 Hinman Hurlbut was born on July 20, 1819 in St. James County, New York, United States, to mother Mary Barrett Hurlbut and father Abiram Hurlbut.His father Abiram was a farmer and moved from Connecticut, where his family resided, to New York.Hurlbut is related to Governor Hinman, a colonial ruler of Connecticut, through the maternal side of his family.