Ebenezer Braidwood Masterton (1868-1941)
Gentleman Farmer
Ebenezer Braidwood Masterton was a brother of Helen Masterton, and therefore an uncle of John Buchan, Lord Tweedsmuir. He and his two brothers owned substantial acreage in the Scottish Borders, and were stalwarts of the local county.
Genealogy
Ebenezer Braidwood Masterton was the seventh child born to John Masterton, farmer, and Anna Watson, who had married in Skirling, Peebles, Scotland in 1852. Ebenezer married Margaret Tudhope in 1914 in Broughton. Ebenezer belongs to the group of Mastertons from the Broughton and Biggar area. Fuller details of his extended family, including the links to the Buchan family through Ebenezer's elder sister, Helen, can be found at this link.
MASTERTON-TUDHOPE.-At Broughton Place, Broughton, Peebleshire, on the 3rd inst., by the Rev. John Tudhope Burton, Partick, EBEN. BRAIDWOOD MASTERTON, J.P., farmer, to MARGARET S. STEEL, eldest daughter of JOHN TUDHOPE, J.P. At home, Burnetland, Broughton, 10th and 11th September.
The Scotsman
4th July, 1914
MONDAY, 9th Nov., at 11 A.M.- LARGE WEEKLY SPUPLIES of FAT STOCK, including-
12 CROSS HIGHLAND BULLOCKS of the best quality and finish, from Mr Lawrie, of Skirling Mains.
20 CROSS LAMBS, 1 LEICESTER SHEARLING RAM.
MONDAY, 16th November.-In addition to USUAL WEEKLY SALE, the Messrs Masterton will Show their annual special consignment of:-
13 VERY PRIME CROSS HIGHLAND BULLOCKS and 200 PRIME FAT H.B. HOGGETS.
The Scotsman
7th November, 1914
WAGES IN BIGGAR DISTRICT.-A meeting between representatives of the branches of the National Farmers' Union and the Scottish Farm Servants' Union in the district covered by the Biggar hiring fair was held at Biggar on Monday for the purpose of considering the wages for the coming term. Mr E. Masterton, Burnetland, was chairman. It was agreed to recommend to farmers and workmen that re-engagements should be made at an increase of 6s. per week on the rates at present ruling for married ploughmen. It was also agreed, as a war-time recommendation, that when men were asked to work overtime this should be duly recognised.
The Scotsman
6th February, 1918
Messrs Masterton, Broughton, Peeblesshire, have purchased from the trustees of the Earl of Wemyss the pastoral farm of Fruid, in the parish of Tweedsmuir: also the lands of Crook and Nether Oliver. Fruid carries three hirsels of good Cheviot and blackfaced ewes, and is at present tenanted by the trustees of the late Mr Robert R. Haddow, Castle Crawford.
The Scotsman
4th October, 1918
MONDAY, 15th Nov., at 11.45 - In addition to the WEEKLY SUPPLIES of FAT and STORE STOCK, the Messrs MASTERTON, Barnflat, will expose:-
27 WEST HIGHLAND BULLOCKS and 150 OXFORD CROSS and H.B. HOGGETS, all of the choicest quality.
The Scotsman
10th November, 1920
TWEEDSMUIR.-The new hall at Tweedsmuir was opened on Wednesday by Mr M.G. Thorburn, Lord-Lieutenant of Peeblesshire. Sir Wm. Milligan of Polmood, who has enthusiastically supported the project for the erection of a new hall, presided, and there was a large gathering. THe building stands by the main road on a site gifted by Messrs Masterton. Mrs E.B. Masterton opened the gate giving access to the ground, and thereafter within the hall a sale was held which, with subscriptions, &c., realised over £200. The sale was opened by Mrs Murray Philipson of Glenbreck.
The Scotsman
4th September, 1926
MONDAY, 14th Nov., at 11.15 - THE WEEKLY SALE will include:-
38 VERY CHOICE BLUE-GREY BULLOCKS of "Top" Quality, from the Messrs Masterton. These will be sold at 12.30. Also the USUAL SUPPLIES of PRIME FAT SHEEP, PIGS, CALVES &c.
BIGGAR AUCTION MARKET CO., LTD.
The Scotsman
11th November, 1927
MASTERTON.-At Broughton Place, Broughton, Peebleshire, on 2nd July, MARGARET STEEL TUDHOPE, dearly loved wife of E.B. MASTERTON, Burnetland, and eldest daughter of the late John Tudhope. Funeral on Saturday, 5th, at 2 P.M., from Broughton Place to Broughton Churchyard. All friends respectfully invited.
