CHAPTER XVII

1743
1743, April 13, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1743, April 27, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Joseph Murry (Murray) and Edmund Lewis (Ellis) made. OURT OR Dieatiy
1743, May 11, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Brothers William Ball, Edmund Lewis (Ellis), and Archibald Spencer admitted, and Lewis Turner and George Wilson made.
O.R.; P.L.; A.B.
1743, May 25, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Brothers Benjamin Franklin and Henry Price both attended this meeting. O.R.; A.B. 1 Mass. 390. 1888 Mass. 153.
1743, June 8, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Brother Lewis Turner 272
1743 273
admitted. Brother Benjamin Franklin was also present at this meeting.
Gils tALb:
1743, June 20, Boston. The Boston Evening Post publishes the following
item, véz.-
“Extract of a Letter from Vienna, dated March 20, N.S.
The Affair of the Free-Mafons, {till makes a great Noife here, becaufe of the Perfons of high Rank con- cerned in it. By a Lift handed about here, it appears that the Lodge was compofed of a young Prince of an illu{trious Houfe, two other Princes, fix Counts of the ereate{t Families of Auftria, four Generals, a Foreign Minifter, well known in the learned World, and three Priests, befides others of inferior Note. Among them there were Roman Catholicks, Proteftants, and Luther- ans, the Free-Mafons admitting all Sort of Religions among them, not even excepting Mahometans; but what we mo{t wonder at, is, to have found Prie{ts in this So- ciety. The latter are clofe confined in the Prifon of the Archbifhoprick, and have been interrogated feveral Times already, but abfolutely refufed to give any Eclairciffe- ment concerning the Secret of the Fraternity: Cardinal Collonitz, our Archbifhop, is charged to profecute them. Among other Things found in the Lodge, there was a Book, in which thefe Words are wrote; Our Orders, the moft illuftrious that ever was known, is of as great Antiquity as the World itfelf, for Adam was the firft Free-Mafon, &c. Upon which it is further to be ob- ferved, that when the Guards broke the Door of the Lodge, they found a Bible on the Table, open at the firft Chapter of Genefis; but as to the Report of their having a Death’s Head and black Tapers, is a mere In-
274 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
vention of the Populace, who take the Free-Mafons to be Magicians.” P-t.
1743, June 20, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Election. Capt. John Shannon made.
OoR ih seal:
1743, June 23, Boston. The Boston Weekly News Letter publishes the follow- ing item:
“We have Letters from Lisbon which fay, that the Inquifitors having difcover’d that there were Free- Mafons in that City, found Means to take up about 18 of them; that they examin’d them about the Secret of the Society; but upon their refufing to reveal it, the In- quifitors dec’ear’d to them, that they fhould remain in the Prifons of the Inquifition until they give fatisfactory Anfwers on that Head.”
Feats
1743, June 24, Boston. Celebration of the Festival by the Grand Lodge. O.R. of First Lodge. 1 Mass. 7.
1743, July 13, Boston. Brothers Hall, Phillips, Allen, and Thomas Rind ad- mitted. ‘Thomas Aston made.
OPA ndd Dobe 8}.
1743, July 27, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. John Amil and John Vanhartburger made.
O'R Pe Ar bs:
1743 275
1743, August 10, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Daniel Perchard and Benjamin Ives made. This record contains the first American reference to the actual issuance of a “‘dispenceation.” See page 106, ITII’’. A committee was appointed to invite Governor Belcher. OU Sy 1 ed BR og Vd bp 1883 Mass. 162. JEN E-FSZ81°
1743, August 24, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1883 Mass. 165. 1 N.E.F. 281.
1743, September 14, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1743, September 23, Boston.
Deputation issued by Lord Ward, Grand Master of England, to Thomas Oxnard as Provincial Grand Master for North America. A copy of this Deputation certified by Peter Pelham, Grand Secretary, on May 29, 1744, is in the archives of the Grand Lodge of Massa- chusetts.
See page 279. 1 Mass. 8. The Picture of Philadelphia, (1811) 289.
276 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
1743, September 28, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B. ] N.E.F. 282.
