ChinnThis is the second copy of "The Chinn Family in Kentucky,"
which I typed.
Elnora M. Dorsey
5179 Firestone Place
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
THE CHINN FAMILY IN KENTUCKY
C The Chinns are an ancient family in England and Scotland, where
we find the name under the seal Cheyne, bearing one of the oldest
and most illustrious Coats of Arms in Great Britain (the writer has
the Coat of Arms). The orthography of the name has been changed
many times from the Norman-French title, DeCheyne. We find it
variously written in-Nisbett's Heraldry and other works on this
subject, viz: Le Chein, Cheyne, Chynn, Chinn, the last being_, adopted
as the spelling of the name in America. In London there is an avenue
called for the family of ancient times, "Cheyne -How."
The Chinns in Kentucky are descendants, as far as their history
has been traced, from John Chynn, the Colonist, and from his eldest
son, Raleigh Chinn, Burgess for Lancaster county, Virginia, 1731.
(See "Hayden's Virginia Genealogies" and Bishop Meade's "History of
Old Churches and Old Families of Virginia," and REGISTER for May,
1905)•
Raleigh Chinn married at Stratford -by -Bow, London, 1700, Esther
Ball, daughter of Joseph Ball, by his first wife. She was half-sister
of nary Ball, the mother of Washington. In 1713., it is written, he
settled in Lancaster county, Va., and was one of the largest land
owners in Southeastern Virginia. Colonel William Chinn,(Raleigh,
Chichester, Richard), born in Albemarle coun a., n: 1768, came
to Kentucky and. married arah Bryan, a Ruiz ero ap a n Wm. Bryan,
ofryan� s tai ion, e.ye-coun y. v.
Mrs. Chinn was one of the heroines of Bryan's Station, August 18,
1782, of which thrilling event Collins' History of Kentucky gives a
graphic account. Her name is engraved on the memorial tablet at
Bryan's Station.
Col. William Chinn had a brother, Raleigh Chinn, who lived in
Bourbon county. Ky., and a sister Elizabeth,. who married William
Bradford, of Georgetown, Ky. The children
__.o.f Col. Wm. Chinn and
6oth 1n
warSarah Bryan, his wife, were: sons - am
of�Alfred
Chinn lost his life at hiver a. sen; William was
taken prisoner and exchanged. Came to Kentucky and lived in Mason -
county; there married his cousin, Rosa Bryan; Franklin B., Morgan B.,
and John F. Chinn.
Daughters Nancy, Rhoda, Elizabeth and Sarah.
Col. Wm. Chinn died in February, 1814, at his home in Fayette county,
just after receiving his commission as an officer on Gov. Shelby's
staff in the Indian War. Mrs. Chinn. after the death of her husband.
COMMENTATOR of 1829 we learn, "Mrs. S
William Chinn, formerly of Faye to co
e was s nc. ely lamented by a large
to whom she was endeared by the most
(THE COMMENTATOR, 1829).
,au n+nig �. Vl'rlr.
hinn. widow of Co
1�1G�1 µKUJV V, 1VL].
circle of friensasand neighbors,
exemplary and amiable deportment."
Her children were wont to tell of the attention she received from
all classes of people in her day; how they loved to hear her tell of
early days in Kentucky, and how they came from North Carolina in --
wagons to Kentucky, what they had, or rather what they did not have
then. When she died in Henry county a great demonstration of respect
was shown her, and her funeral was the larpt%st of any that had ever
been known in the county before.
Davie County Public Library
MocksHlle, NC
The Chinn Family continued -
page 2
We have heard she was a pleasing, talker, and was ever ready to
tell the story of Bryan's Station, long before any account of it
was published. How they were assembled to go to the Spring, walking
two and two and trying to conceal their fright at the Indians. How
they rejoiced when they returned to the fort and the gates were shut,
and they had water to drink and to cook with. How they lived in the
fort, etc. She was proudly beloved by her family and held in precious
memory by her children for her brave, splendid spirit, her rare in-
telligence and her generous, sweet disposition at all times.
