Masterton Curiosities

Records are bland and faceless - but in an attempt to brighten them up, here are a few curiosities. Readers are encouraged to send in any updated examples, or to suggest other categories.

The oldest written references to a Masterton

The earliest Marriage in the Old Parish Records

The earliest Birth in the Old Parish Records

The earliest Family in the Old Parish Records

Whilst Hugo and William were the earliest known family inferred from chartulary records, the earliest family record in the Registers of Scotland Old Parish Records is:

The most prolific male Masterton parent

I have not yet found a Masterton who fathered more children (according to official records!) than Francis Masterton of Parkmill. All the more remarkable given that all of his 15 children were borne by one wife, Christian Keirie. Francis himself was 35 years old when his first child, Marie, was born in 1678 and 53 years old when his last child (who didn't survive) was born in December 1696.

The most fecund female Masterton

Elizabeth Masterton, third child of Alexander Masterton, a carpenter from Kincardine who emigrated to Australia, and Anne Bradley married John Morris Telfer in 1878. Between 1879 and 1898 she then had twelve children - ten boys and only two girls! Elizabeth was 21 when she bore her first son Archibald Alexander Telfer, and 40 when she had Charles G Telfer.

The most fecund wife of a Masterton

This may well be Christian Keirie daughter of John Keirie of Gogar who married Francis Masterton of Parkmill on 13th January 1678. Christian produced 15 children with Francis over the next 18 years. Her first child, Marie, was born in November 1678 when Christian was 22 years old and her fifteenth was born and died on 1st December 1696 when Christian was 40.

The most-married male Masterton

David Masterton, linen hand loom weaver, and son of Robert Masterton and Helen Samson of Forfar, was married three times and, in addition, had a child to a fourth woman he didn't marry. David first married Elizabeth Ramsay Robertson on 1st August 1830 and had two boys. He married Mary Boath on 19th August 1835 and had another two boys. He had a daughter, Annie, to Julia Whyte in 1844, and then, at the age of 39, he married Elisabeth Clark, 18 years his junior, and had eight more children , the youngest Charles Smith Masterton, being born when David was 59 years old.

What's more, when David's last child Charles was born on 15 Oct 1866 he was already the grandfather of 4, between the ages of 4 months and 9 years: Abram born 15 Apr 1857, Allan born 12 May 1861, Alexander born 12 Jan 1864, and Lavina born 26 Jun 1866.

This fairly active breeding does not seem to have sapped his strength (unless it's because his good women did all the work). David lived to a good old age of 87, finally succumbing to "softening of the brain" in 1894.

The most-married female Masterton

Yet to be researched

The longest-lived male Mastertons in the Records

There are several Mastertons who lived well into their 90's. The longest-lived male identified so far is James George Masterton, born in 1896 in Caulfield, Victoria, Australia and died in 1996 at the age of 100. Amazingly, his wife, Vida Lillian Judd (1899-1999), was another centenarian.

The longest-lived female Mastertons in the Records

Elizabeth Masterton, daughter of Robert Masterton and Helen Samson, was christened on 13th November 1806 in Forfar, and died in 1903 aged 96. She married James Samson on 11th October 1829.

Ann Stark Masterton, daughter of Alexander Masterton and Elizabeth Farquhar, was christened on 24th September 1837 in Forfar and died in 1933 in Dundee at the age of 95. She married William Ogilvie on 24th June 1864.

Jessie Fleming Masterton, daughter of George Masterton and Ann Croft Simpson Duncan, was born in Dundee in 1896 and died on 23rd June 1991 aged 94.

Bessie Masterton, daughter of Robert Masterton and Agnes Douglas, was christened on 13th March 1610 in Alloa and died on 4th November 1704 in Alloa, making her 94 and almost 8 months old. She too is a member of the Parkmill Masterton family. She married William Philp in 1639.

Dorothy Gertrude Masterton, daughter of James Masterton and Jennie Esther Raynor, was born in Boston, Mass on 6 October 1896 and died on 26 April 1991 aged 94.

The earliest Will and Testament in the Scottish Records

Agnes Maistertoun, relict of John Menteith in Alveth, dated 21st February 1572. Testament, testamentar and inventory recorded at Edinburgh Commissary Court.

Masterton, New Zealand

Masterton, the largest town in Wairarapa, New Zealand was not named after a Masterton emigrant. It was named after its founder, Joseph Masters.