Robert Masterton (1820-1879)
Weaver and Petty Criminal
Robert Masterton of Bathgate was a cotton weaver based in Bathgate, West Lothian but succumbed to the dubious attractions of a life of petty crime, somewhat unsuccessfully, and ended his life as a pauper. Although definite attribution of the cases below to the same person is very difficult from news reports, there is circumstantial evidence that they are. In due course, actual court records may provide more definitive information. His circumstances can't have been helped by the sale in 1872 of the house in Bathgate Muir where he was a tenant.
Genealogy
Robert Masterton was the eldest son of Robert Masterton and Margaret Arthur.
Fuller details of the extended family of Robert Masterton can be found in the following link.
Caledonian Mercury
ROBERT MASTERTON, jun. weaver, Bathgate Muir Roadside, presently prisoner in the prison of Linlithgow – to be examined in the Sheriff's Office, Linlithgow, 18th September, twelve o’clock.
Caledonian Mercury
20th August 1846
The Stirling Observer
Robert Masterton, Robert Sligo, and Robert Fairley, were charged with having, on various occasions during the period between the 1st and 9th days of April, 1856, broken into a stable at Burnhouse, parish of Falkirk, lately occupied by William Bain, now or lately agent of the City of Glasgow Bank, and residing in Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, or lately occupied by William Marshall Wright, and did open the wooden shutters of a window adjoining said stable, and breaking the glass, and undoing the sneck or fastening of the shutter, did thereby obtain entrance to said stable, and steal there-from, 4 decanters, 4 water cruets, 4 custard dishes, 3 dozen tumblers, 4 dozen of wine glasses, a crystal sugar basin, 3 crystal goblets, and a china fruit dish. Masterton pleased guilty to the charge as libelled, and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment; Sligo and Fairley pleaded guilty to the theft without the aggravation, and were sentenced each to three months' imprisonment, and to be kept to hard labour for six weeks of that period.
The Stirling Observer
29th May 1856
The following cases were disposed of at the instance of John Gair, Esq., Procurator-Fiscal, Falkirk.-
Robert Masterton was accused of two thefts of lead, committed on the 22d or 23d of February last, the one 12 feet of lead pipe from an outhouse at Arnot Vale, Falkirk, and the other a piece of roof or sheet lead from a green-house adjoining said premises, belonging to James Russell, Esq., aggravated by previous conviction. The panel pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to be imprisoned in the Perth General Prison for twelve calendar months', or, failing his being there received, then to be detained in the prison of Stirling, and during four months' of his term of imprisonment to be kept to hard labour.
The Stirling Observer
Thursday, 15th April 1858
Falkirk Herald
Falkirk Herald
4th April 1872
6th April 1872