1743, October 12, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1743, October 26, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. OCHS ALD:
1743, November 9, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Dr. Edward Ellis made. Ol ead RE Bo el 6}
1743, November 23, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Capt. John Boutin (by Dispensation) and Henry Johnson made. LO Pan Waa Nad Micon Ye BF
1743, December 2, Boston.
Meeting of the Masters Lodge. This is the first rec- ord after August 7, 1739, g.v. This record is in the hand- writing of Peter Pelham, Secretary, who left two blank pages upon which to write the omitted meetings.
OFT Ato:
1743, December 14, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Brother Edward Cahill admitted. O.R.; A.B.
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OXNARD’S DEPUTATION AS PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER FOR NORTH AMERICA; SEPTEMBER 23, 1743
1743 277
1743, December 27, Boston. Celebration of the Festival by the Grand Lodge. O.R. of First Lodge. 1883 Mass. 165. 1 N.E.F. 282.
1743, December 28, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Election. OH id, Glee
1743/4, January 6, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. OURS Ab:
1743/4, January 9, Boston.
The Boston Evening Post contains an account of the recent formation in Avignon of the Knights and Knight- esses of the Order of Felicity soon after the Freemasons were suppressed there, and the mandate of the Arche bishop against the new society.
P—t.
1743/4, January 11, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Joseph Holbrook made. Brother Abraham Reller admitted. Under this date the Treasurer paid for binding a book for the laws and list of the members of the Lodge. (This book has been lost.)
One: BEA B:
1743/4, January 26, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
278 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
1743/4, February 3, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. Election. O.R.; A.B.
1743/4, February 8, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Vote concerning the en- tertainment of Governor Belcher. OURe Ay: 1 N.E.F. 282.
1743/4, February 9, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Entertainment of Gov- ernor Belcher who attended with about forty of the Brethren.
O.R.; A.B.
1 Mass. 391. 1883 Mass. 162. LENE 22:
He soon thereafter sailed for England. See 1744, September 26, énfra.
1743/4, February 22, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Jonathan Pue made. COS TEE) bags fed 8p
1743/4, March 2, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. Brothers Thomas As- ton, John Boutin, and Philip Audibert raised. OUR Tsp Eele eA. u,
1743/4, March 6, Boston. Thomas Oxnard received his Deputation as Provincial Grand Master of North America. ‘The original records
1743 279
of the First Lodge contain a copy of this Deputation, together with an account of his holding a Grand Lodge and appointing his officers. The Deputation reads as follows:
J: Ward (sEaL) G: M.
To all and every, Our R‘ Worsh!' and Loving Brethren We John Lord Ward Baron of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Grand Master of the Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons
SENDETH GREETING,
Whereas Application hath been made unto us by sev- eral of Our Brethren Residing in North America praying that We would appoint a Provincial Grand Master for North America in the Room of our Bro Rob‘ Tomlinson Esq’ Deceas’d late Provincial Grand Master,
Now Know Ye That We John Lord Ward have Nominated Constituted and Appointed, and by these Presents do Nominate Constitute and Appoint Our Well beloved Bro" Thomas Oxnard Esq’ To Be Provincial Grand Master of North America with full power to Nom- inate and Appoint his Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and in Our Name and stead to Constitute Lodges in North America he the said Tho*® Oxnard Esq’ taking special care that all and every Member, or Mem- bers of any Lodge or Lodges so to be Constituted have been or shall be made Regular Masons, and that he cause all and every the Regulations contain’d in the Printed Book of Constitutions (except so far as they have been alter’'d by the Grand Lodge at their Quarterly Com- munications) to be kept and Observ’d, and also all such other Rules and Instructions as shall from time to time be Transmitted to him by us or S™ Rob' Lawley Bart: our Deputy Grand Master, or the Grand Master or his Deputy for the time being, and that he the said Tho*® Oxnard Esq" do send an Acco‘ in Writing to us or our Deputy, or the Grand Master for the time being of all and every the Lodge or Lodges, he shall Constitute with
280 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
the Date of their Constitution and Days of Meeting and Names of their Members, and their place of abode, also Two Guineas for the General Charity and half a Guinea for other Expences from every Lodge he shall Constitute, and also to hold four Quarterly Communications in a Year, one of them upon the Feast of S* John the Evan- gelist or as near that time as Conveniently may be. Given unto Our Hand and Seal at London This Twenty Third Day of September, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Three, and of Masonry Five Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Three. By the Grand Masters Command sign’d JOHN Revis, G:S.
