| JOSEPH TAIT Farmer |
m. |
MARGARET FIDDES |
||
| b. d. 9 Sep 1839, Bettyfield, Smailholm |
b. 26 Mar 1776, Broomhall, Mertoun, Berwickshire d. 20 Sep 1855, age 79 Lindean, Galashiels of Bronchitis. Buried in Smailholm churchyard |
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| GEORGE TAIT SARAH |
Father Mother |
ROBERT FIDDES m. 14 Aug 1770, Merton, berwick AGNES LOCKIE |
Joseph Tait's Inventory and Personal Estate of 1839 lists 14 children, with George being the eldest and part owner of the Bettyfield farm and Margaret Fiddes still living. Margaret Fiddes's will and death cert in 1855 gave me the ages of all of the children at the time of her death. Mentioned in the will is a grandchild Jean Tait, servant at Sutherland Hall.
The Jeremy Tait history of his grandfather William Tait (1855 -1959) is an interesting account of the Tait family but it does not state the name of William's grandfather. So far I've not found an absolutely verifiable link with the William Tait history but there are a number of very interesting connections which lead me to believe it is our Joseph - viz.
- The history has William (1812-1884) as a brother of George(1800-1875) - the George at Venchen is actually a son of John, not William.
- Our George was at Fireburn Mill in 1839 and at Thompson Walls in 1855 (age 55) which corresponds with the William Tait History.
- In the history, George's grandmother was a Lookie - ours is a Lockie.
- The mention of a George Tait and Sarah (1740-1806) as grandparents of William is also interesting given that one of the children below is a Sarah.
- George in the history had 12 or so brothers and sisters.
All of the children below are listed as living on Margaret's death certificate of 1855
| Child | Marriage | Spouse | Spouse's Parents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George | m.
3 June 1844 Coldstream |
Catherine Davidson (to be confirmed) |
John Davidson (1776-1868) Jane Heslop (1787-1872) |
| b. abt. 1797 (58yrs in 1855)
Tenant at Fireburn Mill, Coldstream in 1839 and at Thomson Walls, Northumberland in 1855. In 1884 (William's will) noted as sometime farmer of Kirknewton |
bap. 30
Dec 1811, Coldstream. d. 1891 George and Catherine had nine children as follows: Alexander (Sandy). Robert (1840-?). James (1842-1910). George (1845-1902). Maggie (1846-?). Joseph (1848-1902). Jane (1850-?). John (1852-1888). William (1855-1939), Jeremy Tait's grandfather |
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| 2 | Janet | m. | Robert Davidson | |
| b. abt 1798 (57yrs in 1855)
1839 - now or lately in America |
Farmer, Jefferson County, USA in 1855 | |||
| 3 | Robert | |||
| b. abt 1799 (56yrs in 1855) Merchant in London in 1839 and 1855 |
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| 4 | John | m. | Margaret Winthrop | |
| b. abt. 1800 (55yrs in 1855) Shepherd in Presson? in 1839. Farmer at Harperrig, Northumberland in 1855. d. 16 Jul 1885, age 82, Milne Graden West Mains, Coldstream. Was a farmer there in 1881. |
d. before 1881 children: George (1839-93), m Jessie Bathgate Lawton, also farmed at Venchen |
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| 5 | Catherine | m. March 1840 | Samuel Ormiston | |
| b. abt 1801 (54yrs in 1855 -
death cert looks like Margaret not Catherine) m. living at Smailholm 1839 - at Bettyfield |
from Kelso in 1840. Tennant, Pinnaclehill in 1855. Farmer at Muirhouselaw. |
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| 6 | Margaret | m 5 May 1828 Torpichen, West Lothian |
Robert Marshall | |
| b. abt 1802 (53yrs in 1855) d. 1875, age 73, South Queensferry |
1839 - Innkeeper, South Queensferry | |||
| 7 | Sarah | m | John Smith | |
| b. abt 1802 (53yrs in 1855) a twin? | 1839 -Fisherman, Holy Island | |||
| 8 | AGNES | m. 1826 | JAMES DAVIDSON | Parents |
| b. abt. 1803 (52yrs in 1855) d. 6 Jul 1889, age 84, Bellsdyke, Airth |
b 1805, England Farmer, Burnfoot, nr Lauder in 1855 d. Jan 26 1884, age 76, Bellsdyke, Airth. |
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| 9 | Isabella | m. 6 Aug 1831 Coldstream Bridge |
John Dickison | |
| b. abt. 1810 (45yrs in 1855) d. 16 Jan 1881, age 74, Eildon. certified by son John. |
1839 -
Wright, Smailholm d. before 1855, tenant at Langlands |
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| 10 | Mary | |||
| 1839 -
at Fireburn Mill d. before 1855, age 43 |
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| 11 | Elizabeth (Betty) | m. 25 May 1852 | James Lees | |
| b. abt
1814 (41yrs in 1855) 1839 - at Fireburn Mill |
Farmer Newmills, Lauder. Son Andrew Lees is mentioned in William Taits will. He was the joint tenant with his uncle of the farm of Buckholme Williamlaw Ladhope Muir and others |
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| 12 | William | m. 4 Jun 1845 |
Alison Anderson |
|
| b.
