Loyalist Freemasons from the State of New York - Onondaga and ...

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Ibid. page 222 Rev. John Beardsley, Of Poughkeepsie, New York. Episcopal minister. He was born in Stratford [Ripon], Connecticut, in 1732. He entered Yale College, but did not graduate; King's (now Columbia) College, New York, however, conferred the degrees of A. B. and A. M. He went to England for ordination, and returned early in 1762. In addition to the performance of his parochial duties at Poughkeepsie, he officiated a part of the time at Fishkill. At the beginning of the war he refused to take the oath of allegiance to Congress, and suffered indignities in consequence. In the end, his property was seized, and poor and even destitute, he and his family took refuge in New York. In 1778, he was appointed chaplain in the Loyal American Regiment, commanded by Beverley Robinson, who had been a chief supporter of the Episcopal Church at Fishkill. At the peace, Mr. Beardsley accompanied his regiment to New Brunswick. After many deprivations and sufferings, he was settled over the parish in Maugerville, on the river St. John, and remained there more than seventeen years. His pastoral relations were dissolved in consequence of his infirmities. He retired to Kingston in that Province, on the half-pay of a chaplain, and died there in 1810. He had four daughters. The eldest married a German officer who, some years after the peace of 1783, returned with his wife and children to his native land. His son John died at Woodstock, New Brunswick, in 1852. His youngest son, Hon. Bartholomew Crannel Beardsley, who died in Canada West, in 1855, was Chief Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and a member of the House of Assembly of New Brunswick. His grandson, H. H. Beardsley, of Woodstock, is (1852) a counselor at law, and a member of the Assembly. ALR, p. 215: b. 1732, Ripon, CT; d. ca 1809; 1761, England; Groton and Norwich, CT; 1766 Poughkeepsie, NY; 1776, New York; 1778, Chaplain, Royal American Regiment; 1780 No. 210 E.R. (A), New York; 1781, No. 169 E.R. (A), New York; 1781-83, JGW, New York; 1784, Parr Town, NB; 1784, Hiram Lodge, Saint John, NB, No. 17 NS; 1785, Maugerville, NB; 1785, St. George’s Lodge No. 2, NY; 1789, St. George’s No. 19, NS; Saint John, NB; 1793, Hiram York Lodge No. 23, NS; 1794, Chaplain, King’s New Brunswick Regiment. http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=2254&interval=25&&PHPSESSID=d951n83t9lbi9rrmdaajio34b7 John Beardsley (Beardslee), Church of England clergyman; b. 23 Ap 1732 in Ripton (Shelton), CT, son of John Beardsley, a farmer and land surveyor, and Keziah Wheeler; d. 23 Aug 1809 in Kingston, N.B. John Beardsley was baptized by the Reverend Samuel Johnson, afterwards president of King’s College (Columbia University), but nothing further is known of his early life until 1758, when he entered Yale College. He left Yale after two years, because of anti- Anglican sentiment there, and then continued his studies at King’s under Johnson. He would have graduated with his classmates in 1761 had he not departed before commencement to seek ordination in England. Sharing both the spring voyage and its purpose was Samuel ANDREWS, later missionary at St Andrews, N.B. Among those who recommended Beardsley for holy orders was his future father-in-law, the Reverend Ebenezer Punderson, who described him as “a Person of an Unspotted Character & of an Excellent Temper & Disposition, Sound in his Principles of Religion, Firmly Attach’d to our most excellent Ch[urc]h.” Beardsley was ordained deacon on 6 Aug 1761, and raised to the priesthood by the archbishop of Canterbury 17 days later. The degree of ab honoris causa was conferred by King’s College in 1761 and the degree of AM in 1768. Beardsley began his ministry as missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel at Groton and Norwich, CT, where he arrived early in 1762. The inhabitants of Groton were apparently lax in fulfilling their obligations towards him, however, and he eventually asked to be transferred. Late in 1766 he removed to Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, NY, an area he had earlier served from Groton. “I shall . . . take Care that they pay the poor Man his Salary,” Dr Samuel Auchmuty of New York informed the SPG. “He is not very bright, but is honest and industrious in his calling. . . .” Beardsley’s parish was a scattered one, in which he claimed to ride 3,000 miles a year in the performance of his duties. His devotion and physical exertions resulted in the building of Trinity Church at Fishkill and Christ Church in Poughkeepsie. Beardsley opposed the revolutionary movement and as a result suffered “repeated insults” and many misadventures before finally taking refuge in New York City late in 1777. He and his family were allowed to take away with them only “their wearing apparel and necessary bedding and provisions for their passage, and