TRISLER: Peter Trisler [probably an Anglicized version of the German name, yet to be identified] was born in Wittenberg, Germany in 1745. He was educated at the University of Wittenberg, receiving his MD in 1767. He came to America aboard the "Royal Edith" [Robert Strong, master] which departed London and arrived in April of 1780. The ship probably landed at either the port of Baltimore or Philadelphia; with Havre de Grace, Maryland also a possibility. Also among the ship's passengers were Peter Frederick Horine [Peter's brother-in-law] and Barbara Horine [Peter's sister]. With him, Dr. Trisler brought several medical books and a Bible printed in Wittenberg in 1744.
The Trislers first settled in Hagerstown, Maryland and moved to land along Jessamine Creek in 1791 as the lands in Kentucky opened for settlement after the Revolutionary War. Trisler moved within the present boundaries of Jessamine County in 1794. Peter's sister and her family remained in Maryland.
The Rev. Jacob Rohrer was the founder of the first Moravian [United Brethren] church on Jessamine Creek. Among the early members of the church [of German parentage] were the Earthenhouses, Horines, Zikes, Trislers, and Cawbys.
On 4 September 1794, Peter Trisler wrote the following letter to Reverend David Zeisberger:
Dear David: I am exceedingly sorry that you did not come along with your father during his recent visit to this delightful country. The sun shines brighter in this country, and the skies are more blue, than the damp, moist atmosphere at the mouth of the Cuyahoga. A good school is needed among us, and I invite you once more to leave that inhospitable country of savages and cold winds.
In 1810, as executor to Thomas Bennett's estate, Dr. Trisler gained control of Bennett's 200 acres lying on the west side of Jessamine Creek. [Bennett was the father of Caty and Rosa Bennett. Their mother was Elizabeth Trisler.] In 1818, George Walker, attorney and state legislator, represented the Bennett girls in trying to get the estate as their rightful inheritance. Peter argued that there could be other "legal" heirs and that the girls could not inherit as they were not from a legal marriage. After gaining control of the land, Walker rented it back to Peter Trisler, Sr. and Peter, Jr. Jacob Overholzer, who had married Caty Bennett, was living on or trying to occupy the land in April 1820. Following Dr. Trisler's death in 1821, Moses Hoover took over the land as executor of Peter's estate.
In 1884*, John Cawby of Independence, Missouri wrote a letter to S.M. Duncan which included some details on Dr. Trisler:
"Before closing this long letter I will relate some of Dr. Trisler's strange performances. He would sometimes invite his neighbors to see him. He would then disappear in the very presence of the company, and none could tell what had become of him. He could stop the flow of blood from any wound by giving the initials of the proper name of any man or woman - this was all that was required. He could tell where stolen property was concealed. He could light a candle in a large room by rubbing his hands together. He could tell the exact number of pigs a sow would have at a litter. These are matters of fact and have been tested and are well know as facts, among the early settlers of Jessamine county. I remember, myself, there lived a man on the farm of Thomas Gordon, about one mile south of Nicholasville, who had a horse stolen. He came to see Dr. Trisler, three times before he would tell him where the horse was. On the third day Dr. Trisler met the owner of the stolen horse and told him to go to the town of Lancaster, in Garrard county, and near the county jail he would find the horse hitched to a fence; he added: "But the man that took the horse from your stable has been killed in a drunken frolic." This may appear unreasonable, but I know it to be true."
An ad found in the Kentucky Gazette on 5 June 1798 stated that Peter Trisler was living on the Main Fork of Jessamine Creek in Fayette County [now Jessamine County.]
As the above Cawby letter indicates, Dr. Trisler was a rather unique character. The following court actions show that the entire family was an interesting one.
July Court 1800 - July Court 1803: Peter Trisler vs. James Bates for the sum of £11 3 shillings 9 pence due Trisler for medical treatments of Bates' wife. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of £ 8. [Kentucky State Archives: Jessamine Co. Court of Justice, Circuit Court Clerk, Decrees - Box 13]
29 July 1806: Adjournment in the case of Elizabeth Trisler vs. Peter Trisler. [Jessamine Co. Circuit Court, Kentucky - Order Books C & F, film # 990113, p. 117] [In the lawsuit, Elizabeth stated that Peter had a child under two years of age by the "younger" woman - possibly Elizabeth Brunner. The Reverend David Brunner, or someone in his family, claimed that he was the illegitimate son of a "Trisler man."] Elizabeth Trisler also stated that she had ten children by Doctor Trisler.
1809: Joseph Trisler, laborer [$40 bond], Peter Trisler, Sr., yeoman and Bartholomew Kindred [$20 bond each]. Keep the peace with all and especially Christian Coffman. [Jessamine Co. Criminal Cases Box 2]
1815: William Caseman states he is afraid that Dr. Peter Trisler, Henry Trisler, Peter Trisler, Jr., Christy Arnspiger, Christy Bruner, John Waggamon, John Earthenhouse 'will beat, wound, main, kill, or do him some bodily harm or destroy his property'. .....prayed surety of peace against each one at $40 each and two people stood bond for each [they for each other] at $20 each. [JCCC Box 6]
24 March 1819: A summons issued in the case of 'Dr. Peter Trisler vs. Abraham Howser and wife - Tresspass' provided the names of several members of Dr. Trisler's family: Abraham Howser's wife was Peter's daughter Mary Elizabeth, Peter Trisler, Jr. and wife Polly, and Elizabeth Trisler, Sr. - this, more than likely was Peter's wife [and the first clue to her name.] Another summons in the same case issued 1 October 1819 mentions Peter Trisler, Jr., Elizabeth Trisler, Sr., Susannah Canvy [Cawby], and John Trisler, Jr.
In an excerpt from the above mentioned case, Mary Howser speaks to her father, referring to him as "you are an old rascal" and stated that she could "penitentiary him for acts that he had been doing for these thirty years." She also stated "that he had been guilty of fornication in repeated instances." Trisler and Howser countered sued each other. No ruling was found in the case.
1820: Dr. Peter Trisler states that he is afraid of Henry Trisler. $40 bond with two people standing $20 each. [Box 9]
1820: Abraham Houser, Jr. afraid of Dr. Peter Trisler [Box 9]
1831: Jacob, Phillip, John, Henry & David Trisler [all laborers] charged with beating James Walker on Dec. 26, 1831 at midnight. Entered his house and beat him and his wife Elizabeth Walker and took his stud horse. All indicted for assault & battery. Jacob, John & David found guilty. David fined $5 and Jacob and John one cent each. Henry and Phillip found not guilty. [Box 17]
1832: David Trisler [late of Jessamine Co.] & Henry Trisler, laborer of Jessamine County. Jan. 22, 1832 about midnight entered and burglarized house of David Moore and his wife Nancy with intent to kill and murder. Indicted for burglary. April 1832 - August 1833: "Henry no inhabitant of this county." Summons to John Trisler, John L. Francis, Catherine Trisler, Elizabeth Trisler. Jacob Trisler & George Brown securities for David Trisler. [Box 17]
1838: Michael Arnsiger states he is afraid of John Trisler & Peter Howzer who have threatened to kill him. [Box 21]
1846: David Smith appointed to "take care & charge of Woodson Trisler" ... "found by inquisition to be an idiot". [Five year old orphan with no estate.]
Dr. Trisler provided quite a resume during his 75 years. German immigrant, husband, father, physician, Jessamine County pioneer, psychic, accused felon, adulterer, and, in the words of his own daughter, "an old rascal." The exact site of his burial is unknown.
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