my death free of rent or charge. And may the blessings of Providence smile upon my wife and children.

This 7^th day of October 1950, as witness my hand and seal.

Elbert A. Thompson   seal

Witnesses
Jno. H. Gibson, D. J. Sheppard

Matagorda County Wills Volume A, Pages 57-58
 

The State of Texas County of Matagorda

To all to whom these presents shall come know ye that Whereas at the Regular July Term 1852 of the Matagorda County Court Mrs. Ann Thompson was appointed Executrix according to Law of the last Will and Testament of Elbert A. Thompson deceased and she having taken the oath as required. These Letters are Issued to her authorizing and empowering her to act as such executrix and that full faith and credence may and ought to be given to her acts as such.

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the seal of the Matagorda County Court.

Done at Matagorda this 13^th day of August A. D. one thousand eight hundred & fifty two.

M. Talbot, Chief Justice

Attest: Jas. H. Selkirk, Clerk C. C. M. C.

Recorded 16^th August 1852
Jas. H. Selkirk Clerk C. C. M. C.
 

The inventory and list of claims was filed September 17^th, 1852 and recorded in Book B pages 216-221 as follows:
 

1083 ¾  acres of land embracing the plantation on which E. A. Thompson lived.

751 acres with improvements on the prairie acquired since marriage

Stock and Work Cattle

      150 Head of Stock Cattle

        30 head of stock cattle purchased from Royall since marriage

      200 Head Stock horses

       13 Head of Mules

         2 Head of horses

   Household and Kitchen furniture

   Plantation tools

   150,000 Bricks

   1 rifle gun

   1 pump and hose,   7 ½ Yoke of Oxen                         Total   $15,926.87

Miss Elberta Agnes Thompson

Miss Elberta Agnes Thompson died at her home on East 6^th street Tuesday, January 24^th, 1928.

Miss Thompson was born in Demopolis, Ala., in 1851. Her parents were Elbert Asa Thompson and Anne Talliaferro.

Mr. Thompson came to Texas from Demopolis, Ala., in 1837. He selected a beautiful home site on the banks of Caney Creek, which he bought from a Mr. Henderson. In the year of 1840, he went back to Demopolis for his bride.

Three children were born to this union, Mrs. Harris Bowie and Misses Martha and Elberta Thompson. Mr. Thompson died in 1852, soon after the little Elberta was born. Mrs. Thompson married Dr. R. H. Chinn in 1856, and Mr. R. T. Chinn, of this place, was their only child. Mrs. Chinn died in 1893. The family lived in their country home until 1903, when Miss Thompson, with Mr. and Mrs. Harris Bowie moved to a rice farm near Bay City. Later they moved to Bay City where they have lived ever since.

Miss Thompson was a beautiful character, always leading a pure simple life, and was greatly loved by her friends.

Matagorda County Tribune, February 3, 1928

Photo courtesy of Faye Cunningham