Thomas Masterton (1854-1873)
Oiler and industrial accident victim
The young Thomas Masterton of Dundee was not distinguished in any way. An illegitimate son of a baker, and with both his natural parents dead, he was employed at the age of 19 as an oiler in a spinning mill when he attempted to carry out a repair and was caught up in the moving parts and mangled by the machinery. Not an uncommon accident in that time. Curiously, his father Thomas also suffered a violent death, having been run over by a train on the Dundee-Newtyle Railway in 1863.
Genealogy
Thomas Masterton's death certificate states his illegitimacy and his parents as Thomas Masterton, Baker (deceased) and Martha Sparks (maiden surname Dunlop - also deceased). This places him as part of the large group of Mastertons in and around Forfar and Dundee. His father Thomas was the fifth child of William Masterton, weaver, and Ann Walker who had been married in 1821 in Aberdeen. William in turn was the fourth child of Alexander Masterton, weaver, and Margaret Thom. A fuller genealogy of the extended family of Thomas Masterton can be found at this link
Bradford Observer
A man named Masterton, employed at the spinning mill of Messrs. Kinnear and Firsk Dundee was on Saturday caught by a shaft and killed. His body was horribly mangled.
Bradford Observer
25th August 1873
FATAL ACCIDENT IN A MILL.- On Saturday morning a melancholy accident occurred in the mill of Messrs Kinnear and Fithie, manufacturers, Larch Street, Dundee. A belt in the mill had broken, and in order to sew it a young man named Thomas Masterton went on to the top of a frame. In his efforts to reach the belt with his hand, the "drum" caught hold of his jacket, and he was twisted round the shaft and mangled in a most dreadful manner. The man was taken down and removed to the porter's lodge, where he died in a few minutes.
Bradford Observer
26th August 1873
The Scotsman
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN A DUNDEE MILL. - On Saturday morning an accident of a shocking description occurred in the spinning mill in Larch Street possessed by Messrs Kinnear and Fithie, manufacturers, the result of which was that a young man named Thomas Masterton lost his life. About seven o'clock in the morning one of the belts which drive the machinery broke, and Masterton, who was oiler, got on the top of a machine in order to sew the broken parts together. While reaching up his hand to pull down the belt one of the large drums caught hold of his jacket, and his body was twisted and thrown round by the shaft. His body was frightfully mangled, and one of the arms was almost torn away. The poor fellow was carried to the lodge, where he died in a few minutes. His body was carried to his lodgings in Blackness Road. Masterton was about 20 years of age, was unmarried, and had been employed in the works for a long time.
The Scotsman
Tuesday, 26th August 1873
page 4
Aberdeen Journal
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN A DUNDEE MILL. On Saturday morning an accident of the most distressing nature occurred in the spinning works in Larch Street, occupied by Messrs Kinnear and Fithie, manufacturers, the result of which was that a young man, named Thomas Masterton, lost his life. About seven o'clock in the morning one of the belts which drive the machinery broke, and Masterton, who was oiler, got on the top of a machine in order to sew the broken parts. While reaching up his hand to pull down the belt, one of the large drums on the shaft caught hold of his jacket, and in a second he was twisted round the shaft. His body was mangled in a shocking manner, one of the arms being almost torn away, but when lifted life was not extinct. The poor fellow was carried to the lodgeroom of the works, and Dr Pirie was sent for, but he died in a very short time. Masterton was about twenty years of age, and unmarried.
Aberdeen Journal
Wednesday 27th August, 1873