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Maurice
Eustace of Harristown, born 1595, was the great nephew of Maurice of
Castlemartin, the martyr. After being a student, graduate and fellow of
Trinity College in Dublin, he studied law in England at Lincoln's Inn
and was called to the Bar 1625. His exceptional ability was soon earning
him large fees and by 1634, he was Leader of the Irish Bar. That same
year he became M.P. Athy and in 1639 was appointed Speaker of the House
of Commons, receiving a knighthood. Over the next twenty years, he was
given many generous royal grants for services as Speaker and other
functions.
In 1645 at
his country estate of Harristown, he built a fine house, but only three
years later, this burnt before his eyes when captured by Parliamentarian
Colonel Hewson. With other Royalists, Sir Maurice was imprisoned at
Chester for seven years, only narrowly missing exile in Jamaica. He was
released in 1655and returned to Dublin only to be re-arrested on a
charge of communicating with Charles II. He was set free but under
strict supervision. Meanwhile those of the Eustaces who were Catholic
had fared much worse, many being deprived of lands and possessions.
On the restoration of Charles II in 1660, Sir
Maurice was rewarded for his loyalty and appointed Lord Chancellor of
Ireland. A special frigate carried him back to Dublin. In 1661, King
Charles granted Sir Maurice the lands of Castlemartin that had been
forfeited by his cousin together with half of the barony of Rathdownry.
In 1663 he decided to build and endow a church and school at Baltinglass
and also to build new bridge and market.
He had already built himself a town house in Dublin
on the grounds of which ran from Dame Street to the banks of the Liffey.
Part of the site is now Eustace Street. In letters of that time, it is
clear that the king proposed to make him Baron Eustace, but having no
sons of his marriage, Sir Maurice was endeavouring to arrange
inheritance of his title and lands by his illegitimate son, Maurice
Eustace of Whitchurch. Unfortunately Sir Maurice died during the
negotiations so that the whole question of a peerage was dropped. His
widow, Dame Charity, was a well known figure in Dublin society until her
death in 1678.
His younger nephew, also Sir Maurice, was his
principal heir although estates were left to his brother Sir John and
their sister's husband. He in turn was called to the Bar, elected M.P.
for Knocktopher and made Privy Councillor in 1665. Harristown under his
hand became a showplace in Kildare. In 1673 his wife Anne died and
catastrophe struck when James II became king – every royal grant -to
Protestant Harristown was reversed. Both Maurice and his brother John
had to flee the country. On the accession of William III, Sir Maurice
Eustace returned to Ireland but it was not until 1700 that he regained
full possession of his estates. Sir John Eustace died unmarried and left
only debts.
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These pages © Ronald Eustice, 2007
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