Countess Sarah Selina Masterson

Sarah Selina Masterson or 'Countess Selina Masterton' [sic], owner of Blake's Estate in Antigua, which was mortgaged to William Saunders. Her title appears to have been an honorary title bestowed by a religious order.

1. Award made to Sarah Masterson, but a letter from the attorney of mortgagee William Saunders refers to mortgagor as 'the Countess Selina Masterton' and the valuer's return as 'The Countess SS Masterson'. In his counterclaim, William Saunders alludes to an indenture of 1824 which Sarah Masterson was party to when she was shown as of Boulogne.

2. Sarah Masterson reportedly came to Antigua in 1833 after inheriting Blake's estate (although a local history suggests she was there earlier); and died in Berlin in 1867 aged 87 years and 5 months.

3. Sarah Masterson had inherited Blakes under the will of her father John Masterson, made 08/01/1808 at Brussels. It appeared to have been the only real asset of her father. He charged the estate with an annuity of £400 p.a. to his wife and £5000 to his younger daughter Jane. The 'little money' he had in the stocks at Messrs Neave he asked be divided between his wife and daughter Sarah, save for £100 to be sent to the priest at Wexford 'for the poor who served me in the time of trial.'

T71/877 Antigua claim no. 84 (Blake's).

1. T71/1609; T71/735; T71/1220.

2. The Tablet Vol. XXXI, Issue 1429 pp. 550-551 (31/08/1867).

3. Will of John Masterson of Brussels proved 01/06/1808, PROB 11/1481/18.