Manuel Tarín was born 1811 in San Antonio de Béxar, the oldest son of Vizente Tarín, an officer in the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras (Alamo de Parras Company. Manuel became a private in the reorganized Alamo de Parras Company, serving under Lt. Col. José Francisco Ruiz by 1830. That year the Alamo de Parras Company was ordered to build and occupy Fort Tenoxtitlán, a remote frontier garrison on the Brazos River. Over a two-year period sporadic payroll shipments, isolation, and eventually starvation prompted numerous desertions from the post. Tarín deserted twice and each time was arrested and restored to duty with little more than a reprimand. He returned to San Antonio with the Alamo Company in September 1832. His continued discontent with the Mexican military was further demonstrated in the spring of 1833, when he was apprehended with his brother, José Vizente Tarín, and another accomplice attempting to steal guns from the Alamo arsenal. Tarín, like many other Tejano dissidents, ultimately aligned himself with the growing Texas army. He participated in the Siege of Béxar in 1835 under Stephen F. Austin’s command. By February 22, 1836, he had mustered into Juan N. Seguín’s company of Tejanos. Although he was present with Seguín at San Jacinto, illness prevented him from participating in the final battle. He served for the duration of the war and left the army in the rank of corporal in July 1837. He died sometime after 1849.
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