Great kilts in the American colonies

[Sir William]

I agree with Woodsheal. In my research I've uncovered nothing to suggest expatriate civilian Highlanders wore their traditional highland garb. From all I've seen, it appears they adapted the same clothing as worn by the colonials where they lived. I think even the Scots bonnet is far overdone in the reenactment community (and I'm one of those guilty of it at times).

Yes, there were several Highland regiments in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution but they were soldiers wearing a uniform. And, as Woodsheal also pointed out, even they transitioned into breeches and leggings or trousers after a few years of campaigning.

As an immigrant Scot, you might have had a plaid stored by for special occasions, such as a wedding, but not for daily wear.

[macwilkin]

True, but they weren't wearing their own (civilian) plaids, but were issued plaids, from royal storage, belonging to highland regiments such as the 71st, whose men were wearing philabegs on campaign.

I just don't think Iain's Jacobite look, w/ belted plaid, tartan waistcoat, targe - even white cockade, foresooth! - is anything that would have appeared in colonial N. America - other than in 1730s-40's Georgia (w/ black cockades) as mentioned above. Sorry, Iain...!

Quite right, Brian -- Reid clearly documents that the plaids were government surplus; apologies for not elaborating that point.

I agree with Woodsheal. In my research I've uncovered nothing to suggest expatriate civilian Highlanders wore their traditional highland garb. From all I've seen, it appears they adapted the same clothing as worn by the colonials where they lived. I think even the Scots bonnet is far overdone in the reenactment community (and I'm one of those guilty of it at times).

Yes, there were several Highland regiments in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution but they were soldiers wearing a uniform. And, as Woodsheal also pointed out, even they transitioned into breeches and leggings or trousers after a few years of campaigning.

As an immigrant Scot, you might have had a plaid stored by for special occasions, such as a wedding, but not for daily wear.

I've seen a similar "overdone" factor in ACW reenacting where numerous Irish harp badges and other Irish symbols abound; yet unless you were an Irish immigrant serving in a ethnic Irish unit, wearing and flaunting such obvious displays of an unpopular immigrant group among "native" Americans in the 1860s could get you killed!

It should also be pointed out that Highlanders were not universally popular among their Ulster-Scots neighbours in the colonies due to their Loyalist leanings and their religion.

T.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Just a quck look found the 42nd and the Fraser's in the RevWar. I believe the Fraser's might have been in Wilmington as it was a major port of the time.

You might could claim your targe to be from Culloden, making kyou almost fifty, but chances are, if you were a blacksmith carrying your stuff at culloden, you were probably caught and killed. I don't know how many survived Culloden, but as I understand it, not many!

[macwilkin]

Just a quck look found the 42nd and the Fraser's in the RevWar. I believe the Fraser's might have been in Wilmington as it was a major port of the time.

You might could claim your targe to be from Culloden, making kyou almost fifty, but chances are, if you were a blacksmith carrying your stuff at culloden, you were probably caught and killed. I don't know how many survived Culloden, but as I understand it, not many!

General Hugh Mercer reportedly did, only to be killed at Princeton in 1777.

T.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Wow good find, Todd. Survive that to die here!

I am sure people survived but it was generally pretty much a slaughter!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Just a quck look found the 42nd and the Fraser's in the RevWar. I believe the Fraser's might have been in Wilmington as it was a major port of the time.

You might could claim your targe to be from Culloden, making kyou almost fifty, but chances are, if you were a blacksmith carrying your stuff at culloden, you were probably caught and killed. I don't know how many survived Culloden, but as I understand it, not many!

Lots, and Lots, and Lots of "Loyal" Scots (on the Hannoverian side) survived...

Looking at the conduct of the war (1745-46) I wonder if Prince Charles would have had many "Mechanics" in his train. The Jacobite Army was largely composed of infantry, and on the march his men would have been able to attend to most "fix and mend" chores. If a blacksmith had been needed, it would have been a simple matter to force the local smith to attend to the repair. The same would have been true of the Jacobite cavalry-- simple ferriery-- like re-setting a cast shoe-- would have been carried out along the route of march, anything beyond that would be attended to at the next village or farm.

But then, I suppose, it's the research that separates "dressing up" from reenacting and living history displays, isn't it?

[Dall_Piobaire]

Lots, and Lots, and Lots of "Loyal" Scots (on the Hannoverian side) survived...

Oh I am sure lots of the loyalists survived, after all they did outnumber the Jacobites almost six to one. Well trained, with artillary and a better position. Charles should have listened to Murray much earlier.

[Jock Scot]

Oh I am sure lots of the loyalists survived, after all they did outnumber the Jacobites almost six to one. Well trained, with artillary and a better position. Charles should have listened to Murray much earlier.

Dall, perhaps I am wrong here, but I think that you are short changing the Jacobites, they damn nearly won the war and the Crown, it was only the defeat at Culloden that finished BPC. As to artillery, the first casualty of the battle of Culloden was a British soldier killed by a Jacobite cannon ball, also, the Jacobites were not universally liked in the highlands and many highlanders(dare I say most?) were delighted that BPC was defeated.It is no good harping on about how the Jacobites were out numbered, out trained, out gunned, out General-ed and out fought----- it is a war we are talking about and not a game of monopoly!

Back on topic. A most enlightening historical thread on early American colonial history. Thank you.

[Sir William]

Just a quck look found the 42nd and the Fraser's in the RevWar. I believe the Fraser's might have been in Wilmington as it was a major port of the time.

During the French and Indian War (ca. 1755-1763) there were three Highland regiments in the British North American colonies: the 42nd "Black Watch" Royal Highland Regiment, the 77th "Montgomeries Highlanders," and and 78th "Fraser's Highlanders." By 1763, all three regiments were badly depleted. Some men were allowed to take a discharge and many remained in the colonies, to include Canada, while others were drafted from the 77th and 78th into the 42nd.

During the American Revolution, the 42nd returned to North America in 1776 (a second battalion was formed but was sent to India and later became the 73rd), and two battalions of the 71st "Fraser's Highlanders" also arrived in 1776. The 1st battalion was in NY and NJ, while the 2nd was in Wilmington, and both fought in the southern campaigns. A 3rd battalion was also raised.

Other Highland regiments in NA included the 74th "Argyll Highlanders," the 78th "MacDonnell's Highlanders", 77th "Athol Highlanders" (though they mutined on arrival and were disbanded), and the 84th "Royal Highland Emmigrants" raised from former members of the 42nd, 77th and 78th in Canada.

Within the Loyalist forces were the North Carolina Highlanders (or Volunteers) who apparently wore the government tartan (from the stores of the 71st) and a short blue jacket, and the Highland Company of the Queen's Rangers, which also wore the government tartan but with a short green jacket.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I agree with Woodsheal. I think even the Scots bonnet is far overdone in the reenactment community (and I'm one of those guilty of it at times).

Guilty or not, I think that's a very good point-- look at the numerous threads that have been posted about the inadequacy of the "Scotch" bonnet for wear today. Even at Highland games you see a lot of men eschewing the bonnet for something more practical. I'm sure 18th century Scots in the new world were not overly sentimental about Highland attire when it came to a choice of hats! ith: