March 21, 1762: “The Right Worshipful Jeremy Gridley, Esq. Provincial Grand Master of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Mason in North America, Sendeth Greeting.  Whereas, Application hath been made unto us by several Brethren of the Ancient and Honorable Society of  Free and Accepted Masons, now residing in Hartford, aforesaid.  That we would be pleased to constitute them into a regular Lodge that Masonry may increase and flourish in these parts:
Now Know Ye That we have nominated, Ordained, Constituted and Appointed Our Right Worshipful and well beloved Brother, Mr. John Townley to be the first Master of the Lodge… and further that they do annually keep, or cause to be kept, the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and dine together on that day or near that day, as shall be judged most convenient…” Hence was born St. John’s Lodge No. 4.

ST.JOHN'S LODGE, HARTFORD,
was constituted in the year 1763, by a "Deputation" from R.W. Jeremy Gridley, Esq., of Boston, "Provincial Grand Master of Masons in North America." The following are the .names of the brethren who signed "the letter craving a deputation for this Lodge" :—John Townley, Wm. Jepson, Samuel Olcott, George Caldwell, Abraham Beach, Thomas Hopkins, Jonathan Wadsworth, John Ellery, James Church, Samuel Flagg, Eleazcr Pomeroy, Thomas Payson.

The Lodge was organized immediately upon the receipt of the dispensation, and the subjoined extract is copied from the earliest record to be found:                                

At a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, held at Hezekiah Colyer's, the 19th January, 6763, Rt. W. John Townley read his Deputation from Jeremy Gridley, Esq., Grand Master of America, appointing him Deputy Grand Master of this Lodge; and after the usual ceremonies he nominated aloud, Bro. William Jepson for his Senior Warden, Bro. Samuel Olcott for his Junior Warden, Bro. George Caldwell for his Treasurer, Bro. Abraham Beach for his Secretary; whom the Lodge accepted of, according to the usual manner.

The following is a copy of a letter addressed by order of the Lodge to the Provincial Grand Master, soon after their organization;

HARTFORD, July 27,1763.
Right Worshipful: I am directed by the Master, Wardens and Members of the newly constituted Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Hartford, to render you and the other officers of the Grand Lodge in Boston, our sincere acknowledgements for the Constitution you have been pleased, on our request, to grant to this Lodge; and to assure you we shall ever make it our constant endeavor, as we trust it will be our highest pleasure, to square our actions agreeably to the rules of our honorable profession; thereby rendering ourselves worthy the favor you have been pleased to bestow upon us; and in some measure answering the ex¬pectations you might reasonably conceive from a Lodge, the pillars whereof are Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.

We beg leave further, to observe, that by virtue of your deputation, appointing R. W. John Townley Deputy Grand Master of this Lodge, he congregated the brethren together and formed them into a regular Lodge, on the 19th day of January, 5763, and appointed two Wardens and other officers necessary for the due regulation of the same, who served the Lodge in their respective places till the last Aniversary Festival of St. John the Baptist, at which time the members elected their officers at their Lodge Room, at the sign of the Black Horse, in this town, according to the following list of members of the Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Hartford:
R. W. WILLIAM JEPSON, Deputy Grand Master.
W. SAMUEL OLCOTT, Senior Warden.
W. JAMES CHURCH, Junior Warden.
Br. ABRAHAM BEACH, Secretary.
Br. WILLIAM ELLERY, Treasurer.
Br. JOHN BUNCE, Tyler.
John Townley, of Hartford, Israel Knapp, of Hartford, George Caldwell, James Tiley, Thomas Hopkins, Alexander Chalker, Jon'th Wadsworth, Samuel Wyllys, John J. Ellery, Andrew Thompson, Samuel Flagg, John Bigelow, Eleazer Pomeroy, John Wynne, Lieut. 46th Reg., Thomas Payson, of Boston
All of whom greet you thrice heartily, and in their name and behalf I beg leave to subscribe myself, Right Worshipful, your affectionate brother and very humble servant,
ABRAHAM BEACH, Secretary.
To the R. W. Jeremiah Gridley, Esq.
Provincial Grand Master of Masons in North America.

This Lodge received a charter from the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, at the May session, 1795, with the name and rank of "St. John's Lodge, No. 4," Bro. Ephraim Root being at that time the W. Master.

(More to come)