The Baronage of Scotland
Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, 1798
MASTERTON of that Ilk, PARKMILL etc.
NOTE ON CONTENTS PAGE: According to the manuscript of the late Mr. James Cuming, L.A.C. dated 1st July 1778, the names to which the mark * is prefixed, have warrants for Arms; as those with this mark + have warrants for Arms and Supporters.
Masterton of that Ilk, Parkmill, etc. has the prefix *
This is a local sirname, like many others of great antiquity in Scotland. The traditional account of their origin is, that one of the chief architects at the building of the abbacy of Dunfermline, obtained from King Malcolm Canmore, the lands of Masterton in Fifeshire, from which he and his posterity assumed their sirname.
They were long designed Mastertons of that ilk, and their armorial bearing was,
argent, a chevron gules, and on a chief of the second one crescent of the first.
WILLIAM DE MASTERTON; de eodem, with many of his brave countrymen, was compelled to submit to King Edward I, of England, when he over-run Scotland anno 1296.1
Of this William was lineally descended another
I. WILLIAM MASTERTON of that ilk, who, in the reign of King James I made a donation to the abbacy of Dunfermline out of his lands of Masterton, pro salute animae suae, etc, dated in the year 1422.2 He died in the end of the reign of King James II and left a son,
II. ALEXANDER MASTERTON of that ilk, who succeeded him, and is documented by a charter under the great seal hereafter narrated. He was father of
III. JOHN MASTERTON, who got a charter under the great seal, from King James V. Johanni Masterton filio et heredi Alexandri Masterton et Grisillidae Mure sponsae dicti Johannis, etc of the Mains of Bothkennar in Stirlingshire, dated anno 1528.3 By the said Grisel Mure he had a son and heir,
IV. ALEXANDER MASTERTON, who, though designed by the title of Bad, was undoubted heir-male of the Mastertons of that ilk, which appears by a notorial extract of the above donation to the abbacy of Dunfermline 1422, by William Masterton of that ilk, his great-grandfather in 1544. Also by his having the same armorial bearing with the Mastertons of that ilk, as above mentioned, which he and his posterity continued to carry, till Francis Masterton of Parkmill matriculated them a-new anno 1673, as blazoned at the end of those memoirs.
This Alexander, with Janet Couston his spouse, were infeft in the lands of Bad in Perthshire, 17th April 1544.4
They also got a charter of the lands of Parkmill in Clackmannanshire, (then called Millerwood and Crumlabank) from John, lord Erskine the Superior, dated 17th May 1547.4 And Parkmill hath since been one of the chief titles of this family.
By the said Janet Couston he had a son,
Ronald, his heir, - and a daughter,
Margaret, married to Mr James Primrose. She was nurse to Henry, prince of Scotland, eldest son of king James VI, and, having faithfully performed her duty, had a handsome pension settled on her and her said husband during their lives.5
He was succeeded by his son,
V. RONALD MASTERTON of Parkmill, who got a charter of the lands of Parkmill, from John earl of Mar the superior, dated 7th October 1570.6
He married Marjory, daughter of Robert Bruce of Lintmill, Esq., a younger son of Sir David Bruce of Clackmannan, by whom he had several children.6 His eldest son,
VI. ROBERT MASTERTON of Parkmill, succeeded him, and upon his father's resignation, got a charter from the earl of Mar, of the lands of Parkmill, dated 15th December 1599.6
He married Agnes, daughter of John Douglas of Renniestoun in Fife, with whom he got 2000 merks of tocher.6 By her he had a son and successor,
VII. JOHN MASTERTON of Parkmill, who was appointed sheriff-depute of Clackmannanshire, and had a charter from the earl of Mar of the said lands of Parkmill, dated anno 1632.6
He married Mary, daughter of Mr. William Lindsay, by whom he had a son,
VIII. FRANCIS MASTERTON of Parkmill, who succeeded him. He was also sheriff depute of Clackmannanshire, and ensign of the castle of Stirling. He married Christian, daughter of John Keirie of Gogar, by Christian Craigingelt his wife; and by her he had several children.
- Charles, his heir.
- John, a merchant in Edinburgh, who was married and had issue, colonel James Masterton, now member of Parliament for the burghs of Stirling etc. etc.
- Francis. &
- Henry, both surgeons in Edinburgh.
- David, a physician in England.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
IX. CHARLES MASTERTON of Parkmill and Gogar, who married Mary, daughter of John Keirie of Gogar and Katharine Wright, and by her had three sons and one daughter.
The first two sons died young.
3. Francis, his heir.
His daughter Katharine, was married to James Christie, writer in Stirling.
He was succeeded by his only surviving son
X. FRANCIS MASTERTON, now of Parkmill and Gogar, who married Margaret, daughter of James Graeme esq. of Braco, and Katharine Stirling, by whom he had two sons and two daughters.
1. Charles, his apparent heir.
2. James.
1st daughter Katherine
2nd Mary.
Argent, a cheveron gules, and a chief azure.
CREST: a stag current, bearing on his attire an oaken slip fructed, proper.
MOTTO: Per ardua.
CHIEF SEAT: At Gogar in Perthshire.
1 Prynne, Vol III. p. 656.
2 Chartulary of Dunfermline.
3 Chart. in pub.archiv.
4 Writs of the family.
5 Records of the privy seal in the chancery.
6 Chart. in the archiv. of the family.
The Baronage of Scotland
Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie
Edinburgh, 1798
Vol I p 320