CHAPTER XXII

1748
1748, April 1, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. Brother Andrew Mc- Kenzie raised.
OR Ral ACB:
1748, April 13, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748, April 21, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Meeting of the Lodge.
O.R. 1748, April 27, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1748, May 6, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1748, May 11, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Jeremiah (Jeremy) Gridley and Belshr (Belthar) Bayard made.
O00 4 S52 1H LER NG sy, 325
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Jeremy Gridley.
Jeremiah Gridley was born in Boston, March 10, 1701/2. We refer to him as Jeremy Gridley because during the larger part of his adult career he wrote his name that way, and by that name received his appoint- ment as Provincial Grand Master of Masons in North America.
He graduated from Harvard in 1725 and became a school teacher, but while engaged in teaching and for some time afterwards he studied theology and general literature and occasionally preached. From Harvard he received the degree of A.M. on June 28, 1728. On Oc- tober 26, 1727, he was elected usher or assistant to Dr. Nathaniel Williams in the public grammar school in Bos- ton at a salary of thirty pounds per year, which was raised from time to time until he received a maximum of one hundred pounds per year from May 5, 1731.
While still teaching he married Abigail Lewis, the daughter of Hon. Ezekiel Lewis, a prominent Bostonian who was during his life a school teacher, selectman, repre- sentative, counsellor, and merchant. I am unable to find the date of the marriage, but its issue were Abigail, born August 8, 1731; Sarah, born April 4, 1736, and Rebecca, born April 25, 1741.
While still teaching he, in 1731, founded The Weekly Rehearsal, one of the earliest of the Boston newspapers. Past Grand Master Isaiah Thomas in his Héstory of Printing (1810 edition, Volume 1, page 327) states that The Weekly Rehearsal “was carried on at the expense of some gentlemen who formed themselves into a political or literary club and wrote for it. At the head of this club was the late celebrated Jeremy Gridley who was the
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real editor of the paper.” He ceased connection with this paper on April 2, 1733, when Thomas Fleet became its sole proprietor and publisher, who continued it until Au- gust 11, 1735, after which it was replaced by The Boston Evening-Post. Copies of all but four issues of The Weekly Rehearsal are known, most of them being in the library of the American Antiquarian Society at Worces- ter, Mass. This was the first newspaper or magazine published in America having any substantial claim to literary merit. High encomiums are paid by reviewers and critics to the elegant and classical style of Gridley’s contributions.
Meanwhile he was studying law and was admitted to the Bar probably about the time of his resignation as usher in Mr. Nathaniel Williams’s School where, on Feb- ruary 4, 1733/4, he was succeeded by Nathaniel Oliver, Jr.
Little is known about his early days at the Bar, except that he speedily rose to a commanding position. On March 17, 1741/2, the Selectmen of Boston voted to en- gage John Overing and Jeremy Gridley as Town Counsel in impending litigation which, by the way, the town lost. June 10, 1742, he was, for the first time, chosen Attorney General by both Houses of Assembly.
On April 13, 1748, he was proposed to the First Lodge by Past Grand Master Henry Price, was elected April 27 and made a Mason May 11. Almost immediately there- after he went to England carrying a letter of recom- mendation from the Brethren in Boston.
On September 21, 1748, he presented in London to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Treas- ury an important Memorial from the men of affairs in New England, with regard to the depreciation of the cur-
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rency and the establishment of a stable basis of exchange. It may be found in The Boston News Letter for Novem- ber 25, 1748.
Gridley did not attend Lodge in Boston again until December 7, 1750, when he was raised in the Masters Lodge.
Our customs differ much from those of the period of Gridley’s life. Then very few progressed beyond the grade of Entered Apprentice. Occasionally a Brother was “raised Fellow Craft” and admitted a member of the Lodge. But the membership was small and hm- ited. Many were made who never became members. Gridley, indeed, did not become a member of the First Lodge until January 25, 1753. Meantime he was active. Almost immediately after his raising he became a legal adviser to the Fraternity.
Thomas Fleet published in The Boston Evening-Post for January 7, 1751, some doggerel verse and a picture, both reflecting upon the Fraternity and too filthy and disgusting to be reproduced. It greatly disturbed the Brethren.
A meeting of the First Lodge was held on January 9, 1750/1, at which many Brethren not members were in attendance, among them Brother Gridley. After full dis- cussion the following votes were passed:
‘Voted, That no Bro. Present, shall for the future take any News Paper Printed by Thos. Fleet, or that said Fleet may be Concerned in.
