David Masterton (fl 1496-1520)
Monk of Culross
There are four references to David Mastertons in early records of legal transactions connected with religious establishments. This circumstantial connection suggests that it may possibly be the same man. In 1496, David Masterton unsuccessfully challenges the benefice of chanter of Caithness Abbey, and in 1506, David Masterton appears in a charter in connection with a transfer of lands of Balgonquhare in Sawling (the modern name is Balgonar, in the parish of Saline in Fife) that were once owned by John Liston, then by St Salvatore's College in St Andrews, feued to Culross Abbey. David Masterton appears to have authorised the resignation of feu ownership to the Earl of Argyll. David was the "sindicus" (or advocate) representing Culross Monastery. Whether he was acting as a professional legal representative, or was permanently attached to the monastery as its in-house legal expert, will need further research to establish. In 1511, David Masterton is a witness as one of the members of convent of Culross Abbey, and is mentioned as a monk of Culross in a papal supplication in 1520.
Genealogy
This reference is too early in the records to be confident of David's place in the early trees. He is not mentioned in the published Masterton genealogies of Douglas, Stodart or Paton.
.Acts of the Lords of Council in Civil Causes
1496-1501
Fol. 35b. 19th July 1496. Chanter of Caithness, Masterton, Barratry, Claimant to benefice put to silence.
Anent the accione and cawse persewit be Maister James Auchinlec, chantore of Cathnes, that quhare he was promovit to the sade chantory be umquhile our soverane Lordis fader, quham God Assolze, be the richt and privilege of his croune, the seig of Cathnes than vacand, and has broikit the sammyn be our sade soverane Lordis fader gyft be the space of xvij yeris bigane, nevertheless ane callit Maister David Maistertoune has now of lait be synister informatioun rasit ane citacione apone the sade Maister James to the court of Rome with executorialis and sequestracione upone his froitis direct to Maister Adam of Gordone, Dene of Cathnes and vicar generale of the sammyn, and be that wise as ane baratour tendis to vex the sade Maister James in his sade benefice as was allegiit, like as is at mare lenth contenit in the summondis hereapone: Baith the saidis partiis being personaly present, thair richtis, ressons and allegacions being herd, sene and understandin, togiddir with the sade Maister James presentacione, collacione, ordinacione and institutione of the sade chantory schawin and producit before the sadis Lordis, the sade Maister David grantit of his ane fre will that he had nocht cawsit nor procurit to mak na sequestracione of the froitis of the sade chantory, and gif he had causit or procurit ony he refusit and renuncit the sammyn, and that he suld nocht cawse nor ger mak na execucione of na executorialis, sequestracione nor process rasit and impetrat be him of the sade chantory apone the sade Master James, and therfore the saidis Lordis puttis cylence to the sade Maister David and his procuratouris in this mater quhil his richt be schawin, chargeing him and thame in our soverane Lordis name that he nor thai suld do na attempt to do ony thing in contrar our sade soverane Lordis privilege of his croune grantit to him, the seig vacand, and efter the forme and tenore of the actis and statutis of Parliament made thareuppone, that is to say, bannising rebellione and proscriptione furth of the realme and never to broik benefice in the sammyn in tyme tocum; because that thai understand that the sade Maister James was in possessione of his sade benefice be vertew of his sade presentacione, collacione and institucione, the seige vacand as sade is, thir xvij yeris bigane, and that the sade Maister David suld decist and ceise fra ony vexacione or inquietacione of the sade Maister James in the broiking and joising of the froitis of the sade chantory as is abonewrittin in al tyme tocum under the panys contenit in the saidis actis of Parliament and efter the forme and tenore of the sammyn; and in the mentyme contenewis the principale summondis rasit be the sade Maister James apone the sade Maister David to the xxix day of July now instant with continuacione of dayis in the sammyn forme and effect as it is now without prejudice of ony party; and ordanis that letteris be writin hereupone and the partiis ar summond be thair selff apud acta."