The Scotsman
5th July, 1930
BIGGAR.-The BIGGAR AUCTION CO. had 72 fat cattle, 573 fat sheep, 3 fat pigs, and 9 calves. Cattle, which were nearly all blue-greys and consigned by the Messrs Masterton, were as a lot, one of the finest displays ever shown here. There was a good attendance, and all met a very steady trade at the full currencies of recent weeks. Sheep also made satisfactory prices, with a want of good shopping quality. Pigs were dearer. Calves also made good prices. A proportion of Messrs Masterton's bullocks made £30 to £35, 7s. 6d.; others, £24 to £29, 5s.; cows, £14, 7s. 6d.; heifers to £21, 15s.; Down hoggets, 43s. to 57s.; half-breds, 57s.; Leicester cross, 41s. to 56s. 6d.; Cheviots, 36s.; blackfaced, 23s. to 38s. 6d.; heavy ewes, 43s.; Cheviots, 28s. 6d. to 48s.; blackfaced, 39s. 3d.; fat pigs. £7, 16s.; calves, 15s. to 39s.
The Scotsman
11th November, 1930
It is understood that the lands and farm of Kilbucho Place and the lands and farm of Calzeat, in the parish of Broughton and county of Peebles, have recently been purchased by the Messrs John, James, and E.B. Masterton, who are well-known farmers in Tweeddale.
The lands extend to over 600 acres, and the purchase includes the historic house of Kilbucho Place, which was, until the beginning of the 19th century, the residence of the Dicksons of Kilbucho. Part of the house dates back to the 17th century, and there is a tradition that after the '45 it was visited by John Murray of Broughton, Prince Charlie's secretary. He was in hiding and called, disguised as a drover, to leave a message with his aunts, the Misses Dickson. His visit aroused the suspicions of a servant maid, who warned the dragoons who were stationed at Broughton, in the vicinity of Murray's own house, with the result that he was captured that night at Polmood.
The Scotsman
6th October, 1933
Messrs James Howie and Sons, Muirside, Dumfries, received £52 from Mr Hogg, Newlands, Gifford, for a ram sired by their Inverness Highland champion, Sandyknowe Evergreen. Their average for seven sheep was £26, 5s. 8d. In the Bogardo lot (Mr James Findlay's), the leading prices were £38 and £36 for rams by Castle, Victory, which were bought by Mr Thomson, Lambden, and Mr Stewart, Struthers, respectively.
Trade then slackened a bit. Mr James C. Moyes, Renmure, had a top price of £25 and the best figure for a Masterton sire was £30, paid by Mr Hogg, Penmanshiel.
The Scotsman
15th September, 1934
Tributes at Annual Supper
THE SHEPHERD'S HOURS
The annual supper of the Peeblesshire Shepherd's Society was held in the Tontine Hotel, Peebles, Mr W.D. Jackson, Stobo, presiding over an attandance of 160.
Mr E.B. Masterton, Burnetland, paid a tribute to Peeblesshire herds when he proposed the toast of the evening, "The Peeblesshire Shepherds." He said that shepherds were better off to-day than they were when he herded 30 years ago, but he was sure that all would agree that they deserved their improved conditions, for there was no better class of men. It had been said that every shepherd should be a poet, in many cases at least that was so. They had just been celebrating the centenary of one of the greatest of all herds - James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd. But apart from Hogg, or from Allan Ramsay, they had their own shepherd poets, and none was more eagerly read than that sweet singer on Stanhope, Mr John Dickson. They were proud to have men like Mr Dickson on Tweedside.
The Scotsman
16th December, 1935
"Yard-Stick" of New Laws
AFTER-SUPPER SPEECHES
DESPITE the stormy weather there was a large attendance at the annual supper of the Peeblesshire Shepherd's Society, held in the Tontine Hotel, Peebles. The Master of Polwarth, one of the speakers, was, however, unable to make the journey from Hawick owing to the bad state of the roads. Mr Eben. B. Masterton, of Burnetland, occupied the chair.
The Scotsman
13th December, 1937
Pair of Bullocks, any age - 1, Messrs Robb Bros., £35 and £38 10s; 2, Messrs Masterton, £25 15s and £25 2s 6d.
Pair of Bullocks, showing not more than 2 broad teeth - 1, Messrs Masterton, £28 10s and £26 15s; 2, Messrs Robb, £26 15s and £30.
Pair of Bullocks or Heifers other than the foregoing - 1, Messrs Masterton, £35 15s and £30 10s; 2 John Watson, Muirburn ....
The Scotsman
17th December, 1937
The death occurred at his home at Burnetland, Broughton, yesterday, of Mr E.B. Masterton, one of Peeblesshire's foremost agriculturists and an uncle of the late Lord Tweedsmuir. Mr Masterton was senior partner in the firm of E.B. Masterton & Sons, who farm extensively in upper Tweeddale and who are well known in the sheep and cattle trade. He had a fine record of public service in his native county. For many years he was a member of Peebles County Council and of the Education Committee, while he also took a leading part in parochial affairs. Mr Masterton was a keen Liberal in his politics, and had a long association with the Broughton U.F. Church. He was 72 years of age.
The Scotsman
17th January, 1941
MASTERTON.-At Burnetland, BROUGHTON, Peebleshire, on 16th January 1941, EBENEZER BRAIDWOOD, youngest son of the late JOHN MASTERTON, Broughton Green. Funeral at Broughton Churchyard on Saturday, 18th January, at 3 p.m. (No flowers)
The Scotsman
17th January, 1941