Weswere;.tald_by'.an:aged Uncle, the youngest son of the family,
John. -F. Chinn, deceased, of Shelbyville, Ky., that he heard his mother
tell to several people just before her death that she remembered to
have heard her father tell at the Station of his trip to Jefferson
county for salt for the Station in 1780, when the Indians attacked
their little band. camped for the night just after they had crossed
the river in the place nor; called Frankfort, so-called, it was thought,
because Stephen Frank, one of his men, was killed at the ford. It was
first called Frankford, afterwards changed to Frankfort.
re
Chinn was very proud of
oreserved much of the h
e death of her father,
several of the men of
rera.ined at Brvan s to
-Bryan kindred
er mother; with` a
he family, return
ion -with her rela
to Wm. Chinn, who
er.
el.
His name is found in the early records of the State as a land
holder in Fayette and Bourbon counties. The Chinns were among the
first citizens of Bourbon, Fayette, Mason, Mercer and. Nelson -counties,
and in -the Land Office we find large bodies of lands patented to diff-
erent members by this name. They were legislators, doctors, lawyers
and farmers.
When my grandfather died at his large farm on Cane Hun, near
Lexington, my father was a well -grown lad of fourteen years. His
older brothers, William and Alfred, had been wounded and captured
at River Raisen. Alfred died and William was still in Canada, a
prisoner. The heart -broken mother tried to run -the farm, with her son
Franklin to look after the negroes and conduct the crops, but, being
offered a fine price for the lard, she sold this place and removed to
Henry county, to a tract of land. there, where she lived until her death.
Meanwhile her sons and daughters married and left the home, several
of them went to other States and. have descendants in the South and
West. The eldest daughter, Nancy, married Willis Arnold and went to
Bay St. Louis, Miss. It was settled by the French and Spaniards, and,
Mrs. Arnold being well-educated in English, soon understood the French
and Spanish languages. She became so proficient in them that she was
petitioned by the citzens of the little town to be the postmistress
there. She consented to apply for the office, and he was appointed
( rivie Ccuriy Public 1J the
Moc4'mmlle, NC
1. The Chinn Family continued - page 3
straightway. It is said she was one of the first women In the South
to be appointed to an office. She -retained the office until her death.
Rhoda the second daughter, married her cousin, Preston Morgan,
a descen an o war organ, ro, er o ara organ, w o as he
wife of Squire Boone, whose br�thPr`�aniel organ, for whom Daniel
Boone was named, became one of the celebrated Generals of the Revo-
lutionary War.. (See REGISTER, January, No. 1, 1903). They moved
to Indiana, there lived and died.
Sarah Bryan married Captain Graves, of Bay St. Louis. She had
no children, but the other three sisters had sons and daughters.
My father, Franklin Chinn, remained the guardian of his mother,
meanwhile devoting himself to her comfort as long as she lived. The
appended sketch tells of his life+
Morgan Bryan Chinn,.married first Elizabeth Macy, by whom he had two
children - Henry, who went to Montana to live, and died there, he
never married; Ann Mary, a daughter, who married Henry Calvert, of
Owen county, died early and had no children.
Second, he married Miss Eliza White, of Frankfort, by whom he had
two children - son-Norbourn and daughter Eleanor. Both died in child-
hood.
Third, he married Miss Drussilla Branham, of Georgetown, Ky., by
whom he had four childrent son George, a physician; daughters, Florence,
who married Beni. Thomason, of Scott county, KY•, died in 1888, had
no children; Alice and Sallie, not married.
John F. Chinn lived in Shelbyville, was respected and esteemed by
everyone and died in 1896. He married first Miss Sarah Pulliam, by
whom he had a son and two daughters - John -Henry and Georgia and Mary,
all dead.
He married a second time Miss Corinne Scott, daughter of Col.
George Scott, of Henry County, Ky., by whom he had two sons, Frank
and Clarence, and one daughter, Kate, who married Joseph Bailey, of
Shelbyville, Ky. The sons died, Frank in childhood, and Clarence in
early manhbbd, unmarried. The names of John F. and Corinne Chinn
witnesses the family record of the Chinns to be correct and true, to
the best of their knowledge.
