Sunday 15 August 2010

Freemasonry in Norfolk 1778-1789

Mary Hardy was the wife of William Hardy, a substantial farmer and landowner living at Letheringsett Hall in Norfolk. She kept a diary covering the years 1733 to 1809, which was edited for the Norfolk Record Society in 1968 by Mary’s descendant, B. Cozens-Hardy: Mary Hardy’s Diary, ed. B. Cozens-Hardy, Norfolk Record Society 37 (1968). The diary includes these references to Freemasonry:

p. 30. [1778] May 25 Mon. Zeb Rouse removing muck out of the Yard to the garden gate. J. P. at plow. I went to Norwich M 10 with Mrs Neve in their chaise. Dind [sic.] at Mrs Gilberts, drank tea at Miss Yeomans, saw the free Masons go to the Play, saw Mrs Raven of Kirby. Mrs Neve went to the play & I came home in the chaise alone. Recd a letter from Mr Hardy.

p. 32. [1779] Jan 20 Wed. Mr Hardy Mr Neve Mr Ansell etc opened a free Masons lodge at the Sergeant.

p. 68 [1789] Nov 14 Fri. Mr Hardy went to a [Manor] Court at Salthouse was admitted to the public house called the Dun Cow, from thence went to the free Masons lodge at Blakeney and came home morn 2.

p. 72 [1789] Dec 2 Wed. Mr Hardy and Wm [their son] went to Wells and paid for the Fighting Cocks Public House, came home by Blakney & stopt at the Free Masons Club, home even 12.

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