no other goods or effects whatsoever.” The following year Colonel Beverley Robinson [q.v.], one of his former parishioners and a prominent Freemason [1780, Lodge No. 210 E.R., New York], asked him to act as chaplain of the Loyal American Regiment, and his name appears on the muster-rolls of this unit, which saw service in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the south. Some time during 1779 or early 1780 Beardsley himself became a member of the Masonic fraternity*, and by 1781, when a Provincial Grand Lodge was organized in New York, he was the unanimous choice for the office of Junior Grand Warden. He remained active until 1783, when he resigned his office on deciding to leave New York. On 8 March of that year, before his departure, Beardsley joined 17 other clergymen in preparing “A Plan of Religious and Literary Institution for the province of Nova Scotia,” which was the origin of King’s College, opened as a grammar school at Windsor, N.S., in 1788 and now situated in Halifax. * He was initiated in Antients Lodge No. 210 in New York City in 1779 or 1780 In the summer of 1783 Beardsley followed many of his former parishioners to Parrtown (Saint John, N.B.). At his own suggestion he became an itinerant minister, visiting settlers on both sides of the Saint John River as far as St Anne’s Point (Fredericton). He also assisted James Sayre in the new communities at the river’s mouth. When the rector of Maugerville, John Sayre, died in 1784, Beardsley received a unanimous call to remove there. Christ Church in Maugerville stands as a monument to his labors in the settlement. His letters to the SPG reveal that he was active as well in ministering to nearby communities, particularly Burton. While in Parrtown Beardsley had been invited to become master of Hiram Lodge No. 17, the first Masonic body in New Brunswick, and in Maugerville he was an active member of St. George’s Lodge No. 19, of which Samuel RYERSE was the first master. In 1793 Beardsley was appointed chaplain of the King’s New Brunswick Regiment. By the time Beardsley was established in Maugerville he had already been married several times. His first marriage, to Sylvia Punderson, likely took place in 1763 or earlier, since on 26 Sep 1764 he informed the SPG of the existence of a wife and child. Sylvia died some time after Feb 1771, when twins were born to them, and Beardsley seems then to have married Catharine Brooks, 20
who died in Poughkeepsie on 5 Feb 1774. Shortly thereafter he took as his wife Gertrude Crannell. Whether Gertrude accompanied him to New Brunswick is not known: by a deed registered on 10 Jun 1786 Beardsley and “Anna, my wife” transferred a town lot in Saint John, but no other evidence of “Anna” has been found. Around 1792 Beardsley and his then wife separated, and Mrs. Beardsley departed for New York. On 28 Oct 1798 he was married again, to Mrs. Mary Quain of Saint John, apparently believing that his former wife had died in the United States. When it became clear that she was in fact still living, “people in general were much scandalized, and . . . his congregation were so much offended as to declare they would no longer adhere to or attend him.” An “astonished and distressed” Bishop Charles Inglis instituted an investigation into the matter, and the inquiring clergymen concluded that Beardsley had not been justified in remarrying. Inglis himself found “no proof of prudence or consideration” in Beardsley’s having trusted to unsubstantiated rumors about his wife’s death or in his having continued to “cohabit” with Mrs. Quain once it had become clear that his former wife was still alive: “What must the world think of a man who has two wives alive at the same time, and no divorce from either of them? And what must be thought of a clergyman who is in this predicament?” Though Beardsley seems initially to have complied with the bishop’s instruction to separate from Mrs. Quain, this situation apparently did not endure. His resignation was accepted in 1801 on the grounds that “his late, & present conduct utterly disqualifies him for a Missionary.” The incident had caused some anguish to missionaries and to Inglis, who held him in high regard. “His conduct,” the bishop had concluded, “was rather marked by weakness and dotage than depravity.” How many children Beardsley and his wives had is not known. Though the twins appear to be the only children of his marriage to Sylvia Punderson found in church registers, he was said in 1768 to have had a large family. Ten years later, after his arrival in New York, he noted that his family was 12 in number, five of whom were under the age of seven. One son, John Davis, served for a time as schoolmaster at Maugerville. It was apparently he who in 1798 refused an invitation to take holy orders because no government allowance was attached to his proposed mission at Prince William, a decision which, it was reported, “very much disgusted his worthy Father.” Another