Esther Field Briesler

Esther Field was born on October 7, 1764, in Braintree, Massachusetts.¹

In February 1784, she accompanied Abigail Adams to London where John Adams served as United States minister to Great Britain. A man named John Briesler also joined Abigail Adams for the journey. John and Esther married on February 15, 1788, in London. The couple had four children.² The Brieslers continued to work for the Adams family in the United States. John Briesler served as a steward and house manager, while Esther served as Abigail’s lady’s maid at their household in Quincy, Massachusetts, as well as their home in New York, Richmond Hill, and later their Philadelphia home, Bush Hill.³ 

When John Adams became president in 1797, Esther moved to the President’s House in Philadelphia, while her husband served as steward. However, her health limited her ability to work as lady’s maid and she served in a smaller role while Abigail hired additional workers. Abigail considered the Brieslers as part of her family; “I shall consider Your Family as making a part of mine…”⁴ In October 1800, her husband John traveled ahead to Washington, D.C. to prepare the White House for Adams’ arrival. Esther stayed behind in Quincy and does not appear to have traveled to join her husband at the White House.⁵

In 1802, her husband began leasing John Adams’ birthplace, managing the property until 1807.⁶ When Abigail Adams died in 1818, she left Esther twenty dollars and a “led-coloured silke lutestring gown” in her will.⁷ Esther died on November 12, 1854, in Quincy, Massachusetts.⁸