William Masterton (1876-1951)

Industrial School

William Masterton, an orphan, was sent to Baldovan Industrial School, Dundee when he was 12 or 13 years old.

Genealogy

William Masterton was the seventh and youngest child of Abram Masterton, weaver, and Elizabeth Ellis, part of the large group of Mastertons from Forfar. His father died when he was 3 years old and his mother died five years later. His siblings do not seem to have taken a direct interest in his future. More about William at this link.

The Dundee Advertiser

BOY SENT TO AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.- A petition was presented to Sheriff Robertson yesterday by Alexander Dargie, factory worker, Queen Street, to have a boy named William Masterton (12), who resides with him, sent to an Industrial School. Dargie, who was put in the witness-box, said the boy was a cousin of his wife, and twelve months ago his sister asked him (Dargie) to take the boy for a week, as she was going to Dundee. He had kept the boy since that time, and they had never applied for him. He spoke frequently to the boy's brother about him, but he was unable to support him, and the boy had been going about the streets playing truant from school. He was anxious that he should be sent to an Industrial School. The Sheriff said he was satisfied that this was the proper course to adopt. Sending the boy to the school might be the saving of him, and he hoped he would make the best out of his time. The Sheriff thereafter ordered him to be sent to the Baldovan Industrial School, to be there detained until he had reached the age of sixteen.

The Dundee Advertiser
Tuesday, 11th February 1890