Watson Clan

**Wareyin** · 25th June 15, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Balaamsass51

Hello Wareyin. Clan Watson is a clan, but it is an armigerous clan, that is one without a living clan chief. (the last one died in the 1700's). We are also a sept of Buchannan, Forbes, and some say Hay and perhaps Gunn. Yes, there was a Clan Watson Society quite a while ago, a lady out west ran it but she was very old and went into a nursing home so it folded. The Clan Watson group in Nova Scotia is very active and has a lot of history on their web site. There is a fellow in England who ran a Watson forum, perhaps he is still in business. Hope some of this helps.

Thank you, Balaamsass51 for the information. I will look for the Nova Scotia Watson web site. If you were to attend a highland games in a tartan other than a Watson, which would you choose?

**Balaamsass51** · 26th June 15, 03:25 AM

Well, I have a Black Stewert from Stillwater. Also an R-kilt from Mr Pel in Ontario. Since I belong to the Scottish Tartan Authority and run a booth at several games, perhaps a Wilson's 60, which is the tartan of the STA would be nice. Naturally my favorite is my Watson, made by Matthew Newsome from Locharron heavy weight tartan.

**Wareyin** · 26th June 15, 04:19 AM

I would certainly love a Watson, but finances do not allow such an extravagance. Would wearing a Buchanan be gauche, as Watson is considered a Sept?

**ctbuchanan** · 26th June 15, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by Wareyin

I would certainly love a Watson, but finances do not allow such an extravagance. Would wearing a Buchanan be gauche, as Watson is considered a Sept?

Wearing the Buchanan would be very appropriate. We have many Watsons who visit our Clan tent and that is all they wear. Many have been raised and told that their Clan is Buchanan. Of course without a clear knowledge of your heritage it would be good to know what area of Scotland your family came from, but even then the old clan lands that you see on maps were so hundreds of years ago and people moved about a great deal since then.

One common history for the Watsons in much of the US is that they came through Ulster, Ireland as part of the Ulster Plantation experiment in the 1700's. They then further migrated to N. America. (the Scots/Irish or Scotch/Irish as they are sometimes called in the South) Much of this happened because the last Buchanan chief died in the late 1600's so left without clan or protection they thought Ulster would be a good chance. Many of them then moved to Nova Scotia as well.

But, as I said wear the Buchanan with pride knowing that there are 10's of thousands of Watsons who do so as well. And Buchanan tartans are readily available in just about any configuration you might want including budget options.

Aye,
CTBuchanan

**ctbuchanan** · 26th June 15, 06:13 AM

Just a side note. There was a representative of the Watson Clan here in New England for several years. Whenever possible we used to set up our clan tents next to each other at the various highland games. When he was unable to attend a games that I was at I would put up a small sign for Clan Watson on our table and had applications and info available to those who wanted it. The association disappeared several years ago as some have mentioned but I still display a piece of Watson Tartan for them to see.

**Balaamsass51** · 27th June 15, 02:22 PM

Most of the Watosns on North Carolina wear Buchanan. They have a nice browninsh one.

**Wareyin** · 27th June 15, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Balaamsass51

Most of the Watosns on North Carolina wear Buchanan. They have a nice browninsh one.

Well, the Buchanan Modern is growing on me. I'll look for the brownish one, though!

By any chance, do you have a link to the Nova Scotia Watson website? I haven't been able to find it. So far, my research has been stuck with Watsons in Pennsylvania back to about 1900, with a father from Illinois. No Nova Scotia links yet. Family tradition has it that we're Scottish, but I know that might not be true.