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During
the 1950’s, Major-General Sir-Eustace F. Tickell, a descendant of the
Eustace family on the maternal side, published a three part series in
the Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society. The title of
the articles is The
Eustace Family and Their Lands in County Kildare.
Volume XI1I, No. 8 pp. 375-382 (1960) includes the section titled The
Castlemore & Newstown, County Carlow Families. Tickell’s scholarly
work is the most comprehensive history of the Eustace family written to
date. His primary focus was on the Eustace lands which he traced from
the time of acquisition until forfeiture or disposal. Tickell built upon
previously published work by Lord Walter FitzGerald and Father Denis
Murphy which appeared in various issues of the Journal of the Kildare
Archaeological Society during the late 1890’s and the following decade.
FitzGerald and Fr. Murphy both lamented the fact that the Eustace family
had almost completely disappeared from County Kildare. General Tickell
noted that one of the very few places where Eustaces still owned land
was in County Carlow. That would soon change as well. Kathleen Carville,
daughter of Captain Oliver Eustace-Duckett sold Castlemore to local
farmer Stan Brophy about 1970. Edward Arthur Rawlins Eustace of Newstown
died childless in 1970 and that property went out of the family.
In this
section, I will attempt to trace the Catholic Eustace families whose
history is much less documented than their Protestant cousins. From the
time of the Reformation, religion became a defining factor in Ireland.
Henry VIII disolved the monasteries and placed himself at the head of
the Church of England. (Thomas Eustace, 1st Viscount Baltinglass was one
of the signatories proclaiming Henry as head of the church.) But it was
during the reign of Elizabeth I and Queen Ann that the distinction
between Catholic, or Papist as they were known and Protestant became
pronounced. During the 1700’s, “Penal Laws” were enacted by Parliament
which placed restrictions on Catholics which among other limitations
prevented them from voting, and owning or inheriting property. Since
General Tickell only traced families that owned land, recent Catholic
Eustaces families of Carlow are omitted from his extensive writings.
Ronald F.
Eustice
With the Castlemore and Newstown properties going
out of the family, the Eustace presence in Carlow seemed to come to an
end, but that is not the end of the story.
As we recall, Francis Eustace of Castlemore, together with his son
Oliver Eustace of Ballynunnery, joined the army of King James II and in
1690 were found “to have been in open rebellion and to have departed
after the battle of the Boyne with the Earls of Tyrconnel and Limerick
and with other rebels beyond the Shannon where they continued in war and
rebellion.” Their lands, totaling more than 6,000 statute acres, were
forfeited but as the result of claims at Chichester House in 1703 most
of them were regained. Grateful to have regained part of their estates,
some Eustaces realized the path of loyalty to the Crown, both in
religious and military terms, was the one to follow to ensure future
prosperity. By conforming to the Established (Protestant) Church, the
lands were protected. By the end of the 18th century, these Catholic
Eustaces had forfeited their property and become cottiers (day laborers)
or tenants on lands that they or their ancestors previously owned and
lived near and often worked for their Protestant cousins. Descendants of
the Catholic families still live in County Carlow. Some are still
involved in farming in a small way compared to their ancestors who owned
thousands of acres.
Eustace
Families of Myshall
Some of the earliest Carlow records are at Myshall where there are two
Eustace graves—Edward, Parish Priest (1717-1783) and Rowland
(1745-1799). Myshall Catholic church records show that Thomas Eustace
married Mary Kavanagh, probably in the 1820s. They were the parents of
Edward Eustace born at Myshall in 1824. Sponsors at the baptism were
Edward Eustace and Mary Eustace of Myshall.
At Myshall, there is the record of Ellen Eustace who married Edward
Kavanagh. They were the parents of Daniel Kavanagh born 9 May 1830. The
sponsors were John Nowlan and Sally Kavanagh of Coolasnaughta.
Griffith’s
Valuation (1855-64) shows that Oliver Eustace was a household head at
Myshall.
Census records for 1911 show that William Eustace, son of Thomas, and
his wife Sarah (Conroy) lived at Myshall. William (of Shangarry) was
born about 1838. William married Sarah Conroy, daughter of John Conroy
at Myshall on 20 June 1880. They were the parents of Mary, born in 1883
and Thomas, born in 1885. Also listed in the 1911 census is Ellen
Eustace, a single woman, age 65 living with
her relative Johanna Nolan, age 71,
also single.
We find records of
several Eustaces whose names appear on records known as the Griiffith’s
Valuation dating from 1852-53. These records, which only listed the head
of each household, are used as replacements for census records destroyed
in 1922.
