John Masterton (1855-1932)
Printer, Tasmania
John Masterton, born in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia, made his career as a newspaper printer in Hobart, Tasmania, and was an all-round sportsman.
Genealogy
John Masterton was the fourth of eleven children born to James Alexander Masterton (not Harry Masterton referred to in the Kilmore Free Press newspaper article), and Janet Park, who had married in 1847 in Alva, Clackmannanshire and emigrated to Australia in 1852 on the "Ticonderoga", famous as a fever ship. John Masterton belongs to the large group of Mastertons that originated in the Culross area. Fuller details of his extended family can be found at this link.
The Advocate, Tasmania
HOBART, Tuesday.-Mr. John Masterton (78) died at his son's residence, New Town, to-day. He was a former printer, and for many years worked for the "Evening News" at Hobart. From that paper he went to the "Daily Telegraph" at Launceston, and subsequently returned to Hobart, and was at the head of the staff of compositors at the "Daily Post." All the newspapers on which the late Mr. Masterton worked are now defunct.
Advocate, Burnie, Tasmania
Wednesday 28 September, 1932 (p6)
Hobart Mercury
Printer and Sportsman.
The death of Mr. John Masterton, who for many years was prominently associated with press work in Tasmania, and in his younger days was a well known personality in football and cricket circles, occurred at Hobart yesterday at the age of 78 years.
Mr. Masterton was born at Kilmore (Victoria), and came to Tasmania as a youth, joining the mechanical staff of "The Mercury" as a compositor. He afterwards transferred to the Government Printing Department, and after a number of years left there to accept the appointment of overseer at the now defunct "Tasmanian News," an afternoon daily, published in Hobart. His next appointment was as overseer at the "Daily Telegraph," Launceston, which a few years ago ceased publication. When the "Daily Post" was established at Hobart he was appointed overseer, and continued in that position when that journal was taken over by Labour Papers Ltd. and the name changed to the "World." A few years before the "World" went out of existence he resigned and went to Victoria, where he accepted an appointment at a printing establishment in Cheltenham. He remained in Victoria only for three or four years before returning to Hobart, where he lived in retirement until the time of his death.
During his lengthy career as printer of the several newspapers by whom he was employed he won the esteem and affection of all who worked under him, and his services were much valued by his employers.
Mr. Masterton's death recalls his early association with the sporting life of the community. It was as a footballer that he won most prominence, and for a number of years he was captain of the now defunct City Club (Hobart). Regarded as a capable leader, as well as a fine exponent of the Australian code of football, he had the distinction of captaining Southern Tasmania against Hotham (now North Melbourne), who were the first inter-State team to play at Hobart. Hotham came to Hobart with a big reputation, but to the sur- prise of most Mr. Masterton led the Tas- manians to victory. After his retirement as a player he acted, for a time, as an umpire, and was also a member of the Southern Tasmanian Football Association. He was also a good cricketer and before joining the Derwent "A' grade team was a member of the Strahan Club (Hobart). He later played bowls with the City Club.
In friendly society circles Mr. Masterton was for 55 years a well-known figure. He was Past Junior Warden of the Pacific Lodge of Freemasons at Hobart, and a member of the Protestant Alliance and Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. At various times he held nearly every office it was possible to fill in that connection. He was an elder of St John's Presbyterian Church, Hobart.
Mrs. Masterton died 20 years ago, and Mr. Masterton leaves a family of two sons and two daughters. One son, Mr. James Masterton, resides in England, and Mr. John Andrew Masterton, the other son, is a member of the linotype staff of "The Mercury." The two daughters are Mrs. Cock (Gippsland) and Miss Janet Masterton (Hobart).
The funeral will take place on Friday.
The Mercury, Hobart
Wednesday 28 September, 1932 (p6)
LATE MR. J. MASTERTON.
THE FUNERAL.
The large gathering that attended the service at St. John's Presbyterian Church and at the graveside at the Cornelian Bay cemetery yesterday was testimony of the esteem in which Mr. John Masterton, whose death occurred at Hobart on Tuesday, was held. The body was conveyed to St. John's Church on Thursday evening, Mr. Masterton having been one of the elders of the church, and on arrival prayers were recited by the Rev. J. Heyer. Prior to the cortege moving off yesterday morning, a service, conducted by the Rev. H. Aiken, was held. Mr. Heyer was organist, and also gave the address. The church was well filled, and four of Mr. Masterton's fellow elders-Messrs. A. H. Johnston, C. N. Hope, T. W. Simpson, and E. R. Henry-were pall-bearers at the conclusion of the service.
The cortege was met at the cemetery gates by a large gathering, which included a number of officers of the lodges with which deceased was associated, and who acted as pall-bearers to the graveside. The chief mourner was Mr. J. A. Masterton (a son).
Among those present were Hon. C. J. Eady, M.L.C., Messrs. E. Dwyer-Gray and B. Watkins, Ms.H.A., Alderman L. H. Saunders, Mr. W. A. Woods, Messrs. E. A. Irwin and C. Brown (overseers of the news room), B. Hurburgh (advertising manager), W. Forsythe (chief engineer), H. McNeil (head reader), and W. H. D. Crome, T. Collins, and G. Woods (news room staff), of "The Mercury," S. Ellis, A. Stuart, B. J. Watkins, A. Hiddlestone, A. Moore, and I. Paterson. The service at the graveside was conducted by Mr. Aiken.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Alex. Clark and Son Ltd.
The Mercury, Hobart
Saturday 1 October, 1932 (p6)
The Sporting Globe
John Masterton Passes
BY the death of John Masterton, Tasmania has lost yet another of the pioneers who helped to establish the Australian game. Coming from Victoria as a youth, John Masterton was a contemporary of "Billy" (W. H.) Candy, the founder of the game in Tasmania. Elected captain of the old city club, he was one of the outstanding Players of his day, but it was as a leader that he gained prominence. He led the Southern Tasmanian team which defeated Hotham (North Melbourne), the first interstate team to visit Hobart. In 1884 Jimmy Robertson was captain of Hotham, and other well-known players in the ranks of the visitors were the two Gardiners, Joe Shaw and Arthur Ley. John was also a fine cricketer and played for Derwent. Like many other old-time footballers and cricketers, he turned his attention to bowls in his declining years.
The Sporting Globe, Melbourne, Victoria
Wednesday 5 October, 1932 (p11)
Kilmore Free Press
An old Kilmore boy passed to the great beyond last week, when the death occurred at Hobart, on 27t ult., of Mr John Masterton, who was associated for many years with newspaper work in Tasmania. He had occupied the positions of printing overseer of the "Tasmanian News" (Hobart), the "Daily Telegraph" (Launceston), the "Daily Post" (Hobart), and the "World" (Hobart). For a time he was a member of the staff of the Government printing office. In his younger days he was a leading footballer. He was captain of the Southern Tasmanian team which played against Hotham (V.), the first Australian team to visit Tasmania. He was born at Kilmore 78 years ago. For many years he was an elder of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Hobart. He leaves two sons and two daughters. His wife died 20 years ago. The deceased gentleman, writing from memory of the olden times, was a son of Mr Harry Masterton, one of the highly-respected pioneers who filled well his part-there cannot be many of the old residents here now left to remember him.
Kilmore Free Press, Victoria
Thursday 6 October, 1932 (p3)