Voted, That no Bro. Present shall give any encourage- ment to sd. Fleets Paper; or to him in his Business by Advertisements or Otherways.
Voted, That Brors. Oxnard, L. Colvil, Gridley, Mc- Daniel, Brockwell, Rowe & Price, be a Committee, to
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wait upon the Lieut. Governour, & Council, to Complain against a Scandelous piece of Ribaldry in sd. Fleets Paper, and pray their Order for Prosecuting the Printer their of.
Voted, That the Treasr. of this Lodge do pay unto sd. Committe our proportion of whatever Expense may Acrue upon a Procecution of the aforesaid Fleet, or others, should such Prosecution Ensue.”
The Grand Lodge on January 11, 1750/1, also invited Gridley’s attendance and
Voted: “That Letters be sent to the Several Lodges abroad under Our Rt W: G. M. acquainting them of the scandilous piece of Ribaldry in T. Fleets paper, and In- structing them by all means to discourage sd paper &c., and it was desir’d of Bro. Gridley to form sd Letters which he propos’d to do.”
Evidently the matter was again discussed in Grand Lodge on April 12, 1751, for Brother Gridley attended, though no formal action is recorded.
After his raising, Brother Gridley was attentive to his duties in the Masters Lodge, becoming Junior Warden December 1, 1752, and Senior Warden July 6, 1753. He was the active member of a Committee which revised its By-Laws according to a report presented and adopted December 7, 1753.
Brother Gridley retired from office in the Masters Lodge December 7, 1753, evidently in anticipation of his unanimous election as Master of the First Lodge, De- cember 26, 1753. In passing, it is interesting to note his presence at the Masters Lodge on January 4, 1754, when his pupil, associate at the Bar, and opponent in the great case regarding the Writs of Assistance, James Otis, was raised.
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October 11, 1754, at a Grand Lodge held by Henry Price after the death of Thomas Oxnard and attended by our Brother Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia, a petition was adopted for Gridley’s appointment as Grand Master. This petition is an historic document, and sets forth many facts of great interest well known to the Brethren at that time.
It reads as follows:
“To the Right Honourable and Right Worshipfull James Brydges Marquis of Carnarvan Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of England.
The Petition of the Grand Committee of the Grand Lodge whose names are hereunto Subscribed 3 in behalf of
said “Lodge
HuMBLyY SHEWETH
That last June it pleased Allmighty God to vacate Solomons Chair by the death of Our late Right Wor- shipfull Grand Master Thomas Oxnard Esq" upon which Our Right Worshipfull Brother M" Henry Price for- merly Grand Master Reasumed the Chair Pro tempore, and at the Grand Lodge or Quarterly Communication held at the Concert Hall in Boston October 11 5754 it was voted that a Petition should be drawn up and Pre- sented to your Lordship praying that all Future Grand Masters should be deputed for three years only, but With this Reservation that notwithstanding if the Lodge should see cause to Continue the same Grand Master longer in the Chair the said Deputation should continue and remain in full force the said Continued Term, and that he should remain Grand Master from the Expiration of the time of his First appointment or Continuance to the Instalment of another.
We therefore humbly sollicit your Lordships concur- rence with the said Vote, and Request your deputation
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in favour of Our Right Worshipfull Bro™ Jeremy Grid- ley Esq" Councellour at Law our Grand Master Elect. And Whereas Masonry Originated Here anno 5733, and in the year following Our then G. M. Price received orders from G. M. Craufurd to Establish Masonry in all North America in Pursuance of which the Several Lodges hereafter mentioned have rec* Constitutions from us. We therefore Crave due Precedency, & that in order thereunto Our G. M. Elect, may in his deputation be stiled G M of all North America, and your Petitioners as in duty Bound shall ever Pray. Hucu McDanier BENJAMIN HAaLLowELL CHARLES BROCKWELL JAMES FoRBES RoBertT JENKINS WILLIAM COFFIN Henry LEeppELv’”’ See Chapter VII, supra.
There was considerable delay in receiving a reply to this petition from the Grand Master in London, and on August 6, 1755, Henry Price wrote a letter supplement- ing this petition, as follows:
“Worthy and Dear Bro*:—It was with the utmost pleasure I saw a Letter from you to the Hcn”® Peter Leigh Esq" with his Deputation appointing him Grand Master of South Carolina the last year and whom I have had the pleasure of Seeing in our Lodges in Boston.
