|
|
Welcome to our genealogy and family home page. The focus of this site is about our origins, our heritage, and our lives.
|
If you are researching the roots of either the "Tait's" of
Smailholm, Scotland or "Bennett's" of Windsor
in England, we gladly extend our archives to you.
The historical information contained here has been compiled by Donald Tait with
the kind help of many others over the years.
|
Other
Resources That May Help in Your Research
|
 FamilySearch
GenDex
Cyndi's List
Ancestry.com
Kindred Konnections
RootsWeb
Donald
Tait
donald@tait.id.au
|
|
Tait.id.au
has been in the making for several years
and online now since 2002 and has changed shape several times since our initial launch. Originally it was to be a gathering place for our family, as many
of us are all members of the online world.
|
|
Click
here to see Donald's Family Tree
A
few words about the Tait Family
The surname Tait was originally a name for a 11th
century Scandinavian personal name which means “glad, cheerful”.
Searching the achieves
divulged many different spelling variations of the Tait surname. The name Tait appeared
in many different references and from time to time was spelled Tait, Taite,
Taitt, Tate, Tayt and Tayte.
Researchers have
discovered the earliest records of the name Tait was in Berwick (now part of
the region of Borders). They are believed to be descended from a Saxon
princess, daughter of Ethelbert, the King of Kent. She moved north to Bernica
to marry a prince of that nation. They held territories in the area of Kelso
about the year 1100BC; Ulric Tates, who was documented in 1095 in county Lancashire,
appears to be the first name recorded,
The Taits became an
established clan, neighbouring the Clans Kerr, Pringle, Turnbull and Rutherford.
Nicholas Tate was documented in 1273 in county Cambridge. Thomas dictus Tayt, who was
in debt to the king, was recorded in 1329. They were registered in the Scottish
Parliament as a border clan with an elected chief in 1597.
Robert Tait, born
about 1735 in Smailholm, Scotland, is the earliest recorded
ancestor in Donald’s paternal line. He
was married twice and appeared to have sired 10 children. Robert died in 1790. A monumental inscription in the cemetery at
Smailholm states:
“
----- Robert Tait portioner in Smailholm who died 22/9/179? Aged 54(?) Years also Ann McDougall(/) his
spouse who died ?/1/178? Aged 30 years also Andrew Tait his son who died
?/3/1800? Also Ann their daughter 12/3/18?? Aged 24 ----- spous Margaret Shiels
died 22/9/1823(?) Aged 72(?) year".
And
a
few words about the Bennett Family
Oral
traditions in the Bennet (Benet) family passed down
through at least two different branches say that the
family originated in France, being Protestants of Huguenots, and
at some time during the persecutions fled to England.
While we have not be able to prove this, there is no
reason to doubt the truth of the belief.
It
isn't known when our Bennett family arrived in England.
They may have lived in London at first but eventually
they settled in Windsor, Berkshire. The first known
of the family in England is probably James Benet who
married Mary Noon in 1712 at Windsor.
There
was another family of Bennetts in Windsor. They appear
to be unconnected, probably being of English origin.
The family names used were different than the known
line.
A recent addition to Tait.id.au is a forum area where you may share with others
who are on a similar adventure. Do you have your own genealogy "most wanted"
list? Perhaps you'd like to share resources, or just let us know if you found
this site helpful. If so, please drop by our forums and introduce yourself.
Membership is Free and you aren't required to register to post a message.
We do, however, recommend that you register as it's a great way to keep tabs
on one another.
 About This Database
Where did I get all the information from, and is it accurate?
Site
Design by Sinsook and Donald Tait - Copyright 2003 Donald
Tait
|
Below are the names of some family members whom
we seek information.
If you have any information regarding these individuals, I'd appreciate your feedback in the forums.
George
Tait 1862-1940
Born in 1862 in Penicuik, Scotland and died in Casino, NSW, Australia in 1940. How and when did George Tait, my
grandfather, arrive in Australia? We do know that he was residing in Edinburgh in
1881 and married in Sydney in 1894. There are indications that he may have
arrived in 1884.
|
Other
Interesting Stuff...
|
Anna
Tait nee Majstrenko 1930 -
Anna
was born in a small village, Kirnicki, in the Ukraine
in 1930.
During World War II the village was
occupied by German troops. Anna, her mother, and siblings, Michael, Rosa, and
Alexander were transported by the Germans to Poland, then Czechslovakia and
Austria, finally ending up in a labour camp in Germany.
As a displaced person she migrated
to Australia, travelling by train from Frankfurt to Naples (Bagnoli Camp), then
boarded the S.S. "Hentzelmann" on 24 October 1949 arriving in Sydney on 24
November 1949.
Her mother, Warara, step-father,
Mykola Pawlenko, and siblings - Alexander, Michael, Rosa, Edward and Elvera had
arrived in Sydney on 11 November 1949 on the USAT "General R.M.
Blatchford".
In 1953, Anna married
Donald Tait in Sydney. They were divorced in 1999.
Anna now lives in Sadleir, a suburb
of Sydney.
Sinsook
Tait nee Chirachant 1958 -
Sinsook
and Donald Tait were married in Liverpool, Australia
in 2001. Sinsook is a native
of Thailand and on her maternal line, a descendant of
King Taksin.
|
