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Washington County Local History
New York History
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Masonry
Among the pioneers, besides members of church organizations who had formed
new societies in their new home, there were the Masons in Hartford, and many were possibly affiliated with lodges
in neighboring towns. There had been six formed within the county. They were located at Fort Edward, Hampton, Kingsbury,
Cambridge, Salem and Granville, and were formed in the order named. Some Masons within the town must have been
affiliated with the numerous temporary military lodges that had existed in the army. In 1800, Herschel Lodge, No.
89, at Hartford, became the seventh. It was instituted at the home of Elijah Sacket on December 3rd. The following
were the first officers: M., Daniel Mason; S. W., Gardner Maynard; J. W., Thomas Worden; Scribe, Asaheal Hodge;
Treasurer, Caleb Brown; S. D., Elijah Sacket; J. D., Jonathan Wood; Stewards, George Jilson and Nathan Taylor.
Among the other original members were Enoch Froman, John Swain, George Patterson, Solomon Carswell, C. Higby, Manning
Bull, Samuel Love, Thomas Love, John Pierce, Samuel Taylor, Luther Harris, Zadok Harris and Waite Doolittle. The
discipline of the first lodge was no less strict than that of the churches, and the members no less serious in
their purpose of banding together. In the original by-laws we read that a member failing to attend a public meeting
shall pay a fine of a shilling. Members were frequently expelled for unbecoming conduct. The meetings were held
around at convenient private dwellings. In 1820 we read that the house of Brother Caleb Brown was so used, and
its owner paid $.50 per meeting. Later David Austin fixed up the large attic of his house for a lodge room, where
meetings were held for many years. The early history of the lodge was a peaceful and happy one, and continued so
for two decades or more. Among the first members and later initiates may be found the names of prominent men in
town, its pastors, physicians, the deacons of the early churches and leaders in local government.
SORCE:
The Story of Hartford
A History
Compiled by: Mrs. Isabella Brayton, Town Historian
in collaboratin with John B. Norton.
Hartford, NY 1929
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Washington County Local History
New York History
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