I would Inform you that as I Rec* my Deputation from the Right Hon’'® Lord Montague in April 1733 Signed by Tho* Batson Esq" D.G.M. George Rook and James Moor Smith Esq™ G. W., made out by Bro” Reed late Grand Secretary for North America, which I held four Years and Constituted several Lodges, and was suc-
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ceeded in the office by Br: Tomlinson, and after him Bro: Oxnard who Dying it Reverted back to me again according to the Constitutions. Now with my consent all the Brethren in North America have made Choice of our Bro’ Jeremy Gridley Esq" Councellor at Law to be Grand Master for Three Years, and then the Brethren to have power to Continue him or apply for a new Grand Master, and as our numbers of Gentlemn increase here and we are the oldest (or first Constituted) Regular Lodge in America We have made application to the Grand Master of England for our said Bro* Gridley, which application and Three Guineas we sent per Cap‘ John Phillips last Dec to our Rev® Bro. Entick Minister at Stepney desiring him to forward the affair, but we are Surpriz’d that we have not yet Rec’d the Deputation, nor a Line from Bro Entick, whose Receipt we have for The Three Guineas p® to him by the said Cap‘ John Phillips who using the London Trade may be now found at the new England Coffee House at Change Time.
I Therefore beg the favour of you to make enquiry after the Money, and application Transmitted as afore- said to Bro’ Entick and as much as in you lies forw® the affair, which I shall acknowledge as a great favour and will be a Service to Masonry in These parts.
Masonry has had as great Success in America since my Settling here as in any part of the World (except Eng- land). Here is not less than Forty Lodges sprung from my First Lodge in Boston. Therefore we desire that our Deputation may be made out for all North America or over all North America. I shall be glad of a few Lines from you even though you should have made out and forwarded our Deputation before this Reaches you; as I shall have sundry things to Communicate to you from Time to Time and cannot do it but by Letter to you, most of my old acquaintance of Masons being either Dead or Remov’d from London. I have some remote thoughts of once more seeing London with all my Brethren in the Grand Lodge after Twenty Two years absence, In the
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mean Time I am Sir! Your most affect® and faithful Bro’ and Hum?” Serv‘ Boston New England
August 6, 1755
(Endorsed ) Copy of a Letter Desiring J. Gridley’s Dep. Nv ayay
The Deputation, however, was already on its way and arrived in Boston August 21, 1755, and was ordered to be recorded upon the minutes of the Grand Lodge where it may be found in full (1 Mass. 40). On Au- gust 25, 1755, a Special Committee of the Grand Lodge met to make plans for the “Installment” and on Septem- ber 22nd a Special Communication of the Grand Lodge was held to ‘“‘chuse Stewards to Provide for the Feast at the Instalment of the Grand Master.”’ These elaborate preparations for the Instalment came to fruition October 1, 1755. This was made an occasion of considerable ceremony. The official account in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge reads as follows:
At a Grand Lodge Held at Concert Hall this day The Right Worshipful Jeremy Gridley Esqr, appointed Grand Master of Masons in North America, by the Right Worshipful the Marquis of Carnarvon Grand Master of Masons, was installed in that office (at Concert Hall). The three Lodges in this Town and the Master & War- dens of the Portsmouth Lodge in New Hampshire with a great number of Brothers were present Cloathed with White Aprons and Gloves, and after the Instalment, ac- companied their Grand Master in Procession to Trinity Church in this order, First Walked the Sword Bearer, carrying a drawn Sword, in one hand and the Book of Constitutions in the other, Next came the Several Lodges
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according to their Juniority, closed with the Wardens and Master, cloathed with their Jewells, Four Stewards with white wands went before the Grand Treasurer and Secretary cloathed with their Jewels, who were followed by the Past Grand Officers, after these walked the Grand Wardens with their Jewels, and the Present and the late Grand Master cloathed with their Jewels and Badges, closed the Procession. At Church the Revd Mr. Hooper read Prayers, and the Revd. Mr. Brown Preached an ex- cellent Sermon on the occasion to a Numerous and Polite Audience, after Service the Sword Bearer and Stewards walked before the Grand Master, and the Procession was made in a reversed order back to Concert Hall, where an Elegant Dinner was prepared, and the afternoon was Spent in Harmony and Mirth. The whole Ceremony and attendance was with the greatest Decency, and made a Genteel appearance.
