Black Watch Tartan 1750's

[Jacques]

In the 1750's issue plaids just came in the 3 grades, Privates, Sergeants and officers grade. It was all plaiding, unlike later where there was kilting and plaiding issued.

Each soldier got 12 yards of plaiding every 2 years. It is my opinion that half of the 12 yards was issued out the first year and made into what we call a "Great Kilt" today, it was just called a plaid then. After the first year, the worn out plaid was made into a kilt and sometimes hose, and the 2d half of the bi-annual issue went to the solder to make a new plaid.

There is an instance in the 42nd, late 1750's where the plaids were worn out, new tartan had not arrived, and a course tartan was purchased from a merchant in New York as a stop gap till the new uniforms and tartan arrived. Today outside of any military base there are stores that cater to soldiers. Sometimes selling "Surplus" but often times stocking items that are almost as good as issue, not not quite. It was the same in the period, Merchants stocked things that soldiers might need. Rogers Rangers were able to purchase bonnets that most likely were ordered not for them, but to have in stock for the Highland Regiments in NY. The coarse plaid was the same sort of thing.

As to the colours.



This is Lochannon Strome Weight Ancient Black Watch in this photo.


This was a great kilt I made from a special Order 2 years ago, It was pretty good colorwise, but the selvages were not perfect. Waiting on another special run that the colors are better matched to the Waistcoat back that Peter spoke of, and with Herringbone selvage.

Most of the information (80%) aforementioned in your post is exactly the information i have read in some of the reference material piled up beside my desk. i figure if i know you're 80% correct, odds are good the other 20% should be just as accurate. Thank you for the information.

My understanding is the regiments received new kit every year to replace half of their issue kit, ie. new something every other year. When the old kilts were replaced, some of the material became a little kilt the soldier would use as work dress; maintenance and improvements around the fort battlements, foraging/collecting firewood and the like. If the older jackets were still in good condition, they became waistcoats. Many of the officers kept their older kit with braiding and rank removed to wear during patrols. And when the regiments received new tartan cloth to replace their kilts, some of the new material was also used to make hose. However i also read that in the first winter after the British had defeated the French and taken Quebec City, many British regiments had no re-supply before the winter and some nuns residing at the fort knitted wool socks for soldiers of the 78th Regt. But i'm almost certain the method of knitting today is different than it was in the 18th century.

i wonder at what point did the British Army or the individual regiments decide to regulate the sett, pattern, colour, shade of the BW kilt?

Thanks again

Jacques