William Tait

William Tait, his personal and family background, and his involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre

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William Tait

1818-1896

Biographical Sketch

[Under Construction.]

Early Life in Ireland

William Tait was born in Downpatrick, County Down in Ulster Ireland. His parents were Ulster Irish or Scots-Irish. His father and wife (named Mary McGuire) was also from Ulster Ireland. Evidently Tait married Mary Pridley/Pridey (1822-?), also an Ulster Irish but she died in the early 1840s. The Irishman Tait is reported to have had red hair and beard.

Service in the Royal Navy in India

In 1841, Tait became a Mormon and the following year, he went to India apparently as part of the East India Company. However, one brief biographical sketch states that he was a "drill master in the service of Queen Victoria." ("William Tait," History of Kane County, 535.) There he met Elizabeth Xavier, the daughter of James Xavier and Julianne Bell. She was reportedly of Portuguese ancestry. Elizabeth had been born in Bombay, Meershot, India. They were married in 1850. In 1851, their first child was born in Poona, India, but he died at age two in 1853, reportedly of cholera. Two other children were born to them in India. In 1854, they had planned to immigrant to America. However, Elizabeth was pregnant and it was decided that Tait would immigrant with their young son and Elizabeth would come after she had recovered from the pending birth of their next child.

Immigration to America and onto Utah

In 1854, Tait and his son emigrated from India, sailing east to Southeast Asia and then onto Hawaii and San Francisco. From there they traveled overland to Great Salt Lake City, reportedly arriving in 1855. He moved south and settled in Cedar City where many British emigrants were drawn to work in the new ironworks.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth gave birth to a baby girl. After she and the child were well enough to travel she determined to follow her husband to America. It proved to be a harrowing journey. In spring 1856, they sailed east from India for Liverpool, England. The transoceanic voyage to America was relatively uneventful. However, on the train journey to Iowa City, the baby girl contracted pneumonia. She died and was buried in Iowa City.

At the jumping off point for the trail west, Elizabeth joined the James Willie handcart company. Its disaster-plagued journey is well known. The company got a late start in the season and by October 1856, early winter storms left them snow-bound in Wyoming Territory. After some weeks, rescuers from Utah arrived to provide them with food, warm clothing and wagons to continue their journey to Utah. According to family lore, William Tait was among the rescuers of the Willie party but this has not been confirmed. Eventually, Elizabeth made it to Cedar City where she and William renewed their life together.

The early ironworks in Cedar City.

Working in the Ironworks in Cedar City

Tait provided services to the ironworks in Cedar City . . . [details]

In the Iron Military District: Captain William Tait, Company F, John M. Higbee's 3rd Battalion, Cedar City

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Tait, Wm-2.jpg

According to the 1857 Iron Military District's muster roll, "Wm. Taite" was captain of Company F under Major John M. Higbee and his adjutant John Urie. In the first platoon in his company were 2nd Lieutenant William C. Stewart, Sergeant John Western/Weston and privates Joseph H. Smith and Joseph Clews. Alexander Loveridge was a sergeant in the third platoon and private Ellott Willden was in the fourth platoon.

According to John D. Lee, Tait arrived at Mountain Meadows with a militia company from Cedar City. Little else is known about his role in the massacre.

Later Life

Tait and his wife and family remained in Cedar City. He was known as a red-haired Irishman with a red beard. Seven children were born to the Taits in Utah. His wife worked as a teacher and Tait held positions in civic and church affairs in Cedar City. He may have spent some time in Kane County, southeast of Iron County, because the History of Kane County provides a brief biographical sketch of him. More information is needed on his life for the next nearly three decades.

In 1896, he died and was buried in Cedar City. He was survived by his wife and children. His wife lived until 1914.

References

FamilySearch.org; Lee, Mormonism Unveiled, 230, 380; the Lee Trial transcripts; Robinson, History of Kane County, 535 (biographical sketch); Shirts and Shirts, A Trial Furnace, 492; Walker, et al, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C.

External Links

For further information on William Tait and his family, see:

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28090226
• http://mountainmeadowsmassacre.org/appendices/appendix-c-the-militiamen

Further information and confirmation needed.  Please comment below or contact editor@1857ironcountymilitia.com.