EDITORIAL NOTICE IN,THE KENTUCKY YEOMAN
By Col, Samuel I. M. Mayor
"NATURE'S NOBLEMAN"
"DEATH OF JUDGE FRANKLIN:CHINN"
On Saturday lAst the Yoeman made a brief announcement of the death
Of a respected citzen, one of Franklin -county's oldest and most honored
landmarks, in the person of Judge Franklin B Chinn, who departed this
Davie County Public Library
Mo&swlle, NC
The Chinn Faraily continued -
page �
life at his residence near the Forks of Elkhorn, at three o'clock
P. m. last Thursday, August 10th, 1876, in the 76th year of his age.
He had received savere physical injury from an accident which occured
during: a storm- last December, and had been confined by it to his
residence almost ever since, but the immediate cause of his demise
was an acute attack • of Inflammation --of the bowels.
Franklin Chinn, Sr. was born in the Cave Run neighborhood of Fayette
county, .five .miles from Lexington, on the lst d.ay of January, 1800.
Receiving; such an education as was afforded by the country schools of
the clay he early developed into a. useful, popular and leading citizen
of perfect integrity and blameless life. In 1817 he removed from
Fayette county to Henry county, where in 1827 he was married to Miss
Mary L. Scott. Their children were, William Chinn, who married Ellen
Herndon, of Woodford county, Ky., Amanda Chinn who married J..Wickltffe
French, Mary, who died single, and Leonidas, who died in infancy. Dur-
ing a residence of 20 years in Henry county he was trice elected to
represent that county in the popular branch,of the General Assembly
(from 1831 to 1836-7).
Having become a widower by the death of his first wife previous to
1837, he in that year was married to his second wife, Mrs. Annie Bell
Wells, and removed from Henry to this county, where he has ever since
resided, that is, for a period of nearly forty years,
Although living the unambitious, unobtrusive life of an independent
farmer, a tan of his sterling worth and rare intelligence could not
fail to attract the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and of all
who made his acquaintance. He held the responsible office of M I. -
trate for many years prior to 1861, when he was elected County Judge
under circumstances which signally attested the high character of the
man, his sweat popularity with all 'lasses and the unqualified trust
posed in him by his fellow citizens throug'h'out the county. Judge
Chinn lost his second wife in 1873 and has since remained unmarried.
He leaves six children living, anonp: whom are William Chinn, Esq.,
President of the Deposit Bank, and formerly Sheriff of the county;
Frank Chinn, Jr., law partner of Judge Alvin -Duvall, and formerly City
Attorney, and Mrs. Jennie C. Morton, a lady well known throughout
Kentucky for poetical and other literary productions of a high order
of merit, all of this county.
This is but a, brief and imperfect sketch of a representative native-
born Kentuckian, who lived six years beyond the Psalmist's allotted
span and was from first to last, publicly, as well -as privately,
Politically, as well as morally, in little as well as in big things,
that noblest work of God, an honest man. He was iniversally esteemed
and beloved here in the. community where he so long lived, and. we believe
had not an enemy in the world; he was a gent levan^ of the oldest and best
because most Christian school, a school founded on the golden rule of
kindness and brotherhood. He was also a Democrat of the old Jeffersonian
school in politics, and, we take pride in making record of the fact that
he materially assisted in the founding of the KENTUCKY YEOMAN. and was
( its lifelong patron and staunch friend. As such, as one of nature's
noblemen, we honor his name and happy memory.
CoUntY Publica1
ubl
MO&,
The Chinn Family continued -
pap:e 5
We sincerely lament his death, though it came in the fulness of
( ,years and the world's esteem, and we lay this humble wreath upon his
tomb in the hope that the record of his virtues will endure among us
forever.
TRIBUTES TO FATHER AND MOTHER
It is a task of great'delicacy to write of one's own --father and
Mother. The tendency to overpraise them in -the eyes of others, and
to subject their virtues and graces of mind and character to the crit-
icism of others who did not know them "behind the veil," as the: writer
d -id, makes the pen pause for language suitable to present their memories
in. No words, however, could convey correctly my loving; admiration of
my parents. They krere both fine types of the men and women of their
day. Handsome in person, tall, fair complexion, graceful and dignified,
with manners at once unaffected and gracious, it is *not saying too much
to record they were both admired and beloved by all who knew them in
their hospitable home, Bellsgrove.