This record is supplemented by a list of names of Brethren, sixty-seven in number, including the foremost men of Boston and vicinity in all trades and professions.
The original records of the Lodge at Portsmouth, N. H., for the meeting of October 16, 1755, set forth that
Last Lodge night being first night of the Quarter there was no Lodge held the Master & Wardens were at Boston being Summoned thither by the Right Worshipful Brother the Deputy Grand Master of North America to attend a Grand Procefsion of Masons there and to In- stall our Right Worshipful Brother Jeremy Gridley Esq’ in the office of Grand Master of Masons in all North America, who Rec? a Commifsion for that office from our Right Worshipful Brother Henry Bridges Marquis of Carnarvon Grand Master of Masons and the said Jeremy Gridley was accordingly installed in his said office at Boston on Wednesday the first day of October Currant.
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Gridley appears to have appreciated the courteous loyalty of the Brethren of the Lodge in Portsmouth in thus suspending a meeting in order that their Master and Wardens might assist at his installation. The records of the Lodge under date of June 14, 1756, show that “Right Worshipful Bro. Jeremy Gridley, Grand Master of Masons in North America” was a visitor in the Lodge.
The Boston Marine Society is among the oldest ex- isting Boston institutions. At first it was known as the Fellowship Club and on December 5, 1752, adopted a proposal to incorporate and a Bill for a Charter drawn by Gridley. As a result, the Marine Society was char- tered February 21, 1754, and in grateful acknowledg- ment voted the Freedom of the Society for hfe to Grid- ley and (February 26, 1754) adopted its By-Laws as drafted by him.
Sometime prior to May 19, 1755, Gridley had moved from Boston to Brookline, for he was then chosen to represent Brookline in the General Court, succeeding himself in 1756 and 1757, and again in later years. In Boston, he was a communicant at Trinity Church. In Brookline, in 1756, he bought a “space or spot” in the meeting-house ‘fon the Middle Side Next the Middle Alley’ for five pounds six shillings and eight pence.
The Grand Lodge had a gala day on the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist which was celebrated on an unknown date between January 31, 1757, and April 8th of the same year. On January 3lst a Special Communication of the Grand Lodge had been called at which Gridley as Grand Master proceeded to make Masons “at sight” of Captain Harry Charters, Captain Gilbert McAdams, Aid- de-Camp, Doctor Richard Huch, Mr. John Appy, Secre-
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tary to the Earl of Loudoun, and Mr. John Melvill (who came to town from Marblehead with Brother Lowell on purpose to be made a Mason). The Grand Master’s elder brother, the celebrated Richard Gridley, (of whom see page 303), conducted the ceremonies of the Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft Degrees. These Brethren, with the largest number ever recorded in the early history of the Grand Lodge, attended the celebra- tion of the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist of which I have spoken, at which were present His Excellency John, Earl of Loudoun, late Grand Master of Masons of England, and His Excellency Charles Lawrence, Esq., Governor of Halifax. The length of the list of Brethren attending and the notable names occurring in the list make it evident that this was one of the greatest festivals of the early days of the Fraternity in America (1 Mass. 49).
March 5, 1759, he was for the third time chosen Mod- erator of the Town Meeting of Brookline, and continu- ously thereafter acted in that capacity, as for instance on June 13, 1759, October 17, 1759, December 19, 1759, December 24, 1759, and March (?), 1760, when he was chosen Selectman and Assessor.
On January 14, 1760, he appointed Robert Jenkins Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Rhode Island with the full authority of a Provincial.
And now, at the height of his career, we come to the most celebrated case in which he was counsel, that con- cerning the Writs of Assistance, first argued in February, 1761. (1 shall not deal with this case in detail. The student may find a good discussion in Quincy’s Massa- chusetts Reports, particularly in the Appendix.) For present purposes it is sufficient to state that these writs
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were practically what is now known as search-warrants except that the place to be searched was not stated in the writ, but was left to that Customs Officer of the Royal Service to whom the writ was committed that he might seek anywhere for smuggled goods. They were undoubtedly lawful, and had been issued in the Mother Country itself in similar form and for identical pur- poses. Moreover, they were no more oppressive, per Se, than certain provisions of the tax and revenue laws of to-day. But the Colonies had a much deeper underlying grievance against the Crown which took this occasion to burst forth. It is undoubted, also, that Otis knew of no precedent and believed them unlawful. But that was due to the paucity of law-books and the lack of sources of information. Indeed, after the first argument, the Court itself adjourned the case until the judges could communicate with England and get necessary informa- tion. Gridley appeared for the Crown and in favour of issuing the writs; Thatcher and Otis for the merchants and against such action.
