William Piers

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. Early years He came from a family whose seat was in Piers Hall near Ingleton 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 governor of Ireland, Thomas Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter, to participate in a naval expedition against the Scots in the North Channel and the Hebrides. Piers and his partners in the enterprise were also contracted to carry out fishing in the River Bann, though this may have merely been a pretext for establishing a naval presence there. In the spring of 1558, Piers participated in a second maritime attack on the MacDonalds who were emigrating to Ulster.