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