Dewar Masterton (1767-1797)
Advocate
Dewar Masterton was an advocate in Edinburgh and married Helen Gibson, daughter of a wealthy family, in 1787. This may have been all the information available on this couple, had it not been for the chance find by researcher Marion Davie, of a hand-written note in an old directory in Edinburgh's Central Library. Finds like this are a genealogist's gift from above! Marion sent this to me and it certainly spices up the story of Dewar and Helen. Whether we can rely on the anonymous author, who can say, (not helped by the confusion of Dewar with his uncle Allan), but that never stopped us enjoying the waspish stuff of scandal and hearsay. Suggestions on a postcard please of ways in which you think Helen Gibson could have tormented her husband to death!
Marion reports that she showed it to a librarian on the day who said that this note may have been written by a 'notorious' previous Edinburgh librarian (notorious for writing on the books, but a meticulous researcher) Charles B Boog Watson, FRSE, FSA (Scotland), one of Edinburgh's most noted historians and antiquaries. If anyone has another example of his handwriting, this could be validated.
Genealogy
Dewar Masterton's parents were Dugald Masterton and Ann Lothian, which makes him a nephew of Allan Masterton, writing master at Edinburgh High School, and friend of Robert Burns.
Image by Marion Davie
Allan Masterton eloped with Miss Gibson of Pentland - he passed Advocate - but his wife tormented him to death - She married next a Lieutenant in the Navy - By neither of these persons had she children - She was more successful in her third espousals for by Mr Anderson - originally a common soldier - but who after his marriage became a Captain in the Edinburgh Militia - she had an only son who married Miss Bringloe - has issue.
Williamson's Directory
1782/83
(actual copy in Edinburgh's Central Library)
Index