Rethinking the Black Watch Tartan

[Riverkilt]

My grandfather Murdoch Macdonald raised me on tales of Glencoe. He didn't buy Campbell's Soup. He about keeled over when I took a job at Campbell Ford in Kingsport, TN.

Being a good grandson I listened but still like to make my own decisions. Don't make sense that I can work so hard for various causes of equality over the years and still keep one clan out in the cold.

Now I'm reading Sons of the Mountains about the Highlanders who joined the British Army after Culloden so they could wear the kilt. Reading of their service in North America in the French and Indian War I see many Macdonald names...and Camerons...and Gordons, Fletchers, Frasiers, Gunns...These may not have been my direct ancestors...but certainly clan cousins. They wore the Black Watch tartan.

Then a cousin sends me a copy of a petition from my 4 great grandfather Gray Macdonald written in 1803. He is writing Major John Campbell, Chamberlain to Lord Macdonald asking not to be cleared from his home. Must have worked since the family didn't emigrate to Canada until 1854.
One of the men who stood up for him and signed his petition to attest to Gray's loyalty and value was a Malcolm Campbell.

Gray's father Ludovic Macdonald is said to have served somewhere with some regiment - probably in the 1770s. He was impressed enough with one of his officers that he named his son Gray after the man. I'm guessing whatever regiment Ludovic served in and where ever the service was he MAYBE...COULDA...worn the Black Watch tartan...not necessarily....but MAYBE...

So....the Black Watch has moved from NEVER EVER to a possibility on my wish list.

Ron

[McMurdo]

This put me in mind of something Ron

"Besides We've stopped fighting anyone or anything we have to or it kills us."

Good for you, go get the Black Watch and wear it well.

[ardchoille]

I have a tank in Black Watch tartan. I look at it this way; none of the current clans have done me any wrong so I don't think it's fair for me to "punish" someone who is living today for something that was done to my ancestors over 100 years ago. Likewise, I wouldn't want someone to disregard me for a job/position just because my ancestors didn't respect their ancestors.

[macwilkin]

Ron,

I have no doubt that there was many a Jock in the Forty-Twa over the years that bore the surname of MacDonald.

Regards,

Todd

[castledangerous]

Any history as to how he ended up with the name Ludovic?

[Jock Scot]

Ron I respect what you say and how you feel,but might I humbly suggest, well ask ,you to move on.I am not asking you to forget your family's history in any way, but Scotland has moved on,nearly.When you consider what the assorted clans got up to and I am not talking about just Clan Campbell and the MacDonalds here, there are few clans in Scotland ,never mind the Highlands,that are blameless.I suspect that if you looked at your assorted tartans in your wardrobe you could find two, representing clans that had been at loggerheads for centuries!The MacLeods and the MacDonalds were quite capable and did terrible things to each other for centuries, to name one example, and I know you happily wear those two tartans!

There were few benifits post Cullodon for the Highlands,one of them was that on the whole the clans stopped the skullduggery,mayhem and terrible slaughter that they wreaked upon each other for centuries.As I say, no one should forget the past,but the past is gone and as far clan squabbles are concerned long gone.Now and tomorrow is what Scotland is striving for and on the whole,apart from some serious conversations that occasionally happen, the clans have burried the hatchet in some far distant peat bog.Can I respectfully ask you and others to do the same.Wear the Black Watch,please.

All the best,
Jock.

[macwilkin]

Ron I respect what you say and how you feel,but might I humbly suggest, well ask ,you to move on.I am not asking you to forget your family's history in any way, but Scotland has moved on,nearly.When you consider what the assorted clans got up to and I am not talking about just Clan Campbell and the MacDonalds here, there are few clans in Scotland ,never mind the Highlands,that are blameless.I suspect that if you looked at your assorted tartans in your wardrobe you could find two, representing clans that had been at loggerheads for centuries!The MacLeods and the MacDonalds were quite capable and did terrible things to each other for centuries, to name one example and I know you happily wear those two tartans!

There were few benifits post Cullodon for the Highlands,one of them was that on the whole the clans stopped the skullduggery,mayhem and terrible slaughter that they wreaked upon each other for centuries.As I say, no one should forget the past,but the past is gone.Now and tomorrow is what Scotland is striving for and on the whole,apart from some serious conversations that occasionally happen, the clans have burried the hatchet in some far distant peat bog.Can I respectfully ask you and others to do the same.

All the best,
Jock.

Well said, Jock.

Some good-natured humour is one thing; I always tease a friend of mine who is a Bruce to never stand behind me whilst in church (in reference to the Bruce murdering the Red Comyn in Dumfries), but I don't hold anything against him just for being a Bruce.

T.

[Nick the DSM]

go for you, man. the past is past. get yourself a blackwatch.

[Riverkilt]

Well, the forgive and forget the ancient stuff, and the "stop fighting" stuff is long taken care of.

The move to actually PURCHASING and actually WEARING a Black Watch tartan kilt is the thing I'm rethinking.

The MacLeod Hunting is worn out of respect for Sir Sean Connery and because of the forgive and forget, stop fighting stuff.

Never could change Murdoch's mind though...but he loved his Scotch just a little too much...

No clue about how my five great grandfather got the name Ludovic. At first thought it was French or Viking...then found it means a person who helps the padre with services and its not an uncommon name in Scotland.

Thanks for all the input guys.

Ron

[Jack Daw]

Ron;

Although my ancestor was a Jacobite, our clan (MacIntyre) Chief swore loyalty to Campbell of Breadalbane (CoB) because the Chief was married to the Earl's daughter. Also, the Highland poet, Duncan Ban MacIntyre, wore the CoB tartan as a Breadalbane Fencible. As such, I not only have the B.W., I also had a special weave of the CoB tartan made into a kilt. We also had loyalties to the MacDonalds. Our clan provided pipers to the MacD of Ranald and the Menzies of Weems.