TAIT, John

  General Notes:

John was deceased by 1869, according to the death certificate of his daughter Helen. His occupation was recorded as labourer.

  Research Notes:

HENMUIR

This village, along with Penston, is singled out in the New Statistical Account, written in 1836 by the Reverend Ramsay, as a part of the parish which had had abundant levels of coal removed from it for centuries. Thus by that date the inhabitants of Henmuir were chiefly employed in working coal. In the Old Statistical Account, about 40 years earlier, the main industry aside from agriculture was coal. Comparative details of wages for the local inhabitants were provided by the author, the reverend George Hamilton:

"Farm servants generally receive 3 l(ibra). 8 s. in money, half a boll barley, half a boll pease, 6 bolls and a half oat-meal, and a cow's pasture, which, altogether, may amount to 12 guineas, or 13 l. a year. The wife's labour in harvest pays for the cottage, which they inhabit; and they pay kane (a few fowls) for their garden. Women servants, living in the house, have from 50 s. to 70 s. a year; men servants in the same situation, have from 5 l. to 7 l.. Day-labourers earn 10 d. a day in winter, and 1 s. or 14 d. In summer. Carpenters earn 2 s. 2 d. payments in winter, and 1 s. 6 d. in summer; Masons, 1 s. 8 d. , and 1 s. 10 d.

The wages of the colliers depend upon the work which they perform; when the seam of coal is about a yard in thickness, one active collier will employ two bearers, and, with their help, earn a guinea or 25 s. a week. At present, when the stratum of coal is only two feet thick, even an industrious collier can employ but one bearer, with their help, he throws out from 80 to 90 loads of coals in the week, each load weighs 200 lbs and for this he is paid 2 d.

In general, over the whole country, (a strong and a pleasing proof of its improvement), the wages of labour are in a state of rapid progression; in time of health, they are equal to all the necessary expenses of the sober labourer, and even enable him to rear a numerous family."

John married Isabel SIMPSON, daughter of Thomas SIMSON and Elder SMAIL, on 16 January 1796 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Isabel SIMPSON was born on 20 July 1770 and was baptised on 22 July 1770 in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland.)

  Marriage Notes:

Old Parish Register
Haddington Parish East Lothian
Marriages

"1797
5(th Novr)
Tait
John and Isabel Simson, both in this parish, irregularly married at Edinburgh 16th Janry 1796 came before the session this day and acknowledged their marriage." ¹