It has been said that the cause for which Gridley ap- peared aroused distrust of him by his associates. Noth- ing could be farther from the truth. While the great mass of the people were violently opposed to the writs, yet they recognized his position as counsel, presenting to the best of his ability that position which he was retained to maintain. Throughout his life thereafter, as will be seen, he continued to appear on one side or the other of almost every case of moment reported from then until his death. He was revered by the Bar, by the Fraternity, and by the community at large. Bitterly as Otis op- posed him in this celebrated cause, he nevertheless wrote a magnificent tribute to Gridley which will later appear.
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May 18, 1761, he was again chosen Moderator of the Brookline Town Meeting; also July 3.
November 19, 1761, was the day of the great hearing —the second argument concerning the Writs of Assist- ance. An eye-witness (John Adams, later President of the United States) has given us a graphic word picture of this notable occasion from which has been painted the magnificent mural decoration in the State House in Boston.
“In this chamber near the fire,” he says, ‘“were seated five judges with Lieut. Governor Hutchinson at their head, as Chief Justice, all in their new fresh robes of scarlet cloth, in their broad bands and immense judicial wigs. In this chamber were seated at a long table all the Barristers of Boston, and its neighbouring County of Middlesex, in their gowns, bands and tye-wigs. They were not seated on ivory chairs, but their dress was more solemn and more pompous than that of the Roman Sen- ate when the Gauls broke in upon them. In a corner of the room must be placed, wit, sense, imagination, genius, pathos, reason, prudence, eloquence, learning, science, and immense reading hung. by the shoulders on two crutches covered with a rei great coat, in the person of Mr. Pratt, who had been solicited on both sides, but would engage on neither being about to leave Boston forever, as chief justice of New York.”
The Court who sat on this august occasion were Chief Justice Hutchinson, Benjamin Lynde, John Cushing, Peter Oliver, and Chambers Russell. The counsel en- gaged were again Gridley in favour, and Thatcher and Otis against the application, and in the words of Presi- dent Adams, “‘Then and there was the first scene of the first act of opposition to the arbitrary claims of Great
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Britain. Then and there the child Independence, was born.”’
The whole day and evening, we are told, was taken up by the hearing, although Gridley found time to preside as Moderator of the Brookline Town meeting some time that day. At the conclusion of the trial judgment was immediately given in favour of that for which Gridley contended, and a careful study of the case at this impar- tial distance satisfies the student that it was given cor- rectly and as the court should have decided. ‘The real quarrel of the people was with the policy of the home government and with the rules of law which it imposed, not with the interpretation of the law. The Court had no business to change the law. ‘That was for the law makers. It was the business of the Court merely to en- force the law as it was made for them. That they did and did correctly. Gridley but pointed out the proper interpretation of the law as it stood. Otis’s appeal was rather an eloquent voicing of the restive spirit of a people convinced that the law was being used as an instrument of oppression.
It was at this term of Court that judges and barristers were first appareled as in the Courts of England. Grid- ley was present with his associates in gown and band and tie-wig.
Instead of finding him thereafter estranged from his fellows, we find constant records of his presiding over the Grand Lodge and over the town meetings of Brookline, and on numerous occasions a public officer and upon 1m- portant committees. Otis continued to be his warm friend.
On April 1, 1767, he dined at the home of James Otis with a company of ladies and eminent gentlemen, but it
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was his last social appearance and his health was break- ing. On May 25, 1767, he was appointed King’s At- torney General, in lieu of Edmund Trowbridge who had been appointed to the Bench. Jonathan Sewall, Esq., wanted to be Attorney General—indeed he was appointed Special Attorney General, but this being disagreeable to Gridley a new office was created for him which was called Solicitor General. The same day Gridley was again chosen Town Moderator of a meeting which was ad- journed to June 12th. He, however, was in very poor health. He had not attended the Grand Lodge of April 27th, and on June 12th the town meeting was obliged to adjourn because of his indisposition until June 29th. He was too ill to appear at Grand Lodge on June 24th and John Rowe, his Deputy, presided. The Town Meeting on the 29th, indeed, was again adjourned because of his indisposition until July 13th. Struggling against the inevitable, he presided at the Town Meeting on July 13th and at one later meeting the date of which is not given, but he was unable to attend the Grand Lodge on July 24th and ordered that no meeting be held until October in consequence. A Special Communication had to be called, however, on September Ist which he was unable to attend, being then near dissolution, his death occurring on September 10, 1767.