O.R. of First Lodge.
See 1743, September 23, supra.
1 Mass. 7, 8, 387.
1871 Mass. 313, 350.
1 N.E.F, 283:
Thomas Oxnard.
Provincial Grand Master for North America, March 6, 1743/4 to June 25, 1754.
Thomas Oxnard was born about 1703 in the Bishopric of Durham in England. The date of his emigration to this country has not been ascertained. On January 21, 1735/6, he was made a Mason in the First Lodge in Boston of which he was chosen Master at the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist, 1736. He was one of the founders of the Masters Lodge on January 2, 1738/9, and frequently attended its meetings. At the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist in 1739 he was appointed Deputy Grand Master. He succeeded Tomlinson as Grand Master, his Commission being dated September 23, 1743, and being received in Boston on March 6,
1743 281
1743/4. He was specifically appointed by his original warrant to be Provincial Grand Master of North Amer- ica, with full power to constitute lodges in North Amer- ica. In the exercise of that power he constituted Lodges not only in and about Boston, but also in Newfoundland, Rhode Island, Maryland, Connecticut, and elsewhere. We know that he was in England in 1752 (1 Mass. 19) and he was probably absent for some time because he did not attend the Communications of the Grand Lodge from October 11, 1751, until October 13, 1752. During his absence, however, he was evidently in communication with the Grand Lodge for in January, 1752, Brother McDaniel was Deputy Grand Master, while in June of the same year we find that Alexander Lord Colvill had been deputized as Deputy Grand Master.
A contemporaneous estimate of him as an experienced merchant, an upright dealer, an affectionate husband, a tender parent, a sincere friend, and a kind master, is re- corded on the records of the Grand Lodge under date of July 1, 1754, together with an account of the Masonic ceremonies at his funeral (1 Mass. 33).
Oxnard and his wife’s father, John Osborn, were part- ners in business. Mr. Osborn had many public offices, and doubtless Oxnard was a chief factor in the manage- ment of the affairs at the store and on the wharf. His mansion was at the northerly corner of Tremont and Winter streets, having been bought in 1742 of Adam Winthrop, Esq. This property is diagonally across Tre- mont street from Park Street Church. Full statements concerning his family may be found in the references given.
His widow, Madam Sarah Oxnard, married, second, April 10, 1756, the Honourable Samuel Watts, Esq.
282 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
She was evidently a shrewd business woman, for it would appear from the settlement of the Oxnard Estate that she charged her second husband, Judge Watts, for four years’ use of her house in Boston from 1756 to 1760, about which time the family removed to Chelsea where Judge Watts died in 1770. Her portrait was painted by John Singleton Copley and is still in existence. Un- fortunately no portrait of Thomas Oxnard is known. The Boston Post Boy for Monday, July 1, 1754, con- tains an account of his death and funeral identical with that recorded in the records of the Grand Lodge above referred to. The Boston Gazette of Tuesday, July 2, 1754, has the following intelligence:
“Last Tuesday died here Thomas Oxnard, Esq., a noted merchant of this town, in the fifty-first year of his age, and was decently interred on Friday last.”
There is also a note in the Gentlemen’s Magazine of
London for 1754, page 388, reading:
“At Boston in New England, Thomas Oxnard, Esq., an eminent merchant, Grand Master of the Society of Freemasons in North America.”
1871 Mass. 642.
6 N. E. Historical and Gen. Reg. 375. 26 N. E. Historical and Gen. Reg. 3. Willis’ History of Portland.
1743/4, March 14, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Louis Demoulin made. A vote is passed to procure a new book for the By-Laws. (This book lost. )
OUR Pei ALB:
1743 283
1743, South Carolina. Prince George Lodge Constituted at George Town (Winyaw) South Carolina. L.M.R. 89. IV Gould 395.