Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
Does anyone know who were the parents of James Alexander Tait, as seen in this biography (written by my father's cousin over 20 years ago) below?
Born on 25 Jan 1829 in Londonderry, Ireland. According to John James Woods, James Alexander’s parents were Scottish naturalized American citizens making a tour of the British Isles. He was raised in New York State, with several brothers and sisters. At age 18, he joined the Stevenson’s Raiders, which organized a regiment for purpose of security surrounding the Bear Flag Revolt. He was a private in Company A commanded by Captain Seymour G. Steel and was sent to California on the ship the Loo Choo in 26 Sep 1846. The trip took 6 months from New York, around the Horn and finally landing on 26 Mar 1847. That event insured the statehood of California for the Union. It was reported that James had more trouble with a burro that kicked him than he did with any Mexican soldier. After the war was over, James went with Stevenson’s hand-picked men, about 100 of them, to establish mining laws in the Mother Lode at Mokelumne Hill, California. Later, James became the first Postmaster of San Andreas and ran the Kentucky House Hotel. On 4 May 1856, he married Mary Elizabeth Sullivan at Reeds Bar in Calveras County. It was reported that Mary was impressed with James because he rode a white hourse to court her. They had seven children. They lived in Stockton in 1868 when he ran a harness shop but it was burned down later. They moved to Santa Cruz in the same year. An earthquake had occurred in that area which James was knocked down to the ground and he saw a gold half dollar on the ground, he took it to be a good omen and decided to stay in Santa Cruz, where he built the Tait House at 827 California St, which it still stands today. For many years, he was involved in the Hihn interests for the Santa Cruz waterworks and ran a hardware/plumbing business on Vine St until his death on 24 Apr 1899. Buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.
~ SOURCE: The Family Woods by John James Woods (1st Edition, December 1985)
His children were:
William Daniel Tait b: abt 1857 in Santa Cruz, California
Alexander Gordon Tait b: 1858 in Santa Cruz, California, USA
Elizabeth Tait b: 1860 in Santa Cruz, California, USA
* Robert Shaw Tait b: 06 Nov 1863 in Greasertown, Calveras Cty, California
Joseph Henry Tait b: 1866 in Santa Cruz, California, USA
James David Tait b: 1869 in Santa Cruz, California, USA
George Stanley Tait b: 24 Jul 1871 in Santa Cruz, California, USA
* - I'm descended from him, as he's my namesake.
Notify Administrator about this message?
Followups:No followups yet |
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/tait/messages/810.html | ||
 |
Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|