abt 1815 (40 yrs in 1855) At Bettyfield in 1839. Tenant in Lylestone in 1855 and executor of his mother's will.. Farmer at Venchen in 1881 employing 17 men, 15 women and 4 boys. d. 9 Dec 1884, age 72, Venchen, Yetholm Died of alcoholism. His will is available - Jedburgh Court |
From Channelkirk. At Venchen in 1881. Her surname name was not recorded on the death cert. of her husband but is mentioned in his will. Jane Tait is mentioned as his housekeeper. I do not know if she is related. |
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| 13 | Helen | m. 27 Nov 1835, Melrose, Rox. | Thomas Turnbull, | |
| b. abt 1817 (38yrs in 1855) Moved to New Zealand abt. 1867 and settled in Southland. Their Daughter, Helen was the G. Grandmother of Margaret Cross. Helen (daur) married a Widower, James MOFFITT, a Farmer at Waikaia. She died in 1887 after the birth their Daughter Janet. |
Tenant in Spaddislee | |||
| 14 | Joseph | single | ||
| b. abt. 1819 (36yrs in 1855)
At Fireburn Mill in 1839. Tenant and residing at Lindean in 1855. |
References
1 Extract of an Entry in the Register of Deaths, 1885, Parish of Coldstream, Berwick, - John Tait
NAME and Surname Rank or Profession and whether Single, Married or Widowed |
When and Where Died |
Sex |
Age |
|
Cause of Death, Duration of Disease, and Medical Attendant by whom certified |
|
| John | 1885 | M | 82 | Joseph Tait | Chronic Bronchitis |
(Signed) |
| Tait | July | yrs | Farmer | & Heart Disease | George Tait | |
| Farmer | Sixthteenth | (deceased) | (dia......) | Son | ||
| 10h 30 p.m. | Uncertain | Present | ||||
| Widower of | Milne Graden West - | Margaret Tait | as cert by | |||
| Margaret Wintrup | Mains, Parish of | M.S. Fiddes | George Henderson | - | ||
| Coldstream | (deceased) | Registrar | ||||
2 Extract of an Entry in the Register of Deaths, 1884, Parish of Yetholm, Roxburgh - William Tait
NAME and Surname Rank or Profession and whether Single, Married or Widowed |
When and Where Died |
Sex |
Age |
|
Cause of Death, Duration of Disease, and Medical Attendant by whom certified |
|
| William | 1884 | M | 72 | Joseph Tait | Alcoholism |
(Signed) |
| Tait | December | yrs | Farmer | Mary Binnie | ||
| Farmer | Ninth | (deceased) | Niece | |||
| 5h p.m. | North Berwick | |||||
| Married | Margaret Tait | as cert by | Present | |||
| Venchen | M.S. Fiddes | H. McG. Forbes | - | |||
| Yetholm | (deceased) | Registrar | ||||
3. Extract of census1881, Venchen, Yetholm, Roxburgh - FHL film 024044 Gro ref Volume 811 EnumDist 4 Page 7
| NAME and Surname of each person |
RELATION to Head of Family |
CONDITION as to Marriage |
AGE last birthday |
PROFESSION or OCCUPATION | Employed | WHERE BORN | Rooms with One or more Windows |
| William Tait | Head | Mar | 63 | Farmer at Venchen 1218
acres 1000 arable. Employing 17 men 15 women 4 boys |
England | ||
| Alison Tait | Wife | Mar | 58 | Wife | Channelkirk, Berwick | ||
| Isabella Turner | Serv | Unm | 41 | Dom Serv | Whooplaw, Roxburgh | ||
| Catherine Hook | Serv | Unm | 32 | Dom Serv | Yetholm, Roxburgh | ||
| James Rutherford | Serv | Unm | 43 | Groom | Gateshaw, Roxburgh |
4. Extract of census 1881, 1 Milne Graden West Mains, Coldstream, Berwick. - FHL film 0224030 Gro ref Volume 733 EnumDist 3 page 17.
| NAME and Surname of each person |
RELATION to Head of Family |
CONDITION as to Marriage |
AGE last birthday |
PROFESSION or OCCUPATION | Employed | WHERE BORN | Rooms with One or more Windows |
| John Tait | Head | Wid | 78 | Farmer 470 acres Employing 7 men 5 girls 1 boy |
England | ||
| Margaret Fairly | Grd Daughter | Mar | 27 | England | |||
| Fanny Hardie | Serv | Unm | 19 | Dom Serv | Coldstream, Berwick | ||
| John Broikie | Boarder | Unm | 17 | Shepherd | Stow, Edinburgh | ||