I read the Black Watch tartan is Campbells

[highlander_Daz]

I have a black watch Kilt as my Uncle was in the Black watch, It does have an unfortunate association with the Campbells, but it is a Tartan to be worn with pride as a Tartan of a Highland regiment. Its very common to see Black watch worn at weddings by people who dont feel they have a surname related Tartan, and I think the hire shops like it becasuse its easier to keep clean !!!! plus it looks really cool as well !

[M. A. C. Newsome]

The asnwer to the question about the Hunting Robertson tartan is found in my article, "The Sources of the Tartans."

But in case anyone doesn't want to read the whole thing, here it is:

The first attempt by anyone to record all the "clan tartans" was undertaken by the Highland Society of London in 1815. They wrote to all the clan cheifs and asked them to submit a sample of their clan tartan for the collection. Most of the cheifs had no idea that they were even supposed to have a tartan, let alone know what it was.

Many handled the issue by simply writing to the tartan manufacurers and asking for a sample of "their" tartan. (There is an interesting story about the MacPherson tartan in my article, if anyone is interested). Other cheifs went about the region asking all the elders of the clan if they knew what "their" tartan was.

The cheif of the Robertsons did this. He went all about Atholl asking all the old men if they knew what the clan tartan was. Several did claim to know, but they all thought the tartan was something different. The tartan that the cheif ultimately decided on, and submitted to the Highland Society of London, was the tartan worn by the Loyal Clan Donnachie Volunteers, a kind of "home guard" raised in 1803. Like most military tartans, it was created from the Black Watch, by adding different colored stripes. And there you have it.

There are a lot of tartans that have been created from the Black Watch. To name just a few: Gordon, MacKenzie, Forbes, Lamont, Scottish National, MacLachlan, MacNab, Tyneside, etc.

Another bit of trivia: We mentioned already that Black Watch is also called Campbell, Hunting Grant, and Hunting Munroe. I forgot to mention that it is also the same as the Sutherland District tartan. So add yet another name to the list!

Aye,
Matt

[Riverkilt]

Which is why my grandfather Murdoch Macdonald told me NEVER to wear the Black Watch tartan.

I hope he doesn't mind that I occasionally wear a pair of boxer shorts in the Black Watch tartan.

Ron

[minimalistix]

It does have an unfortunate association with the Campbells

Heck, I call that fortunate

I thought I was going to have to get a special order tartan to match my families name. (Well actually to get the branch I'm in I will still have to order a custom tartan.)

Interesting info everyone.

Cheers

[Cawdorian]

Happiness is having Campbells on both sides of the family.

[flyv65]

Happiness is having Campbells on both sides of the family.

...Unless you're a Macdonald still carrying a grudge! No, seriously, "I keed, I keed" (as Triumph the insult dog would say). It's only on February 13th that I give my Campbell friends the elbow.

Bryan...if we didn't get "pissy" about Glen Coe, it'd just be something else-we've Scottish blood and it seems we're contrary with each other by nature...

[minimalistix]

.Scottish blood and it seems we're contrary with each other by nature...

ahh, that must be where I get it from.

[Macman]

My Grandad McIntosh used to say that he was "born in the shadow of Cawdor Castle". He also used to drum into me as a very young boy: "There's two things in this world I canna abide, and that's a Campbell and an Irishman". I've since met many Campbells and Irishmen who've proven him wrong. I think if I held a grudge with everyone on the board who had ties to a clan that had crossed swords with Clan Chattan (such as Camerons, MacDonalds of Keppoch, Comyn's, Gordons, Campbells, etc.) I'd have no one to talk to at all!

[Cawdorian]

My wife is of the McDonald Clan, she helps keep my Campbell traits in check.