Thomas Masterton (1790-1865)
Waterloo Veteran
Thomas Masterton was born in Dunfermline but joined the Royal Artillery in time for the Napoleonic Campaigns. He trained at the Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, and served in Ireland before seeing action at the Battle of Waterloo, for which he received two years' additional pension credit. He retired as a Staff Sergeant in 1836 and moved house to Wombwell, near Sheffield in Yorkshire, home town of his second wife, Mary Elizabeth Mitchell. While there, he became overseer of the poor for the parish but seems to have lacked much empathy with his charges, if newspaper accounts are to be believed.
Genealogy
Thomas Masterton was the eldest son and second child of James Masterton and Ann Andrew of Dunfermline. His father was a handloom linen weaver, Thomas's original trade until he took the king's shilling. This places him as part of the group of Mastertons in and around Dunfermline. A fuller genealogy of the extended family of Thomas Masterton, including copies of his Army Discharge Papers, can be found at this link.
Sheffield Independent
MONDAY. - Before T. G. BOSVILLE, Esq.
A complaint under the new poor law was made by Mary Hague, of Barnsley, widow, a very talkative old woman, against Mr. Thomas Masterton, one of the overseers of the poor for the parish of Wombwell, for not allowing her the parish relief, of which she was in want and entitled to by law. From her statement it appeared that her husband and family, before his death, resided at Wombwell a number of years. Three years ago he died, leaving her with six children: the eldest was a lad 19 years of age, who was of weak intellect, and the other were all girls, the youngest being eight years of age, and for some time past affected with St. Vitus's dance.
For a long time after her husband's death, she obtained a scanty subsistence by her son going round with a donkey and cart selling coal. She had lately been obliged to dispense of the good will of this little trade for £3, which she owed for rent; and her donkey and cart had been seized by a creditor for a debt of £4. 10s. for groceries. She had for a short time received 2s. 6d. a week from the parish, but this had for the last six weeks been stopped, and when she applied to Masterton for it, he was very abusive and refused to give her anything. She was 51 years old, and had been obliged to go to her daughter at Barnsley, who was scarce able to keep her own family.
Masterton, in answer to the charge, said he had been ordered by the ratepayers to refuse her relief, and in addition to this she was very saucey when she applied, and he was not going to take such insolence from (applying an opprobrious name,) such persons as her. There was plenty of work if she choose to do it, but she wanted the parish to support her in idleness, and then insult the overseers...Mr. Oxley said, he had seen the applicant's eldest son, and he was evidently of weak intellect....The woman produced a certificate from a surgeon, certifying the disease under which her youngest child was labouring...
Mr. Bosville- I think when a woman of 51 years of age, with a family like this woman, applies to us, and it is in evidence that one of her children is ill, we must make an order....Masterton, there is plenty of work for her, if she will only do it, and we can give her nothing except work....The woman said she was unable to do any hard work, and she was sufficiently employed with attending upon her sick child. She wanted no relief except for herself and this child; the others would manage to scrape together as much as they could live upon...Masterton said, she must come back to Wombwell, and the overseers would find her plenty of work in the fields...
Mr. Bosville enquired if there was no workhouse in connection with Wombwell?...Masterton said there was not, and there was no place to send their poor to. If the woman would work, they would find her as much work as she liked...Mr. Bosville said, he did not think that a woman of her age could do much.... Masterton: Oh she only shams - she won't try; we have women older than her who are working every day in the fields....Mr. Bosville made an order for 2s. a week, and Masterton to pay the costs....Masterton thought it was a shame that the parish should be compelled to keep such characters, and said, if she came into his house again to insult him he should very soon turn her out.
The Sheffield Independent
20th June 1846
Thomas Masterton, the overseer of the poor for the parish of Wombwell, appeared to answer the complaint of Sarah Preston, of having refused her relief. It appeared from Masterton’s statement, that the woman had two sons in farmer’s service, who, he thought were able to maintain her. – The Magistrates informed him that this was no ground for refusing relief, but he might proceed against the two sons if he chose. They made an order for the weekly relief.
The Sheffield Independent
2nd January 1847
DEATHS
Masterton – On the 16th ult., aged 47, Mary Elizabeth, wife of Mr Thos. Masterton, sergeant of the Wath Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry. Wombwell, near Barnsley
The Sheffield Independent
3rd March 1860
PRESENTATION TO SERGEANT MASTERTON OF THE WATH TROOP OF 1ST W. Y. Y. CAVALRY.- (From our Correspondent).- On Thursday, by invitation of Capt. the Right Hon. C. W. Fitzwilliam, the members of the Wath or E Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry assembled at Brampton Bull Head, and were entertained to an excellent dinner by their Captain. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, Captain Fitzwilliam presented to Sergeant Masterton, in the name of the troop, a splendid silver cup, together with a purse containing twenty sovereigns. Sergeant Masterton expressed his deep and heartfelt gratitude to his Captain, Lieutenant, and every member of the corps, for this mark of their great kindness, assuring them that highly as he valued the medals bestowed upon him by his coutnry, their free and most unexpected gift would be still more highly appreciated by him.
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
Saturday, 18th April 1863