William Piers
d. 1603
Vitals
Family
About
Captain William Piers was sent to Ireland by Elizabeth the First in 1566 and given a command, and he was rewarded with the grant of Tristernagh Abbey in Westmeath, where his family remained for three centuries. He was governor of Carrickfergus, and in 1569 he collected the reward of a thousand marks for bringing in the head of Shane O'Neill. He died in 1603 and is buried at Carrickfergus.
Research notes
✓ DOCUMENTED (Burke's Peerage PIERS article): CAPTAIN WILLIAM PIERS, son of Richard Piers, Esq., of Piers Hall, co. York (father recorded here in note, not entered); sent to Ireland 1566 by Queen Elizabeth "in a considerable post in the army"; rewarded with grants including TRISTERNAGH ABBEY, co. Westmeath; GOVERNOR OF CARRICKFERGUS and seneschal of co. Antrim; "he obtained, in 1569, a reward of 1000 marks FOR BRINGING IN THE HEAD OF THE REBEL SHANE O'NEILL" (historically attested - O'Neill was killed 1567 and Piers sent the head to Dublin); d. 1603, interred at Carrickfergus. The Burke's flourish that he once saved Elizabeth "from the fury of her sister by conveying her privately away" = family tradition, grade ?. Direct ancestor - the founder of the Irish Piers line. Added 21 Jul 2026.