GEORGE MYTINGER BRISBIN George Mytinger Brisbin sent the following information to 'Notes & Queries Historical and Genealogical', Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania, Annual Volume, 1899., pgs 93-95. Edited by William Henry Egle, M.D. M.A. +Muriel Brisbin Morrison says that the village of Brisbin, PA is named for George Mytinger Brisbin. "Captain John Brisbin of the Revolution" - (The following communication came into our hands a number of years ago. The writer was George Mytinger Brisbin, Esq., of Osceola Mills, PA. Accompanying was the roll of Capt. Brisbin's company, but as this is published in the History of the Pennsylvania Line in the Revolution, does not occasion its reproduction here. There are some points, however, in the letter which are interesting, and hence given.) In compliance with the promise I made you I have carefully copied the names from my grandfather's roll book, and forwarded them to you. There is some explanation which I deem necessary and will endeavor to make. Many of the names are spelled in different ways, where they occur in different places in the book. Grandfather spells his sometimes Brisben, and again Brisbin. I think he was unsettled about that time, as to the spelling of Brisbin. He was from Scotland, and the name in Scotland is spelled "Brisbane", where the title is still in existance. Dr. William Brisbane of Philadelphia, is my authority for the Scotch way of spelling the name. While in Europe he visited Scotland, and had a copy of the "Brisbane" coat of arms taken, and brought it home. Dr. Brisbane, I believe, is the son of William Brisbin, who was the son of grandfather. I have frequently heard my father say, many years ago, that his father and a brother came to this country together; another brother held a commission in the English army; that the two brothers at once espouced the Revolutionary cause and entered the army; the third brother was with Gen. Howe, at New York, and whenever the opportunity offered showed his tyranny over those he termed "rebbles". This fact becoming known to the "rebble" brothers, they determined to alter the manner of spelling the name, that their descendants might never have the sins of the tyrannical brother to answer for - hense "Brisbin". Grandfather had been in the English army before the Revolution, but what service he rendered I never knew, but he had a large land grant from George III, which was located on Green River, Kentucky, but during the war his papers became scattered, the land was monopolized by strangers and lost to him. ... General St. Clair's name is frequently made mention of in the accounts of the soldiers, from which I infer the regiment was in his immediate comand, although my father at one time had a letter from Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne, highly extoling, Captain John Brisbin's services, but that letter was taken to Washington for some purpose and never returned to him again. Grandfather raised his company in Lancaster County - disposing of his farm for the purpose - which, I believe, at that time included the territory now covered by Dauphin and Lebanon Counties. His headquarters while enlisting the company was at Harrisburg, although his home was afterwards at Bird-in-Hand, where my father was born in 1784, after the war was over, of course, and where grandfather married again, for the third time. He was a widower during the war. His third wife was a widow named Wood, who was my father's mother - whether she was the widow of the Col Wood, who commanded the regiment, I have forgottenif I ever was informed, but somehow it occurs to me she was. I have copied a receipt which is in the book of one of the soldiers, a copy, I suppose, of the many given. It is as follows: April 10th, 1777 "This is to certify that I have received from Capt. John Brisbin, of Col. Wood's regiment, in full of all demands, as wages for my services in said regiment, as witness my hand. Hugh Reed. Attest - A. Steel." Grandfather had gone into the continental service in easy circumstances and come out of it poor, and long after the war was over he was harrassed by creditors, from whom he had gotten supplies for his company, but before he died he had paid everything. A copy of a letter which is qreserved in this book will serve to illustrate what I have asserted. It is as follows, to wit: "Mill Creek, Jan'y 12th, 1783. Sir: I just now received your letter concerning the tow steers I bought from John Logan. I bought them for nine pound, Congress money, in the year 1777, the 12 day of July. You wrote to me I bought them in the year 1776. Sir, I was in Canada that year. I have sent the depreciation of nine pound by John Craige, Esq., which was three for one. If you find any error in it, send me word by John Craige, and your receipt for the money. I am, with respect, your humble servant, John Brisbin. Mr. Daniel Climer." This book, made up of the stamp paper, is in a silapatted and torn condition, as it naturally should be, after having been carried and used nightly, from camp to camp all through the eight years' war of the Revolution, and handled since then for a hundred years, but there is still enough of it left, strange to say, to make it a very desireable relic for those interested. John Brisbin, a son of Capt. John's, was also a soldier of the Revolution. He settled in Centre County and some of his descendants are residing there now. Capt, John Brisbin is buried in old Paxtang churchyard. The inscription on the stone is as follows: CAPT. JOHN BRISBAN, Soldier of the Revolution, Who Departed This Life, March 13, 1822, Aged 91 years. G.M.B. *******************