Acts of the Lords of Council in Civil Causes
Volume II: 1496-1501
George Neilson & Henry Paton
House of Commons, London, 1918
p. 36-37
Register of the Great Seal of Scotland
1424-1513
2971. Apud Edinburgh, 20 June, 1506.
REX confirmavit cartam M. Hugonis Spens propositi ecclesie collegiate S. Salvatoris infra civitatem S. Andree, M. Thome Ramsay rectoris de Kenbak et M. Johannis Burell rectoris de Dunnennoche, canonicorum ejusdem, — [qua, cum consensu capituli, et presertim M. Rob. Burne et Joh. Wardlaw capellanorum in dicto collegio fundatorum de terris suis de Balgonquhare, et in augmentum rentalis eorundem capellanorum, — concesserunt et ad feodifirmam dimiserunt ARCHIBALDO COMITI DE ERGILE, dom. Campbele et Lorne, heredibus ejus et assignatis, — pro ejus auxiliis, &c., — terras de Balgonquhare, in baronia seu dominio de Sawling, vic. Fiffe; — quas M. Joh. Listoun quondam prepositus, et ejus canonici, cum consensu supradicto, ad feodifirmam dimiserant And. Masoun abbati monasterii de Culross et conventui ejusdem; et quas dicti abbas et conventus per D. David Maistertoun suum sindicum resignaverunt: — REDDEND. annuatim dictis capellanis et eorum successoribus 40 mercas quas dicte terre prius persolvebant; necnon 11 merc. additas, quequidem summa in integro se extendit ad 51 merc., nomine feodifirme; necnon in quolibet introitu sive ingressu heredum vel assignatorum 5 merc. dicto preposito persolvendas : — TEST. Michaele Narn vicario de Forgunt facultatis artium decano, Tho. Ker rectore de Yethame, Geo. Ker vicario de Langtoun, Joh. Doby archidiacono Dunblanensi, artium magistris, Jac. Gray rectore de Rannoch, et David Clerk, capellanis; — cum subscriptionibus dict. Hugonis, &c., manualibus : — Apud S. Andream, 1 Maii 1506]:— TEST. ut in carta 2973. xiv. 239.
The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland
James Balfour Paul (ed)
AD 1424-1513
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1882
Papers of the Erskine Family, Earls of Mar and Kellie
Ecclesiastical Papers
6 April 1511.
Bond (in Scots) by Mr James Stewart, postulate of Culross, and convent of same, to George Creichtoune [Crichton] of Brethirtoune [Brotherton] for £100 Scots in recompense for £100 delivered by said George to Mr Patrick Pantar [Pantair], King's secretary, for bringing home the bull of provision of abbacy of Culross to said Mr James.
Signatures of postulate and 19 members of convent, eg, John Cristisoun [Christison], William Andersoun [Anderson], Robert Fogo [Foggo], Andrew Cristall [Chrystal], John Hwntar [Hunter], Alexander Hog [Hogg], David Masterton, Henry Armstrang [Armstrong], John Punt, John Ewynsoun [Eunson], Andrew Pringill [Pringle], David Trumbull [Turnbull], John Yowng [Young], Thomas Baxter, William Roger [Rodger], Andrew Moncur, Michael Donaldsoun [Donaldson], William Hall, Alexander Haulkarstoun [Haxton].
Papers of the Erskine Family, Earls of Mar and Kellie
Ecclesiastical Papers
1382-1869
National Archives of Scotland
GD124/9/6
Bond, 6 April 1511.
Papers of the Earls of Morton
1250-1940
2 Nov 1520.
Transumpt by Thomas Nudrie, archdeacon of Moray, prothonotary, and commendator of Culross, of a supplication to the pope by Robert Broun, priest, John, lord Arskyne, Margaret Cambill, his wife, Robert Douglas of Lochlewyne, Robert Bruce of Aryth, Robert Stewart, Gilbert Brady, Thomas Portarfeild, Mr. Edward Roiar, vicar of Saulyng, William Bad, David Masterton and Andrew Pryngill, monks of Colross, and William Thomson, vicar of Tulibody, for various privileges.
Witnesses: Mr. William Lam, parson of Kennell, Mr. Henry Scot, notary, John Nudrie, William Bonare and John Lauson. Notary - Robert Brown, priest of St. Andrews diocese.
Papers of the Earls of Morton
1250-1940
National Archives of Scotland
GD150/1726
Papal Supplication, 2 November, 1520.