As a testimonial of the regard felt for them,' and the estivate
placed upon them, we append two of the many notices of them which
appeared at the time of their decease, the one on October 14th, 1873,
and the other August 10th, 1876:
"Mrs. Anna Bell Chinn died at the residence of her husband, Judge
Franklin Chinn, in this city, on Thursday, October 14th, 1873, in the
68th -.year of her age, The subject of this notice was born -,at Bellsgrove
In this county? January 5th, 1805, and. was the daughter of Clement Bell,
one of the early settlers of this State, who emigrated from Marylandprevious to the year 1791, and settled in Frankfort, which then contained
only a few houses situated on the bank of the river. From this place
he afterwards moved to his farm near the Forks of Elkhorn, where he
lived to an advanced apse. Thus it will be seen that Mrs. Chinn was
descended from one of the pioneer families of Kentucky, whose deeds
of honor will ever live after them. During the whole of her life she
proved herself a devoted wife and affectionate and endearing mother, a
lovely neiPhbor, a sincere friend, and, above all, annexemplary Christiana
She was for more than forty years a consistent member of the Presbyterian
Church, and during that lona period was faithful in the discharge of all
duties connected therewith. When -,this mother in--�Israel felt that the
Andel of Death was calling; her home, she sent for the pastor of her
church, and, though suffe'rina, when he asked her if she was assured of
the grace and mercy of Christ, she replied "that in all her life He hard*
never failed her, and that she had always found Hire merciful and precious
to her, that it was not for spiritual consolation for herself that she
hard sent for him, but to deliver into his charge her dear ones left
behind." At the same time exhorting her husband and children, who with
broken hearts'and tearful eyes, were assembled around her to look to the -
Lord Jesus Christ for 'support and comfort in this time ' of sorrow, and
to try to meet her bye and bye in the sweet land 'where the weary are
at rest and sorrow comes no more.'
"It was this beautiful characteristic (self-abnegation) which enabled
her while in the agonies of death. to look away from self and to feel a
deeper interest in the salvation of others than in her own future state,
Davie County Public Ubrary
Mock011e, NC
The Chinn Family continued -
page 6
which all knew full well was not necessary, for she had been preparing
her soul to enter upon 'the rest which remains to the people of God'
during her whole life. To her bereaved abd sorrow -stricken ones would
we say, "grieve not as those having no hope," and as she can never come
to ,you, prepare to fulfill the promise she requested you to make and
we have no doubt was made to meet her in that beautiful land of rest,
where we can truthfully say
"She has gone to the heavenly garden,
Far from this world and its sin,
That dear, precious mother we cherished
Angels have ushered within."
B. F. D.
Frankfort, Ky., Oct. 14, 1873.
The above notice was written by her friend and physician, Dr.
Benjamin F. Duvall, who since then has joined her in the heavenly
home.
At the time of my Mother's death we lived in this city (Frankfort)
during the winter in a cottaa_e on Wapping Street, where now stands the
residence of W. Chapman, and spent the summer at Bellgrove.
The following extract appeared in the DAILY CAPITAL, May 9, 1896:
VERY INTERESTING
THE LATEST MEETING AND PAPERS OF THE FRANKFORT SOCIETY OF COLONIAL
DAUGHTERS
MRS. JEIA'IS C. MORTON, REGISTRAR
The Frankfort Society of Colonial Daughters met at the residence on
Shelby street on Thursday, at 11 o'clock a. m. A full attendance, with
visitors, was present. The programme was executed. The chapter re-
lating to the Steels and Rennicks, was concluded. the reading at the
last meeting being closed at the death of General Lytle, a descendant of
these families, who, it will be remembered, was the author of the beaut-
iful poem, "I amdying, Egypt, dyinh."
The chapter as announced relating to the Boones, Bryans, Balls and
Chinns, was read by the Registrar. A large bundle of letters on her
table attested her wide correspondence in Colorado, Nebraska, Indiana,
Virginia, Louisiana, California. Mississippi and Kentucky, with members
of these families and historians and genealogists in regard to them.
