1865 Samuel Tait (Illegitimate) was born at 3h15 a.m. on Thursday, March 30 at Grasshill Village to Margaret Tait, Domestic Servant. His birth was registered No.22 at Kirkmichael [Ayrshire] on April 15 by Margaret Tait, Mother. His father is not named.
1868 On Friday, July 10, Margaret Tait married Thomas Milroy at Muirston after Banns According to the Forms of the Established Church. The marriage was registered No.4 at Ochiltree in the County of Ayr on July 13.
Thomas was a Bachelor, he gave his age as 25, occupation Mineral Borer and usual residence as Dalhar Ro, Dalmellington. His parents are recorded as Thomas Milroy, Shepherd (deceased) and Jane Milroy m.s. Hay.
Margaret was a Spinster, gave her age as 23, occupation Dairymaid and usual residence as Muirston, Ochiltree. Her parents are recorded as Samuel Tait, Coal Miner and Elisabeth Tait m.s. Nisbet.
The officiating minister was W. M. Walker, Min. of Ochiltree and the witnesses were William Cooper and David Clement.
1881 April 3 I have searched this census and have come up with the following households which are a good fit with the known facts about the Taits.
I am pretty sure that this is Samuel living at James Street, Carluke, despite his birthplace given as Carmichael, Lanarkshire rather than Kirkmichael, Ayrshire.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Elizabeth Tait Head W 63 Ireland 1 Mary Hutchison Daur Mar 25 General Serv. (Domestic)
(unemployed)Ayrshire, Daily Elizabeth do. Grand-daur Unm 2 Lanarkshire, Carluke Samuel Tait Grand-son do. 16 Coal Miner do., Carmichael Meanwhile his mother and Thomas Milroy were living at 20 Main St. (North Side), Ochiltree, Ayrshire.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Thomas Milroy Head Mar 37 Pit Sinker Kirkcudbright, Penninghame 2 Margaret do. wife Mar 36 do.'s wife Ayr, Dailly Thomas do. Son 11 Scholar Ayr, Ochiltree Ellen do. Daur 9 do. do., do John do. Son 4 do., do Niel Mackay do. Son 6mos do., do
Samuel Tait was born on March 30, 1865 in Kirkmichael, Ayrshire to Margaret Tait ( - ), father not recorded. [See above for family background.]
Helen Lafferty was born on May 4, 1867 in Newarthill, Lanarkshire to Helen Allan (c1838 - 1919) and James Lafferty, Coal Miner (c1819 - 1868). [See Section LY-5-1 for family background.]
1889 On Friday, September 20, Samuel Tait and Helen Lafferty were married at Newarthill, Parish of Holytown according to the Forms of the United Presbyterian Church. The marriage was registered No.72 at Holytown on September 23.
Samuel was a Bachelor aged 24, occupation Coalminer and gave his usual residence as Newarthill. His father is not named but his mother is recorded as Margaret Tait, Domestic Servant subsequently married to Thomas Milroy, Coalminer (deceased).
Helen was a Spinster aged 22, occupation Domestic Servant and gave her usual residence as Newarthill. Her parents are recorded as James Lafferty, Coalminer (deceased) and Helen Nicol previously Lafferty m.s. Allan.
The officiating minister was A. Millerslayhall, Newarthill [should that be A. Miller, Lay Hall, Newarthill? - it doesn't look like it in the register] and the witnesses were Thomas Milroy [Samuel's half-brother] and Janet Nicol [I suspect Janet McNicol, Helen's half-sister].
Nicol or McNicol? John McNicol was consistent in his use of that surname, e.g. on the marriage certificate and when he was present at Census time, Helen was consistent in her use of Nicol whenever John was not around.
Samuel and Nell had the following children (that I know of), all born in Newarthill —
Samuel born in 1890, last sighting 1911. James born in 1892, last sighting 1911. John born in 1895, last sighting 1911. William born in 1897, last sighting 1911. plus 3 born and died between 1901 and 1911.
1890 Samuel Tait was born at 5h p.m. on Sunday, November 9 at Daukes Land [that's what it looks like but probably Duke's], Newarthill, District of Holytown to Helen Tait m.s. Lafferty and Samuel Tait, Coal Miner who married on September 20 in the District of Holytown. His birth was registered No.439 at Holytown on November 25 by Samuel Tait, Father, Present.
1891 April 5 The family were living on Main Street, Newarthill in a house with one windowed room.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Samuel Tait Head Mar 26 Coal Miner Ayrshire, Kirkmichael Ellen do. Wife Mar 23 Lanarkshire, Newarthill Samuel do. Son 4 mo do., do. Jeanie Nicol Servant 14 Domestic Servant do., do. I assume Jeanie is Ellen's half-sister Jane who was 5 in 1881.
1892 James Tait was born at 3h p.m. on Friday, December 23 at Notman's Land, Newarthill, District of Holytown to Helen Tait m.s. Lafferty and Samuel Tait, Coalminer who married on September 20, 1889 in the District of Holytown. His birth was registered No.8 at Holytown on January 5, 1893 by Samuel Tait, Father, Present.
1895 John Tait was born at 5h a.m. on Saturday, March 2 at Notman's Land, Newarthill, District of Holytown to Helen Tait m.s. Lafferty and Samuel Tait, Coal Miner who married on September 20, 1889 in the District of Holytown. His birth was registered No.134 at Holytown on March 21 by Samuel Tait, Father, Present.
1897 William Tait was born at 7h a.m. on Monday, September 20 at Jack's Land, Newarthill, District of Holytown to Helen Tait m.s. Lafferty and Samuel Tait, Coalminer who married on September 20, 1889 in the District of Holytown. His birth was registered No.441 at Holytown on October 6 by Samuel Tait, Father, Present.
1901 March 31 The family were living at Gibbs land, Newarthill in a house with one windowed room. Nell's mother Helen was living next door.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Samuel Tait Head Mar 36 Coal Miner Ayrshire, Carmichael Ellen [Lafferty] Wife do. 33 Lanarkshire, Newarthill Samuel do. Son 10 Scholar do., do. James do. do. 8 do. do., do. John do. do. 6 do. do., do. William do. do. 3 do., do.
1911 April 2 The family were living at Major Bank, Newarthill in a house with two windowed rooms.
Rel. Age Mar. Occupation Status Birthplace Samuel Tait Head 46 Mar Coal Miner (Hewer) Worker Ayrshire, Carmichael 2 Helen [Lafferty] Wife 43 do. 21 - 7 - 4 Lanarkshire, Newarthill Samuel do. Son 20 S do. do. do. do., do James do. do. 18 S Student do., do John do. do. 16 S School do., do William do. do. 13 do. do., do Nell & Samuel had been married for 21 years and produced 7 children of whom 4 were still living. Examination of the birth and death indices for Holytown for the 25 years preceding this date has proved inconclusive. There is a Thomas born and died in 1902 (398 & 244) but not much else unless we look at a John born in 1889 (291) and died in 1890 (140), but that still leaves us one short. I don't think I'll worry too much about it.
James Tait graduated MA from Glasgow University in 1915.