Chapter 15: 

George Elers (1720 - 1784)

7 generations between George Elers and James Rupuha Elers

The lives of George Elers and Mary Charon

• George Elers esq of Chelsea and of the Middle Temple was the second child and only son of Peter Elers and Dorothy (Carew) Elers.

• He was born in 1720 and died in 1784 (nothing else found with regards to his life). George was buried at King’s Road Old Burial Ground, Chelsea. That burial ground was closed and later re-developed as a park and named Dovehouse Green.

• The “Middle Temple” is the commonly-used name for the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. It is one of the four Inns of Court entitled to call their members to the English bar as barristers. The others being Inner Temple, Gray’s Inn and Lincoln’s Inn. 

• George married Mary Charon on 23 March 1754 at Mapledurham, Oxfordshire.

• Mary was the daughter and sole heir of Peter Charon Esq. and Elizabeth (Lane) Charon.

• Mary had seven siblings. The following entry on page 232 in the “Pedigree Register – Inscriptions in St Luke’s Old Burial Ground, Chelsea” states Elizabeth, wife of P. Charron Esq. died 24 Nov 1752 aged 58.  P. Charron died 4 Dec 1754 aged 75.

• Elizabeth was buried on 29 Nov 1752 at St Lukes with seven of her children, who died as infants.

• Peter and Elizabeth had married on 30 Jul 1727 at St Paul Covent Garden, Westminster, London

• Elizabeth (daughter of James and Elizabeth Lane) had been baptised on 29 Jul 1694 at St John Baptist, Hereford. 

This memorial tablet is on the south wall in More Chapel, Chelsea Old Church, Old Church Street, London SW3. It is dedicated to:

• Peter Elers of Chelsea, JP for Middlesex. Buried in Westminster Abbey 1753, m. Dorothy Carew.

• George Elers of Chelsea & Middle Temple born 1720, died 1784. Buried in Old Chelsea Burial Ground, m. Mary Charon

• Carew Elers of Gower Street born 1755, died 1821. Buried in Old Chelsea Burial Ground, m. Susanna Farrow.

• William Elers of Ephraim House, Tunbridge Wells/ JP and DL for Kent born 1797, died 1888. Buried in Rusthall Churchyard, m. Susanna Shrubb.

• William Shrubb Elers formerly of Speldhurst, Kent born 1830, died 1900. Buried in Ealing Cemetery, m. Eva Jane Codrington.

• This tablet was erected by William Codrington Elers only son of the above William Shrubb Elers. MCMV1 = 1906.

Chelsea Old Church, also known as All Saints on Old Church Street, Chelsea, London SW3, near Albert Bridge.

PROGENY OF GEORGE and MARY ELERS

1. Carew Elers 

• See bio in “The Lives of Carew Elers and Susannah Farrow” – Chapter 16.

2. George Elers

• Christened on 23 October 1756 at St Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex. No further details found.

3. Reverend Peter Elers

• Peter was born on 1 January 1758 and christened on the 23rd of the same month at St Andrew, Holborn. (Birth date sourced from https://theclergydatabase.org.uk).

• The following table outlines the positions held by Reverend Peter Elers during his career in the Church of England after obtaining BA at Cambridge/ Sidney College in 1779:

10 Jun 1781 – ordained as a Deacon

24 Mar 1782 – ordained as a Priest

26 Mar 1782 – appointed Curate of Knapwell

7 May 1787 – appointed Rector of Rishangles (held that position until his death)

27 Jul 1796 – appointed Curate of Birling

27 Jul 1796 – appointed Curate of Trottiscliffe

15 Dec 1802 – appointed Curate of Addington

6 Apr 1805 – appointed Rector of Addington (held that position until his death)

• In addition, he was the Domestic Chaplain to the Duke of Clarence (afterwards King William IV). (source: theclergydatabase.org.uk)

• During his later years, Peter lived at the Addington  church parsonage in Aldon Lane. According to Patricia Richardson, author of the book titled “Addington The Life Story Of A Kentish Village”, Reverend Elers had quite a job to bring it back into a habitable state at the time, as it had lain empty, due to an absent Rector and the Curate living at Ryarsh.

