Tartan Jack

I/We need to get together for THAT!!! (Hi, I'm new to this forum, but am used to getting together with friends from my car and Scottish/kilt forums)

I like your site, by the way . . . The Philabeg/small kilt was developed in the late 1600s and has a decent amount of documentation of its use before the 1715 Jacobite rebellion. (It is different than the modern tailored kilt, however) For the interested, a belted plaid is what is shown in most of "Rob Roy" and what is so messed up in Braveheart (ie-> NOT accurate in time or construction). A wool loom of tyhe time made a strip 25-27 inches wide. For a belted plaid (great kilt), it was simply 2 lengths (usually 3.5-6 yards, usually close to 4 each) of wool sewn together lengthwise to make a "double width" 54 (or so) inch wide piece. A philabeg was a single stretch (4 yard) NOT attatched to another. It was probably attached with a belt through loops of some sort (the recontructions tend to fall apart without beltloops or some sort of sewing). I tend to call it a kilt for ease, though it is not a modern kilt. I don't like the term philabeg much (for reasons I'll avoid detailing right now). I've discussed this (kilted pirates) AT LENGTH with many, many Scottish fanatics (like me) and had VERY different opinions. With the knowledge here, I figured someone may know of some from the pirate side (different base of experience and interest). Likely candidates: Gow, MacNeils (infamous seafaring clan on the outer western isles), and others from the western isles. Thanks Foxe!

One of my main interests is in Scottish stuff. I also make kilts on the side. Repeatedly, I've seen pictures of GAoP pirates in kilts. For example, Pirates Magazine, Autumn 2006, pages 16 (piper on "A Sheet to the Wind") and 22 (man in chains in "Taking the Whydah"). I know Don Maitz does his homework too. I've seen, and heard, it MANY times before. So, any one seen any documentable PROOF??? I've heard circumstancial and so forth before. But ANY PROOF? It seems to be one of the oft occuring myths and legends. (One of my interests-> legends vs. facts/truth and how the legends developed out of that fact.)

Hi, Some of you ACTUALLY seem to know what you are talking about . . . So, how were GAoP pirate flags actually constructed? What material was used as the main flag itself? For the painted ones, what kind of paint was put on the fabric? What evidence is there for appliqued/embroidered ones? What/how did they do it? I am a historian and amatuer vexiologist, but most of my resources cover modern or ceremonial/military stuff. I think the sea flags would be different from the silks and so forth of land units, et cetera. Thanks for any help! (Also-> first post here)