Alexander Tait, Sawney Tait or Saunders TaitMcKay (2004), Page 81 (14 August 1720 - circa 1800)Paterson (1840), Page 157 was a tailor, a published poet and also a contemporary of

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...

who he knew well. Tait was also well acquainted with the published poet and close friend of Burns,

David Sillar David Sillar (1760–1830) was a Scottish farmer, poet, grocer, schoolteacher and baillie who was a close friend of the poet Robert Burns. He died in 1830, aged 70, after a long illness, and was buried in Irvine's Old Parish Church cemetery. Hi ...

. Sawney spent much of his life in

Tarbolton Tarbolton ( sco, Tarbowton) is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is near Failford, Mauchline, Ayr, and Kilmarnock. The old Fail Monastery was nearby and Robert Burns connections are strong, including the Bachelors' Club museum. Meaning o ...

where he was an active member of the community. His poems were exhibited in the 1896 Burn Exhibition, a copy being loaned by the Mitchell Library. Alexander was generally known locally as 'Whip-the-cat' an old expression that referred to itinerant tailors, etc. who went from door to door to do work for others.Lowe (1904), Page 121

Life and background

Montgomerie Street, Tarbolton, South Ayrshire

A lifelong bachelor, Tait is said to have lived in a small two-storied cottage on the west side of Montgomerie Street near the entrance to the school,Boyle (1996), Page 153 occupying the garret of the building with only a large tame rat for company.Purdie (2003), Page 309 His friend came to an untimely end when a female visitor encountered his pet and a male friend killed the unsuspecting rodent. He is thought to have been born at

Innerleithen Innerleithen ( gd, Inbhir Leitheann) is a civil parish and a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders. It was formerly in the historic county of Peeblesshire or Tweeddale. Etymology The name "Innerleithen" comes ...

, Peeblesshire, the home territory of the Clain Tait, where he seems to have had a limited education.Paterson (1840), Page 145 He travelled a great deal in the South of Scotland in his early years as a pedlar, then he worked at mantua-making, selling gown-pieces to ladies and then making up the dress in the customer's home. Eventually he settled down in Tarbolton and established himself as a respected figure.Purdie (2003), Page 309 He was a smart and active with a ready wit, given to lampooning, possessed of a store of amusing stories, was an accomplished rhymester and as such, was much in demand at weddings, bonspiels and other social occasionsMcKay (2004), Page 81 where his recitations were said to be "''unco weel put thegither.''"Paterson (1840), Page 147 He is described as "''stout, well formed man of middle stature.''Lowe (1910), Page 125 As a tailor he did not claim any particular skill and despite once making a coat in only one day he usually dismissed the vagaries of fashion and worked for 6d a day when the going rate was 8d.Paterson (1840), Page 148 For a time he worked in Paisley as a journeyman for Daniel Mitchell in John Street and during this phase he entertained his colleagues with his rhyming skills, "''the smoothest doggrel''". It is likely that during his time in Paisley his publication was being prepared for printing.Paterson (1840), Page 156 At the annual 'June Fair' Tait set up an unofficial pub in his house that was well frequented by all, especially younger countryfolk who were attracted by his eccentric behaviour.Purdie (2003), Page 309 Tait was very fond of "''Pennystone'', a game similar to

quoits Quoits ( or ) is a traditional game which involves the throwing of metal, rope or rubber rings over a set distance, usually to land over or near a spike (sometimes called a hob, mott or pin). The game of quoits encompasses several distinct vari ...

and was successful at a challenge from a flesher from Ayr.

Poetry

Tait published his "''Poems and Songs''" in 1790, issued stabbed, probably using the Paisley printer John Neilson.Egerer (1964), Page 34 Selling for 1s. 6d. the book was octavo, in half-sheets; 16 x 9.7 cm., trimmed and bound, 304 pages long, copies being privately printed for, and sold by the author only. MDCCXC.Burns; life, genius, achievement, By 1849-1903. William Ernest Henley and Alexander Tait. Poems and songs. Tait.
/ref> The signatures ran from A-Pp4 and the contents were : (i) Title-page; (ii) List of Errata; (iii - vi) Table of Contents; (7 - 304) Text.Egerer (1964), Page 34 He published a version of the "''Kirk's Alarm''" by Robert Burns and added the stanzas "''Cessnock Side..''" and "''Davie Douf ....''"Egerer (1964), Page 35 His poem and song titles include a version of Burns's "''The Kirk's Alarm''" under the title "''Composed by Plotcock, the Foul Thief's Exciseman.''"Noble (2001), Page 441 with some original content; "''Sillar and Tait; or, Tit for Tat''"; "''The Author's Nativity''"; "''The Lady Ballochmyle's Chariot''"; ''"Colsfield's Hawks and Greyhounds''";Paterson (1840), Page 150 "''Illumination of Tarbolton on the Recovery of his Majesty''";Paterson (1840), Page 152 "''Battle of the Largs''";Paterson (1840), Page 155 "''The Burial of Lord Abercorn''" He also composed verses on Loncartie, Dunkeld, Aberlemny, Roslin and other places.Lowe (1910), Page 130 Robert Burns, David Sillar, Claud Alexander of Ballochmyle, his wife Helenora and several others feature in his poems.Purdie (2003), Page 309 His poetry has few admirers and Mackay describes his efforts as "''Ungrammatical, defective in metre and deficient in rhyme.''"McKay (2004), Page 81 Paterson states that "''.. that his pieces would, in short, be intolerable but for their absurdity, ..''"Paterson (1840), Page 144 Local events and personalities were the subject of his poems, giving them a local significance.

