Help with identifying old relative antique

[eenglish]

I am a genealogist, and I am trying to find information on an item that belongs to our family (although our family no longer has it). What we are trying to is identify some history as it relates to the object but are hitting a major dead end.

It is said that our ancestor who arrived in the states around 1725-1730 came with a Masonic Pitcher (meant for pouring drinks). The only history I can find on it relates to it being created around 1722. However, it is apparently from Scotland.

Is there any other information someone might be able to help with (even point me to a website or two) relating to possible location, etc.

There is a quote on it from "the apprentice's song".

This is all I know.

[sapphire]

Welcome eenglish.  I don't know where you are located but it appears the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Mass. might be
a good place to start a search. The museum references and their connection to the Mason's seems to come up quite a bit in searching.

Check out these sites I came across........

http://www.antiquesjournal.com/Pages04/Monthly_pages/feb05/freemasonry.html     (end of page)

http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/masonic-and-fraternal-history/

http://supremecouncil.org/

[regularjoe2]

Welcome to the forum , eenglish .

It sure would help to know where/when this item changed hands , along its' life , as well as when/where it 'left' the family .

Do you know what this missing item was made from ? Size ?

Kinda like lookin' for a black cat in the dark here , without some more clues .

[sapphire]

eenglish, working in the dark on this one, but.............

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/a-collection-of-masonic-china/   (Paragraph 8 ?? )


"With Figure 5, we have the type of Masonic decoration most frequently found on Liverpool pitchers. It consists of numerous emblems contained between the Masonic Pillars with the mosaic pavement below. On the reverse side is a stanza of the Entered Apprentice song:

“The world is in pain, our secrets to gain, But still let them wonder and gaze on, For they ne’er can divine, the word nor the sign Of a Free and Accepted Mason.”

This verse is frequently found, often with weird variations in spelling, either by itself or in combination with Masonic devices. Below the lip is a medallion bearing the date 1798 and the name of the original owner, Thomas Hitchcock, Mechlenburg Street, Dublin."




"Four Liverpool Masonic Pitchers: All have black transfer decoration. Figure 4: a rare pitcher with design by P. Lambert; Figure 5: large pitcher, dated 1798; Figure 6: pitcher with Masonic coat-of-arms and many emblems; Figure 7: a seaman's jug with circular design incorporating numerous Masonic emblems."

Would this one be similar to the one you are referring to?

[eenglish]

Thank you for you kind introductions as well as your help thus far. I am a complete newbie to the antique market as it relates to my genealogy work. Please forgive my lack of information as I was not completely sure what was needed in order you to make a recommendation. I will check out all of your suggestions - they seem very good and was what I was looking for. In the meantime, let me try to give all the information I know.

One thing I noticed from what you have listed for me, is the relationship this antique has to England and Ireland. Since my ancestor is from Scotland it makes it all that much more difficult, because it was there that he either bought it new or had it handed down to him from his father. Here are the facts:

It's probably not older than 1722/23. Apparently, this pitcher had a tradition where the father would hand it down to the first born son - that makes me think it wasn't used. And, why the father since it was a dish, why not the mother? I have at least three generations of this happening in the states. From 1730-1820 (Aprox.) It was purchased in Scotland between 1723-1726 (this is why we are interested, we have no clue where John was from and we figure getting information about this antique will help us narrow down the search). It has the aforementioned verse. We believe it was porcelain. We are assuming it was crafted in Scotland, but cannot be sure since we are not sure how importing worked back then with such hostilities in the UK. This is all the information we have at this point.

I hope this helps.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I will update you if I find anything.

Eric

[KC]

It was handed through the men because it was a Masonic Pitcher....Women could not be Masons!  being a Mason is still considered a rite of passage and manhood by many!


Did you see this post?Refers to Scottish family as well.
http://www.mcdonaldhistory.com/1a.html

Here's history of Freemasons by country
http://www.1902encyclopedia.com/F/FRE/freemasonry.html

[eenglish]

This is so funny. I do quite a lot of communication on forums. I am by profession a web developer. That's why it was so funny when the last person who replied gave me a reference link to my own website. lol

What are the odds of that happening?

Interesting note on the entry into manhood. As the story goes the last person that the pitcher was seen with was a woman. Not sure how that happened.

Also, how would someone back then get a masonic pitcher. Would they purchase it at a market or would they get it from the lodge? How does the person who first had it, get it?

Thanks for everyone's help. I feel like I am getting closer to the truth.

[KC]

I knew that...just seeing if you would catch that it was your site!  LOL....Not!

Over time...if there wasn't a male heir to hand it down to...it did go to a female!