The Andrews Baronetcy

THE RT HON SIR JAMES ANDREWS, BARONET, WAS THE THIRD LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND

JAMES ANDREWS (1762-1841), of The Old House, Comber, County Down, married Frances Glenny, by whom he had a son,

JOHN ANDREWS JP (1792-1864), of Uraghmore, near Comber, High Sheriff of County Down, 1857, who wedded, in 1826, Sarah, daughter of Dr William Drennan, of Cabin Hill, County Down, and Sarah Swanwick, his wife, and had issue,

James, JP;
William Drennan;
John, JP;
THOMAS, of whom hereafter;
Sarah; Sarah; Frances.

The fourth son,

THE RT HON THOMAS ANDREWS DL (1843-1916), of Ardara House, Comber, County Down, was sworn of the Privy Council in Ireland on the occasion of the Royal Visit, 1903.

He married, in 1870, Eliza, daughter of James Alexander Pirrie, of Little Clandeboye, County Down, and sister of James, 1st Viscount Pirrie KP, by whom he had issue,

John Miller (Rt Hon Sir), CH;
Thomas;
JAMES, of whom hereafter;
William;
Eliza Montgomery (Nina).

The third son,

THE RT HON SIR JAMES ANDREWS (1877-1951), LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND, wedded, in 1922, Jane Lawson, daughter of Joseph Ormrod, of Bolton, Lancashire, but had no issue.

He was created a baronet in 1942, designated of Comber, County Down.

• Pro-Chancellor of the Queen's University of Belfast, 1929-51
• President of the Law Society, 1937-51
• Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, 1937-51

SIR JAMES and Lady Andrews lived at Eusemere, Killinchy Road, Comber, County Down.

Eusemere in 2018 (Image: Richard Graham)

Eusemere House was built ca 1909 by Major Bruce, the largest shareholder in the Comber Distillery.

Captain George James Bruce DSO MC was the son of Samuel Bruce, and was Managing Director of Comber Distilleries Company in County Down. 

Born in 1880, George Bruce was educated at Winchester and played cricket for North Down and the North of Ireland Club. 

He also played off a golf handicap of 2 and was regarded to be a magnificent shot and a fine tennis and billiards player. 

He married, in 1907, Hilda Blakiston-Houston, daughter of John Blakiston-Houston, of Orangefield, Belfast; was commander of a company of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and drilled his men in the Distillery Yard on the Newtownards Road. 

At the outbreak of the 1st World War, and the formation of the 36th Ulster Division, he obtained a Commission in the 1st County Down Battalion, commanded by Colonel WH Savage. 

He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1914; went to train with his men at Clandeboye, before proceeding to France with his Comber men. 

He was prominent in all the battles in which the 13th Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles took part, including the Battle of the Somme, at Thiepval, on the 1st July, 1916. 

Captain Bruce eventually became Brigade Major of the 109th Infantry Brigade and was killed in action on 2nd October, 1918 at Dadizelle, in Flanders, at the age of just 38 - and just about 6 weeks before the Armistice was signed on 11th November 1918. 

Captain Bruce was decorated with the awards of Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order. There is a tablet to his memory in Comber Parish Church.

Eusemere House was sold to Sir James Andrews Bt in 1937.

Eusemere in 2018 (Image: Richard Graham)

Sir James divided Eusemere into two properties about 1930.

From the 1950s onwards both properties went through a number of different owners, including Mr Clokey; Mr Mitchell; John William Richard Durham Ashdown (father of the late Paddy, Lord Ashdown); and a Mr Miskimmin, in Number 20.

Sir James died without issue, and the baronetcy became extinct.

Comber Historical Society has published a biography of the Andrews family.

First published in May, 2010.