son, Bartholomew Crannell*, became a prominent lawyer and judge. The distinguished historian William Odber Raymond* was a great-great-grandson. In 1807 Lieutenant Governor Thomas Carleton was able to arrange half pay as a military chaplain for “poor Beardsley,” who at some point after his resignation went to live with his daughter Hannah Dibblee in Kingston; there he died on 23 Aug 1809, the 48th anniversary of his ordination, and was buried under the chancel of Trinity Church. Though he is sometimes referred to as the Reverend Dr. Beardsley, no evidence of a doctoral degree has been found. In 1916 the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New Brunswick erected a brass tablet to his memory in Trinity Church, and in 1967 the same institution, to mark its centennial, established the John Beardsley Medal as the highest honor for distinguished service to freemasonry in New Brunswick. By this means the loyalist clergyman and father of freemasonry in New Brunswick is remembered today. http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/extras/Beardsley-John/John-Beardsley-Biography.php Reverend John Beardsley, b. 23 Apr 1732 at Ripton (now Huntington), CT, d. 23 Apr 1810 at Kingston, King's, New Brunswick, just 78 years of age to the day. Graduated from King's (now Columbia) College, New York with the degree B.A. in 1761. His first public services were as a Lay Reader, when he "read prayers and sermons to very good acceptance". Rev. Dr. Punderson (father of Sylvia Punderson, his first wife) recommended him to the "Society for the propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," organized in 1711, and the successor of one organized in 1711, and the successor of one organized in 1648 to extend the Gospel in New England, as a person suitable for missionary work. In the spring of 1761 he, with two others, sailed for England to secure ordination. Immediately after his return he was appointed missionary at Norwich and Groton, a position which he filled satisfactorily for five years. October 26, 1766, he was transferred, by his own request, to Poughkeepsie, New York, which parish had been organized on the 23 instant, previous, and was incorporated by Royal Charter March 9, 1773. In addition to Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, he had charge of Trinity Church, Fishkill. He remained there over eleven years. Upon the outbreak of the American Revolution, he deemed it his duty to remain loyal to the King of England, as he had sworn allegiance at the time of his ordination. Shortly after, the Committee of Safety arrested him as a Tory and confiscated his property. He, with his family, took refuge in New York City December 16, 1777. The following year he resided on Long Island. Colonel Beverley Robinson [Sr.], a prominent Loyalist, had been his parishioner at Fishkill, and upon his raising the "Loyal American Regiment for the King' service," the Rev. John Beardsley, on April 1778 was appointed Chaplain of the regiment. He shared its fortunes during the war, and at the close accompanied it to New Brunswick. On the 19th of April, 1783, the transport "Union" sailed from New York City with 209 Loyalists on board, and landed May 10 - 14 days later - on the rugged rocks where the city of St. John, New Brunswick, now is sited. He was the first clergyman of any denomination to minister, spiritually, to the needs of those "exiles". He did not confine his labors to this one locality, but, on foot and in canoes, he went wherever settlers had gone, doing the work of a godly pastor. He was Chaplain of the "King's New Brunswick Regiment" from 1793 to 1802, and during his natural life received a Chaplain's half pay from the British Government. He was an enthusiastic Mason and organized the first Masonic Lodge in New Brunswick, of which he was the Worthy Master. In July, 1805, he visited his old missions at Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, and probably his numerous relatives in New Jersey. The Grand Historian's Notebook: by R:W: Bro. David "Bud" Gillrie: Right Worshipful Brother The REVEREND JOHN BEARDSLEY: By 1772 in the Thirteen Colonies it is estimated there were about 100 Masonic lodges, and there may have been a Masonic membership of 2,000 to 10,000, of a population of around 2,000,000. The American Revolution was also a civil war and possibly one-third of the colonists were opposed to the Declaration of Independence, these were the so-called Loyalists or Tories. After this strife they were scattered: some to England, to the West Indies, with at least 42,000 moving into exile in Canada; 35,000 to the Maritimes, 1,000 to Lower Canada and 6,000 to Upper 21
Page 1 and 2: Loyalist Freemasons from the State
Page 3 and 4: Lodge Name No Notes Lodge No. 24 24
Page 5 and 6: Name No. Lodge Name Notes Barron, A
Page 7 and 8: Name No. Lodge Name Notes Delamater
Page 9 and 10: Name No. Lodge Name Notes Huggeford
Page 11 and 12: Name No. Lodge Name Notes 211 E.R.
