~ John Hammerton ~
“Provincial Grand Master of South Carolina”
By: Brother McDonald` “Don” Burbidge
Brother John Hammerton “Provincial Grand Master of South Carolina” By:
Brother McDonald` “Don” Burbidge, 33º
Brother John Hammerton arrived in Charles-Town somewhere around 17321 and his
occupation was that of a Receiver General of His Majesty’s quitrents and a
member of his Majesty’s Honorable Council.
Sometime during the year 1735, Solomon’s Lodge No. 1 was constituted in
Charles-Town. The place were these early meeting took place was at Shepheard’s
Tavern which was located at the corner of Broad and Church Street.
Found in Anderson’s Constitutions, Edition 1738, it is stated, “Earl Loudon
granted a deputation to Brother John Hammerton, Esq., to be Provincial Grand
Master of South Carolina, in America.” At this time Brother Hammerton was a
member of Solomon’s Lodge No.1, which met at Shepheard’s Tavern that was located
at the corner of Broad and Church Street.
Printed in Anderson’s Constitutions of 1738, it is states, “Earl Loudon
granted a deputation to John Hammerton, Esq., to be Provincial Grand Master of
South Carolina, in America.”
We then find printed in the, “South Carolina Gazette, 23rd July, 1737. Last
Thursday, (21st July,) John Hammerton, Esq., Receiver General of His Majesty’s
quit rents, Secretary, and one of his Majesty’s Honorable Council, who has been
the first Master of the Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Freemasons
in this place, and intending to embark on board the ship Molly Galley, John
Caruthers, Master, for Loundon, at a Lodge held that evening, resigned his
office, for the true and faithful discharge of which he received the thanks of
the whole Society, who were thirty in number. James Graeme, Esq., was then
unanimously chosen Master in his room, and having been duly installed into that
office, with the usual ceremonies, was pleased to choose and appoint James
Wright, Esq., who was Junior Warden, to be Senior Warden, and Maurice Lewis,
Esq., Junior Warden.”
We also find printed in the, South Carolina Gazette, 23rd July 1737. “Last
Thursday, (21st July,) John Hammerton, Esq., Receiver General of His Majesty’s
quit rents, Secretary, and one of his Majesty’s Honorable Council, who has been
the first Master of the Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Freemasons
in this place, and intending to embark on board the ship Molly Galley, John
Caruthers, Master, for Loundon, at a Lodge held that evening, resigned his
office, for the true and faithful discharge of which he received the thanks of
the whole Society, who were thirty in number. James Graeme, Esq., was then
unanimously chosen Master in his room, and having been duly installed into that
office, with the usual ceremonies, was pleased to choose and appoint James
Wright, Esq., who was Junior Warden, to be Senior Warden, and Maurice Lewis,
Esq., Junior Warden.”
In a note found in Preston’s Illustrations we find printed, “at this time the
authority granted by Patent to a Provincial Grand Master, was limited to one
year from his first public appearance in that character within his Province. And
if, at the expiration of that period, a new election by the Lodges under his
jurisdiction did not take place, subject to the approbation of the Grand Master,
the Patent was no longer valid.”
Again on August 20, 1737 printed in the South Carolina Gazette another
announcement was published: “On Thursday night last (18th August) at the
Solomon’s Lodge in Charles Town, a deputation from the Right Worshipful and
Right Honorable John, Earl of Loundon, constituting and appointing a Provincial
Grand Master of South Carolina, was read, when James Graeme, Esq., the present
Grand Master of the said Province, proposed James Wright, Esq., to be Master of
Solomon’s Lodge, which was unanimously agreed to by the Lodge.”
On December 28, 1738 the following article on the Festival of St. John the
Evangelist celebration by the Masons of Charles-Town.
“The day was ushered in with firing of guns at sunrise from several ships in
the Harbour, with all their colors flying. At 9 o'clock all the members of
Solomon’s Lodge, belonging to the Ancient and Honorable Order of Free and
Accepted Masons, met at the house of Honorable James Crokatt, Esq., Master of
the said Lodge. At 10, proceeded from thence, properly clothed with the Ensigns
of their Order, and Music before them, to the house of the Provincial Grand
Master, James Graeme, Esq., where a Grand Lodge was held. James Wright, Esq.,
elected Provincial Grand Master for the ensuing year, then the following
officers were chosen, viz.: Maurice Lewis, Esq., Deputy Provincial Grand Master;
Mr. George Seaman, Senior Grand Warden; James Graeme, Esq., Junior Grand Warden;
James Michie, Esq., Grand Treasurer, and Mr. James Gordon, Grand Sectary. At 11
o’clock, both Lodges went in procession to Church to attend Divine Service, and
in the same order returned to the house of Mr. Charles Shepheard, where, in the
Court-Room, to a numerous assembly of ladies and gentlemen, the newly elected
Provincial Grand Master made a very eloquent speech of the usefulness of
Societies, and the benefit arising there from to mankind. The assembly having
been dismissed, Solomon’s Lodge proceeded to the election of their officers for
the ensuing year, when Mr. John Houghton, was chosen Master; Dr. John Lining,
Senior Warden; Mr. David McClellan, Junior Warden; Mr. Arthur Strahan,
Secretary, and Mr. Alexander Murrary, Treasurer. After an elegant dinner all
brethren were invited by Capt. Thomas White on board the Hope; there several
loyal health’s were drank, and at their coming on board and return to shore,
they were saluted by the discharge of 39 guns, being the same number observed in
each of the different salutes of this day, so that in all there were about 250
guns fired. The evening was concluded with a ball and entertainment for the
ladies, and the whole was performed with much grandeur and decorum.”
In 1762 Brother John Hammerton left Charles-Town as it was then named to sail
to England due to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. This was the last time
that he spent any time in the town and country that he was elected as the first
Provincial Grand Master.
On November 15, 1766 Brother John Hammerton2 passed away while living in
England.
Endnotes
1. Bicentennial Celebration of Solomon’s Lodge No.1, Dated: October 28th,
1936.
2. South Carolina’s First Provincial Grand Master, By: Eugne Anderson, M.M.;
Publish Date: unknown
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