William Tait (1) was born in South Ronaldsay, Orkney in 1793, and joined the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1812. He sailed from Orkney on the King George III and disembarked at Churchill River. (2) From 1813-1822 he worked at Churchill, Deers lake, and Indian Lake. On 10 July 1823, at York Factory, he married Mary Auld, daughter of William Auld, Superintendent of Northern Factories. William left the fur trade that year and went to Red River where he farmed on land allotted to him by the HBC. He and Mary had at least twelve children. Mary died in 1864 and William in 1872. They are buried in St. John’s churchyard.
Note: William was a brother of John Tait (19444).
(1) Red River records occasionally record the spelling as Tate.
(2) HBCA C.1/424, passenger list of the King George III, outward bound, 1812.