Early Life
He was born in San Antonio de Béxar (now San Antonio, Texas, United States). He married María Luisa Cásares by 1846 and had at least two children.
The son of a military officer, Vicente Tarín and his wife, Juana Isidora Leal. Tarín was baptized at a the San Antonio de Valero Mission ("the Alamo") two days after his birth.
In 1813, there was much political turmoil in the region. His father, a Spanish officer, joined the invasion forces of the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition. After the defeat at the battle of Medina, he fled the Spanish repercussions. He went into exile in the Louisiana territory leaving Manuel and his mother in the care of a Catholic priest. Though his father was given a conditional pardon in 1814, he refused it and chose to remain in exile, continuing in the rebellion against the Spanish crown.
By 1830, Manuel Tarín became a soldier in the Second Flying Company of Álamo de Parras, serving first at the Alamo and then in a remote East Texas fort. The Mexican government's failed support of its frontier outposts forced its men and their families to suffer under the harshest of conditions. Tarín deserted twice, but was returned to duty both times. His unit ultimately returned to San Antonio and the Alamo.
Read more about this topic: Manuel Antonio Santiago Tarin
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