Adam Masterton (1869-1949)
Assistant pilot
Adam Masterton, assistant pilot in Burntisland (to his uncle William Masterton), played a heroic part in rescuing two fellow pilots in heavy seas, yet, ironically, was fined in later life for overloading his boat. Either he was trying to be helpful when he was caught overloading his boat, or collecting additional fares to the hazard of the occupants. Given his selfless behaviour as a young man, I prefer the former interpretation!
Genealogy
Adam Masterton was the ninth child and fifth son of John Masterton and Janet Westwood of Torryburn. He was the fourth generation of seafarers in this branch of the very large family of Mastertons from in and around Culross in Fife, Scotland . A fuller genealogy of the extended family of Adam Masterton can be found at this link
NARROW ESCAPE OF BURNTISLAND PILOTS. - Two pilots named John Brown and Duncan Thorburn had a narrow escape yesterday from drowning between Burntisland and Inchcolm. While running out with their boat to board the steamer Vernon, from Grangemouth for Burntisland, a heavy sea swamped the pilot-boat close to the steamer, and the men were thrown into the water. They managed to climb on to the boat, and Brown, who is a capital swimmer, assisted his companion to renew his hold on being washed off. A small boat was promptly lowered from the steamer, but before it reached the drowning men, another boat, manned by Pilot Masterton and an assistant, by whom the accident had been observed, bore down to the spot and picked up the two men. Unable to make the harbour, they were landed at Rossend Point. The pilot-boat, with mast and gearing, floated away, and has not been recovered.
The Scotsman
5th April, 1889
AN OVERLOADED MOTOR BOAT. - Adam Masterton, boat hirer, Buccleuch Place, Burntisland, pleaded guilty at the Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday to a contravention of the Merchant Shipping Act, in respect that he permitted nineteen persons to be aboard his motor boat on a journey from St Colm Island, in the Forth, to Aberdour pier, without having obtained the necessary certificate from the Board of Trade. The explanation offered was that respondent took compassion on some people who were stranded on the island, and conveyed them to Aberdour. Sheriff Umpherston imposed a penalty of 30s.
The Scotsman
Tuesday, 23rd September 1924