At the time of his death he was Grand Master of Masons in North America, Attorney General for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, a member of the Great and General Court of said Province and a Justice throughout the same, Colonel of the First Regiment of Militia, President of the Marine Society, Selectman and Assessor of Brookline, and the leader of the Boston Bar.
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Surely these honours belie the statement of those who would have us believe that he had lost caste because of his arguments on the Writs of Assistance.
A Special Grand Lodge on September 11, 1767, made plans for Masonic participation in a most elaborate funeral (1 Mass. 118-120) held in the Representatives’ Chamber on September 12. John Rowe writes interest- ingly of it in his diary (1 Mass. 420).
12th Sept Saturday 1767. Cool & Fair Wind, in the Afternoon I attended the Funeral of our Right Worship- ful Jerry Gridly Esqr. Grand Master, as Deputy Grand Master, the Officers of his Regiment Marched in Order First, then the Brethren of St Andrews Lodge, then the Stewards of the Grand Lodge, then the Brethren Pro- miscuously two & two, then the Wardens of the Second Lodge, then the Wardens of the first Lodge, then the Wardens of the Masters Lodge, then the three Masters of the three Several Lodges—then the past Grand Of- ficers & the Treasurer, then the Grand Wardens then myself as Deputy Grand Master, then the Tyler with the Grand Masters Jewell on a Black Velvet Cushion—the Corpse—the Bearers were the Lieut Governour, Judge Trowbridge, Justice Hubbard, John Erving Senr Esqr, James Otis Esqr & Mr. Samuel Fitch. Then followed the Relations—after them the Lawyers in their Robes— then the Gentlemen of the Town & then a great many Coaches, Chariots, & chaises. Such a multitude of Spec- tators, I never Saw at any time before since I have been in New England.—after his Body was Interr’d wee Re- turn’d in Form to the Town house (from whence his corps was taken from at the Beginning of the Proces- sion, ) in the Same Order as wee first walked.—I do not much approve of Such parade & Show—but as it was his & his Relations desire, I could not well Avoid giving my Consent. I think the Number of the Brethren that At-
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tended was 161.—upon the Whole it was as weli Con- ducted & in As Good Order as the Nature of it would
admit.
A full account of the services, order of procession, and names of the Brethren who attended is recorded in the original records of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts (and printed in 1 Mass. 118 to 124 inclusive). It demonstrates his conspicuous position in public life and the affection as well as the veneration of his contem- poraries; lawyers and laymen, men in official and private life alike, joining to do him honour. The bearers were the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Justice Hutchinson, Judge Trowbridge, Councillors Hubbard and Erving, and Barristers James Otis and Samuel Fitch.
The unique obituary printed in the Boston papers at the time of his death, on good evidence is believed to have been written by his friend and former pupil, some- times his associate, at others his bitterest antagonist, James Otis. As printed in the Boston Gazette for Mon- day, September 14, 1767, it reads as follows:
On Thursday last died here, Jeremy Gridley Esqr. At- torney-General of the Province, and a Member of the General Court; His funeral was attended on Saturday with the Respect due to his Memory by the Members of the Council and the Judges of the Superior Court in Town, the Gentlemen of the Bar, the Brethren of the Society of Free Masons, of which he was Grand Master, the officers of the First Regiment, of which he was Colo- nel, the Members of the Marine Society, of which he was President and a great Number of the Gentlemen of the Town :—
“Strength of Understanding, Clearness of Apprehen- sion, and Solidity of Judgment were cultivated in him by a liberal Education and close thinking:
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“His extensive Acquaintance with Classical and al- most every other part of Literature, gave him the first Rank among Men of Learning:
“His thorough knowledge of the Civil and Common Law, which he had studied as a Science, founded in the Principles of Government, and the Nature of Man, justly placed him at the Head of his Proffession:
“His tender Feelings relative to his natural and civil Ties; his exquisite Sensibility and generous Effusion of Soule for his Friends, were Proof that his Heart was as Good as his Head was sound, and well qualified him to preside over that antient Society, whose Benevolent Con- stitutions do Honour to Mankind:
“He sustained the painful Attacks of Death with a Philosophical Calmness and Fortitude, that resulted from the steady Principles of his Religion. He died in the 62nd year of his age.”
