Slaves in America wearing tartan

[Damion]

There's an anecdote from the slavery era where some slaves escaped. The description of them included the fact they spoke no English, only Gaelic. Perhaps it relates to the same plantation or even region as the slaves mentioned speaking Gaelic in town. It's thought that the black gospel tradition of singing in the southern churches was influenced by Scottish highlanders who'd sing psalms in their churches.

[Orvis]

With regard to tartan being worn by the slave/servant class in pre-Civil War America, I've seen references that indicate it was done because in those days hard tartan was classified as a cheap, coarse cloth that was fit for slaves/servants to wear. Additionally, in the 19th c., tartan was considered fashionable amongst the better sort (suits, dresses, wall hangings, even wallpaper), so it is not surprising that it was woven as linen/cotton cloth and used for lining clothing. As to African slaves speaking Gaelic, I've seen reference to that, too, although it was not necessarily limited to coastal Carolina near the Highland settlements in the Cape Fear River valley or Cross Creek (now Fayetteville, NC). I attended a Highland Settler conference (organized by Dr. Michael Newton), and evidence was supplied that indicated Gaelic survived until the early 20th c. in the old Highland settlement areas in North Carolina.

[Luke MacGillie]

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.

Not understanding the terms used for cloth in the period, it is a common problem with people who have not spent a great deal of time studying the cloth of the period. Hint; Osninburg was not cotton cloth, but linen from the low countries, Bearskin is not the skin of a bear, nor is spotted swanskin something that you took off the Ugly Duckling before having him for dinner..... So you have the misunderstanding we have here today.

[Luke MacGillie]

If you have access to JSTOR or a good Uni Library check out this article for more information:

Baumgarten, Linda. "'Clothes for the People': Slave Clothing in Early Virginia." Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts 14 (1988): pp. 26-70 for discussion of the widespread use of plaid stockings for slave clothing. Baumgarten identifies these as being cheap and plain (ie-- unpatterned)

[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.