Thomas Tinning (abt. 1830 - 1902)

Born about 1830 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England

Died Jul 1902 at about age 72 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

"Mr. Thomas Tinning has earned the gratitude of the citizens of Toronto. He has during the last twenty years been the means of saving the lives of two hundred human beings from drowning in the lake and bay. The following examples bear testimony to the courage and endurance displayed on two memorable occasions in which Mr. Tinning was the principal actor. In the month of December, 1856 a schooner named J.G. Beard went ashore on the south side of the Island during a furious gale. The crew had taken refuge in the rigging; and, observing the wreck by the aid of his glass, together with the perilous position of the crew, Mr. Tinning immediately launched his skiff and rowed over the bay and, hauling his boat across the Island, succeeded in pulling off to the wreck in the face of a tremendous sea. This feat was not easily accomplished, and he was thrice upset while attempting it, but on the fourth trial he reached with his skiff the unfortunate crew who were eventually rescued. The weather was bitterly cold, and during the long hours that passed while undertaking this meritorious action, his clothes became coated with ice.

In December 1861 the schooner Pacific, while attempting to make the Queen's Wharf during a violent gale, was driven ashore in the Humber Bay. The position of the vessel and the probable fate of the crew caused Mr. Howard of High Park to hasten to Toronto and, if possible, bring back a relief party with him to make the attempt to save the shipwrecked crew. He called upon Mr. Thomas Tinning, who got together some volunteers, and taking with him one of the life boats of the steamer Zimmerman, proceeded at once on a sleigh to the scene of the wreck. After considerable difficulty and much danger, they succeeded in rescuing the crew, and as the success was in a great measure the result of Mr. Tinning's individual exertions in which be displayed great promptitude coolness and daring, he was shortly after the event presented by the citizens of Toronto with a handsome trophy in recognition of his valuable services...

These two instances we have given will be proof sufficient of what benefit his long residence in Toronto has been to the saving of life from the dangers of the Lake, and will serve to impress the toilers of the deep with the conviction that Toronto is not behind other ports in possessing brave hearts and willing hands ready to risk their own lives in the prospect of saving others. Among the list of vessels which he has been at different times the means of saving from entire destruction and consequent loss of valuable cargoes, we may mention the Rapid, Echo, Olive Branch, and the crew of the Fearless in Ashbridge's Bay..." ^[1]

"TINNING (Toronto) July 8 - There was a large attendance of the intimate friends of the late Thomas Tinning at his funeral yesterday, notwithstanding the fact that it was private. Among the many floral tributes sent in loving memory was a pillow from Thomas Swinyard, of New York, “in loving memory of kindly services rendered in 1870.” On this occasion Mr. Tinning was able, after all other efforts had proved ineffective, to recovery the body of a member of Mr. Swinyard’s family who had been drowned in Hamilton Bay." ^[2]

Thomas Tinning was the son of Richard Tinning and Ann Tiffin.^[3] He married Catherine Mary Sumner on January 2, 1860 in Toronto.^[4] They had two sons, Frank and William.^[5] He died in July 1902 and was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ "'History of Toronto and County of York, Ontario: Containing an Outline of the History of the Dominion of Canada; a History of the City of Toronto and the County of York, with the Townships, Towns, General and Local Statistics; Biographical Sketches, Volume 1', by G. Mercer Adam, Charles Pelham Mulvany, Christopher Blackett Robinson; C.B. Robinson, 1885, pp.159-162."
2. ↑ " Hamilton Spectator - Deaths, May - August, 1902."
3. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJYJ-V5Y : 19 September 2020), Thomas Tinning, 1830.
4. ↑ "Canada, Ontario County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2YM-ZMKQ : 17 March 2018), Thomas Tinning and Cathe Mary Sumner, 02 Jan 1860; citing Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,030,065.
5. ↑ "Canada Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVF3-529 : 2 March 2021), Thomas Tinning, Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada; from "1881 Canadian Census." Database with images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing Thomas Tinning, citing Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79787780/thomas-t-tinning : accessed 19 December 2021), memorial page for Thomas T. Tinning (1832–1902), Find A Grave: Memorial #79787780, citing Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada ; Maintained by Islington (contributor 47351667) .

See also:

• "Thomas Tinning Rescuing the Crew of the Pacific', landscape watercolour by John Howard, 1875."

• "Great Lakes Maritime History: 'History of the Great Lakes, Vol. 1', by J.B. Mansfield; J.H. Beers & Co.; Chicago, USA; 1899."

• "'I Remember Sunnyside', by Mike Filey; Dundurn; Canada; 1996, p. 35."