A partial list of the poems and songs in Tait's 1790 publication ''Poems and Songs''

# ''Composed by Plotcock, the Foul Thief's Exciseman,'' # ''The Answer to Plotcock,'' # ''Sillar and Tait; or, Tit for Tat,'' # ''The Author's Nativity,'' # ''The Lady Ballochmyle's Chariot,'' # ''Colsfield's Hawks and Greyhounds,'' # ''Illumination of Tarbolton on the Recovery of his Majesty,'' # ''Battle of the Largs,'' # ''The Burial of Lord Abercorn,'' # ''B-rns in Lochly,'' # ''B-rns in his Infancy,'' # ''B-rns's Hen Clockin in Mauchline,'' # ''A Compliment,'' # ''A Journey to Destruction.''

Social standing

The old Free Church, Tarbolton, South Ayrshire

Tait owned several properties in the village at one point, selling them for reasons unknown and held several posts within the village, recording them in the following verses: In 1777 he was a prominent figure in the setting up of the Secession or Burgher Church despite objections from the heritors and the parish minister and Tait was central to the supply of dressed stone after shortages had threatened the project.Paterson (1840), Page 146 As related in the first line above he had the ceremonial rank of 'Colonel' in the Universal Friendly Society of Tarbolton, leading the Society's procession through the village that aimed to raise funds to reduce distress and poverty amongst agricultural workers.McKay (2004), Page 81 Tait had earned this rank in competition with William Sillar, David's brother, enrolling many more new members than William.

West Lowland Fencible Regiment

Aged seventy-five Tait was one of the first to join this regiment, newly raised by Major Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield. In 1794 Tait is mentioned in "''Kay's Edinburgh Portraits''" relating that he was eccentric, small in stature, a poet, and showed great loyalty.Purdie (2003), Page 309 After the regiment was disbanded Tait returned accompanied by a goat he had somehow acquired and a band of local children who had gone out to lead him home.Lowe (1910), Page 129 Shirtly after, being ill and feeling that his end was nigh he was taken in by William Wallace of Millburn near Tarbolton and died shortly after.

Association with Robert Burns

At the time Robert lived at Lochlie Farm and David Sillar at Spittalside Farm, both close to Tarbolton, so they would have known Alexander Tait well. Tait is said to have once been on good terms with Robert Burns as in his "''Poem and Songs''" he published, as stated, a version of "''The Kirk's Alarm''" with two additional stanzas.Egerer (1964), Page 35 However he included the work as an occasional piece solely to set up his own poem "''The Answer to Plotcock''", vigorously satirising Burns's work in inferior verse, but failing to mention his name.Noble (2001), Page 441 Burns's version of "''The Kirk's Alarm''" did not appear in print until 1801."Noble (2001), Page 441 Plotcock is a sobriquet for the Devil. It seems that at some stage Burns and his friend David Sillar insulted Tait's poetry and he decided to amply repay the sentiments in verse, composing three scurrilous poems, namely "''B-rns in Lochly''", "''B-rns in his Infancy''" and "''B-rns's Hen Clockin in Mauchline''".Egerer (1964), Page 35 David Sillar's had compared Tait's poetic muse to "''.. a tumbling cart, wantin' shoon'"''. This refers to a type of cart with an ungreased tree axle and no iron tyres, infamous for the almost intolerable screeching sound they made. Tait wrote of Sillar that "''There's nane can sound the bawdy horn, like you and Burns.''" This highlighted the pairs mutual enjoyment of bawdry pursuits. Tait was a much older than either Burns or Sillars and may have been doubly insulted by these young poets usurping his position as the local bard.Purdie (2003), Page 309 Another retaliatory work was "''Sillar and Tait; or, Tit for Tat''" Tait undertook to "''..trace his pedigree, Because he made a sang on me''". Suggesting that Burns had written cutting verses regarding his poetic efforts, however they have not survived.Purdie (2003), Page 309 Tait was well aware of the legal dispute over Lochlie Farm rents, etc. between

William Burnes William Burnes or William Burness (11 November 1721 – 13 February 1784) was the father of the poet Robert Burns. He was born at either Upper Kinmonth or Clochnahill Farm, Dunnottar, Kincardineshire, and trained as a gardener at Inverugie Cast ...

and his landlord David McLure and waded in with his own views: Not satisfied with this diatribe Tait dedicated a poem entitled "''A Compliment''" to James Grieve, the unofficial provost of Tarbolton : In "''A Journey to Destruction''" he mentions the feud between Burns and McLure: Jean Armour's second confinement gave Tait another opportunity to deepen his feud with Burns: Burns had failed to ingratiate himself into the company of the Alexander's of Ballochmyle, however Tait wrote a song that was not only popular locally, but caught the ear of Mrs Helenora Alexander of Ballochmyle and he was invited to visit and to present the piece to the family. Tait was well rewarded for the composition and unlike Burns he became a "''.. privileged frequenter of the hall''".McKay (2004), Page 82 Tait's historical significance lies in his association and interactions with the genius of Robert Burns, his verses otherwise would have become forgotten and his publication is a great rarity.McKay (2004), Page 82 In this respect Tait has much in common with

John Lapraik John Lapraik (1727 – 7 May 1807) was a Scottish farmer and poet, and friend of Robert Burns. Life The family name is derived from the French 'Laprivick' or 'Lekprevick' and the first of the Scottish branch had accompanied Mary Queen of Scots to ...