William Piers (constable)
| William Piers | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1510 York, England |
| Died | 1603 |
| Buried at | Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland |
| Allegiance | England |
| Rank | Captain |
William Piers (c. 1510 – 1603) was an English constable, who spent most of his life in Ireland. He was the first mayor and practical founder of Carrickfergus. He was noted in particular for his attempts to drive out the Scots from Ulster and the great lengths that he went to in attempting to enhance the power of local chiefs at the expense of the Scots. Granted Tristernagh Abbey as a reward for his military services, he made it into his family home from the late 1560s until his death in 1603.
He came from a family whose seat was in Piers Hall in the county of York. He was the son of Richard Piers; his paternal grandfather was John Piers; his paternal great-grandfather was Gerald Piers. Nothing is known about his education.
He was described by a deposition in the high court of admiralty, dated 27 November 1555, as ‘a tall burly man with a big, brown beard’ who was captain of a ship given to him by James Fitzgerald, 13th Earl of Desmond. Piers was recruited by the acting as governor of Ireland, Thomas Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter, to participate in a naval expedition against the Scots in the North Channel and the Hebrides. He was also highly active as a fisherman. In the spring of 1558, Piers participated in a second maritime attack on the MacDonalds who were emigrating to Ulster. In 1562, however, he developed diplomatic relations with James MacDonald after travelling to Kintyre to meet with him, but although he remained in contact with the MacDonalds for several years he would soon do all he could to limit the power of the Scots.
Noted for saving Princess Elizabeth "from the rage and fury of her sister Queen Mary by conveying her privately away", in the 1560s he earned her favour after she became Queen Elizabeth, received considerable military rank, and was selected by her to go to Ireland in 1566. For his services there, he was rewarded with a large land grant, including Tristernagh Abbey, which he made his family home. He was appointed governor of Carrickfergus, Seneschal of County Antrim in 1568. In 1567, he received a reward of 1000 marks for bringing the head of Shane Ó Neill, "pickled in a pipkin", to Sir Henry Sidney, to display on the gates of Dublin Castle, although it has been reported that Piers dug up Ó Neill's body and decapitated him.
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