Alexander Tait, Sawney Tait or Saunders Tait (14 August 1720 - circa 1800) was a tailor, a published poet and also a contemporary of Robert Burns who he knew well. Tait was also well acquainted with the published poet and close friend of Burns, David Sillar. Sawney spent much of his life in Tarbolton 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.
Life and background
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, occupying the garret of the building with only a large tame rat for company. 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, Peeblesshire, the home territory of the Clain Tait, where he seems to have had a limited education. 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. 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 occasions where his recitations were said to be "unco weel put thegither." He is described as "stout, well formed man of middle stature.
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.
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.
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.
Tait was very fond of "Pennystone, a game similar to quoits 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. 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. 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. He published a version of the "Kirk's Alarm" by Robert Burns and added the stanzas "Cessnock Side.." and "Davie Douf ...."
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." 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"; "Illumination of Tarbolton on the Recovery of his Majesty"; "Battle of the Largs"; "The Burial of Lord Abercorn" He also composed verses on Loncartie, Dunkeld, Aberlemny, Roslin and other places.
Robert Burns, David Sillar, Claud Alexander of Ballochmyle, his wife Helenora and several others feature in his poems. His poetry has few admirers and Mackay describes his efforts as "Ungrammatical, defective in metre and deficient in rhyme." Paterson states that ".. that his pieces would, in short, be intolerable but for their absurdity, .." Local events and personalities were the subject of his poems, giving them a local significance.