Difference between revisions of "GMOxnard"

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"At Boston in New England, Thomas Oxnard, Esq., an eminent merehant, Grand Master of the Sooiety of Freemasons in North America."
 
"At Boston in New England, Thomas Oxnard, Esq., an eminent merehant, Grand Master of the Sooiety of Freemasons in North America."
 
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1821 Mass. 642. <br>
 
1821 Mass. 642. <br>
 
6 N. E. Historical and Geni Reg. 375.<br>
 
6 N. E. Historical and Geni Reg. 375.<br>
 
26 N. E. Ilistorical and Gen. Reg. 3.<br>
 
26 N. E. Ilistorical and Gen. Reg. 3.<br>
 
Willis' History of Portland.
 
Willis' History of Portland.
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=== MEMORIAL ===
 
=== MEMORIAL ===

Revision as of 18:51, 29 March 2011

THOMAS OXNARD (1703-1754)

Provincial Grand Master for North America, March 6, 1743/4 to June 25, 1754.

Thomas Oxnard was born about 1703 in the Bishopric of Durham in Eng{and. The date of his immigration to this country has not been ascertained. On January 21, 1735/6, he was made a Mason in the First Lodge in Boston of which he was chosen Master at the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist, 1736. He was one of the founders of the Masters Lodge on January 2, 1738/9, and frequently attended its meetings. At the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist in 1739 he was appointed Deputy Grand Master. He succeeded Tomlinson as Grand Master, his Commission being dated September 23, 1743, and being received in Boston on March 6, 1743/4. A copy of it is spread in full upon the early Proceedings, and may be found in (Page) I-7 (see also (Page) I-387). He was specifically appointed by his original warrant to be Provincial Grand Master of North America, with full power to constitute lodges in North America. In the exercise of that power he constituted Lodges not only in and about Boston, but also in Newfoundland, Rhode Island, Maryland, Connecticut, and elsewhere. We know that he was in England in 1752 (Page I-19) and he was probably absent for some time because he did not attend the Communications of the Grand Lodge from October 11, 1751 until October 13, 1752. During his absence, however, he was evidently in communication with the Grand Lodge for in January, 1752, Brother McDaniel was Deputy Grand Master, while in June of the same year we find that Alexander Lord Colvill had been deputized as Deputy Grand Master.

A contemporaneous estimate of him as an experienced merchant, an upright dealer, an affectionate husband, a tender parent, a sincere friend, and a kind master, is recorded on the records of the Grand Lodge under date of July 1, 1754, together with an account of the Masonic ceremonies at his funeral (Page I-33).

Oxnard, and his wife's father, Johl Osborn, were partners in business. IIr. Osborn had many public offices, and doubtless Oxnard was a chief factor in the management of the affairs at the store and on the wharf. His mansion was at the northerly corner of Tremont and Winter streets, having been bought in 1742 of Adam Winthrop, Esq. The property on the northeast measured two hundred and thirteen feet, on the southeast one hundred and forty-two feet, on Winter street two hundred and thirteen and a half feet, and on Common street, the present Tremont street, one hundred and fifty-two feet. This property is diagonally across Tremont street from Park Street Church. Full statements concerning his family may be found in the references given.

His widow, Madam Sarah Oxnard, married, second, April 10, 1756, the Honorable Samuel Watts, Esq. She was evidently a shrewd business woman, for it would appear from the settlement of the Oxnard Estate that she charged her second husband, Judge Watts, for four years' use of her house in Boston from 1756 to 1760, about which time the family removed- to Chelsea where Judge Watts died in 1770. Her portrait was painted by John Singleton Copley and is still in existence. Unfortunately no portrait of Thomas Oxnard is known. The Boston Post Boy for Monday, July 1, 1754, contains an account of his death and funeral identical with that recorded in the records of the Grand Lodge above referred to. The Boston Gazette of Tuesday, July 2, 1754, has the following intelligence:

"Last Tuesday died here Thomas Oxnard, Esq., a noted merchant of this town, in the fifty-first year of his age, and was decently interred on Friday last."

There is, also a note in the Gentlemen's Magazine of London for 1754, page 388, reading:

"At Boston in New England, Thomas Oxnard, Esq., an eminent merehant, Grand Master of the Sooiety of Freemasons in North America."

1821 Mass. 642.
6 N. E. Historical and Geni Reg. 375.
26 N. E. Ilistorical and Gen. Reg. 3.
Willis' History of Portland.

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, July 1, 1754, Page I-33.

"On Tuesday last departed this Life, after a lingering Sickness, in the Fifty First year of his age, The Right Worshipfull Thomas Oxnard Esq* Grand Master of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons in North America. A Gentleman whose Loss is not only deplored by the Fraternity over which for Eleven Years he Presided, but by all those who had enjoyed the Pleasure of his acquaintance. He was an experienced Merchant, an upright dealer, an affectionate Husband, a tender Parent, a Sincere Friend, a kind Master. He was free from Bigotry and Enthusiasm, and his Religion, on the duties of which he constantly attended, was truly Catholick. The News of his approaching death was received by him with Composure and Resignation, he Set his house in order, and in Expectation of a better Life, he bore the last Agonies of this with a most Christian Fortitude. Reader wouldst thou shine in these amiable Virtues, Imitate Him. —

"His Corps[e] was attended to the Grave last Friday by a Numerous Train of Relations, of Free and Accepted Masons, Friends and Acquaintance, The Free and Accepted Masons dressed in black, and Cloathed with white Aprons and Gloves walked before in a Procession of two, with the Grand Masters Jewell, usually worn by him, pendant from the Ribbon on a tassel'd black Velvet Cushion carried next to the Corps[e], Immediately before the Cushion walked the Deputy Grand Master with the Grand Wardens; the Past Grand Officers, the other officers of the Grand Lodge, the Masters, Wardens and Officers of the other Lodges in Town in their order, all the Masters and Wardens with their Jewells pendant upon black Ribbon, after the Interment the Fraternity walked before the Relaitions and returned with them to the Mansion House of the deceased, where they took their Leave, The whole attendance was conducted thro' a vast Number of Spectators, with great order and Decency."


Grand Masters