Eustace Families Association
William Tomlinson Eustace
1845-19--
American Civil War Veteran, Educator and Public
Official
Captain William Tomlinson Eustace was born in Northumberland
County, Virginia, on August 24, 1845, to William and Mary Ball
(Tomlin) Eustace. He was a ninth generation descendant of John
Eustace, who left Bishops Waltham, England, in 1675 and settled
in Northumberland County.
Captain Eustace was educated at Fredericksburg, Virginia High
School and graduated from Upperville Military in the Confederate
Army in April, 1861 at the age of fifteen, serving with Company A
of the 47th Virginia Regiment. Later he transferred to the First
Richmond Howitzer Cabal Batallion Artillery, A.P. Hill's
Division, Longstreet Corps, where he served until General Robert
E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox in 1865.
Returning to Northumberland County after the war, he found the
family farm devastated. (Captain John Conway Eustace, a brother,
was killed at Gettysburg.)
In 1867, hoping to gain a new start, Captain Eustace left for
Texas, where he settled at Athens, Henderson County. Here he
taught school until 1875, when he was elected district clerk, a
position he held for five years. In 1882, he was elected
Henderson County Clerk and held that post until 1890, when he was
elected Superintendent of Public Schools. He chose not to run for
office in 1892 in order to establish a law practice together with
Dr. J.B. Bishop. He practiced law for seven years until 1901,
when he was elected Athens City Assessor and Collector, a
position held until 1905.
In 1905, Captain Eustace was an unsuccessful candidate for the
Texas legislature despite solid support from Henderson County. At
this point Captain Eustace retired from politics and retired in
Athens, Texas.
Captain Eustace was baptized in the Episcopal Church, but became
active in the Methodist Church in Athens, where he served on the
church board.
Williamson Tomlin Eustace married twice, first to Margaret Davis,
who died in Henderson County in 1881 and then to Mattie E.
Mitcham. He became a Mason in 1876 and was a member of the Royal
Arch Chapter and Knights Templar.
The date of Captain Eustace's death or the place of his burial
has not been located.
Major Hal Eustace identifies the parents of Williamson Tomlin
Eustace as William Conway Eustace and Mary Ball Tomlin. A
published biographical sketch of the Captain gives his parents as
William Conway Eustace and Mary Carter. A further check of
records in Northumberland County, Virginia, is advised. We are
certain that William Conway Eustace was a grandson of William
Eustace (d. 1802) and his wife, Mary Sneed (d. 1845).
Eustace, Texas (population 541), located about one hour
southeast of Dallas on Highway 175 is named after William
Tomlinson Eustace.