John Alexander Cameron brought his kilt, sporran, knives, and other items with him when he emigrated from Scotland to the United States. These items were carried across the plains with him in a covered wagon in 1861 when he came to Utah. The items were handed down to his descendants after his death, and are in their possession today.

                                                                                                                       John Alexander Cameron in his kilt

One descendant, Beverly Reed, has donated John Alexander's kilt, sporran, belt, and sock to the Daughters of Utah Pioneer Museum in Salt Lake City. (She was kind enough to let me be there when the items were donated, and take these pictures.)

Beverly Reed with John Cameron's kilt, sporran, belt and sock

John Cameron's kilt - The kilt is Cameron of Erracht, handsewn. The main part of the kilt is one piece of fabric, without a seam. The kilt is hand pleated, and sewn to a waistband. The bottom of the kilt is not hemmed, with very little fraying. A tartan historian says that the kilt is "that the material is hand woven, naturally dyed cloth from the famous weaving firm William Wilson & Son of Bannockburn and the kilt dates to c1830-45."

John Cameron's great-great-great-grandson, Charles Carey, holding the kilt. The kilt is in very good condition, with only a few holes and some fraying at the bottom. The tartan fabric is very, very sturdy.

The waistband has a tan fabric backing. The buttons are probably bone, and the button holes are handsewn.

Inside detail of the kilt - there is a coin pocket sewn into the waistband.

The green in the tartan is more faded than in the tartan book. A tartan historian wrote: "This is a kilt c1830-45 made from Wilsons of Bannockburn's cloth. It looks to be their material for Fine Plaids, 5 half setts for the 24 Reed. The dyes are natural which accounts for their appearance."

A picture of John Alexander Cameron in his kilt, with the kilt

John Cameron's leather belt. The belt is black leather, about 6 inches wide, with a large silver buckle. There is a stitched arrow on the belt, meaning unknown.  There is a place for a large knife.

John Cameron's sporran. The sporran is about 12 inches round. The white fur is goat fur, according to Beverly. The black tassels may be horsehair, and there are four of them. The tassels are attached with silver cones, and chains.

There is a silver top to the sporran, with a silver thistle in one corner.

The back of the sporran is tan leather, with a slit about a hand’s width to give access into the sporran pouch.  The pouch is hand-sewn with cross stitches.

There is also a tartan patterned knit sock, red and green plaid. The toe is worn, and the sock has been darned. The sock has the number 3036 on it, and Beverly says that John was in the military.

The kilt, sporran, belt and sock are on display at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneer Museum in Salt Lake City.

John Cameron's kilt at the DUP Museum