(It should read 66th year of his age. )
(A reproduction of the official letter of October 2, 1767, to Henry Price, recalling him to the chair upon Gridley’s death is herewith inserted. See 1 Mass. 125.)
When Jeremy Gridley came to the Bar of the Province it was unworthy to be called a learned profession. In- deed next to none of the practitioners at the Bar were educated men. And even the Bench had held few law- yers. The first judge who had even been a lawyer was Judge Lynde, elevated in 1712. The clergy had held and continued to exercise for many years a control over all civil government and especially over the judicial de- partment. The Court which had condemned to death those poor unfortunates accused of witchcraft, for in- stance, consisted of seven Judges. ‘The Chief Justice was the clergyman Stoughton. With him sat Sewall, a business man, but educated for the church; Winthrop
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and Gedney, physicians; and Richards, Curwin, and Seargeant, merchants. No lawyer had anything to do with this notorious Court. Even Checkley, the Attorney General, was a merchant and a military man. In these modern days when considerations are urged for subject- ing the Courts to popular will, would it not be wise to remember the sad results of this popular tribunal which allowed itself to be swayed by the loud outcries of the populace ?
In such an incipient state of the development of the legal profession, Gridley with an all around education stood forth conspicuous as an able and learned man. His reading and study were extensive and his mind logical and accurate. He was an easy and graceful writer, being imbued with the spirit of classical literature. As a speaker he was “rough and ungraceful, hesitating in his utterance but energetic in his manner, and impressive by his peculiarly emphatic use of language. Even to the court his manner is said to have been magisterial when expressing any opinion in their presence.”’
A good illustration is reported in the case of Banister v. Henderson (Quincy’s Mass. Reports, 141).
It had been held that there might be cross-remainders between two devisees. Gridley was contending that there might be among three. Messrs. Otis and Auchmuty were opposing him. A part of the reported dialogue follows:
Mr. Gridley. It is the bufinefs of the Law to explain the Pregnancy of Expreffion, and when this Pregnancy is drawn out, this is the mighty Confufion, this is the terrible Bugbear. The Lawyers who talk of the Abhor- rence of the Law, the Confufion, the Awkwardnefs, and I don’t know what all, of Crofs Remainders were afleep, I believe, and had their Heads muffled up in Napkins.
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FACSIMILE OF LETTER RECALLING PRICE TO THE CHAIR IN 1767
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1748 B45
Mr. Auchmuty. I don’t underftand fuch Reflections.
Mr. Gridley. I meant no Reflection on you, sir.
Mr. Otis. Mr. Auchmuty, I did not take Mr. Grid- ley intended to reflect upon us, but on all the Judges of England. c
Mr. Gridley. What mighty Difficulty to former Peo- ple I can’t tell: ’tis very plain now. Crofs Remainders may be among 2; why not 3?
Gridley’s commanding ability, far and away superior to his predecessors in his chosen profession, led to his being rightly called the “Father of the Boston Bar.” His office was the principal school for students of the law. The most distinguished lawyers who became his contemporaries and successors, such as James Otis, Oxen- bridge Thatcher, John Adams, William Cushing, and Chief Justice Pratt, received their professional education in his office and under his instruction. Of Otis and Adams he remarked that he had reared two young eagles who were one day to peck out his eyes. Of Gridley more than any other it may be said that he elevated the Bos- ton Bar from comparative chaos and ignorance to the dignity of a learned profession.
Remuneration in these days was not excessive. For an important argument and trial eight dollars was the fee. Five dollars was the limit for a jury argument and two dollars for a continuance. No wonder there were only ten lawyers in Boston at the time, and no wonder that Gridley himself died insolvent. Practically the whole of his estate was his library, a complete inven- tory of which is among the probate records (Suffolk County, Mass.) and which was, for those days, extensive and magnificent. (In the inventory of his estate filed in the Probate Court in Boston on March 18, 1768, it
346 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
was appraised at £209 3s 4d. This was probably what the library had brought at auction, for it was thus sold on February 2, 1768.)
He was succeeded as Attorney General by Jonathan Sewall, who was appointed to the office November 18, 1767.
Jeremy Gridley was buried in Tomb No. 9 of the Granary Burying Ground in Boston, erected by his father-in-law, Hon. Ezekiel Lewis. Until May 11, 1916, it remained unmarked, though his name and fame have remained as one of the foremost men of the day.
