John Masterton (1815-1892)
Guernsey Master Mariner
John Masterton, master mariner, born in Montrose but settled in Guernsey, was the first of a long line of Guernsey mariners: his sons James, a master mariner, John, a harbour watchman in the Great War, and Albert, drowned at sea in 1891;
his grandsons John Edward Masterton, who drowned in May 1914 when his vessel, the SS Turret Hill, was lost, and James Frederick Masterton, drowned when the Harberton struck a mine in 1917;
and great grandson Herbert James Masterton.
Genealogy
John Masterton was the eldest child of John Masterton, master butcher, and Helen Carr, who had married in 1815 in Montrose, Angus, Scotland. John married Jane Symes, and then Mary Phillips, in Bridport, Dorset and moved to Guernsey with Mary and two children in 1849 or 1850. John Masterton belongs to the large group of Mastertons that flourished in the Forfar and Montrose area. Fuller details of his extended family can be found at this link.
Guernsey Star
Captain Scott, commander of the Queen of the Isles, steamer, which arrived from Cherbourg this day, reports that the Brig Ann, of Guernsey, Masterton, master, bound from Guernsey, for London, with a cargo of stones, put into Cherbourg on Tuesday, having sprung a leak in the Race of Alderney, and making three feet of water per hour, with sails split and other damage.
Guernsey Star
Guernsey
10th November 1859
Guernsey Constabulary Records
John Masterton charged with assaulting his wife on Tuesday last in a house they partly occupy situated in the Arcade he being let off on giving his consent to be separated.
Guernsey Constabulary Records
Guernsey
Thursday 14th August 1890
Guernsey Star
BRUTAL CONDUCT: John Masterton, late Master Mariner, was charged with having struck his wife, last Monday morning. From the evidence it appeared that the couple, who have been married 45 years, have had a miserable life for many years past, the husband contributing nothing to her maintenance, the wife depending solely on her sons for support. Last Monday the accused went to her house and wanted some letters of his she had in her possession, she refused to give them up; there was a struggle for them, in which she was assisted by a young man named Boucher, during which her husband dealt her a heavy blow on the ear with his open hand. Advocate De Mouilpied defended the prisoner. On Masterton's consenting, an act of separation was drawn up, and the case dismissed.
Guernsey Star
Guernsey
16th August 1890