Charles Masterton (1679-1750)

Minister of the Presbyterian General Synod of Ulster

Some Mastertons have achieved distinction in their chosen careers. One such is the cleric Charles Mastertown who wrote and printed his name thus, but in synodical records the name appears as 'Masterton'. He is the only Masterton to have an entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.

Genealogy

The information given in the article on Charles Mastertown in the Dictionary of National Biography (see below) gives sufficient clues to identify Charles as the Charles recorded in the Old Parish Records (OPR) for Linlithgow christened on 27 March 1679, son of Alexander Masterton, provost of Linlithgow and Elizabeth Heart. There is a marriage record for an Alexander Masterton (no spouse named) in Linlithgow in 1663. It seems very likely that this is the same Alexander. Alexander Masterton and Elizabeth Heart have eight children recorded in the OPR:

Janet (chr 28 January 1666)
Elizabeth (chr 15 December 1667)
Thomas (chr 19 March 1670)
Robert (chr 23 December 1671)
unnamed (recorded 23 December 1671)
Alexander (chr 18 october 1673)
Alexander (chr 1 March 1676)
Charles (chr 27 March 1679 - d. 15 July 1750)

Charles' brother Alexander was boatswain on the Company of Scotland's ship "Caledonia" and died abroad. A fuller version of the genealogy for Charles' extended family can be found by clicking on his name.

His great-grandson, the Rev. Hope Masterton Waddell, born in Ulster in 1804, was ordained into the United Secession Church in 1829 and set off at once for Jamaica. He later became a notable Calvinist missionary in the early establishment of Nigeria. He wrote Twenty Nine Years in the West Indies and Central Africa. London, 1863.

Analecta:

Robert Wodrow

Aprile, 1724. - Our Synod met at Air, where we had a very thin meeting, and a neu proof of the necessity of a separation of the Synod of Air from the Synod of Glasgow....

Mr Munro, from Craigfergus [Carrickfergus], informs me, that the present state of Belfast is melancholy enough, and of the Dissenters in the North of Ireland. Mr Hallyday has lately published his Reasons against Subscription, and there is an Answer to it in readiness by Mrs McBrid and Hemphill. Mr Abernethy [of Antrim, afterwards of Dublin, author of Discourses on the Being and Attributes of God, and other works.] is likewise publishing somewhat against Confessions, and so the flame is rising higher and higher, particularly in Belfast. Toward the end of February, Mr Mastertoun had the Sacrament of the Supper in the third Congregation there. The Sabbath before the celebration of it, Mr Halliday and Mr Kirkpatrick intimate to their people that the Sacrament was to be celebrat in that place, and desired such as inclined to communicat to joyn with them, and two or three dayes before they wrote to Mr Mastertoun, signifying that they designed to communicat with him, and wished him much of the Lord's presence. Mr Mastertoun soon sau the designe. His people had generally withdrauen from them, because they had declared against Confessions, and subscribing them, and from suspicions of their unsoundnes in doctrine, and would not communicat with them. Mr Mastertoun communicat the letter to his helpers, who advised him to write a discreet answer to it, and signifying the difficultys that some of his people had, and to communicat the letter with his Session, and take their advice. When the Session mett, they wer all unanimously against their coming, and declared they would not consent to their admission. Mr Mastertoun moderat the matter as much as might be, and wrote to this purpose : That for his oun share, he had no difficultys to communicat with them, or to this purpose, (but much will depend on the manner of his expressing himself,) but he could not but acquaint them that many in his Congregation wer stumbled at their practise, and would have diffcultys to communicat, if they came. Hou far this should determine them to absent themsleves, he left to themselves, but he judged it proper to acquaint them hou matters stood, and left it to themselves to act as they found cause. The two Ministers, upon receipt of this, did not think proper to come and communicat, having thus gained, what it may be, they sought; but intimat sermon on the thanksgiving day by the other Congregation, and read Mr Mastertoun's letter from the pulpit, with large commentarys of their oun, and no doubt, many severe consequences they dreu from it. And so the flame is grouing very much in that place.