An authentic paper written by Samuel Bryan, the brother of Mrs. William
Chinn Sally Bryan , the ancestress of the Kinn families of this cites,
an a tested by witnesses in 1834, is in her possession, and was beside
her desk also. This valuable, paper relates accurately the history of
the Boones and. Bryan: by_a descen an orn al�bryan s 6tation, and one
who possessed every advantage of knowing both sides of his house, the
Boones and Bryans, whom they married and where they 1 ved. -'The paper
Davie County Public UO" ry
MO&Sville, No
I
I
The Chinn Family continued -
treated particularly of Captain William Bryan, his wife, Mary
an. e r augi er, Mary Bryan C nn, w o bore the pail of wa
-rom the spring at Man's otarion at the Derll of her life i
e o r an n s savages. e thrilling stor of th
o_ r�=an s at on. fly written tiY Alex r!cctunu, is Inserted
chapter, and she has also a fine old nlcture of Daniel Boone
nis hunting suit b a Dung artist who traveled with him in i
parse 7
n tnls
With the Boone -Bryan history she united the history of the Balls and
Chinns, which, in brief, is as follows:
Esther Ball, daughter of Joseph Ball, of London, and elder sister
of Mary Ball, who afterward married Augustine Washington, and was the
mother of George Washington, married in the city of London, at Stratford -
on -Bow, Rawlelgh Chinn, gent. It is said they came to America about 1713,
and settled in Lancaster county, Virginia. They had a large family of
sons and daughters, who married among the leading families of Virginia. -
It is from this Ball branch of the Chinn family that the Chinns In
Kentucky, as far as known, are descended.^:,•William Chinn, ancester of the.
Chinns of this city, is a direct descendant. The progenitor of the
Chinn family in England and America was one Thomas De Cheyne, of Norman-
French descent. This name, like that of "Wallace," "Brown" and "Fall,"
has been changed in transition from one country to another. In England
It appears under their crest, a Maltese cross on -armorial bar, Cheyne.
Later with their seal, a two-edged sword with stars about it, as Ch nne,
and still later in Virainia in the House of Burgesses as Chinn. The
family generally adopted the last spelling of the name. By reference
to Browning's "History of Americans of Royal Descent," it will be seen
the Chinns belong to a long line of titled nobility 1n EuroDe.
But it is their record as nature's noblemen, combined first with
their Colonial record, that the family should feel Volt proud of, since
the ancient historian has written of them on Church Registers "From
Raleigh Chinn and his descendants come those model males and females,
who have given character to our country." (Va. Gen.)
The Registrar returns thanks to the courteous genealogists and
historians for their prompt replies to her inquiries and also to her
kindred In other States, for their intelligent letters concerning un-
known branches of the family. Mr. Halelgh W. Chinn, of Colorado, and
Mr. Ed F. Chinn, of Nebraska, Dr. H. C. Smith, of Harrison -county, Ky.,
and Mr. Robert Lee Chinn, and Mr. George F. Chinn, of Mason, have been
especially helpful in their letters, which are now embraced in this
"chapter" for the Colonial Society.
NOTE - Hon. Richard H. Chinn, born in Bourbon county, Ky., was a
distinguished lawyer in Kentucky, and only partner Henry Clay ever had.
He went to Louisiana to live, there further distinguished himself as a
lawyer in winning the Myra Clark Gaines suit of New Orleans. He was
Congressman from Louisiana for years.
Hon. Thomas Chinn, born In Kentucky, removed South, and was apnointed
Minister to the Siciles Islands.
Hon. Chichester Chinn, cousin of Col. Wm. Chinn, was in the State
Senate of Kentucky, from 1810 to 1814. During his last term he died
of pneumonia in Frankfort.
paYie County Public Wary
Mockswlle, NC
..T
f •
The Chinn Family continued
page 8
( Hon. William Ball Chinn represented Bourbon county in t
he Lezis
18,18. He was the father of Dr. Joseph G. Chinn, a noted ph-ysicianlo fore,
Lexinprton, Ky., rho died there in 1892.
These nares are riven among others in history of those who o materially
assisted in the founding of Kentuc
and pros y and the proraotiorn� of its honor
prosperity,
Nibs.
