FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
JOHN TAIT AND
JONNETT HORSBRUGH
John Tait was born in about 1654 of Newlands, Peebleshire. He
married Jonnett Horsbrugh 10 August 1679 in Newlands.
Marriage record for John Tait and Jonnett Horsbrugh in
Newlands:
"This day John Tait and Jonnett Horsbrugh both in this
paroch and was pclaimed in order to marriage for the first ryme"
John and Jonnett had the following children:
1. Marion, christened 15 June 1682 in Newlands: “That day
Marian lawrull daughter to Jon Tait in Thornilie was baptized
witness David Horsbrugh & Patrick Sandersone”. Thornilie
is in the parish of Innerleithen.
*2. Elizabeth (Bessie), christened 16 March 1685 in
Newlands; married 17 June 1703 in Newlands.
Baptism record for Elizabeth Tait in Newlands: "Bessie
lawfull daughter to Jon Tait in Thornilie was baptized witnes
David Horsbrugh"
Thornilie
SOURCES: Newlands parish register; www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk.
Early Tait History
"The Taits were an armigerous clan who hailed from the area of
Innerleithen. {An armigerous clan is a Scottish clan, family or
name which is registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon and once
had a chief who bore undifferenced arms, but does not have a chief
currently recognised as such by Lyon Court.}
There is mention of the Taits living at Pirn which is one of
three hills that surround the small border town. As the eldest son
of Alexander Horsburgh and Jean Riddell died without 'issue' their
second son succeeded to the family estate and in 1662 he held the
office of Sheriff Depute and sat in the tollbooth of Peebles "for
serving of heirs." This was the beginning of the Horsburgh
connection with the Taits of Pirn for on the death in 1664 of
George Tayt of Prin the estates passed to his daughters Margaret
and Anne. (around 2,00 acres) In 1677 they appeared before William
Horsburgh, the Sheriff Depute for the ratification of their
claims.
The name Tait is probably of Norse-Viking origin, deriving
from the pre 7th century Old Norse word "teitr", meaning glad or
cheerful. In the 1881 census Tait was the 2nd most popular name in
the town of Innerleithen."
(http://www.clantait.co.uk/history.html)
