Alexander Masterton of Bad (fl 1520-1587)
Adherent of Lord Erskine, Earl of Mar
An Alexander Masterton appears in the records as a member of the party that accompanied Lord Erskine, Earl of Mar, in the retinue of King James V of Scotland during his visit to France in 1536 to find a bride. This culminated with the marriage of James V to Madeleine de Valois, daughter of Francis 1 of France. For services rendered to the king, at his command, Alexander was awarded 100 crowns. This may have been the seed for improved prospects for the Masterton family.
In 1561 he was unfortunate to be chosen as one of the jurors in a case of identification of the heir of Robert, bishop of Orkney. Their verdict must have been unpalatable, because this was decreed by the authorities to be an "assize of error", now obsolete, where if the jurors were found guilty of wilful error, they could be punished with forfeiture of moveables, infamy, and one year's imprisonment.
Genealogy
It seems likely that this was Alexander Masterton who married Janet Couston, the oldest couple traced so far of one of the oldest documented Masterton branches, and the start of the dynasty of Mastertons of Parkmill. Alexander was granted charter for the lands of Bad in 1544, then later the lands of Millarwood and Crumlybank in 1547, that became known as Parkmill. John, Lord Erskine, granted the Charter. Fuller details of Alexander's extended family can be found at this link.
Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland
Volume VI. 1531-1538
The Expensis maid be James Kirkcaldy of the Grange for the King's Effaris the Tyme his Grace was in France - AD1536
Item, deliverit at the Kingis command to Alexander Maistertoun, servand to the Lord Erskin jc crounis.
The Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland
Sir James Balfour Paul (ed)
Vol VI. 1531-1538
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1905
Cuninghame family, of Balgownie, Culross
Writs of lands of Bad in lordship of Culross, sheriffdom of Perth
1544
Including:
Letters by David, cardinal priest of St Stephen, archbishop of St. Andrews, primate of Scotland, legatus natus, addressed to the archdean of Whithorn, the provost of Holy Trinity near Edinburgh, and James Wilsone, canon of church of Dunblane, confirming grant by William, commendator of monastery of Culros, John, abbot thereof, and convent, in favour of Alexander Mastertoune and Jonet Coustoun, his spouse, of lands of Bad in lordship of Culros, sheriffdom of Perth, 4 nones March 1544.
Papers of the Cuninghame family, of Balgownie, Culross, Fife
1533-1924
NRAS2160/Bundle 28
Writs of lands of Bad in lordship of Culross, sheriffdom of Perth
1544-1615
Deposited in Central Library, Dunfermline
Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland
Volume XI. 1561
The Expensis, debursit upoun offeciris, boyis, and uthiris travaland the Queenis grace effaris in this instant moneth of Junii 1561
Item, the xx day of Junii, to Williame Lawsone, messenger, passand of Edinburght witht lettres of proclamation to the mercat croces of Linlithqw, Striviling, and Clakmannane, chargeing all kirkmen and wemen that thay sett na feuis,..... etc; togiddir witht lettres to serche, seik, and inbring the escheit gudis of Alexander Maistertoun of Bade, Gilbert Colestoun [sic] of Scrictoun, Robert Broun, and xij uthiris witht thame, being upoun ane assise of errour in the serving of Johnne Reid of Akinheid......xl s.
Item, to David Ramsay and Duncane Wilsone, messengeris, passand of Edinburght witht lettres of proclamation to the mercat croces of Linlithqw, Striviling, Perth,....siclike witht lettres to serche and seik Alexander Maistertoun of Bade, Gilbert Ormistoun, and certane utheris thair escheit gudis for wilfull errour in the serving of.....Reid of Aikenheid as air to Robert, bischope of Orkney;.....see RSS v3086.
The Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland
Sir James Balfour Paul (ed)
Vol XI. 1561
HM General Register House
Edinburgh
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
First Series, Volume II, 1569-78
INDEX OF NAMES EXCLUDED FROM THE TEXT
Oct 24, 1574:
Masterton of Parkmylne, Alexander - surety for his son James.
Oct 18, 1577:
Masterton, Robert - licensed to levy troops for the Low Country.
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
John Hill Burton
Vol II. 1569-78
p 729
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1878
Culross Abbey and its Charters
CULROSS ABBEY AND ITS CHARTERS, WITH NOTES ON A
FIFTEENTH-CENTURY TRANSUMPT. By WILLIAM DOUGLAS,
F.S.A.SCOT.
Charge of the Temporality of Kirklands. (relative to Annexation of Benefices to the Crown in the year 1587).
The Act of Parliament of 26th July 1587 for the Annexatioun of the Temporalities of the Benefices to the Crown, ruled that all the revenue of the Church be annexed to the Crown, on the ground that the Crown had been greatly hurt and impoverished in past times by the gift of the greatest part of its proper patrimony to the Abbeys, Monasteries and Clergy, and that the necessity for such disposition had ceased.
PERTHSHIRE: ABBEY OF CULROSS.
29. Feu-farm of lands of Easter Grange and pendicles thereof called Devoly, set
in feu to Adam Maistertoun . . . . £11 0 0
capons 16
wedder sheep 1
50. Feu-duty of lands of Bad, set in feu to Alexander Maistertoun:.... £5 6 8
poultry, 16
kids, 2 (or 6/8 apiece)
augmentation £1 6 8
51. Feu-duty of great and small coal in the bounds of lands of Bad, set in feu to Ronald Maistertoun, fiar of Bad: ....£6 13 4