Was the plaid ordered by MacBean for uniforms? It could be as the highlanders were formed into a regiment. I don't find that fact alone conclusive as they were farmers and servants, not paid professional soldiers. Another quote supports a possible view that the plaids might have been for ordinary clothing, "we would not propose a fitter person to recruit servants than MacBean; it is a fatiguing task..." and also, "I have got now on board for the Trustees 33 servants..."

Quotes are again from Scottish Highlanders in Colonial Georgia by Anthony Parker, Lecturer in the School of American Studies at the U. of Dundee, Scotland. The quotes can be found on pp.61-67.