Analecta: or Materials for a History of Remarkable Providences; mostly related to Scotch Ministers and Christians.
The Rev. Robert Wodrow.
Minister of the Gospel at Eastwood.
Volume Third; p 151.
Printed for the Maitland Club. 1843.

Christian liberty, founded in gospel truth.

C. Mastertoun M.A.

John viii. 32
And he shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.

These words are a part of the Conference which our Saviour had with the Jews, especially these of them who to their own advantage had been impress'd with the gracious Words, which proceeded out of his Mouth. Verse 30 of this chapter, As he spake these words, many believed on him. Not by their own natural ability, but by Christ's efficacious grace. He that spake to the ear, caused his word to reach the heart; Christ himself that planted and watered, gave also the increase, he took particular care of these new converts, he would not neglect the bruised reed, nor the smoking flax. He carrys the lambs in his bosom, and leads them gently that are with young. These plants of his right hand's planting, he takes care to water with seasonable counsel and warning, he appriseth them of the danger of Apostasy, he sets before them the character of a sincere disciple and follower of himself, he is one that is constant in his just regard to the word and doctrine of Jesus Christ, to such he makes promise, that by the powerful teaching of his own spirit, they shall know the truths of the gospel, and thereby shall be possessed of a glorious liberty peculiar to the children of god. (First page of 44 page sermon).

Christian liberty, founded in gospel truth; or the great argument of Christian liberty explained in its necessary connection with sound principles, in opposition to some dangerous notions relating to both.
Sermon upon John viii. 32.
C Mastertoun M.A. Edinburgh.
Reprinted by Robert Brown and are to be sold by Mr Andrew Martin in the Parliament-Closs, and other Book-sellers. 1727.
Preface by John Williamson, Edinburgh May 17, 1727. pp 44.

Belfast Newsletter

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND.
RETIRING MODERATOR'S ADDRESS.

The retiring MODERATOR then addressed the Assembly, and said - Fathers and brethren, the time has at last arrived when it becomes my duty to place in your hands my resignation of the high and honourable office which, twelve months ago, you were pleased to confer upon me. While memory keeps her seat I cannot fail to regard it as a distinguished honour that I was appointed to preside at your annual meeting, and to fill a chair that was once occupied by such men as Patrick Adair, and John McBride, Abernethy, Kirkpatrick, Masterton, and Campbell, not to speak of the still greater and better known men of the present century....

The Belfast Newsletter
Tuesday, 3rd June 1879

Editor: The retiring Moderator was the Rev. Professor Witherow.

Dictionary of National Biography

Vol. XIII, 1909.

MASTERTOWN, CHARLES (1679-1750), presbyterian divine, born in Scotland, probably in Linlithgowshire, on 23 March 1679, was educated at Edinburgh University, where he graduated M.A. as 'Carolus Masterton' on 28 June 1697, the same day as Ebenezer Erskine [q.v.] On 1 June 1703 he presented himself to the general synod of Ulster at Antrim, with his license from Linlithgow presbytery, and was 'allow'd to preach within the bounds' of the synod. Accepting a call from the congregation of Connor, co. Antrim he was ordained there by Antrim presbytery on 17 May 1704. For nearly nineteen years he ministered at Connor with increasing repute as an able preacher and sound divine. It is remarkable that in 1718 he headed a protest against the general synod's resolution removing John Abernethy (1680-1740) [q.v.], the non-subscribing leader, to Dublin, a resolution which Abernethy disobeyed.