Though they never will find a place in classic litera- ture, yet typical of the times and of the man, the lines printed with his obituary as written ex fempore (proba- bly also by Brother James Otis) must be quoted.
Jeremiah Gridley Barrister-At-Law.
“Of Parts and Learning, Wit and Worth possess’d, Gridley shone forth conspicuous o’er the rest: In native Powers robust, and smit with Fame, The Genius brighten’d and the Spark took Flame; Nature and Science wove the laurel Crown, Ambitious, each alike, conferr’>d Renown. High in the Dignity and Strength of Thought, The Maze of Knowledge sedulous he sought, With Mind Superior Studied and retain‘d. And Life and Property by Law sustain‘d. Generous and free, his lib’ral Hand he spread, Th’ Oppress’d relieved, and for the Needy Plead; Awake to Friendship, with the ties of Blood His Heart expanded and his Soul o’erflow’d. Social in Converse, in the Senate brave. Gay e’en in Dignity, with Wisdom grave; Long to his country and to Courts endear’d, The Judges honour’d and the Bar rever’d.
1748 347
Rest! Peaceful Shade! innoxious as they Walk May slander babble and may censure talk, Ne’er on thy Mem’ry cast a Blot—
But human Frailties in thy Worth forgot.”
1916 Mass. 84-124 ef cit.
1748, May 25, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1748, June 3, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. OTR SA: B. 1748, June 8, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. (OM ey, Hay, 1748, June 22, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Sidney George and Capt. John James made.
Oakes Piss AyB:
1748, July 1, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. Election. O.R.; A.B. 1748, July 13, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Brothers Nicholas Fer- ritor and Thomas Vavasour admitted. @ Heeb ls ALB;
348 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
1748, July 27, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Capt. Michael Buttler made.
OM at IER AV) by 1748, August 5, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1748, August 10, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1748, August 24, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1748, August 31,
Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Meeting of the Lodge. “Admitted Masons to the Fellow Craft, Viz:
Cap. Brother Henry Barnsley
Brother Smith
Brother Michael Henry Pascal
Brother Gardner
Brother Wallis
Brother Jenness”’
O.R.
1748, September 2, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. ON re Bs
1748 349
1748, September 14, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. OLURS32A;B.
1748, September 28, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748, September 29, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Meeting of the Lodge. Messrs. Campble and Richard Ion (I’on) made.
O.R. 1748, October 7, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748, October 12, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Brother William Dalton admitted. Cites bn: AL.
1748, October 20, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Meeting of the Lodge. Election. O.R.
1748, October 25, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. Jonathan Fuller made, Brothers William Ellery admitted, Andrew Ramsey (Ramsay) admitted and passed.
one ALD
350 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
1748, November 3, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Meeting of the Lodge. Nathaniel Wheelwright made and passed. O.R.
1748, November 4, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748, November 9, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748, November 17, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Bar’w (Bartho.) Svere, Fran’s Baulos, and William Ross made. Ree Asb
1748, November 23, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Brother David Littlejohn admitted. OH yi eH bata ay
1748, December 2, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748, December 14, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Election. O.R.; A.B. 1 Mass. 9.
1748 351
1748, December 15, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Meeting of the Lodge. Election. O.R.
1748, December 27, Boston. Celebration of the Festival by the Grand Lodge. O.R. of First Lodge.
1748, December 28, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748/9, January 6, Boston.
Meeting of the Masters Lodge. Election. Brothers Andrew Ramsey (Ramsay), Belthar Bayard, Aenneas McKay, William Day, and Jona. Dwight raised.
Od ag Bol Pea Nd bs
1748/9, January 11, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Co 4cA. Db.
1748/9, January 19, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Meeting of the Lodge. O.R.
1748/9, January 25, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
352 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
1748/9, February 3, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748/9, February 8, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Capt. Benjamin Stod- dard, Peter McTaggart, and Elias D’Larue made. OR hele ALb
1748/9, February 16, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Meeting of the Lodge. O.R.
1748/9, February 22, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1883 Mass. 164.
1748/9, March 3, Boston. Meeting of the Masters Lodge. O.R.; A.B. 1748/9, March 8, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. O.R.; A.B.
1748/9, March 22, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge O.R.; A.B.
1748, circa. San Domingo. Lodge organized at Cap, which worked for 35 years thereafter.
1920 Mass. 112.