Mary J. Holmes was once a guest at "Bellvrove." She was so
impressed with the beautiful scenery in which the place is located, that
she wrote her well known story of "Redstone Hall," situati _
in this romantic rearien, n the hone
The following is a clipping in regard to her visit:
MRS- MARY J. HOLMES
Mrs. Mary J. Holmes, the farzous novelist, upon reading in the Frank-
fort Ledger, the chapter on Lewis Street, writes the author of that
article the following'about friends and places:
"I have a ward snot in my heart for all of my Kentucky friends, and
I remember with pleasure ry visit to ,your hospitable home (Bellp-rove).
'Redstone Hall; I do not think I built in anyparticular snp
ot, Pxce t
it was in the vicinity of the Forks of the Eikhorn, and tr,y visit to
Your father's hone sucgested it." (Judge Frank? in= Chinos).
Since yrs. Holmes visited Kentucky, where she has laid the scenes of
three of her first and most successful novels (Tempest and Sunshine
Lena Rivers and Marion Gray, �
, the heiress of Redstone"
Hall), her fame
has become world wide, She has been four times to Europe, spending one
winter in Emypt and Asia, and still is writinFr her charming s
Arr.ericen life, unaffected r a taint of •-� -torics of
Y her forei wn tra-cels and associ•_ .
ations with the most di stinnrui shed ren and wotren of the continent of
Europe. Crowned with wealth and fare, she sends
greetings to Kentucky
"that she never for;rets, no ratter where she goes." VP
NOTE - Our larp-e ranuscript "Hi sto.y of the Chinn Family" is in the
Historical Society. much of the foregoing history here published is
frotr* its lea-�les. It contains the oldestaccounts of the family in
Enwiand , Scotland and France, as well as letters from rembers of
the
Chinn .family scattered throughout America and England. It would make
a book of perhaps a thousand pages, and at some time we hope topublish
It in book form, with its illustration, p ' sand
s • of coat of arms and homes and
pictures of the prominent trembers of the family and distinguishes? per-
sona�:es belonzin� to the history of the nation, as well as to . - Ed. REGISTERthe
of the nation, as well as to the history of. the founfing and P history
of Vi rgi.ria and Kentucky. _ s ttlefinent
„ .
ERRATA
( In the Januar Herr
January ,ister, 1907, in the chanter of the Chinn family -
read Nathan H., and not Noah -Spears, married Elizabeth Chinn.
In the "Commentator" of date 1830, we find the following notice of
County Public Library
MO&sville, NC
US }
i
`".Che Chinn Family continued -
the ma.rriaae in Frankfort, Ky.
page 9
Yarried by Rev. S. M. Noel, Mr. Nathan H. Spears to Miss Elizabeth
Chinn (date March 19, 1830) . The Spears were arong the pioneers of
Kentucky. Jacob Spears, Solomon Spears and Nosh Spears were among the
earliest erip-r. ation from Pennsylvania to Kentucky.
Chief Drauphtsran, Internal .affairs, of State Department, Harrisburg,
Pa. upon readinsz the above announcement of the marriage of Elizabeth
Chinn to Capt. Nathan H. Spears - writes us the following concerninw
the Spears: He presumed the Spears mentioned above was a descendant of
Jacob Spears, "who in early da��s was emigrated from near Bellevernon,
Pa. to Kentucky, and where. accordinvto Dr. J. S. Vanvoorbles in his
history of the Nonongahela Valley, entitled. "The Old and New Monontrahela,
Capt. Noah Spears became a successful business man and the founder of
the Spears family of Kentucky, ( see page 435 of that book),
This Capt. Noah Spears was the son of Henry Spears and Regina Fronean,
his wife, born in Germany, and about the year 1771-72, came to western
Pa., and settled on what has since been known as the Gibson farm, located
on the Monongahela river in Rostraver township of West Moreland county
near Bellevernon on which now stands the town of Gibsonton, and. the
great Gibson Distillery Plant.
They had four sons, Jacob, Solomon, Noah and henry and one dauvrhter.
Solomon was killed by the Indians on Salt River in Kentucky where he
had gone to envage in trapping and trading° Henry, born July 8, 1?56,
tr.arried. Rehecca. 1'r. ye , lived and died on the west side of the river
opposite Bellevernon. The daughter carried Ben jamin -Frye. Jacob as
before stated went to Kentucky. Noah was the founder and owner of the
town of Bellevernon, Pa.
Letter, Feb. 2d, 1907