Many thanks to everyone who replied to my message - thanks to your suggestions and hints I think I have a pretty good handle on old Robert after viewing images for his children's births and following up censuses. I reckon he was the son of George TAIT and Jane HUNTER, born 1815 in Prestonkirk, East Lothian. His brother James (born 1813) was a witness at the baptism of Robert's daughter Mary at Prestonkirk in April 1841. Robert appears to have been in gaol in Edinburgh on census night 1841 but couldn't have been in for long because he and Elizabeth had another two daughters in 1843 and 1847. The names given to their children fit perfectly with the Scottish naming pattern if George and Jane are his parents. Elizabeth is recorded as a widow in 1851 so Robert may have died between June 1847 and March 1851. I'm going to the State Library this week to check MIs for East Lothian - maybe there's a hint there. I'll also check to see whether he might have been back in the pokey in later censuses (Elizabeth may have preferred people to think she was a widow) or maybe emigrated. So thanks again, everyone - I know a lot more about Robert than I would have thought possible this time yesterday! Cheers, Loretta Melbourne, Aus.