Eustace Family in County Roscommon, Ireland

Compiled by Ronald F. Eustice

The Eustace Family in County Roscommon

The name Eustace is very rare in County Roscommon. A search conducted in March 2007 by the County Roscommon Heritage & Genealogical Company located three families that lived in the entire county between 1850 and the early 1900s, as follows:

John Eustice and Bridget Dufficy

John Eustace was born circa 1848 in Kings County[1].  He married Bridget Dufficy, although no record of this marriage was located.  John was at one time an Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) Officer, but had left the force by 1886 when his occupation was listed as an RIC Pensioner on the birth of his son Michael Joseph. Bridget Eustace died in Cartron on 23^rd February 1901 aged 48 years.[2]  John and Bridget had issue:

• Henry Francis Eustace, born on 24^th February 1883, in Cartron, the father was listed as a farmer,[3] and baptised on 28^th February 1883 (sponsors: Patrick Lynan and Ann Dufficy).  He married at Tulsk to Bridget Dockery on 22^nd June 1938.[4]

• Eva Eustace, born on 26^th November 1884, in Cartron, father’s occupation, farmer.[5]

• Michael Joseph Eustace, born on 22^nd September 1886, in Cartron, fathers occupation, Pensioner RIC,[6] and baptised on 26^th September 1886 (sponsors: James Callan and Ann Flaherty).[7]

• Thomas Eustace, born in Cartron, baptised on 15^th August 1890 (sponsors: John Higgins and Mary Conroy).[8]  He died in Carton on 24^th December 1890, aged given as six months.[9]

• Mary Kate Eustace, born on 08^th February 1892, in Cartron, father’s occupation, farmer,[10]  and baptised on 13^th February 1892 (sponsors: Francis Eustance and Mary Keaveney).[11]

Catherine Dufficy, age 45, occupation housekeeper and described as a sister-in-law is listed with the John Eustace family on the 1901 census which was taken on 31st March. Catherine Dufficy was probably the sister to Bridget who had passed away only a week earlier.

John Eustice and Mary Travers

No marriage or death records were located for this couple, but two baptismal records were located for their children as follows:

• William Eustace, baptised on 2^nd July 1859 (sponsors: Thomas Henry and Sara Fury).[12]

• James Eustace, baptised on 15^th February 1861 (sponsor: Mary Eustace).[13]

John Eustice and Margaret Mullins

Again no marriage or death records located for this couple, although it is possible that John is the same John that was married to Mary Travers, there were two children of this couple located;

·        Thomas Eustace, baptised on 11^th May 1862 (sponsors: Patrick Daly and Winifred Donohoe).[14]

·        Richard Eustace, born on 3^rd February 1864, in Keeff Street, Athlone, father’s occupation, baker,[15] and baptised on 21^st February 1864 (sponsors: Martin Beuson and Margaret Mahon).[16]

Thomas Eustace & Ann Fahey

Thomas Eustace (son of Thomas) was born c1824-1830. He married Ann Fay (Fahey) about 1851 (place unknown). Ann was believed to be a native of County Westmeath. Thomas and Ann Eustace lived in County Roscommon. Thomas Eustace was a shoemaker by trade and went to England probably as a result of the Potato Famine. Ann Fahey (Fay)’s father was a cheese dealer and later may have owned several grocers shops. According to their marriage certificate, Thomas’s father was also named Thomas and was also a shoemaker. Thomas and Ann Eustace lived in Sutton, near St. Helens in Lancashire, England and had nine children, eight sons and one daughter.

The youngest son, Joseph Eustace was born two years later. The eldest son, Michael was believed to be a weightlifter, and died quite young due what was reported to be “straining his heart”, - according to my father.

Two brothers, James and Thomas are believed to have emigrated to the United States, and were later followed by their younger sibling William, or Bill as he was known, hoping to make a better life for himself and his future wife whom he had left behind in England.

He had many adventures and things were going quite well until his letters from home ceased. Realising that they had been intercepted by a young lady, there was some trouble and when that was sorted, he got the first available boat back to England where he and his beloved Alice were married and had four children, my father, Francis, or Frank, being the eldest.

My grandfather was a great storyteller, but unfortunately I was too young at the time to take much notice, and like many of my generation, I found older people rather intimidating. One of my earliest memories, is when I was about three years old, was sitting between my parents on a scratchy horse-hair settee, being constantly nudged by my mum to sit still, intrigued by the flickering gas light, while my grandfather sat in his rocking chair, smoking his pipe and spun his yarns, as my mum said.
 

Eustace of Roscommon (1881 Census of England)

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation
Thomas EUSTACE Head M Male 57 Roscommon, Ireland Gen Ag Lab
Maria EUSTACE Wife M Female 44 Westmeath, Ireland
James EUSTACE Son U Male 22 Sutton, Lancashire, England Gen Lab
Thomas EUSTACE Son U Male 20 Sutton, Lancashire, England Gen Lab
Daniel EUSTACE Son U Male 18 Sutton, Lancashire, England Gen Lab
John EUSTACE Son U Male 16 Sutton, Lancashire, England Gen Lab
William EUSTACE Son Male 13 Sutton, Lancashire, England Scholar
Francis EUSTACE Son Male 10 Sutton, Lancashire, England Scholar
Joseph EUSTACE Son Male 8 Sutton, Lancashire, England Scholar

Frank Eustace