At this point in time not a lot is known about the Masterson family from Kilkenny, Ireland. Martin Masterson, my Great Great Great Grandfather, is recorded on the Griffith Valuation as leasing land in the townland of Tullowbrin, Parish of Rathcoole, Barony of Gowran. At some point prior to 1831 he married Mary Nolan.

Six of Martin and Mary's children, Mary born c. 1831, Bridget born c.1833, Catherine born c.1836, Anastasia born c.1838, Andrew born c.1840 and Patrick born c.1842, immigrated to Australia, settling in the Sandhurst (Bendigo) area on the Victorian Goldfields.

The first member of the family we find in Victoria is Mary Masterson who married Thomas Harvey in Melbourne on 7th October 1850. Thomas and Mary's first child William was born in 1851 and one of the Sponsors of his Baptism was his Aunt, Bridget Masterson. By 1854 Thomas & Mary and Bridget had moved to Sandhurst (Bendigo) where Bridget Masterson married John Orlando Brookfield in November 1854.

We next find Catherine Masterson marrying Patrick Corr on 11 June 1855 in Melbourne. By late 1857 Patrick and Catherine too were in Sandhurst (Bendigo), where their second daughter Ann was born in January 1858.

On the 20th February 1860 Andrew Masterson married Julia Comerford in Sandhurst (Bendigo). Three years later Anastasia Lawler (nee Masterson) married Michael Coughlin, and later that year Patrick Masterson married Johanna Butler.

List of names associated with the Masterson family
Three generations of the Masterson family

Roz Voullaire

Created 28 May 2001 - Updated 7 Feb 2004

©2001-2004 Roz Voullaire, All rights reserved