Landed Estates
University of Galway

Piers (Tristernagh)

William Piers settled in Ireland during the reign of Elizabeth I and was granted the lands of the Abbey of Tristernagh, parish of Kilbixy, county Westmeath. In 1660 his great grandson Henry Piers of Tristernagh was created a baronet. Two later baronets, the fifth and sixth, are remembered for the destruction of the abbey church of Tristernagh and for the seduction of Lady Cloncurry. By the mid-19th century the Piers estate amounted to about 423 acres at Tristernagh with some rent charges in lieu of tithes on various parishes in counties Westmeath and Longford. The rent charges were advertised for sale in 1850 and both the lands and rent charges in 1851 in the Encumbered Estates Court. In June 1852 the lands were eventually sold. Marcus and Jonathan Goodbody were the immediate lessors of much of this estate at the time of Griffith’s Valuation (publ. 1854) having purchased it in the Court. Woods writes that the ‘late J Eivers Esq, J.P., lived for years in the cottage built by the late Sir John Piers’ while the mansion built by Sir Pigot William Piers in 1783 was ‘a crumbling ruin’.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Tristernagh House Tristernagh Demesne Kilbixy Mullingar Kilbixy 55 Westmeath OSI Ref: N332616
OS Sheet: 11
Discovery map: 47 		Photo of Tristernagh House

Archival sources

  • Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Piers, 19 Nov 1850, Vol 4 (2), MRGS 39/002, (microfilm copy in UG) rent charges in lieu of tithes; National Archives of Ireland
  • Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Piers, 6 June 1851, Vol 8 (5), MRGS 39/004, (microfilm copy in UG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Piers, 4 June 1852, Vol 16 (9), MRGS 39/007, (microfilm copy in UG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Memoirs of the family of Sir Henry Piers of Tristernaugh, Co. Westmeath collected by Henry Ware of Stephen's Green, Dublin, grandson of Sir James Ware. Completed up to 1748. Ms. 2563; National Library of Ireland
  • Lease by Sir Henry Piers of Piersfield, Co. Westmeath to Robert Knaresborough of lands at Ballytobin and elsewhere in the baronies of Kells and Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny, 5 Oct., 1702. D.27,198; National Library of Ireland
  • A chorographical description of county Westmeath written 1682 by Sir Henry Piers Bt of Tristernagh. British Museum. Add. Ms 28,796, copy NLI P549; National Library of Ireland
  • Description of county Westmeath 1685 by Sir Henry Piers, c 1685. Ms. 3627; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of petition of Arthur Judge, the younger, of Tristernagh, eldest son of Arthur Judge, the elder, of Mosstowne, for divorce from his wife Maria, daughter of Henry Piers of Lowbaskin, c 1700. GO Ms 808, 9; National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigree of Piers of Tristernagh Bts, c 1500-1815. GO Ms 112, 20-21; National Library of Ireland
  • Baker Papers, include lease for a year and a day by Sir Henry Piers to Roscarrick Donking of lands in the barony of Corkery, Co Westmeath, and defeasance to Abraham White re the same, 26 Feb 1701 and 3 Mar 1702. D 27,194 and D 27,197; National Library of Ireland
  • Baker Papers, include prerogative will of Sir Henry Piers Bt of Tristernaugh, with copy, 29 July 1691. D 27,163; National Library of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources