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.