Author: George M Brady
Isaac Garrison was born on January 6, 1732 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA according to DAR records. His father, Isaac, was 22 and his mother, Elizabeth Lawrence Garrison, was 20 years of age at the time of his birth. Isaac was of Scottish-Irish descent. He was born the same year as George Washington, of whom it has been said he later accompanied on several survey trips. He was also said to have traveled with Daniel Boone on trips into the Kentucky Territory.

Isaac married his first wife, name unknown, in 1767 at the age of 35. This marriage produced four children. Upon his wife’s death he married Martha in 1783 in North Carolina. This marriage produced four sons: David, Joseph, William J. and James. Four daughters, names unknown, were also born to him. My family lineage follows their son, William J Garrison who was born on February 7, 1789 in Surry Co., North Carolina. Martha died on March 8, 1791.

He resided in North Carolina at the time of his patriotic service. Isaac is listed by the DAR as rendering aid in the Revolutionary War. His ancestor number with the DAR is A044314.

According to family stories, it is believed Isaac first served with North Carolina troops under General Francis Nash or Col. Edward Buncombe. Their troops were from Surry, Wilkes, and other northern counties of North Carolina. The men served in the Battle of Brandywine on Sept. 11, 1777 and in the Battle of Germantown on Oct. 4, 1777. Both Nash and Buncombe were mortally wounded at Germantown along with six other officers. After the deaths of these two commanders, it is believed that the regiments combined to become the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment. The Pennsylvania Archives do give record that Isaac Garrison served as a private in Joseph Howell's Company, 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment from July 1, 1777 to August 1778 when it became Capt. Peter Gosner's Company. This company served at Valley Forge under General Nathaniel Greene. Isaac continued serving in this company until 1781.

Isaac died in 1836 in Ozark, Christian County (earlier Greene Co.), Missouri, at the age of 104. He was buried in the Richwood Cemetery northwest of the town of Ozark, Missouri. His tombstone is inscribed with the caption, “Soldier of the American Revolution”. A SAR marker is at the left side of the grave stone and a DAR marker is at the right side of the stone.