John Crichton Masterton (1884-1947)
Solicitor
John Crichton Masterton, solicitor, was born in Dollar, Clackmannan, and had a career in public service. He was Depute Town Clerk of St. Monance, Fife in 1936.
Genealogy
John Crichton Masterton was the second son of William Masterton, teacher of arithmetic at Dollar Academy, and his first wife Agnes Crichton. William Masterton was the fifth of eight children (seven of them boys) born to John Masterton, linen weaver, and Janet Bennett White, who had married in 1844 in Largo. John Crichton Masterton therefore belongs to the large group of Mastertons that flourished in the Largo area. He married Margaret Bower Hunter in 1912 in Dunfermline. Fuller details of his extended family can be found at this link.
1, George R Lamb, Forfarshire (Thow Scholar); 2,William Doig Robertson, Perthshire; 3, W. G. More, Mid-Lothian; 4, John M. Murray, Perthshire; 5, Charles W. Tait, Orkney; 6, W. J. Mercer Dunlop, Renfrewshire; 7, Robert F. Steel, Mid-Lothian; 8, William Lowson, M.A., Ireland; 9. John C. Masterton, Clackmannanshire (Prizemen.)
The Scotsman
28th March, 1906
The National Bank of Scotland (Ltd.) intimate that, following on the death of Mr A. C. Mackintosh, senior agent at Anstruther and Pittenweem branches and Cellardyke and St Monance sub-branches, his colleagues, Mr James McAuslin, Mr J. C. Masterton, and Mr H. C. Mackintosh, will continue to act as joint agents.
Mr William Constable, of Edzell sub-branch, has been appointed accountant at Shotts branch in place of Mr R. C. Towers, whose service has been terminated.
The Scotsman
21st November 1935
Request by St Monance
HOUSING NEEDS
AN inquiry into a petition by St Monance Town Council for an extension of burgh boundaries was held by Sheriff Fenton, at Cupar, yesterday. The petitioners proposed to extend the boundary west to St Monance Burn, and to include an area of land at present under the jurisdiction of the Harbour Commissioners consisting of the foreshore and breakwaters. During the hearing of evidence, Mr C. Davidson, solicitor, Cupar, for the Town Council, withdrew the request so far as it related to the foreshore and breakwaters.
Mr R. N. Robertson, solicitor, Cupar, on behalf of Fife County Council, said they were not objecting to the petition.
John Crichton Masterton, Depute Town-Clerk, stated in evidence that the burgh was formed in 1932, and they now proposed to include a further area of about 20 acres. Since the formation of the burgh, 66 new houses had been erected. There were still 124 cases of overcrowding in the burgh. About 70 houses were required to alleviate overcrowding, while 60 new houses were required to replace unfit houses. There were many old and dilapidated houses, and he was of opinion that the sanitary authorities might condemn a further number of houses. While 60 houses would in all likelihood be demolished, he did not think the sites would provide sites for new houses.
The present acreage of the burgh was 63 1/2, and there were 554 houses. The population at the time of the formation of the burgh was 1695, and in 1935 it was about 1685.
In addition to the fishing and boat-building industries, it was hoped to develop the town as a holiday resort.
The Scotsman
30th June, 1936
MASTERTON-At Wester Craigs, ANSTRUTHER, suddenly, on 28th February 1947, JOHN CRICHTON MASTERTON, solicitor, Anstruther, son of the late William Masterton, Dollar. Funeral private.
The Scotsman
3rd March, 1947
The death has occurred at Anstruther of Mr John Crichton Masterton, a partner of the legal firm of Mackintosh & Masterton, and joint manager of the National Bank of Scotland. He qualified as a solicitor in 1906, and joined a Glasgow firm, going to Anstruther nine years later.
The Scotsman
3rd March, 1947
MASTERTON-At Wester Craigs, Anstruther, suddenly on 28th February 1947, John Crichton Masterton (F.P.), Solicitor, Anstruther, son of the late Wm. Masterton, Dollar Academy.
The Dollar Magazine
page 44
Vol. XLVI No. 181 May 1947
ANSTRUTHER SOLICITOR.- The death has occurred at Anstruther of Mr John Crichton Masterton, Solicitor, Partner of the firm of Mackintosh & Masterton and Joint-Manager of Anstruther branch of the National Bank of Scotland. A son of the late Mr William Masterton, Dollar Academy, he was born and educated at Dollar, and received his early law training in Stirling and Edinburgh. He became a solicitor in 1906, and joined the firm of Fyfe MacLean & Co., Solicitors, Glasgow. He went to Anstruther in 1915 and was Treasurer of Cellardyke Parish Church for many years. Mr Masterton is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.
The Dollar Magazine
page 47
Vol. XLVI No. 181 May 1947