Bridget Eustace; Parish of
Dunleckny, T/Bagenalstown,
Royal Oak Road
Edward Eustace; Parish of Fennagh,
Location: Castlemore
Edward Eustace, Parish of Nurney,
Location: Oldtown
Hardy Eustace; Parish of Ardristan,
Location: Ardristan
Hardy Eustace; Parish of Ardoyne,
Location: Craans
Hardy Eustace; Parish of Ardoyne,
Location: Newstown
Hardy Eustace; Parish of Ardoyne.,
Location: Rathvarrin
Hardy Eustace; Parish of Moyacomb,
Location: Leany
James Eustace; Parish of Fennagh,
Location: Castlemore
James Eustace; Tullowmaginuna
Parish, Location: Graiguenaspidogue
James H. Eustace; Parish of Fennagh,
Location: Castlemore
Oliver Eustace; Parish of Myshall,
Location: Myshall
Robert Eustace, Parish: Ardristan,
Location: Ardristan
Sarah Eustace; Parish of Ardoyne,
Location: Ratheeragh
Sylvester Eustace; Parish of Fennagh,
Location: Castlemore
Thomas Eustace; Parish of Fennagh,
Location: Castlemore
Thomas Eustace; Parish of
Gilbertstown, Location: Rathrush
Eustace Families of Castlemore
Silvester Eustace
was a farmer at Castlemore. He is
listed in Griffith’s Valuation of 1855-64 living at Castlemore in the
Parish of Fenagh. Other family members living in Fennagh Parish at the
time were James Eustace, James H. Eustace, and Thomas Eustace. While we
cannot determine exact relationships, close proximity of their
residences suggests that these men were connected. The name of
Silvester’s wife, has not been located, but marriage records show that
he had at least two sons; William and Michael, who were probably born
about 1850.
William Eustace, bachelor, full age,
occupation Farmer, son of Silvester Eustace of Castlemore, Farmer,
married Kate McAssey, spinster, full age, occupation farmer, of Grange,
daughter of James McAssey, occupation farmer, in the Roman Catholic
chapel of Grange on 3 February 1873. The presiding pastor was Patrick
FitzSimon; witnesses were Daniel Lennon and Alicia McAssey. Catherine (McCasey)
Eustace died in 1915 age of 69.
William and Catherine (Kate) Eustace were the parents of:
· Michael Eustace, born
13 November 1873 at Castlemore, Parish of Fenagh; Mary Walsh, nurse, was
present at the birth which was registered in Tullow District on 17
December 1873. Michael married Elizabeth Cummins and died in 1949;
· Catherine Eustace,
born 28 December 1874 at Castlemore, Parish of Fenagh. The birth was
registered 4 January 1875 at Tullow. She married Patrick Murphy of
Labysinasigh, Bagnelstown, farmer, son of John Murphy, farmer, on 6
September 1898 at the Roman Catholic Chapel of Grange, District Tullow,
in the presence of Patrick Maher and Alicia Eustace;
· Mary Eustace, born
14 June 1876 at Castlemore, Mary Walsh, nurse, present at birth which
was registered 18 July 1876 in the District of Tullow, Carlow Union.
Mary Eustace married Mathew Cummins (George Cummins and Eliza Nourse)
and died in 1919;
· Alicia Eustace was
born in 1879; She married James Aughney (1865-1943) in 1903, and died
in 1955. They had four children;
· Elizabeth Eustace,
born 1 January 1881 at Castlemore, Mary Bond of Tullow, was present at
birth, which was registered 7 January 1881 in Tullow District.
Michael Eustace, bachelor, full age,
occupation, Farmer, son of Silvester Eustace of Castlemore, Farmer,
married Anastatia Roche, spinster, full age, daughter of Luke Roach,
farmer, on 1st July 1873 in the Roman Catholic chapel of Leighlin
Bridge; witnesses were Michael McCasey and Maria Foley.
Children of Michael and Anastatia
Eustace were:
·
Silvester Eustace,
born 18 October 1876 at Castlemore; Mary Walsh, present at birth which
was registered on 23 October 1876 in the District of Tullow, Carlow
Union;
·
Edward Eustace,
born 3 February 1878 at Castlemore; Mary Bond of Castlemore, present at
birth which was registered 8 February 1878 in the District of Tullow;
·
Luke Eustace,
born 5 September 1880 at Castlemore; Maria Donohoe of Tullow present at
birth which was registered on 13 September 1880, District of Tullow;
·
Michael Eustace,
born 7 February 1885 at Castlemore; Eliza Rowen, nurse of Tullow,
present at the birth which was registered 11 February 1885 in Tullow
District,
·
William Eustace,
born 24 May 1887 at Castlemore; Mary Eustace of Castlemore, present at
birth which was registered 13 May 1887 in Tullow District, Carlow;
·
Mary Eustace,
born 5 July 1889 at Castlemore; Mary Eustace of Castlemore was present
at birth registered on 7 July 1889 in Tullow, Carlow;
·
Margaret Eustace,
born 10 August 1893 at Castlemore; Michael Eustace, father present at
birth which was registered 13 September 1898 in Tullow District.
