Hello from a newbie with problem naming a tartan

**janekinnear** · 10th November 15, 02:00 PM

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Name: MAn in kilt.jpg
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I am excited about being a part of your group. I live in New Brunswick, Canada and am a descendent of the Macdonalds and the McLeods. I have recently received some old family photos. I believe this photo is of my great grandfather but I don't know if he is a Macdonald or a McLeod. I am wondering if anyone here can identify the tartan in this kilt? The answer may help me identify the man. I believe it was taken in the late 18890's or early 1900s.
Thanks so much for any help or advice you can provide.
janekinnear

**Father Bill** · 10th November 15, 02:08 PM

Hi and welcome. I hope you don't mind; I took the liberty of editing your link (added one bracket) to make the picture show. Meanwhile...

Welcome to the the "Great Rabble!"

**Dughlas mor** · 10th November 15, 02:15 PM

Hi Jane, welcome from Seattle, Washington.

**MacEanruig** · 10th November 15, 02:20 PM

Wow, that might be quite challenging based on the photograph! I will hazard a guess that is the Black Watch or a derivative.

By the way, welcome to the group.

**Taskr** · 10th November 15, 02:21 PM

As that appears to be Regimental dress, the tartan will likely not identify either "Mac". A search by name of service records might be of help
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/search...vice%20records to link the name to the Regiment.

**Tomak** · 10th November 15, 02:27 PM

Sorry I can't help with the tartan...But hello and welcome from Southern California.

**Nile** · 10th November 15, 07:41 PM

Hello Jane and welcome to X Marks from down here in Delaware. Thank you for sharing your story.

Originally Posted by janekinnear

I believe this photo is of my great grandfather but I don't know if he is a Macdonald or a McLeod. I am wondering if anyone here can identify the tartan in this kilt? The answer may help me identify the man. I believe it was taken in the late 1890's or early 1900s.

janekinnear

Regarding the picture you posted, the tartan of the kilt is different from that of the sash. The kilt may well be Black Watch (and probably is) but the sash with the white stripes doesn't look like any McLeod tartan that I'm familiar with (though, I'm no expert) so, if the sash represent his clan, I would guess MacDonald. Check MacDonald tartans on line and see if something like the 'white stripe' pattern shows up in any of them. Good luck with your search.

Glad you chose to join XMTS and I look forward to your participation.

Nile

**ASinclair** · 11th November 15, 09:15 AM

Hello janekinnear!

**freep** · 11th November 15, 10:35 AM

Greetings.

It makes it hard when it's in black and white. It's also my understanding that if he's in uniform, he'd be wearing the regimental tartan and not a personal/familial/clan tartan.

Try here: tartanregister.gov.uk/search.aspx

**Dileasgubas** · 11th November 15, 12:32 PM

Some clues:

The Canadian Black Watch (RHC) was garrisoned in Gagetown, NB, and the kilt tartan matches, so my guess is that he is dressed in a Black Watch kilt.
The cap badge also looks like the RHC cap badge.
The hair sporran in white is currently worn by the RHC, who are now garrisoned in Montreal.
The glengarrian with no dicing is worn by members of the Black Watch pipes and drums; soldier wear a tam / balmoral with a red hackle
Black Watch pipers wear the Royal Stewart tartan kilt but drummers wear the Black Watch kilt. My suspicion is that the plaid worn in the picture is a Royal Stewart plaid, which would fit with the kilt.

The conclusion would be that this man is a dressed as a Black Watch (RHC) drummer.