Eustace Families Association
James Eustace
(1797-1855)
of Ballymahon,
The Potato Famine during the years
1845 through 1849 devastated
money in their pockets looking for food.” It
was reported that on
could be bought on the streets of Longford, even from a meal merchant.
James Eustace was born about 1797, probably in
James Eustace likely was a descendant of a branch ofthe Kildare Eustace family that in the distant past was prominent in early Irish history. During the Reformation, the Eustace family more often than not, chose the Catholic side in bitter and violent disputes. They were willing to forfeit land, possessions and often life itself, for a cause they fervently believed in.
Extensive research has been completed by the editor inIreland and in the
Tithe Composition Applotment Books
Located in the Public Records Office in Dublin these records contain the particulars of holdings subject to a tithe tax, giving occupiers' names and were compiled to provide a basis fortax computation, under the Tithe Composition Acts of 1823.Subsequently these tithes were collected from Catholics andProtestant's alike and then distributed to the rectors of the Anglican Church.
Parish Records
Baptismal, marriage and burial records at St. Matthew's Catholic Church (Shrule Parish) Ballymahon, Co. Longford were searched by the editor from 1820 until 1850. Several Eustace families were parishioners including James Eustace and his wife Bridget Kennedy.
In these early 1800's records, we find several Eustace families in
Tithe Composition Applotment records dated
Edward Eustace, occupant of 3 acres 34 perches (5acres, 2 perches first class)
William and Pat Eustace, occupants of five acres, two roods, 30 perches ( 2 acres, 2 roods first class).
Tithe applotment (tax) records on deposit in the
Public Record Office in
Date of Entry |
Location |
County |
Description |
|
Townland Rathburnet Barony Corkaree Parish Leany |
Westmeath |
9 acres, 3 roods 35 3/4 perches |
|
Townland Collum Parish Cashel Diocese Ardagh |
Longford |
1 acre |
|
Townland Farnagh Barony Moydow Parish Ballymacormack Diocese Ardagh |
Longford |
1 acre, 5 perches |
It is inconclusive whether these entries are of the same person or of two or
even three different persons with the nameJames
Eustace. It is reasonable to assume that as a tenant farmer, James could have
moved his family to three differentplots of land
during the ten year period. The distance involved is approximately ten miles
between the
Other Eustace family members living in the area during this time period include:
Edward Eustace occupant of one acre, two roods, 24
1/2perches of third class land in Townland Longford, Templemichael Parish,
Laurence or Luke Eustace, and his wife
Bridget Gibbons, the parents of seven children baptised
at St. Matthews Church, Ballymahon between
Catherine Ustace. who was buried at Ballymahon on July31, 1823.
Thomas Eustace and his wife Rose Clendinnen,
of Templemichael Parish, Co. Longford; the parents of
William Eustace, baptised at Longford
on
James Eustace, son of Luke and Bridget Ustace;
baptized in the Parish of Shrule on
John Eustace, baptismal sponsor for Bridget, daughter of James
Eustace and Bridget Kennedy,
John Eustace, baptismal sponsor for John, son of Laurence
(Luke) Eustace and Bridget Gibbons,
Michael Eustace son of Luke Eustace and Bridget Gibbons,
baptised at Shrule on
Patrick Eustace, together with Margaret Ryan, baptismal sponsor for Anne, daughter of Luke Eustace and Bridget Gibbons, May 8, 1833, at Shrule.
Anne Eustace (see previous).
Thomas Eustace, baptismal sponsor for James, son of James Eustace and
Bridget Kennedy,
Margaret Eustace, baptised December 11, 1835 at Shrule,daughter of Luke Eustace and Bridget Gibbon.
Philip Eustace, son of Philip (Luke?) Eustace and Bridget Gibbon, baptised
Elenor Eustace, baptised September 26, 1840 at Shrule.Parents were Luke Eustace and Bridget Gibbons. Sponsors are listed as Patrick Gerraghty and Margaret Havican.
Patrick Eustace, listed on Griffith's 1854 PrimaryValuation, as the lessee of a house, yard and small garden inWest Meath..
Parish registers at the Parish of Shrule (St. Matthew's Catholic Church) Ballymahon contain records of the baptism ofthree children born to James Eustace and his wife Bridget Kennedy; Bridget, baptised June 11,1830 (sponsors: John Eustace and Anne Kennedy); James, baptised July 26, 1835 (sponsors Thomas Eustace and Elenor Costello) and John, baptised January 4, 1833(sponsors: Patrick Kelly and Catherine Kennedy).
Facts are inconclusive if the duplicate entries forJohn, Thomas and Patrick Eustace, represent a single individual by each name or two separate identities.
Bridget baptised at Ballymahon, June 1, 1830.
John, baptised at Ballymahon, January 4,1833.
James, baptised at Ballymahon, July 26, 1835.
It is believed that James and Bridget Eustace and their children
lived in the countryside in Ballymacormack Parish and
inTownland Lara(gh) between the city of
Soon after Bridget's death, the family left
In June 1850, Thomas, Bridget and John arrived in
About 1851, the elder James and John then 18, journeyed westward to
Mapleton, Waukesha County Wisconsin. This lush and fertile area is located
about 40 miles west and slightly north of
The inscription on the original headstone reads:
In Memory of James Eustis - Native of the Parish of Ballymahon, Co.
Died
James died intestate leaving possessions of the probable value of $200
to his son John, who had been appointed administrator of the estate. No other
heirs are mentioned in the Petition for Administration which was filed