I was being a little parochial, ooops. During the 1600's here in New England, there are no records indicating any kilted people. The uniform of all of the British Regiments were breeches. The deployment of Scots did not start until the late 1770's. The Scots that were delivered to eastern Canada, were generally sold for agricultural service, and there are records of kilts, though few and far between as most of the Cromwell clutter were shipped in prisoners garb (breeches). Free Scots settled mostly in the maritime provinces, and brought their kilts with them. Most of the major influx appears to be 1725 to 1760. The Scots that then went West for the fur trade may have had kilts, but have not been described as such in anything I have come across thus far.... Other than the Pacific North West wilds where the border had not yet developed between WA and BC, Scot settlements may have had kilts, but not documented that well. It has been presumed that the kilts were noticed during the Revolutionary War as Scot regiments were coming into the fray. In the other colonies the "dress code" was more heavily enforced. Boys must be breeched by age seven. Some adults were fined for non compliance of their children..... Some interesting tidbits are in the Colonial Court Records about the punishment to the father in several cases in the stocks for a day for his son's inappropriate attire!!
---- Steve
Bookmarks