Cameron of Erracht appropriateness

**Grizzly** · 28th February 13, 11:32 AM

Have now post a letter to Lochiel, asking about the status of the Cameron of Erracht tartan for general Cameron usage. Will post the reply here in due course.

**TheOfficialBren** · 6th March 13, 11:24 PM

Simon, Have you heard back from Lochiel?

**Grizzly** · 7th March 13, 07:00 AM

Hi Bren, no not yet, but am in Malta at the moment having a holiday. Malta is a little island in the Mediterranean between Italy and Africa . Wifi is a bit hit and miss here. Not back home till next week so hopefully may have a response waiting for me when I get back.

**TheOfficialBren** · 7th March 13, 03:16 PM

Right-o, mate. Enjoy your holiday.

Malta? I've wanted to go there for some time.
Sidenote: My dog is a Yorkie-Maltese mix.

**OC Richard** · 7th March 13, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by figheadair

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** · 8th March 13, 03:58 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

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).