SUTHERLAND PROUD OF SCOTTISH HERITAGE

Although his speech and modern dress give no visible clue as to his heritage, Ian Sutherland of Cape Girardeau is an authentic Scot who can trace his family roots back to Roman Emperor Charlemagne.

Sutherland, 59, is an assistant Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney. He and his family came to Cape Girardeau County in 1988 after he retired as a lieutenant colonel following a 25-year career in the Army, most of it in the Army's Special Forces.

Sutherland was born in Jefferson City, Tenn., which may seem a long way from Scotland.

But as Sutherland points out, "If you look at the names of the families living in the hills of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, you'll probably find as many clan names there as you would in Scotland, which probably explains why those folks over there were always feuding and fighting with each other.

"They were just doing what their ancestors did back in Scotland."

Sutherland's roots can be traced to the Celts, a fierce, war-like people, who lived at the time of Julius Caesar in what is now Scotland. His maternal ancestors came to Scotland from Normandy where they were descendants of Emperor Charlemagne.

Sutherland's paternal ancestors took their clan name from the county where they lived.

County Sutherland, in extreme northern Scotland, is not far from Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home of Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family.

Sutherland credits his aunt with making him aware of his heritage.

"I can't remember a time when I was not aware of my Scottish heritage," he said. "I can remember having the Sutherland clan tartan as far back as grammar school."

The tartan is the woven wool cloth that is worn as a garment, either as a kilt for men and boys, or a skirt for women.

According to "The Clans and Tartans of Scotland," the Earldom of Sutherland, which is still home to the assistant prosecutor's distant cousins, is claimed to be one of the oldest in England. It allegedly was granted by the crown to William the Lion who came to Scotland from French Normandy about 1228.

Sutherland said members of the Sutherland clan have fought for the British crown in many battles after the Scottish and English crowns were united. The Sutherlands fought with the British in Europe against Russia, and in both World Wars.

Sutherland said some of his ancestors also fought with General Sir Edward Michael Packenham and the English troops as they marched through the marshland of southeast Louisiana, from Lake Borgne to Chalmette, to attack Gen. Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans on Jan. 8, 1815.

Sutherland's grandfather emigrated to Canada from Scotland. Sutherland's father, who died at an early age, was Canadian-born with strong roots to Scotland and Britain.

"Had he lived, he probably would have gone to Britain to fight in World War II," Sutherland said.

Sutherland has three kilts and other garment accessories carefully packed away at his home. He said he's never worn the kilt here because it doesn't fit in with the region.

"Most people in this area do not understand the heritage or history of the kilt," Sutherland said.

In the past, he said, this lack of understanding often led to frequent and tasteless questions about the kilt and its wearer.

But on special formal occasions, Sutherland does wear Scottish trews, or trousers, woven into the plaid and color of the Sutherland tartan, along with a coat, wescoat, shirt and tie.

At first, the design and color of the tartan was simply a matter of family choice, but over the generations it became a form of identification, Sutherland said.

The plaid and color of the tartan identifies its wearer's clan, and where he lived.

The tartan was so important to the clans of Scotland that after the last Jacobite Scottish rebellion in 1746, the English Parliament prohibited the wearing of the tartan. The act was repealed in 1782, and the tartan subsequently was revived.

Sutherland said most of clan tartans today date back only to 1782, since earlier tartan designs were lost.

He said it's believed the famous Scottish kilt may date back to before the arrival of the Romans. There is mention of them by Roman historians.

"I believe the kilt was probably developed simply as a matter of convenience," Sutherland said. "The people of Scotland raised sheep that produced a lot of wool that was easy to weave. The kilt is the simplest way to wear a long piece of wool."

Sutherland said early kilts, known as "big" kilts, are distinguished from later designs primarily because of their size. The big kilt was made from a long piece of wool tartan about 24-30 inches wide and about 8-10 feet long.

"The tartan was gathered around the waist and bunched up in back. It was held around the waist with a large, broad belt," he said. "The excess cloth was hung over the shoulder and draped over the back.

"The front of the tartan was held by a large brooch. The tartan was commonly worn in this manner in fair weather. In bad weather, it could be loosened and used as a cloak. At night, the tartan was used as a blanket."

Sutherland said the big kilt evolved into the little kilt, which is still worn today. The little kilt is similar, but doesn't have the excess cloth draped over the back and shoulder.

"The kilt is a very comfortable garment," he said. "If I could, I would wear one all the time. They are like trousers without legs.

"Because they're made of wool and come down to the knees, they're very warm in cold weather."

Sutherland got his first kilt while attending law school at Tulane University in New Orleans.

He wore his Sutherland clan tartan kilt regularly while attending Harvard, where kilts are not uncommon. He also wore it during while off-duty when he was stationed with the Army in the Mid-East.

"The kilt was widely accepted at that time because of the strong British influence in Iran prior to its independence," Sutherland said. "I also wore it at Fort Benning, Ga., because there was a British liaison officer stationed there who wore a kilt."