Marian Tait^[1]

1847 - 1922  (74 years)

• Name	Marian Tait
  Born	14 March 1847	Durisdeer, Dumfriesshire, Scotland   [2, 3]
  Gender	Female
  Alias/AKA	Mary Tate; Marrion Tait  [2, 3, 4]
  Immigration	15 November 1851  [5]
  Died	1922	Pennsylvania, USA
  Person ID	I70901	Clan Moffat Genealogy
  Last Modified	16 June 2007

  
  

  Father	Thomas Tait,   b. 25 June 1815, Kirkpatrick Durham, Dumfriesshire, Scotland ,   d. 25 September 1891, Foster Twp., McKean Co., Pennsylvania, USA  (Age 76 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Moffat,   b. 1813, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Scotland ,   d. 8 January 1885, Bradford, McKean Co., Pennsylvania, USA  (Age 72 years)
  Married	6 March 1840	Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Scotland   [6, 7]
  	proclamation in KirkPatrick-Durham22 Feb 1840
  Family ID	F49479	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  [Adapted by Alaric Faulkner from reminiscences of Lizzie Tait Gallaher, Notes of Stella Fox Beam] When Marian was born [Mar 14, 1847 in Durrisdeer, Dumfriesshire, Scotland], the midwife said she was the nicest of them all --long shapely limbs. When the family landed in America in November of 1815, it consisted of eight members: Thomas Tait (father), Elizabeth Moffat Tait (mother) John Brown (adopted), Joe, 9, Elizabeth eight years old, Agnes, Marian and Janet. Marian went to school at Smethport [PA]. She was bright, and she studied hard. But she came home and lost her mind. She had attended May party at Smethport where she was crowned Queen of May and there she thought one Isaac Brown had mesmerized her (he was that kind of man—a hypnotist). She worried a lot about it after coming home and soon had trouble—gradually losing her mind. She hoped to see him again and get the cloud off her mind, but was disappointed. Her father brought her to other hypnotists, but they said she had gone too long and they could not lift the cloud altogether. They got her back to school times, but no farther. Isaac Brown's uncle came to see her and thought she had been mesmerized but said Isaac was dead. Marian herself agreed. Her father consulted many others, and all thought she was mesmerized. She was engaged to Tom Hunt. She was a nice looking tall girl with beautiful hair. Her mother took care of her for years until she died in 1885. After her mother died, they had a woman, Maggie Thompson, doing the housework and Marian stayed home. Maggie wanted Marian taken away and they thought it might help. They told her she was going to Scotland, for she often packed a bag and said that was where she was going. Her father and sisters Lizzie and Janet took her to the Warren Institution and pretended it was a hotel. One by one, they left her, making excuses. As they left in a carriage for the train, they looked back and saw her waving from a window. They all felt so badly, and her father nearly fainted. They all expected her to get well. Still she ate nothing for 10 days, grieving. Janet and Lizzie went back to see her soon. They found her still in bed grieving; she would not rise or speak. A nurse announced her sister Lizzie had come to visit, and she would not believe it nor open her eyes till Lizzie kissed her. She begged to be taken home saying, "You've come for me." But the doctor said to leave her. She was dressed and they took her for a walk out in the beautiful yard. She was not interested. "Come on," she said, "Gus Snyder is passing by and we'll ride with him." "No," said Lizzie. "There are cars on other side." They ran and got her back in the house and she fussed so. "I knew you were going to cheat me." “They all go thru that,” said the doctor. That was the last they saw of her, for they took her away. Connie Griffith, who later married her father, Thomas Tait was Marian’s attendant. Marian was there at the Warren Institution for a good while. Her father visited and then decided he'd bring her back. Lizzie and Janet went after her and she spent two days with Elizabeth. Her father then took her home. She sang "Mary across the Wild Moor" as she passed by Foster's. Her father cried. Marian had learned so many beautiful poems and songs and could repeat them by the hour. She used to tire the teachers with her long recitations and deep questions. She couldn't believe she was really back till she played on the organ. At this time, Belle Miller (her brother-in-law Will's niece) was there to care for Marian and do the housework. She got along so nicely with Marian. But eventually Marian was taken back to Warren when there was no longer anyone to look after her. Connie Griffith was an attendant at the hospital and later when her father wanted Marian home, he brought the attendant Connie with her. She remained a year or more and then married Marian’s Father. After that, Connie wanted Marian sent back to the hospital at Warren where poor Marion stayed till the end of her days. Some of relatives visited her now and then but of later years she did not recognize any of them. They sent word to here sister Lizzie and Harry [Harry Fox?] that she was doing poorly. They went out by auto (Howard and B.) {Howard and Blanche Fox?] and found her dying. They stayed awhile but she passed away soon after they left. She died about November 1922 on a Sunday. She was born 1849, March 14th. Age 73. She was brought home and buried in her father's lot. 1851 Scotland Census about Marrion Tait Age: 4 Estimated birth year: abt 1847 Relationship: Daughter Father's name: Thomas Mother's name: Elizabeth Gender: Female Where born: Durrisdeer, Dumfrieshire Parish Number: 823 Civil parish: Durisdeer County: Dumfriesshire Address: Enterkinfoot Occupation: Scholar Household Members: Name Age John Brown 25 Agness Tait 6 Elizabeth Tait 35 Elizabeth Tait 8 Jannet Tait 1 Joseph Tait 9 Marrion Tait 4 Thomas Tait 35, , [3, 8]

  
  

• Sources

  [S1398] GEDCOM file from file “AdamMoffatDesends”, submitted by Alaric Faulkner. [S1368] Family Member - Michelle Ann Robinson [Fox]. [S1370] Scotland Census, 1851. [S1330] US Federal Census, June 1, 1880, Bradford/Foster, PA. [S1372] Barque Junior, arrived from Glasgow to New York Harbor on November 15, 1851. [S1386] International Genealogical Index. [S1387] Moffat Dumfrieshhire Scotland Marriages and Deaths 1709-1854, proclamation in KirkPatrick-Durham22 Feb 1840. [S1362] Reminiscences of Elizabeth Tait Gallaher -- Notes of Estella Fox Beam.