Eustace family genealogy

Arms: Or, a saltire gu. Crest: A stag statant, betw. the horns a crucifix all ppr. Motto: Cur me persequeris?

Sir Richard Fitz Eustace was Baron of Castle Martin, A.D. 1200; while others of the family were Barons of Harristown and Portlester. In 1639, Maurice Eustace was Speaker of the House of Commons; and in 1660 he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and his ancient inheritance in Kildare and Dublin was confirmed to him. In 1688, his son Sir Maurice Eustace espoused the cause of King James II., and, in his service, commanded an Infantry Regiment, at whose head he fought at Derry. At his house at Kilcullen Bridge, King James, on his journey to Dublin, stopped on Saturday, 23rd March, 1688-9. After the Revolution Sir Maurice Eustace was one of the Forfeiting Proprietors whose properties were sold at Chichester House, Dublin, in 1702-3.

Charles Stannard Eustace, Esq., of Robertstown, county Kildare, and Ballydoyle, county Cork, Viscount Baltinglass in the Peerage of Ireland, but for the attainder of the Third Viscount Baltinglass by Queen Elizabeth, died at Brighton in 1875. His father, the late Rev. Charles Eustace, of Robertstown, eldest son of General Charles Eustace, M.P., having become male representative of his family, petitioned the Crown, in 1839, to have his right to the Viscountcy acknowledged, and the then Attorney-General (the late Lord Chancellor Brady), having investigated the case, reported that “the petitioner had shown sufficient evidence of his right to the dignity of Viscount Baltinglass, in case the attainder created by the Act of Elizabeth were reversed.” At one period of Irish history the Eustaces, Barons of Portlester and Viscounts Baltinglass, were amongst the most potent nobles of this kingdom, and possessed a great portion of the county of Kildare. Said Charles S. Eustace was formerly a captain in the army, and in later years was well-known in the fashionable circles of London. He married first, 1843, Laura, daughter of Christopher Thomas Tower, Esq., of Weald Hall, Essex; and, secondly, in 1864, Rosetta-Philippa, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, 79th Highlanders, and granddaughter of Lieutenant-General Sir Alan Cameron, K.C.B., but left no issue. His nephew and senior heir of line, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Jameson Eustace Robertson, late 60th Rifles, succeeded to Captain Eustace’s estates, and was enjoined to assume the surname and arms of Eustace. He was married to the Lady Katherine, daughter of William, fourth Earl of Dartmouth. Colonel Eustace Robertson’s only sister was Mrs. James Jameson, of Airfield House, near Dublin.

Many residents in Dublin are acquainted with the singularly beautiful ruins of the Portlester Chapel at the east end of St. Audeon’s Church, High-street, erected by the first baron in gratitude for his preservation from shipwreck near the site. A tomb said to be that of the baron and his lady is still in a tolerable state of preservation there. But a similar tomb bearing the names of Lord and Lady Portlester exists in the ruins of New Abbey, near Ballysax, county Kildare, where the Portlesters held large estates.