Slaves in America wearing tartan

[figheadair]

Unfortunately the author of that blog didn't realize that the Scots plaiding given to so many slaves and indentured servants was not what we think of as tartan, but rather twill woven cloth from Scottish weavers. It was most often un dyed and was wool an occasionaly linen.

A point well made. A letter of 1797 to Wilsons of Bannockburn orders:

Send us 200 yd Linsay the The Inclosed pattern – the article is fr negro wear and must be very low priced if possible not above 1/- or under if you can. It must also be had befr 1 January as a vessel sails early in the Year from Port Glasgow.

The term Linsay has been misunderstood by some, not least in the Blog comments, to mean the Lindsay tartan. In fact, it referred to linsey-woolsey cloth. Helpfully the letter includes a specimen and so there can be no doubt.

[davidlpope]

A point well made. A letter of 1797 to Wilsons of Bannockburn orders:

Send us 200 yd Linsay the The Inclosed pattern – the article is fr negro wear and must be very low priced if possible not above 1/- or under if you can. It must also be had befr 1 January as a vessel sails early in the Year from Port Glasgow.

The term Linsay has been misunderstood by some, not least in the Blog comments, to mean the Lindsay tartan. In fact, it referred to linsey-woolsey cloth. Helpfully the letter includes a specimen and so there can be no doubt.

What does one make of this?

http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...1409/kidd-clan

[figheadair]

What does one make of this?

http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...1409/kidd-clan

I'm familiar with the story but I've never seen the evidence to support the claim. Until I do I'll remain sceptical.