Greetings, 20 November, 6:08amMST Taylor (Tailor), was one of the Riding Surnames of The Borders, on the English side during the 16th century. According to the work of George MacDonald Fraser, "The Steel Bonnets", they hailed from the area around Carlisle.

In 1583, the Taylors and Robsons were engaged in a feud with the Armstrongs from the Scottish side. However there had been a time when the Taylors and the Armstrongs were allies. According to Fraser, the Taylors were not one of the prominent families, like the Carletons, Grahams and Fenwicks were.

In keeping with the customs of that period, they probably sided up with whatever more powerful Families that they could, for protection and a cut of the loot. Alliances changed as often as the weather and the eternal quest for all the Borders folk, was to be on the side that was winning.

Fide et Fortitudine, aye!

T.