1631. Dore, Polydorun. Things proffered and easie to come by
diminish themselves in reputation and price, for how full of pangs
and dotage is a wayling lover, for it may be some brown Bessie.
To hug brown Bess, verbal phr. (old).—To serve as a private soldier.
Brown George, subs. (old).—1. Explained by quotations.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby L., 3 S. ‘Jerry Jarvis’s Wig.’ He looked
disdainfully at the wig; it had once been a comely jasey enough, of
the colour of over-baked ginger-bread, one of the description
commonly known during the latter half of the last century by the
name of a brown George.
1882. Globe, 24 July, p. 2, col. 1. The King [George III.] wore a
brown wig ... known popularly a century ago as brown George.