ESLER

The origin of the Esler name in our family is so far traced back to Conrad Esler (ca 1723-1783). Conrad is our fifth great grandfather through this path: RWA → Vera Esler Abbott → William F. Esler → William Moore Esler → John H. Esler → Henry Esler → Conrad Esler

Conrad apparently was born in New Jersey, but his parents are unknown at this time, so the European origins of the family are not clear yet. It is likely that the Eslers came from Germany, although there are Eslers in England and Ireland. His wife’s name was Maria but nothing else is known about her. Conrad qualifies as a DAR ancestor for providing patriotic service as he was a signer of the List of Associators for Pequannockin 1775. Conrad and Maria had five children.

Conrad’s son Henry (1758-1816) married Lena Ryerson (1758-1825). All eight of Lena’s great grandparents emigrated from Holland to New Netherland in the mid-17th century. Henry and Lena had at least six children.

John H. Esler (1787-1825) and his wife Frances “Fanny” Moore (ca 1787 – ca 1815) were married in the New York City Reformed Church. Nothing is known about Fanny Moore. John and Fanny had two children, William Moore Esler and Henry Esler (died at age 5 years). Virtually nothing is known about John Esler, although he had a second wife with a first name Aseneth and he was buried in Potter’s Field in New York. John Esler and Aseneth had four children.

William Moore Esler (1813-1903) was born in New York. He was a carriage maker and relocated to Rahway, New Jersey which is the birthplace of Vera Esler. William Moore Esler married Anna Elizabeth Van Winkle (ca 1828 – ca 1891) who is the mother of William F. Esler. William Moore Esler had an earlier marriage to Eliza Wilkinson (1817-1850) by whom he had three daughters, Eliza, Virginia, and Laura. All the daughters from his first marriage seem to have died in childhood, although I am not certain about the oldest daughter.

The will of William Moore Esler written in 1901 has the following bequests: to Fannie DuRie, the wife of William DuRie, he gives the sum of $25; all the rest of the estate is given to his son William F. Esler, his wife Martha A. Esler, and their children Elma Tappan Esler, Vera Margeurite Esler, and Martha Rita Esler in equal shares. The executors of the estate were William Parvin, William F. Esler, and Martha A. Esler. I am not sure of the relationship of Fannie DuRie to the family; her husband served in the Civil War.

William F. Esler (1858-1935) (pictured at the top of the page) married Martha Amy Tappan (1861-1941). William and Martha were Vera’s parents. William F. Esler was an auditor. After the death of his wife, William Moore Esler lived with his son William F. and his wife and children including Vera.