The Masterton Family
Each of us carries about with us something of the spirit of every man and woman in the line of our descent. Oliver Wendell Holmes.
This site is intended to provide a knowledge bank for a small community of interest - the present day successors of those who have shared common roots. Some of these are documented. Many are not.
There are a number of Masterton researchers who have freely exchanged information. The wonderful aspect of giving knowledge is that we are not diminished by the giving - and if we receive in return, we are enriched. Special mention should be made of David Masterton of Whippany, New Jersey. His work provided the foundation of most of the family trees. I have only expanded upon it.
This site is dedicated to all who came before us, each unique in different ways, but who collectively have created the surroundings and the culture that we all enjoy, or tolerate, today. Our civilisation today is shaped by the sum of all their actions.
Searching for our Sense of Place
The desire to understand our origins and our roots is a pervading drive in many of us. We cannot help being curious, and some of us get mildly obsessed with building the picture of our ancestors and their successes and failures. The interest starts with the fun of researching some unknown names from previous generations, linked by the accident of birth. It develops into an interest in the social and historical context of their place in the evolution of our modern civilisation.
Some Mastertons have played their part in historical events or trends, particularly in Scotland. Visit this interactive TIMELINE which provides a link between some events in Scottish history and the Masterton family.
Here are the 3437 Mastertons, sorted in 28 groupings that I've found in this journey of exploration:
"Records not linked" will take you to a miscellany of records of births, marriages and deaths of 972 Mastertons, some in isolation, some in mini-trees, but none yet linked to the other 27 trees. If you can identify any links, or find matches within these random records, I'd be delighted to hear from you. My ambition is to place as many of these as possible into a larger tree if evidence can be found.
The next two trees contain a mix of Mastertons and Mastersons in the records. My view is that the two families from Athelstaneford and Leith are originally Mastersons, and may have come to Scotland from Ireland:
| Athelstaneford | Leith |
The trees are based on registration or other documented information, but making connections for people who died before 1855 involves making some judgements. Clues such as age at marriage, neighbourhood, and consistency with Scottish Naming Pattern all help, but no guarantees can be given. Sources are provided and users must take their own view of whether my deductions (or those on whom I've relied) are the most rational. I'm perfectly happy to receive challenges, queries and new information that might improve the value of the site. In the early records there are many spelling variants of "Masterton" (I have found 87 - all of them are listed under Spelling). I have, for the convenience of researchers using search engines, converted these consistently to the modern spelling. The original spelling is referred to in notes attached to the trees.
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This site uses The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding("TNG") for displaying genealogical data. The program was developed by Darrin Lythgoe. When reviewing the results of your search, especially if the list is long, remember to look at the top and bottom of the list for names containing middle names or initials. After your first search, you can refine by using various selection fields. My name is Gordon Masterton. If you are a Masterton, or have Masterton connections, and would like to receive a note of when updates are made to this site, then please email me with a request. I have a great deal of information about Mastertons yet to be posted. Until I get more information uploaded onto the site, I will be happy to assist with any enquiries. Just click on "Contact Us" in the footer. Sign our Guestbook |
Most Recent Site Updates
7 June 2009: A re-formatting of Mastertons in Print to organise individual histories in family tree groups. Many new references, mainly from the Scotsman Archives. Dollar Academy archivist has provided some background material, and a photograph, of William Masterton, arithmetic teacher. 22 March 2009: A timeline to link historic events in Scotland with Mastertons. 15 March 2009: A new page on Masterton, near Newbattle; Some more colourful characters added - William Masterton, bigamist; William Masterton, resetter and outlaw; Adam Masterton, pilot; Robert Nicol Masterton, drowning victim; John Masterton, Inspector of Mines; 14 February 2009: A new page on Masterton's Yards and Close. 1 February 2009: A new page on Mastertons Beath. JM Webster's typescript notes added to the estate of Masterton. 25 January 2009: Three new pages using information from the Scotsman Archives - Peter Masterton, watchmaker and convict; Alexander Masterton, civil engineer and gas manager; Alexander Masterton, minister. 30 November 2008: A new page on Hugh, the first Masterton?. Three new generations added to the Torryburn tree. 23 November 2008: Forfar and Montrose trees tentatively combined, although challenge is welcomed! 19 October 2008: Descendants of John Masterton and Mary Bowie added to Falkirk tree. (Mother's name differs with name on John's death certificate, but connection to father is confident). 10 October 2008: More information on the settlement and surname of Masterton from Simon Taylor's book "The Place-Names of Fife" (by permission of author).10 August 2008: On basis of information in "John Buchan - A Biographical Sketch" by Sheila Scott, the Broughton tree has been assimilated into the Biggar tree and a new page added for Helen Masterton, mother of John Buchan. 5 August 2008: a new page added for John Masterton, master mate of the "Elizabeth" of Burntisland that sank in 1660 losing many of Scotland's archives and registers . 4 August 2008: a new tree added of Kirkcaldy Mastertons. 3 August 2008: new page added for Adam Masterton of Grange, and his connection to a covenanter minister.