Great kilts in the American colonies

[Brasilikilt]

Hello everyone


Last weekend I attended an event for an American 18th century colonial reenactor's group.
I, having no other historical garb other than my Jacobite gear, went to this event in my Belted plaide, ghillies, hose and weskit. I also walked around with my basket hilt and targe, just to keep up appearances :-)

I did get a little resistance to my garb from folks who were telling me that their group specifically reenacts personas who were on the American continent during that time period.

I responded saying that in the French and Indian war, up into the Revolution there were lots of Highland units that fought in the colonies, and that the Belted Plaide is somewhat rare, but not totally out of place.

I however have to agree with them that I am not currently doing a Highland redcoat persona, and that is a bit odd to have a '45 Jacobite walking around amongst a bunch of American colonials.


I think it's a bit funny to see these people's reaction to me. Only a couple people at this event knew who I was, and everyone else apparently thought I had gotten lost on my way to the Renn Faire :-)

Does anyone here know of documentation of the belted plaide being worn in the American colonies by anyone other than a Highland soldier?

My persona is that of a Scottish Blacksmith/Jack-of-all-trades.
I don't plan of wearing my belted plaide while I'm working at the forge, but to wear it in the evenings after things cool down when everyone sits down to eat, have a few drinks and socialize.

Do I have to be in a Scottish unit in order to make this work?

Thanks for any ideas and suggestions.

Iain

[Dall_Piobaire]

I am by no means positive, but I am relatively sure both the Seaforth Highlanders, and The Fraser's were here during, at leasat, the revolution. I wouldn't think they would be wearing the great kilt though. Woodsheal is the one to ask on this he'll know for sure!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hi Iain--
Judging by the photo, it would appear that these colonial period reenactors have put a lot of time (and money!) into creating the look of post-1750 colonial America. That being the case, you would probably do well to follow their advice on what was, or was not, worn in the colonies at that time.

You have said that your persona is that of a Scottish blacksmith. I think you may have your character definition back-to-front. Your character, in colonial America, is a blacksmith. He came from Scotland. About the only thing that would mark him out from any other blacksmith in the colonies would be his accent. In all likelihood he would dress exactly like every other person in the village, bartering his skills for those things he couldn't make himself-- like mending an iron pot in exchange for a pair of knit stockings.

I think it would be reasonable for your character to have a Scottish sword, and perhaps a steel pistol as well. I doubt very much that he would have had a targe, as these were rarely encountered, even in the '45 rising. (When organizing the Highland army in 1745, Lord George Murray had to have targes made in Perth and Edinburgh to issue to the troops due to their scarcity in the Highlands at that time.)

Something else to consider is that the colonial way of life was different than life in the rugged Highlands of Scotland. To begin with the colonies are much farther south (New York being in line with Madrid, in Spain) and the climate was much more temperate, obviating the need to wrap oneself in a blanket on most days. The topography is also different-- it's pretty much flat compared to the Highlands, and that would suggest that clothing would be more in line with Lowand Scotland, rather than the Highlands.

One question, if I may? Are you really going to lug a forge and anvil, plus all those tools, to their events? Phew! You're a better man than I am, Gunga McDin, if you do!

[Woodsheal]

Colonial America bottom line:

British soldiers in (military) highland dress - YES!

Civilians in traditional highland dress, especially post-1746 - NO!

Exception: Oglethorpe's highland immigrants in Georgia, 1730s-40s.

Of course, one can never say "never." You might, PERHAPS, have seen some civilians wearing highland garb in large Scots immigrant enclaves such as that in N. Carolina, though there are no period descriptions supporting this. But, since highland dress was not very adaptable to N. American conditions, the Scots - not being idiots! - would wear clothing that made sense. Even highland soldiers donned britches and leggings in huge numbers. Besides, the fact of the Proscription in the home country would preclude travelling to the New World in traditional dress. Maybe the odd tartan plaid or arisaid functioning as a blanket.

What WOULD be seen amongst New World highlanders: knit bonnets, dirks, perhaps the odd basket-hilt sword. I don't believe any tartan was being woven in the Colonies (except in Nova Scotia), so not many tartan plaids would be in use, except a small surviving number brought from the homeland, which would be used until worn out....

[Brasilikilt]

Hey all

This painting is the original inspiration for my persona



My goal while I'm forging is to be dressed just as these guys are, which would likely be much more acceptable to the colonials, and then wear my traditional highland attire to get all gussied up for the nice sit-down dinners they have at these events.


Also, given my persona, it wouldn't be so unusual for me to have this targe, since I would have been one of the guys working in those shops in Perth or Edinburgh, only later to be called out on the march with a portable forge and set of tools so I could fix wagons, re-shoe horses and repair other equipment.
It was very common for any mounted army of the 18th century to take "mechanics" with them.

I hope I'm not straying too far off topic..........

[macwilkin]

Colonial America bottom line:

British soldiers in (military) highland dress - YES!

Civilians in traditional highland dress, especially post-1746 - NO!

Exception: Oglethorpe's highland immigrants in Georgia, 1730s-40s.

Of course, one can never say "never." You might, PERHAPS, have seen some civilians wearing highland garb in large Scots immigrant enclaves such as that in N. Carolina, though there are no period descriptions supporting this. But, since highland dress was not very adaptable to N. American conditions, the Scots - not being idiots! - would wear clothing that made sense. Even highland soldiers donned britches and leggings in huge numbers. Besides, the fact of the Proscription in the home country would preclude travelling to the New World in traditional dress. Maybe the odd tartan plaid or arisaid functioning as a blanket.

What WOULD be seen amongst New World highlanders: knit bonnets, dirks, perhaps the odd basket-hilt sword. I don't believe any tartan was being woven in the Colonies (except in Nova Scotia), so not many tartan plaids would be in use, except a small surviving number brought from the homeland, which would be used until worn out....

Brian -- are you familiar with Duane Meyer's The Highland Scots of North Carolina? If anyone would have mention of contemporary sources mentioning Highland dress in the Cape Fear River settlements, it would be him. Dr. Meyer taught history for many years at my alma mater, although he retired my freshman year, more's the pity.

There were some loyalist regiments in the Revolution, such as the NC Highlanders, that wore the plaid, according to Stuart Reid's 18th Century Highlanders Plate F-3, pg. 42.

T.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hey all

This painting is the original inspiration for my persona



My goal while I'm forging is to be dressed just as these guys are, which would likely be much more acceptable to the colonials, and then wear my traditional highland attire to get all gussied up for the nice sit-down dinners they have at these events.


Also, given my persona, it wouldn't be so unusual for me to have this targe, since I would have been one of the guys working in those shops in Perth or Edinburgh, only later to be called out on the march with a portable forge and set of tools so I could fix wagons, re-shoe horses and repair other equipment.
It was very common for any mounted army of the 18th century to take "mechanics" with them.

I hope I'm not straying too far off topic..........

All of which is true, except the folks you will be hanging out with are trying to recreate Colonial America... not the 1745-46 Jacobite rising in Scotland. Judging by the rifles, I'd guess the "colonials" are pretty much reenacting the 1770s.

[Woodsheal]

There were some loyalist regiments in the Revolution, such as the NC Highlanders, that wore the plaid, according to Stuart Reid's 18th Century Highlanders Plate F-3, pg. 42.

T.

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...!

[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.