William Masterton (1662- )
Sailor
William Masterton is mentioned in the Registers of the Privy Council in 1686 as a sailor from Culross, caught up in the rebellion of Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, who had joined the Monmouth rebellion against James VII of Scotland and II of England. Argyll had been captured at Inchinnan in Renfrewshire and executed in Edinburgh on 30 June 1685.
Genealogy
The most likely candidate in the known records is William Masterton, born 1662 to William Masterton and Margaret Archibald in Culross, putting William as part of the large family of Mastertons from Culross. That would make him 24 years old at the time of the events described in the Registers of the Privy Council. (Another William was born in Culross in 1670 to a William Masterton and Jane Chrystie, so that possibility cannot be ruled out entirely, although that William would have been very young, even by the standards of the day, and possibly described as a youth or a boy in the accounts as recorded.) A fuller genealogy of the extended family of William Masterton can be found at this link.
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
Third Series, Vol XI. 1685-86.
23 June 1685
Testificat, the Kirk Session of Culross to John Sands and others.
32. "These are testifying to all concerned that John Sands, younger, a marryed man, Patrick Lamb, a marryed man, and William Masterton, unmarryed, were born and brought up in this parish of Culrosse and lived in it very christianly and orderly, still knouen to be of very loyal principles and practices. They are seamen to their imployments and went from this in the beginning of this present year to Holland that they might follow their callings. Given at Culrosse this twentie and third June 1685 by (signed) Robert Wright, minr:, James Barclay, bale; James Mackie, elder; Robert Hunter, elder; John Mutray, elder."
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
Third Series, Vol XI. 1685-86.
4 February 1686
465. "These ar testifyeing to all concerned that William Mastertoun and Patrick Lamb, seamen, now prisoners in the tolbuith of Culross, were born and educat in the parioch of Culross and lived therein christianly, ordourly and loyally, never being suspected of disloyalty principles, and still confirming the samen by their practise, till of late they were unhappiely engadged in the late Earle of Argylls rebellione and invasione. Given this fourth day of February 1686 years by me, ROBERT WRIGHT, minr."
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
Third Series, Vol XI. 1685-86.
9 February 1686
Petition by William Masterton and Patrick Lamb in Culross and others.
505. Unto the right honorable the Lords of his Majesties most honourabill Privy Counsell, the supplication of William Mastertoune and Patrick Lamb, seamen within the parioch of Culross, Robert Huton, James Herring and James Bill, seamen within the parioch of Torrieburne, and Walter Younger, seaman in Tullieallan, humblie sheweth that wher we wer most unknowinglie and fraudulentlie ensnared by the respective skippers under whom we served, who, under pretence of hyreing some of ws for Norway and others of ws to other places, did bring ws aboard of ther ships, and efter they had placed a force of armed men upon ws made to serve them in bringing the late Earle of Argyle and his complices to Scotland in May last in prosecution of the then begunne rebellion and invasion; and having with the first opportunitie made our escapes from the saids ships and come home to our owne dwellings in Culross, Torrieburne and thereabout, and understanding that Sir Alexander Bruce had some orders to apprehend any who could be found in that countrie to have been at the said rebellion, we befor our arryvall at our owne homes was knowine, being conscious of our owne inocencie, rendered ourselves to him who caused put ws into prison, and have ever since that tyme continowed prisoners to the utter ruine of our families who have nothing else whereby to subsist but our industrie; and seeing we wer so fraudulentlie ensnared as said is, and that our good affection to the government and our utter detestation of such rebellious practices may not onlie be made appear by the attestations of the ministers under whose charge we live, and of other persons of undoubted loyaltie and inegritie to whom we are known, but are also content to give what furder evidence and assurance of the same your Lordships shall be pleased to appoynt, and as we are capable to give, wee doe therfor most humblie crave your Lordships will be pleased to grant warrand for our liberation, being resolved in the whole course of our life hence forward to give exemplar evidence of the treuth of what we say, and your petitioners shall ever pray." (Signed) 'Patrick Lamb; Walter Younger, Robert Huton, W.M., J.H., J.B.' [On the back] "Laid asyd."
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
Henry Paton(ed)
Third Series, Vol XI, 1685-86
Entries 32, 465 and 505 (p 569)
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1929
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
Third Series, Vol XII. 1686.
1686
68. "Interragators for Andrew McKie and James Shanks. - Whether or not they went upon Wednesday the third of the instant Februarie to the house of William Mastertown in Culross, and enquyred for William Mastertoune his son, and not haveing found him told his mother that he was come to tell him to keip him out of the gate for he would be put in prison."
70. "Interrogators for Richard Finlay, John Moultry, John Meassone, William Mastertoune and William Andersone. - Whether or not they knew that the late magistrats did themselves intromett with and receave the excyse frae the brewars.
"Interragators for Andrew Mackie and James Shanks. - Whether or not upon Wednesday the third of February current James Mackie's wife sent for them and after she had given them an pynt of ale in her house, her husband being present in the roume, sent them to William Mastertoune or ane or other of the seamen that came over with the late Earle of Argile, and did bid them endevour to perswad the said seamen to make thair escape telling them ther was a man comed or comeing from Edinburgh to take them away prisoners to Edinburgh wher they would be in great danger, or the like persuasiones.
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland
Henry Paton(ed)
Third Series, Vol XII, 1686
p 66
HM General Register House
Edinburgh, 1930