The irregular installation of Samuel Haliday [q.v.] at First Belfast in 1720, alienated several members of both presbyterian congregations in that town. On 4 July 1721 a subscription for building a third meeting-house was begun, and by help from Scotland (two pews in the gallery were set apart for 'Scottish strangers') the new structure, on the next plot of ground to the two others [see MACBRIDE, JOHN], was completed in 1722. Mastertown was called to the pastorate in October 1722, and installed at Third Belfast on 20 Feb.1723 by Belfast presbytery. His successor at Connor was not ordained till 18 March 1724, the congregation insisting that Mastertown, and not a non-subscriber, should preside. On 18 June 1723 he was elected moderator of the general synod at Dungannon. His position was a difficult one. The non-subscription controversy was now in active progress. His immediate neighbours, Haliday and James Kirkpatrick [q.v.], had unwisely used every effort to restrain the flow of Scottish aid to the new congregation. Yet they announced their intention of presenting themselves at his communion on 30 Feb. 1724. The proposal was treated by Mastertown's session as an 'attempt to disturb,' and this was resented by Haliday and Kirkpatrick as a formal exclusion. The general synod's action removed the first and second congregations in 1725 into another presbytery (Antrim), and that presbytery was excluded from the synod's jurisdiction in 1726. The two ministers thus excluded 'convened the whole town' causing 'a dreadful ferment.' Mastertown pursued his course calmly and with firmness, and built up a congregation which for over a hundred years stood alone in Belfast as the representative of orthodoxy in connection with the general synod. He attended the general synod in 1745, but by next year was incapacitated from preaching. William Laird was appointed his assistant and successor on 16 Sept. 1747. Mastertown died on 15 July 1750. His only child, Susan, married John Poaug in 1725; her descendants are numerous and influential. Mastertown wrote and printed his name thus; in the synodical records it appears as 'Masterton,' a form adopted by Reid and Killen.

His polemical publications show great ability. His brief catechetical treatise on the doctrine of the Trinity originated in lectures at Connor, repeated at Belfast, and presents the pith of much reading and thought in a form remarkably lucid and compact. On vexed points he usually follows Edmund Calamy, D.D. [q.v.]; he chiefly controverts Samuel Clarke (1675-1729) [q.v.]; but the treatise is more expository than polemic, and has hardly been excelled in its own line.

Mastertown published:

'An Apology for the Northern Presbyterians in Ireland...requiring Subscription to the Westminster Confession...in Answer to the Seasonable Advice [by Abernethy],' &c., Glasgow, 1723, 4to (preface by Samuel Hemphill [q.v.]).
'Christian Liberty founded on Gospel Truth,' &c., Belfast, 1725, 12mo (against Abernethy; reprinted 1753 with No. 6).
'A Short Reply to the Postscript to Mr. Abernethy's Defence...by the three Dublin Ministers,' &c., Dublin, 1726, 8vo (against Nathaniel Weld, Joseph Boyse [q.v.], and Richard Choppin).
'The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity explained and asserted from the Holy Scriptures,' &c., Belfast [November, 1728], 12mo (for date, cf. REID, p. 220); reprinted, Edinburgh, 1729; 4th edit. London, 1734 (preface and Greek notes by Abraham Taylor, D.D., of Deptford); another 4th edit. Belfast, 1745, 12mo; Northampton, 1776 (preface by John Ryland); London, 1827, 12mo (with 'The Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity,' by William Jones, of Nayland [q.v.]); Edinburgh, 1880, 16mo (with 'Memoir' by Mastertown's great-grandson, the Rev. Hope Masterton Waddell of Dublin).
'The great importance of the Scripture Doctrine of the ever-blessed Trinity, &c., Belfast, 1745, 8vo.

[Waddell's Memoir, 1880; Cat. of Edinburgh Graduates, 1858, p. 158; Reid's Hist. Presb. Church in Ireland (Killen), 1867, iii. 158 sq.; Benn's Hist. of Belfast, 1877, i, 410 sq.; Witherow's Hist. and Lit. Memorials of Presbyterianism in Ireland, 1879, i, 256 sq.; Killen's Hist. Congr. Presb. Church in Ireland, 1886, pp. 86, 100; Ramsey's Early Hist. of Belfast, 1889, p. 33; Records of General Synod of Ulster, 1890, i, 71,82,471; Anderson's Early Belfast Printed Books, 1890.]

A.G.

Dictionary of National Biography
edited by Sidney Lee
Vol. XIII.
MASQUERIER -MYLES
Smith, Elder & Co., London. 1909
pages 26-27

ODNB Article for subscribers and UK Library members only.