Preston of Gormanston
The first Prestons to come to Ireland came in the 14th century. Tradition has it that they originated in Burgundy. The first Irish Preston of note was Roger de Preston who was appointed a justice in the Court of Common Pleas in 1330 in the first year of the reign of Edward III. In the account roll of the priory of the Holy Trinity, Dublin 1337-1346 there is the following entry in 1346: ‘Also in wine bought for the archdeacon of Dublin, Roger de Preston, Nicholas de Suyterbery, and their retinue, on Sunday (Oct. 1) next after the feast of St. Michael, after dinner, 6 1/2 pence.’ From this we can assume that Roger was in the company of both the archdeacon and Nicholas de Suyterbery and their collective retinue when they visited Christ Church in that year.
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de Robeck
The de Robecks have always been fighting men. They descend from a north German family who became all powerful in Estonia during the 17th century. The 2nd Baron de Robeck served with the Franco-American army against the British redcoats in the American War of Independence. His son, the 3rd Baron, fought in Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. The 4th Baron opted for a quieter life, building the present family home of Gowran Grange outside Punchestown and serving as Ranger for the Curragh in the reign of Queen Victoria. His son, Admiral Sir John de Robeck (1862 – 1928, reluctantly witnessed the disastrous attempt to capture the Dardanelles Straits in March 1915. The 5th Baron commanded an artillery battalion in the Great War and married one of the Alexanders of County Carlow. In World war Two, the 6th Baron was instrumental in helping General “Punch” Cowan defeat the Japanese in Burma. The present head of the family is 32-year-old John, 8th Baron de Robeck. A military career is not amongst his plans for the future.
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de Burgh of Co. Kildare
The de Burghs claim descent from Charlemagne through Jean, Comte de Konign and Baron de Tonsburgh in the late 10th century. Amongst their more prestigious forbears were Baldwin de Burgh, King of Jerusalem (1118 – 1131) and Ode, Bishop of Bayeux, for whom the Bayeux Tapestry was made. The first of the family to settle in Ireland was William de Burgh, a steward of Henry II, who personally received the submission of the Kings of Connaught and Meath at Athlone in 1172. In return he was made Governor of Wexford and “Dominus” or Lord of Connaught by Prince John, Lord of Ireland. Tradition states the de Burgh arms were granted when one of the family killed a leading Saracen while fighting alongside Richard the Lionheart. The crusading monarch is said to have dipped his sword in the dead man’s blood and made the shape of a cross over his fallen shield, saying “these, Knight, be thine arms forever”. As William was married to Richard’s daughter Isabel, widow of Prince Llewelyn of Wales, it seems plausible that he was the man to whom the arms were first granted.