Andrew Masterton (fl 1614-1622)
Sailor and Smuggler in Kirkcaldy
Andrew Masterton appears regularly in the early records accused and convicted of illegally exporting malt and importing English beer. The rewards must have been attractive enough to outweigh the hefty fines, because he was a serial offender.
Genealogy
Andrew Masterton was married to Margaret French and is the earliest ancestor so far identified of a group of Mastertons in and around Kirkcaldy, mostly seafarers. Further details of Andrew Masterton's extended family may be found at this link.
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
First Series, Vol X, 1613-16.
24 February 1614, Edinburgh
This day appeared Johnne Cosine, David Balfour, Andro Maistertoun, William Coilyear, and Thomas Cary, burgesses of Kirkcaldie, to the charge of having sold English beer dearer than £6 the bun. They admitted the contravention of the acts and proclamations anent the sale of English beer, and were fined each 20 merks.
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
edited and abridged by David Masson, LLD
First Series, Vol X 1613-16, p786
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1891
16 July 1616, Edinburgh
The King's Advocate against the following persons for illegal export of victual since December last:- Andro Maistertoun in Kirkcaldy, for having on 13th January last shipped 10 chalders of ....from Eyemouth, and on 23rd March last 11 chalders of bere from the same place; David Wyse in Kirkcaldy, for having on 22nd April last shipped 40 bolls of malt from Bruntiland, and on 30th of same month 30 bolls malt from the same place; Ewstathius Robertsoun in Bruntiland, for having shipped 12 bolls malt at same date and from same place. - Pursuer appearing, and defenders not appearing, the Lords order defenders to be denounced rebels.
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
edited and abridged by David Masson, LLD
First Series, Vol X (1613-16)
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1891
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
First Series, Vol XI, 1616-19.
24 November 1618, Edinburgh
Complaint by the King's Advocate that the following persons have contravened the acts anent the importation and sale of English beer in different months, - viz, David Balfoure in Kirkaldy 76 tuns, William Balfoure in Kirkaldy 36 tuns, James Coilyear in Kirkaldy 21 tuns, Alexander Law in Kirkaldy 27 tuns, Henry Ronnaldsoun in Kirkaldy, 11 tuns, Henry Shankis in Kinghorne 19 tuns, and Andro Maistertoun in Kirkaldy 50 tuns. These persons sold the beer "at ane fer heicher raite and price nor sex pundis the bunne." - Pursuer, amd the said William Balfoure, James Coilyear, Alexander Law, and Henry Ronaldsone........ordered to pay the penalty of £20 for each tun. They excuse the absence of DB and HS...., and they continue the case of David (sic) Maistertoune.
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
edited and abridged by David Masson, LLD
First Series, Vol XI (1616-19), p 472
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1894
Extracts from the Burgh Records of Edinburgh
Volume 7
22 September 1619
[New members of council.]
[Andro Maistertoun of Kirkcaldy, accused of importing and selling English beer, contrary to the statutes of the burgh and proclamation of the Privy Council, and of not entering the same, pleaded guilty and was imprisoned till his case should be considered further.]
Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh
1604-1626
Sir James David Marwick, Marguerite Wood
Scottish Burgh Records Society
Edinburgh, 1931
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
First Series, Vol XII, 1619-22.
6 October 1619, Edinburgh
Complaint by the King's Advocate against Andro Maistertoun, skippair in Kirkcaldy, that, in contravention of the acts and proclamations made against the selling of English "beir" dearer than £6 the "bune", he on 24th May last brought from England to Kirkcaldy "fyve tune of beir", on the 28th June, "thrie tune of beir" on the 30th July "thrie tune of bier" on 12th September last "thrie tune of bier," and sold the same dearer than £6, the "bune", whereby he has incurred the penalty of £20 for every "bune" so sold. - Both pursuer and defender appearing, and the matter referred to the latter's oath of verity, the Lords find him guilty, and decern him to pay the fine of £40 to the Treasurer, and due to find caution not to offend in the like again under the penalty of 500 merks.
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
edited and abridged by David Masson, LLD
First Series, Vol XII (1619-22), p 91
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1895
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
First Series, Vol XIII, 1622-25.
1623, Edinburgh
Commission to the Earl of Linlithgow and others for remedy of the dangerous state of the Water of Forth and its channel above Queensferry.
"Forsamekle as the Lordis of Secreit Counsell ar informid that the Water of Forthe above the Queenes Ferrie is sore spoyled and filled with stones and sand in sindrie pairtis, as namelie at St Margaret's Hope and utheris places up the water, be the strangeris arryving for coale and salt within thhe Firthe, who castis their ballast in the saidis places, and hes so fyled the same that almost their is not sure anchoring for shippis in manie partis of the said water, and, wheras of before the water in these partis was verie deepe, swa that shippis of great burthen might safelie and without daunger anchore nor ryde there: the Lordis of Secreit Counsell being cairfull to be certanelie informed of the treuthe of this mater, to the intent they may accordinglie tak suche course and ordour as may prevent anie farder hurt to the water that way, therfore the saidis Lordis have given and grantit, and be thir presentis gives and grauntis, commissioun to Alexander, Earle of Linlithgow, Sir Walter Dundas of that Ilk, Sir George Bruce of Carnoke, Sir Johne Hammiltoun of the Grange, Johne Erskine of Bagownie, Richard Falconer, elder, in Borrowstoun, Alexander Gib there, David Wilsoun in Queenes Ferrie, George Logie there, James Coilyer in Kirkaldie, Andro Maistertoun there, and Johne Duff, skippar in Leythe, whome the saidis Lordis requeistis and desyres to sight and consider the said Water of Forthe above the Queenes Ferrie and what hurt and harme is done, and where, by casting of the ballast of shippis therein; an for this effect to plumbe the water and soundnes of the ground for anchoring of shippis; and ordaines thame to conveene and meete at the southe syde of the Queenes Ferrie upoun Wednisday nixt, the twentie ane of this instant, and to saill up the ane syde of the water, and to come doun the uther side of the same water, and that they mak a formall report to the saidis Lordis upoun the secund Tuisday of Junij nixtocome of their proceidingis in this mater, and in what estate they find the said water."
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
edited and abridged by David Masson, LLD
First Series, Vol XIII 1622-25, p 225-6
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1896
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
First Series, Vol XIII, 1622-25.
1623, Edinburgh
Charge to the commissioners appointed to examine and report of the state of the Water of Forth above Queensferry to appear and make their report on the 17th of the present month.
Alexander, Earl of Lynlythgow, Sir Walter Dundas of that Ilk, Sir George Bruce of Carnok, Sir Johnne Hamilton of Grange, Johnne Erskine of Balgownie, Richard Falconner, elder, and Alexander Gib in Borroustounes, David Wilsoun and George Logie in Quenisferrie, James Colyear in Kirkaldy, Andro Maistertoun there, and Johnne Duff in Leythe, having been commissioned to examine the Water of Forthe above the Quenisferrye, and to ascertain "quhat hurte and harme is done, and quhair, by casting of the ballast of shippis in the said Watter" (ante, p. 225), and having been ordained to report on the subject on the 10th of this month, but not having done so, the Lords, "quhairas this is a mater to be speciallie advertit and looked unto, that the Firthe be not spoylled by casting of ballast thairin," now order the said commissioners to be charged, under pain of rebellion, to appear personally on the 17th instant, and "mak a reporte of thair procedingis in the mater forsaid."
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
edited and abridged by David Masson, LLD
First Series, Vol XIII 1622-25, p 254
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1896