Michael Eustace,
son of William Eustace and Catherine McCasey, born 13 November 1873 at
Castlemore, Parish of Fenagh; he married Elizabeth Cummins (George
Cummins and Eliza Nourse). Michael was a farmer in Tullowbeg,
Castlemore. He died in 1949 and Elizabeth died in 1945. Michael
and Elizabeth Eustace were the parents of three children:
· William Eustace
married Patricia Nolan. They had six children; William, Michael,
Angela, Martina, Ita and Thomas;
· Michael Eustace
married Maeve Nolan. They have three children; Ann, Elizabeth and Mary;
· Catherine Eustace
married William Maher. They have three children; Michael, William and
Mary.
Mary Eustace,
daughter of William Eustace and Catherine McCasey of Castlemore, Tullow
was b. 14 June 1876 at Castlemore. Mary Walsh, nurse, was present at
birth which was registered 18 July 1876 in the District of Tullow,
Carlow Union, Mary Eustace married Mathew Cummins (George Cummins and
Eliza Nourse) on 25 October 1911 in the Roman Catholic Church at Rathoe
in the presence of Laurence Cummins and Marianne Aughney. She died in
1919;
Alicia Eustace, daughter
of William Eustace and Catherine McCasey of Castlemore, Tullow was b. in
1879 and d. in 1955. She married James Aughney (1865-1943) son of John
Aughney of Roscat on 19 November 1903 in the Catholic Chapel at Rathoe
in the presence of Edward Dargan and Mary Eustace. They had a son John
(1917-2009) who married Doreen Murphy (1927-2005). John and Doreen
Aughney had four children; Paul, Alicia, James, Gerardine, and John
Joseph.
Edward Eustace,
law clerk, son of Michael Eustace and Anastatia Roche of Tullow, married
Maria Hickey, daughter of William Hickey, policeman on 14 November 1906
in the Roman Catholic Chapel at Tullow. Mary Ellen Hickey was originally
from Galway. Witnesses at the wedding were John P. Murphy, Mary Lynch
and Tillie McCullough.
Children of Edward Eustace and Maria Hickey were:
· Michael Eustace, born
21 February 1908 at Tullow; birth registered 15 April 1908 in District
of Tullow, Carlow Union;
· William Eustace, born
14 November 1909 in Tullow, birth registered 29 December 1909 in Tullow
District, Union of Carlow;
· Silvester Eustace,
born 2 November 1910 in Tullow, birth recorded 1 February 1910 at Tullow
District, Carlow Union;
· Edward (Ned) Eustace
The 1911 Census
shows the following for the family of Edward Eustace and Mary Ellen
Hickey:
Edward Eustace, age 31, head of family; Roman Catholic of
Castlemore, occupation: sales managing clerk, Read and write – Married;
Mary Ellen (Hickey) Eustace; age 26, wife, Roman Catholic; Born
in Galway; occupation: draper and milliner; Read and write -Yes;
Married - 4 years, 3 children born, 3 alive;
William Eustace, age 1, son, Roman Catholic; Born in Carlow;
Silvester Eustace, infant son, Roman Catholic, Born in Carlow;
Teresa Hickey, age 20, relative, Roman Catholic, Born in Wexford,
sales woman, Can read and write - Single;
Winifred McCormack, age 22, boarder, Roman Catholic, Born in
Roscommon, post office assistant, Can read and write - Single;
Minnie Ryan, age 12, occupation servant, Roman Catholic, Can
read and write - Single;
William Eustace,
bachelor, full age, occupation labourer, son of Thomas Eustace,
occupation Farmer of Shangarry, married Sarah Conroy, spinster, full
age, daughter of John Conroy, Tradesman of Myshall, on 20 June 1880 in
the Roman Catholic Chapel of Myshall on 20 June 1880 in the presence of
Daniel Fenelon and Mary Reilly. Michel Conroy, Parish Priest. William
and Sarah Eustace were the parents of:
· Thomas Eustace, born
23 July 1885 at Myshall, William Eustace, father, occupation labourer
present. The birth was registered 26 July 1885 in the District of
Myshall and Fenagh, Union of Carlow;
· Mary Eustace, full
age, spinster, occupation labourer, daughter of william Eustace,
labourer of Myshall, married Mathew Kavanagh, full age, bachelor,
occupation labourer, on 3 November 1915, in the Catholic Chapel of
Myshall in the presence of Patrick Kavanagh and Maggie Kennedy.
