The 1881 census records Jack as the sixteen-year-old son of John and Lucy Masters. They live in Cudworth, Barnsley and his occupation is recorded as a Colliery Labourer.

In 1889 he married Ann Robinson and he records his addresss as Somerset Street, Barnsley. His occupation, as is his father's, is recorded as Miner. They married in St Mary's Parish Church, Barnsley after Banns. Both Jack and Ann signed the register suggesting they could both read and write. The wedding was witnessed by Harriet Robinson (Ann's mother) and a man called Tom Cauldwell. Ann's father is recorded as Tom Robinson (deceased), whose occupation was Painter.

They had their first four children in Barnsley before moving to Ryhope, Sunderland to work in Ryhope Colliery in the last couple of years of the nineteenth century (1898/9).

The 1901 census records Jack's birthplace as Barnsley and he lives with his wife, Ann, and their five children. Only Edward, their youngest son, was born in Ryhope. This census records Jack's occupation as Coal Miner (Hewer).

A Coal Hewer was described in 1825 as

In 1849 a Coal Hewer was described as

In 1892 a Coal Hewer was described as

A reasonably educated man among his peers, Jack ran a betting book on sporting events and used to read newspaper reports of the successes and failures of the Boer War (1899-1902). In approximately 1907-1910, after the birth of his last child, Harold, he was unable to pay out to the winners of the bets and he fled the Sunderland area to return to Barnsley. He left his wife, Ann, with their nine children, though depending on when this was some of them may have been old enough to work.

Jack drowned in the Aire and Calder Canal in Barnsley and his body was discovered on 13 October 1925. His body was discovered on his 61st birthday. An inquest returned a verdict of "Found drowned". A newspaper article of the time provides a lot of information regarding his life in Barnsley and his last days. The article reveals that Thomas Masters said at the inquest

The article also reveals that Jack had stayed at the home of the witness (his brother Thomas) for a week but left the Friday morning before his death (presumably Friday 9th of October, 1925). He was expected back for dinner but never returned. The article also recorded that Jack enjoyed good health and had never threatened to take his own life.

Patrick Higgins of 5 Graham's Yard, Old Town, found the body at 6:25am in the canal near what was known as the '32 steps'. The body was fully clothed and with assistance Mr Higgins managed to get the body to the bank.

Edwin Masters, motor driver, said of his uncle that

It is impossible to determine whether Jack had planned to take his own life. However, this possibility appears to have been discussed extensively at the inquest. His brother Thomas said at the inquest that Jack enjoyed good health and had never threatened to take his own life. Jack's nephew, Edwin, said that he did not appear to be depressed.

To see an image of the newspaper article and a transcription please click the newspaper below.

When Jack married Ann Robinson Ann's family considered that Ann had married very well as Jack was from a relatively prominent Barnsley family. This is perhaps borne out by the fact that Jack could read at a time when most of his peers could not. Jack's brother, Thomas (b.1870), went on to develop a successful coal and furniture removal business in 1899. After Jack abandoned Ann when fleeing Ryhope the irony was noted and passed down through Ann's remaining family in Barnsley. Ann remained close to her Barnsley family despite the geographical distance and on more than one occasion members of the Barnsley branch visited Ryhope for summer holidays. On one such occasion Jack's daughter, Elsie Masters (b.1896), had a quite word with a member of the Barnsley branch to ensure no mention was made of Jack's death as Elsie's daughters had not been told about their grandfather.