Page 13 and 14: Name No. Lodge Name Notes Van Allen
Page 15 and 16: living in New York. Although the pe
Page 17 and 18: WASHINGTON LODGE No. 21 On March 5,
Page 19: Hessian Amusette 1740’s > http://
Page 23 and 24: That in the Month of April 1778 you
Page 25 and 26: http://historicpelham.blogspot.com/
Page 27 and 28: assuredly came from information rec
Page 29 and 30: Joseph Brant - http://www.mqmagazin
Page 31 and 32: http://books.google.com/books?id=cj
Page 33 and 34: John Studholme Brownrigg, Lieut. HM
Page 35 and 36: eventually his father, brothers, an
Page 37 and 38: humanity the situation would allow.
Page 39 and 40: permit in 1775 to go to Canada on b
Page 41 and 42: The death of this distinguished cra
Page 43 and 44: Cartwright [Jr.] had learned early
Page 45 and 46: Not only had Upper Canada grown and
Page 47 and 48: In 1799 he petitioned for passports
Page 49 and 50: Ohio-Mississippi country, Chew’s
Page 51 and 52: voyage home, he resolved to find em
Page 53 and 54: Children of Caleb Clawson and Ruth
Page 55 and 56: http://auden.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/a
Page 57 and 58: John Davan, as Master of Trinity Lo
Page 59 and 60: http://www.smokershistory.com/befor
Page 61 and 62: A brave and enterprising officer, u
Page 63 and 64: Ensign. He was promoted to be a Lie
Page 65 and 66: Since 1779 Ellice had been travelli
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Page 69 and 70: Col. Hendrick Frey, being the oldes
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On a platform erected for the purpo
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1790, his representation, which beg
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Although he contributed three shill
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Tuttle. A bond of secrecy was agree
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-- Lord Dorchester's Proclamation,
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During the years when the departmen
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Master under R. W. Bro. Jarvis in 1
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Samuel Kipp - b. Westchester, NY; Q
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Caleb who seemed a bit partial to t
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to riot, and only a stern reprimand
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executors, in conjunction with the
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When James Moody arrived in 1786, h
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http://www.fort-plank.com/Patent_Ma
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George Pitfield - 1780, Lodge No. 2
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Croghan Land Patents - Otsego Co.,
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The post-war years were hectic for
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Another gown had "a train and body
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For an account of the 1831 Litigati
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Pontiac's Rebellion On 7 May 1763,
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Robert Rogers won an increasing rep
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http://barbfitzz.tripod.com/id8.htm
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John retired on half-pay from the N
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Abraham Savage, tax gatherer of Bos
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http://books.google.com/books?id=fx
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YOU will, of course, have noticed t
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might help turn the tide. As night
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The Sherwood family, in 1779, remov
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tracts of land in that county. Rich
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Bro. Isaac Swayze, or Sweazy, and B
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eformer had suddenly become a confo
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Your Memorialist therefor most humb
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and carried back Ensn. MOFFATT back
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A: He said that he could punish any
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------ Nathaniel Underhill - 1777 D
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Abraham Van Buskirk and his family
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http://www.doublegv.com/ggv/battles
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and standing within that smooth-run
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Mohawks and the latter at Johnstown
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"I think it my duty to let you know
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OATH OF ALLEGIANCE, ABJURATION AND
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Herkimer, men possessed with at lea
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Given the continual anti-loyalist w
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The American Colonel William Butler
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estate of her step-father came into
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http://anglicanhistory.org/canada/n
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ecame best known as an author, poss
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------ Captain Samuel Wright - 1787
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Magnanimity and those enlarged sent
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was a Brigade Major at Oriskany, fr
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qualifications of certain men recom
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our old pioneers who settled in Nor
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Mehetabel Ryerson, the second daugh
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THE COXE DEPUTATION The text of the
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On Thursday last at a Grand Lodge o
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happy to advance the interests of t
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THIS DONE by virtue of the power an
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CLOSE OF THE FIRST PROVINCIAL GRAND
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The Grand Lodge, while doing its be
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96, having healed from Modern to An
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Click to enlarge picture Click to e
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payment of his debts, and at other
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Niagara was a busy place in those d
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than four thousand dollars, and we
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Brant publishes the extraordinary s
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as uncertain we are projecting with
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Distant though Askin was from the c
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