Thanks to those who have sent reply's Robert Taits occupation was farm servant John Tait son of Robert Tait and Mary Selkirk was a church officer in fact he was the Sexton of St Michaels Church Dumfries in the mid 1880's and on his death certificate in 1881 he gives his fathers occupation as Farm servant He married his first wife Isabella Breck in September 1831 in Dumfries and his second wife Ann Evens September 1873 in which he states his father Robert Tait Farm Servant is deceased John gives his occupation as Beadle Agnes Tait daughter of Robert Tait and Mary Selkirk married Thomas Maxwell (Shepherd) on her death certificate 1888 she gives her fathers occupation as Farm Overseer John Taits Family in the 1851 Census Name: TAIT, Helen Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: daughter of John Tait Marital Status: unmarried Occupation: GROCER Age: 17 Born: born England Household No: 4/56 Name: TAIT, Isabella Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: wife of John Tait Marital Status: married Occupation: Age: 40 Born: born Dumfries Dms Household No: 4/56 Name: TAIT, Isabella Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: daughter of John Tait Marital Status: Occupation: Age: 9 Born: born England Household No: 4/56 Name: TAIT, James Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: son of John Tait Marital Status: Occupation: Age: 1 Born: born Dumfries Dms Household No: 4/56 Name: TAIT, John Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: head of household Marital Status: married Occupation: NEW CHURCH OFFICER Age: 48 Born: born Dunscore Dms Household No: 4/56 Name: TAIT, John Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: son of John Tait Marital Status: Occupation: WOOL SORTER Age: 14 Born: born Wales Household No: 4/56 Name: TAIT, Mary Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: daughter of John Tait Marital Status: Occupation: Age: 6 Born: born Dumfries Dms Household No: 4/56 Name: TAIT, Robert Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: son of John Tait Marital Status: Occupation: WOOL SORTER Age: 15 Born: born Wales Household No: 4/56 Name: TAIT, William Address: Coffee Close(821): Parish: Dumfries Relationship: son of John Tait Marital Status: Occupation: Age: 12 Born: born Dumfries Dms Household No: 4/56 Best Regards David Brown Manchester UK dbccon@ntlworld.com Researching Wright - Tait - Cowan - Jonstone - Selkirk- Maxwell - Wallace - McDowall - Jardine - Bell - Geddes - Blake - Milligan and Saunders all from Dumfries 1800's