Jacobite Living History - My Impression

[CollinMacD]

I would like to post my latest Jacobite Impression. Thanks to the board, and the Bill Johnston. among others, I have tried very hard to upgrade my impression from the first time I posted on this board.

Photos taken today at Fort Frederick, Maryland. PLEASE open to comments, I cannot improve if I am not told how too. I know the plad of the Great Kilt is MacDonald Clanranald, Ancient, but it is not too far off from other plads i have seen illustrated.

Thought the B&W added some to the impression....Thanks again for helping me along.

[Terry Searl]

I would like to post my latest Jacobite Impression. Thanks to the board, and the Bill Johnston. among others, I have tried very hard to upgrade my impression from the first time I posted on this board.

Photos taken today at Fort Frederick, Maryland. PLEASE open to comments, I cannot improve if I am not told how too. I know the plad of the Great Kilt is MacDonald Clanranald, Ancient, but it is not too far off from other plads i have seen illustrated.

Thought the B&W added some to the impression....Thanks again for helping me along.

I don't mean to be picky but when you refer to a Plaid , do you mean your tartan......I know the words are used by some as interchangeable ....but I think the words mean two different things.......I really do like the Black and white photo with regards to your historical impression

[MacRob]

A "plaid" is an article of clothing. The pattern of the material used to make the plaid, is tartan. I think that is what Terry is saying and he is not being picky, just accurate. The use of "plaid" to describe the pattern is common, but not correct. The use of plaid to describe the pattern of the material goes back quite a ways but in the era you are portraying, it would not have been correct for a Highlander to say that.

What kind of sword did you round up for yourself?

In an earlier post you mentioned that the Murdoch pistol was used by the Highland Regiments in the 18th century. That is not an accurate statement, if you are referring to "issue" pistols. While officers could and did carry whatever pistol(s) they wanted, enlisted men were issued pistols made by two contractors; John Waters of London and Isaac Bissel of Birmingham. There were possibly other contractors as well but these two are the best-known. The Bissel pistols more closely resembled the Highland "dag" while the Waters was a poor copy. Neither is Scottish-made, as mentioned. The pistol makers in Doune and elsewhere in Scotland were custom shops, unable to supply the quantities needed by the military. At any rate, replicas of both pistols are available. I have had a Waters replica for almost forty years and it is the more accurate copy of the two as it is actually equipped with the Highland flintlock, which differs from the French style lock most commonly used in non-Scottish made pistols.

Overall your impression looks good. Congratulations.

[Luke MacGillie]

Glad you made it to Ft Frederick, its been over a decade since I have been to the trade fair as Im no longer living near there.

Your progress is commendable. I would consider perhaps putting your sporran and dirk on the belt holding up your plaid, vice a separate belt. More often than not, a separate belt seems to be a practice used with cantled sporrans with bars at each side for a belt, vice a single loop sporran.

[CollinMacD]

Glad you made it to Ft Frederick, its been over a decade since I have been to the trade fair as Im no longer living near there.

Your progress is commendable. I would consider perhaps putting your sporran and dirk on the belt holding up your plaid, vice a separate belt. More often than not, a separate belt seems to be a practice used with cantled sporrans with bars at each side for a belt, vice a single loop sporran.

Thanks, so do I put the dirk and sporran on the belt on the floor/ground before you fasten the kilt, or do you do it after you have fastened the belt when you stand up after putting the kilt on. As always I appreciate your input. Next time I will send photo with targe, sword etc.

Fort Frederick was beautiful this year, but I did not go Saturday or Sunday, weather was little iffy on both days with afternoon thundershowers. This was my first time going to this specific event. I did Civil War days in August several times in the past, and few ACW Living History Encampments. I was really surprised to find so many dressing as Native Americans, and the extent to which they did the impression was commendable on their part. Most were F&I, couple of Jacobites, and Rev War, good mix.

Still working on several other things, need to find another source for the wool bag socks, do you know of any. I bought two pair but cannot get them over the ankle, way too tight, got to figure out what to do for that...one pair, one in photo, fits great, other two cannot get on foot.

If you know source PM me...very interested.... Thanks...

[Luke MacGillie]

Prior to buckling the belt, while still laying down, slide the dirk on the right, sporran to the left, then buckle the belt, The sporran will sit overtop of the buckle most likely.

As for bag hose, Ive only ever made my own, developed with the help of someone 30 years ago, and have continued to use that.

Kate Henry's pamphlet on how to construct bag hose has a different pattern that I might try on my next pair.

[neloon]

A "plaid" is an article of clothing. The pattern of the material used to make the plaid, is tartan. I think that is what Terry is saying and he is not being picky, just accurate. The use of "plaid" to describe the pattern is common, but not correct. The use of plaid to describe the pattern of the material goes back quite a ways but in the era you are portraying, it would not have been correct for a Highlander to say that.

Right, for information:.
"Plaid" is, indeed, the garment. It is always pronounced "played" in Scotland, not "plaad", even though the Gaelic is "plaide" pronounced "plaatch-uh" meaning a blanket or mantle. The word is related to "pellaid" meaning a sheepskin and both words go back to the primitive Indo-European word "pel" meaning a hide or cloak.
The word "tartan" is of obscure origin - possibly French. The Gaelic is "breacan" (pronounced "brech-kan") - "breac" means spotted, patterned and is also the word for trout for obvious reasons. (And you will remember Alan Breck in "Kidnapped" whose face was disfigured by smallpox.)

Alan

[Stoff]

Prior to buckling the belt, while still laying down, slide the dirk on the right, sporran to the left, then buckle the belt, The sporran will sit overtop of the buckle most likely.

As for bag hose, Ive only ever made my own, developed with the help of someone 30 years ago, and have continued to use that.

Kate Henry's pamphlet on how to construct bag hose has a different pattern that I might try on my next pair.

I have question. where might I find Kate Henry's pamphlet?

Thanks

[Luke MacGillie]

I have question. where might I find Kate Henry's pamphlet?

Thanks

My copy has Kate's email as katehenry@att.net as a contact.

I would suggest contacting her directly, as William Booth, Draper is no longer carrying the book, since they no longer carry the diced wool for bag hose.

[Stoff]

My copy has Kate's email as katehenry@att.net as a contact.

I would suggest contacting her directly, as William Booth, Draper is no longer carrying the book, since they no longer carry the diced wool for bag hose.

Thanks,
Christoph