Early days of the Lodge of Brotherly Love No 329


Following a petition to the premier Grand Lodge in 1809, a Warrant under the name of the Earl of Moira, the Acting Grand Master, and under the authority of HRH George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales, the Grand Master, was given to:

‘Charles Marsh, John Pottenger Westcote, Henry Carey, John Nicholetts, Robert Carey, James Pieronnet and Thomas Hamlyn residing in or near the town of Martock in the County of Somerset and were ‘accordingly hereby authorised to open and hold the said Lodge at the George Inn in the town of Martock under the denomination of the Lodge of Brotherly Love and to be numbered 617 on the Register of the List of Lodges.’
Signed by L Parker, Deputy Grand Master
Witnessed by W White, Grand Secretary
Given at London, under the hand of Masonry on 8 March 1810.

As five of the petitioners lived in or near Martock, attendance at other lodges would have involved a considerable amount of travelling time, so it made sense to establish a lodge at Martock. It is worth noting that one petitioner lived south of Crewkerne and Charles Marsh, the Right Worshipful Master appointed by Grand Lodge, actually lived at Wiveliscombe on the other side of Taunton!

The petitioners for the Lodge were:

  • Charles Marsh, a saddler, aged 65, from Wiveliscombe
  • John Pottenger Westcote, a surgeon/doctor living in Martock
  • Henry Carey, a tobacconist and snuff manufacturer living in Martock
  • John Nicholetts, an attorney/solicitor from South Petherton
  • Thomas Hamlyn, a surgeon/doctor from Martock
  • James Pieronnet, a dancemaster living in Wayford
  • Robert Carey

... Martock: Employment was primarily associated with agriculture but there was a mill for grain, another for snuff, several stocking makers, clothiers and glovers. There was no major road going through the small market town but there was a regular coach link from Martock to Yeovil. Yeovil was an active market centre with a regular Friday market, two annual fairs, three banks, five solicitors, the Charity or Free school and the Western Flying Post newspaper had served the town since 1737...

... Early Meetings: This first meeting of the Lodge of Brotherly Love was held on Thursday 19 April 1810 at the George Inn at Martock when seven masons were present. Five of the seven were petitioners, but these did not include James Pieronnet or Robert Carey, but did include two other masons, Thomas Westlake and John Timson - who later joined the Lodge on 4 April 1811. At that meeting four men from Martock were ‘proposed in due form’ and made masons...


These are extracts from the fascinating book on the history of the Lodge
The book was published due to a bequest from the late W Bro Richard Stallard PPJGW.
A pdf copy of the book can be downloaded by clicking here.

Chronology


1809 to 2010: Significant events.

Our first meeting place


The George Inn, Martock. The first home of Brotherly Lodge 19th April 1810

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