Cameron of Erracht appropriateness

[OC Richard]

Not so. Wilsons were weaving MacDonald by 1800 at least and there is a speciment in the Cockburn collection of 1810. It's quite likely that it was originally a Fencible sett and so probably contemporary with the Erracht, there or there abouts.

Thanks! Is MacDonald's earliest appearance in a Wilsons pattern book datable to a specific year?

About The Cockburn Collection of 1810, I've often wondered at Donald C Stewart's reliance on Logan 1831, rather than to earlier collections of actual cloth.

In any case my point stands that Erracht Cameron has an earlier firm date than MacDonald, based on your information. Someone trying to prove that MacDonald served as the basis for Erracht Cameron would have to establish a provenance at least as early as 1793 for MacDonald.

[figheadair]

Thanks! Is MacDonald's earliest appearance in a Wilsons pattern book datable to a specific year?

No. A finger in the wind guess would be c1780-1800 for the MacDonald. I think I recall seeing a reference to the MacDonald in John Wilson's 1780 acct book but need a day at the National Library to check.

In any case my point stands that Erracht Cameron has an earlier firm date than MacDonald, based on your information. Someone trying to prove that MacDonald served as the basis for Erracht Cameron would have to establish a provenance at least as early as 1793 for MacDonald.

I've heard that many times but there is no evidence to support it - see para 2 of my paper (http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/The...acht_Cloth.pdf).

[Grizzly]

Just a quick update now I am back from foreign shores. There was no reply from Lochiel awaiting my return. Hopefully I will get one eventually.

[TheOfficialBren]

Cool. Glad you made it home, hope your holiday was great.

[Grizzly]

It was great thanks Bren. Roll on the next one. British Columbia in May/June I can't wait.

[TheOfficialBren]

Wow! Two in one year?! Lucky duck!

[Grizzly]

I have today received an email from Lochiel in response to my letter to him regarding the official/unofficial status of the Cameron of Erracht Tartan. The response is in full and the bit about a 6 year old was when I told him of my first visit to Culloden. The response is as follows -


Dear Simon,
Thank you for your letter of 28th February and apologies for not replying sooner. As your mother was a Taylor, I am delighted to welcome you as a member of the clan and hope that it brings you much pleasure.
Culloden has much changed since you were there as a six year old but still strikes me as an idiotic place for the Highland clans to battle the Hanoverian army ! As I think you know, Clan members attend a service there each year on the Saturday nearest April 16th (the date of the battle) and we have a lunch and talk afterwards,
With regard to the Erracht tartan, it is perfectly acceptable for clansmen to wear it. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders are now, after various amalgamations, subsumed into the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Erracht tartan is not used which is sad but, I suppose, inevitable.
With kind regards
Lochiel


So there we have it Cameron of Erracht is perfectly acceptable for Cameron's or their septs to wear, although it still remains in the eyes of the STA and the SRoT officially unofficial.

Its good enough for me that the Lochiel says its fine.

[OC Richard]

there is no evidence to support it

It's just a general principle: if two things are too closely related to be coincidence one can assume that one was derived from the other. If there is no evidence one way or the other as to which was the original and which was the derived, then the one that can be established at an earlier date has the weight of evidence, slim as it is, on its side.

A written mention of the name "MacDonald" in 1780 certainly suggests the pattern we call "MacDonald" but doesn't prove it, if I can split hairs, unless there's a sample attached. As I recall- correct me if I'm wrong- some of the designations of tartans switch about in the early Wilson pattern books.