• The Reverend Peter Elers died, unmarried, on 7 November 1820 (see figure 1). As published in Jackson’s Oxford Journal, November 18 1820, Issue No. 3526 he died at home – “At Addington Parsonage in Kent, the Rev Peter Elers, many years Rector of that Parish, and of Rishangles, in the County of Suffolk, aged 63 (he was in fact 62 at the time of his death).

The grave of Reverend Peter Elers.

Transcription of the will of Rev Peter Elers, Rector of Addington

(Source: NATIONAL ARCHIVES REF PROBATE 11/1636/211 on 18 Nov 1820)

This is the last will and testament of me Peter Elers Rector of Addington in the county of Kent clerk.  First I give and bequeath unto my sister Charlotte Shrubb wife of John Peyto Shrubb of Guilford Esquire one annuity or yearly sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of lawful British money during the term of her natural life to be paid her by half yearly payments the first payment to be made on the day after the expiration of six calendar months, next after my decease and I direct that her receipts alone (notwithstanding coverture*) shall be a sufficient surcharge for the said annuity Item I give and bequeath unto the said John Peyto Shrubb, George John Gibson of Chappell Street Russell Square in the county of Middlesex Esquire and Thomas Gabriel Bayliss of Southgate in the same county Esquire the sum of fifty pounds ....... of life British money and as to all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate. 

Effects of what nature or kind soever both real and personal I give devise and bequeath the same unto my brother Carew Elers of Chappell Street aforesaid Esquire his  hon’s? executors administrators and assigns for ever and also appoint the said Carew Elers sole executor of this my will provided he shall be living at the time of my decease but if he should not survive me then I give devise and bequeath the said rest residue and remainder of my said personal estate and also my said real estate unto the said George John Gibson and Thomas Gabriel Bayliss their hon’s? executors, administrators and assigns In trust to pay to or apply the interest or income arising therefrom equally between the children of the said Carew Elers namely the shares of those  of the age of twenty one years to be paid to them and of those under that age to be paid to their Mother for their use and benefit until the youngest of the said children shall arrive at the age of twenty one years and I then to convert the said real and personal estate into money and divide the same equally between the said children or such of them as may be then living share and share alike except any of them should happen to die before that period leaving issue then I direct that such issue shall take their his or her parent’s share and I hereby empower my said Trustees George John Gibson and Thomas Gabriel Bayliss  or the survivor of them to sell my real estate in Coleman Street London and that their or his receipt or receipts to a purchaser or purchasers thereof shall be a  sufficient discharge or discharges for any sum or sums of money paid for the said Estate and also in case of the decease of my said brother before me (but not otherwise) I appoint the said George John Gibson and Thomas Gabriel Bayliss Executors of this my will hereby revoking all former wills by me made in witness whereof  I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and sixteen.

(Transcription by an employee at Tauranga Library)

4. Elizabeth Ann Elers

• Elizabeth was baptised on 17 June 1759 at St Andrew, Holborn.

• As there is no other reference to her, it may be that she died as an infant.

5. John Elers

• John was baptised on 19 August 1760 at St Andrew, Holborn.

• Like his sister, no other records exist, so it may be that he died as an infant.

6. Charlotte Elers

• Charlotte was born in Chelsea in 1761 (source: Find A Grave) and was baptised at the Parish of St Luke’s, Chelsea on 10 February 1762 (source: ancestry.com)

• She married John Peyto Shrubb on 19 May 1784 at the Parish of St. Luke’s, Chelsea.

• The couple spent their lives living at Thames Ditton, Esher, and Guildford.

• Charlotte died on 7 June 1830 at Guildford.

• She was buried in plot number 218, St. John The Baptist Churchyard, Boldre, New Forest District, Hampshire, England along with her husband.

• There are a number of Elers buried in this churchyard. No doubt their names will be referred to as we progress through this book.

Grave inscriptions below as recorded in the records of St. John The Baptist. Note Mary Anne was 24 years old at the time of her death (not 4 years).

• John Peyto Shrubb and Charlotte had eight children: John Peyto (1785-1807), George James (1786-1846), Charlotte Aubrey (1788-1860), Elizabeth (1789-1789), Charles (1790-1875), Susannah (1791-1876), Henry (1792-1879), and Mary Anne (1794-1818). (source for all these details: Find A Grave).