Scots on the run

[Benning Boy]

I'm subscribed to another forum devoted to topics so foul I could be thrown off XMARKS just for mentioning the subject matter. However one can learn interesting things there that have bearing here. For example, consider this:

Tories who broke Goal at Frederick Town on the night of the 23rd September 1776.

Alexander McCraw a Scotchman, a well made man about five feet nine inches high, had on a coarse hunting shirt and leather breeches, a pair of striped trousers and pale blue yarn stockings, a pair of shoes and scotch bonnet.

Hennith Sewart a Scotchman well made about five feel nine Inches high, wears a long hunting shirt with pockets in the sides of it, a pair of leather breeches, white stockings, a brown surtout coat and scotch bonnet, pretends to have some knowledge in Physick.

There were other escapees, but only the two Scots relate to our studies. The Scots who busted out were to be identified by there bonnets but not by kilts or tartan.

[figheadair]

I know sure why that should be a surprise. Firstly, the 'Scotch Bonnet' was standard male attire across the whole of Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries. Lord Kilmarnock, pne of two Jacobite leaders executed on Tower Hill (London) after the '45 is said to have asked for his Blue Bonnet so that he could die a Scotsman.

In the case of the two escapees, there is no indication that either was a Highlander and even if they were, one might summise that at that date they might well have been born and grown up under Proscription. Add to that the fact that they were in a foreign (to their birth) country then there is no reason why they would be wearing either kilt or tartan.I know sure why that should be a surprise. Firstly, the 'Scotch Bonnet' was standard male attire across the whole of Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries. Lord Kilmarnock, one of two Jacobite leaders executed on Tower Hill (London) after the '45 is said to have asked for his Blue Bonnet so that he could die a Scotsman.

In the case of the two escapees, there is no indication that either was a Highlander and even if they were, one might surmise that at that date they might well have been born and grown up under Proscription. Add to that the fact that they were in a foreign (to their birth) country then there is no reason why they would be wearing either kilt or tartan.

[Luke MacGillie]

I am familiar with these deserter descriptions, and while the bonnets are of note, the really important bit of information is that this is AFAIK, the only written description of Hunting Shirt pockets, a not well known part of the construction of said shirts. Of the 4 surviving shirts, 2 have pockets in them, but that fact was not recorded in any of the patterns used by reenactors for the last 50 years!