Crauford Tait
Crauford Tait WS was a 17th/18th century Scottish lawyer, improver and landowner and also a contemporary and friend of Robert Burns.
Early life
Tait was born in Blairlogie in central Scotland on 8 April 1766. He was the son of John Tait, WS of Harviestoun, and his wife Charlotte Murdoch. His father was a lawyer in Edinburgh's New Town from its first construction around 1770.His father purchased the Harvieston estate just east of Tillicoultry in 1780 and, in 1787, the house was twice visited by Robert Burns during which time he befriended Burns. During the summer visit they took a trip to the Cauldron Linn on the River Devon near Rumbling Bridge which trip Burns described as one of the best days of his life. His father had offices in an Edinburgh townhouse at 28 Queen Street and Crawford both trained and practiced there.
Career
He inherited the Harvieston estate in 1800 on the death of his father. He retained a substantial townhouse at 2 Park Place in Edinburgh which enabled his children to be educated there.In 1804, he employed John Paterson to rebuild Harviestoun in the Adam style. In 1805 he purchased Dollar Glen and Castle Campbell, from his wife's uncle, consolidating the castle and leaving it as a romantic ruin as was the fashion of the day.
In 1810, he was responsible for organising the section of the new turnpike road between Dollar and Tillicoultry. When the new road was created the old road became redundant other than as an access to the house.
Personal life
On 17 June 1795, Tait married Susan Campbell, daughter of Ilay Campbell, Lord Succoth, and Susan Mary Murray. Together, they were the parents of ten children, including:- John Tait, who married his first cousin, Mary Amelia Sitwell, daughter of Francis Sitwell, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Ann Campbell, in 1824.
- Susan Murray Tait, who married Sir George Sitwell, 2nd Baronet, only son of Sir Sitwell Sitwell, 1st Baronet and Alice Parke, in 1818.
- Charlotte Tait, who married, as his second wife, Sir Charles Wake, 10th Baronet, son of Sir William Wake, 9th Baronet and Mary Sitwell, in 1822. Sir Charles' first wife was Mary Alice Sitwell.
- Archibald Campbell Tait, who became Archbishop of Canterbury; he married Catherine Spooner, daughter of Ven. William Spooner, in 1843.