Patrick Eustace,
bachelor, full age, occupation labourer, son of Edward Eustace of
Kilcool, labourer, married Bridget Slye, spinster, full age,
occupation servant, daughter of Thomas Sly, occupation labourer on 28
September 1883 in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Rathoe. The marriage was
performed by Fr. Patrick Nolan in the presence of Cornelius Fogarty and
Mary Anne Dwyer. Patrick and Bridget Eustace were the parents of:
· Edward Eustace, born
31 August 1884 at Ardristan, birth registered at Tullow on 9 October
1884; he married Esther _____ in 1910 and was working as a groom and
domestic servant in County Wicklow in 1911;
· Mary Ellen Eustace,
born 4 April 1886 at Ardristan, County Carlow;
· Thomas Eustace, born
12 May 1887 at Ardristan, Eliza Power present at birth, registered in
Tullow District, Union of Carlow on 18 May 1887;
· Robert Eustace, born
26 August 1889 at Ardristan, birth registered 25 September 1889 at
Tullow, Carlow.
· Joseph Eustace, (Twin
to Bridget) born 25 April 1893 at Ardristan, Julia Slye of Ardristan
present at birth, registered 26 May at Tullow District, Union of Carlow;
· Bridget Eustace,
(Twin to Joseph) born 25 April 1893 at Ardristan, Julia Slye of
Ardristan present at birth, registered 26 May at Tullow, Carlow
District;
· Patrick
Eustace, born 9 April 1896 at Ardristan, birth registered 22 June in
Tullow District, Union of Carlow;
· Ellen
Eustace, born c. 1896
Patrick Eustace,
occupation yardman and family were living in Killeagh, Kilbride, (near
Avoca), County Wicklow in 1901 and 1911. His wife Bridget Slye was alive
in 1901 but had died before 1911.
Michael Eustace, bachelor, full age, occupation: painter of
Carrigslaney, son of Thomas Eustace,labourer married Anne Maher,
spinster, full age, of Kilmaglessh, daughter of John Maher, Labourer on
2 February 1898 in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Ballon. Present at the
marriage were James Neill and Kate Brennan. J.B. Fenelon, Parish Priest.
Robert Eustace of Tullow (Newstown) married
Anne Foley before 1865. They were the parents of Maria Eustace, born 9
August 1865;
James Eustace
of Leighlinbridge, County Carlow married Mary Byrne before 1865.
They were the parents of at least two children:
Maria Eustace,
b. 11 June 1865;
Edward Eustace,
b. 15 June 1868;
Peter Eustice of Donore, Bagenalstown, County Carlow married
Mary McGrath. They lived at Donore, Bagnelstown and were the parents of
eight children, four of whom were alive in 1911. The 1911 census shows
Mary Eustace age 60 years, living with her daughter Ellie Eustace, age
21 at Donore, Bagenalstown. Mary Eustace was alive in 1922 when her son
John applied for a US passport in New York in preparation for his return
to Ireland to visit his mother. Peter and Mary (McGrath) Eustace were
the parents of the following children:
· Patrick Eustice, b. 29
April 1875, no further record found;
· Margaret Eustace, b.
about 1877; spinster, occupation servant, daughter of Peter Eustace of
Donore; She was 17 years old when she married William Murphy, age 24,
bachelor, occupation servant, son of James Murphy on 8 January 1894 in
the Roman Catholic chapel of St. Andrews, Bagenalstown;
· John Eustace, b. 2
December 1879, in Carlow; he emigrated to the US by sailing from
Queenstown, Ireland (now Cobh) on 10 September 1904. John had resided in
Connecticut and New Jersey around 17 years when he applied for a
passport to visit his mother in Ireland as in 1922 and was then a
resident of Bedminster Township, Somerset, New Jersey. His draft
registration for World War I, listed Mary Eustace, Bedminster, New
Jersey on certificate as someone who would always know his address. John
was employed by E. A. Clucas, Bedminster, Somerset, New Jersey.
· Ellen Eustace was born
about 1890. She married Edward O’Neill, locomotive fireman, son of
Patrick Neill, Gardener of Bagenalstown on 9 June 1915 in the Catholic
Church of St. Andrew at Bagnelstown in the presence of Richard Sheehan
and Ellen Mernagh. The marriage record shows that she was full age, a
spinster, and working as a servant. Peter Eustace, laborer of Donore is
listed as her father.
· Annie Eustace; she was
born about 1883, and married Richard Sheehan, a waiter, 22 years old,
bachelor, residing at the Ward Hotel, Bagenalstown, on 31 Oct. 1904 at
St. Andrews Catholic Church, Bagnelstown. Richard was the son of Robert
Sheehan, laborer. The marriage was performed in the presence of Thomas
Byrne and Lizzie Eustace. |
