Colonial Kilts

[macwilkin]

My Anit-Virus detected Malwear or some such virus when I tried to link to this site...? Just thought I should pass it along...

Can't help you there...

T.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Highly unlikely. The majority of Highland Scots that immigrated to the North American colonies were Loyalists or at least tried to remain neutral during the Revolution.

There were individual Scots, such as Aberdonian Hugh Mercer, an ex-Jacobite, who served in the rebel forces, The Rev. John Witherspoon, James Wilson, etc. who favoured the American cause, as well as the Scots-Irish.

Regards,

Todd

According to a local historian, (Cape Fear Valley region) one reason was that survivors of Culloden were offered the choice of being hanged or taking a loyalty oath to the Crown and being transported to to the Colonies. Thus they were most reluctant to break their solemn oath, part of the pride of the Highlander. How true this is I don't know, but it would explain at least part of the reticence.

[macwilkin]

According to a local historian, (Cape Fear Valley region) one reason was that survivors of Culloden were offered the choice of being hanged or taking a loyalty oath to the Crown and being transported to to the Colonies. Thus they were most reluctant to break their solemn oath, part of the pride of the Highlander. How true this is I don't know, but it would explain at least part of the reticence.

Meyer discusses that as well; I think there is certainly some validity to it.

Todd

[davedove]

Rare, almost exclusively military, and not too practical in most situations on the frontier.

See Stuart Reid's 18th Century Highlanders by Osprey for a depiction of a "field expedient" modificiation to the uniform by a Black Watch other ranks. In the depiction, the soldier in question is wearing Indian woolen leggings under the kilt.

There is a model at the Scottish Tartans Museum showing what the typical frontiersman of Scottish ancestry would wear. It is the same buckskin outfit that you always see.

The undergrown wilderness of the New World was quite different from the moors of Scotland and so different clothing was required.

As Todd points out, those with a kilt as part of their uniform made other adaptaions.