Turin Lodge, No. 184, F. & A.M.
Old Membership Petitions

The following information comes from 18 original petitions for membership in Turin Lodge, No. 184, F. & A.M. (Free and Accepted Order of Masons), found in a box at a barn sale. Over the years the format of the petitions varies but all ask the men their name, age, place of birth, residence, occupation, and length of time at present residence. No questions were asked about the applicant's marital status, parentage or other family members.

Depending on the year of the application, men were also asked if they had ever applied for Masonic membership before or been rejected, had any reason that could prevent them from becoming a member, if they were in good health, and if they believed in one God. One man who was accepted below had been rejected by Turin Lodge upon an earlier application. Wording of questions below have been put into a standard format for online reading consistency. All spellings are as best as could be interpreted from the original handwritten petitions.

Petitioner: BEEBE, H.C.
Date of Petition: Dec. 23d, 1876
- What is your full name? H.C. Beebe
- What is your age? 29
- Where were you born? Otsego
- Where do you reside? Turin, Lewis County
- What is your occupation? Farmer
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 8 months
- Recommended by: J.E. Stuber(?)
- Referred to Bros. J.E. Stuber, W.L. Collins, J.F. Bush
- Dated: Jan. 27, 1877, W.L. Collins, J.F. Bush
- Balloted for Jan. 27, 1877 and Elected

Petitioner: BURDICK, Geo. A. Date of Petition: Dec. 8, 1894 - What is your full name? Geo. A. Burdick - What is your age? 26 - Where were you born? Greig, N.Y. - Where do you reside? Grieg, Lewis Co., N.Y. - What is your occupation? Farmer & Guide - How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? always - Recommended by: Seymour Benedict, J.G. Jones, N.W. Gaylord - Referred to Bros. Hugh Hughs, J.F. Bush, N. Gifford - Dated: Dec. 29, 1894, Hugh Hughs, J.F. Bush, N. Gifford - Balloted for Dec. 29, 1894 and Rejected

Petitioner: BURDICK, Kenneth U. (W.?)
Date of Petition: Jan. 7, 1921
- What is your full name? Kenneth U. (W.?)
- What is your age? 29
- Where were you born? Turin, N.Y.
- Where do you reside? Turin, N.Y.
- State explicitly your business occupation for the past ten years and where conducted. Student - present occupation Field Auditor U.S. Treasury Dept.
- Where have you resided during the ten years last past? Turin, N.Y.
- Presented by Bro. G.(?) A. Blair
- Refers to: George H. Seaver of Turin, D.B. Kentner, W.H. Dewey, George Higby, Harmon Shepard
- Committee: H.M. Sheperd, D.B. Kentner
- Balloted for: not given

Petitioner: GREEN, Harry B.
Date of Petition: not dated
- What is your full name? Harry B. Green
- What is your age? 38
- Where were you born? Spootsville, KY
- Where do you reside? Glenfield, NY
- What is your occupation? Mill Wright
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? once 1/2 year
- Recommended by: S.E. Burdick, John J. Lampman, F.W. Burdick
- Referred to Bros. E.H. Evans, A.R. Miller, J.R. Roberts
- Dated: Feb. 4, 1922, Arthur R. Miller, John R. Roberts
- Balloted for Feb. 4, 1922 and Elected

Petitioner: HIGBEY, H.S.
Date of Petition: Oct. 13, 1877
- What is your full name? H.S. Higbey
- What is your age? 39
- Where were you born? Turin
- Where do you reside? Glendale, N.Y.
- What is your occupation? Hotel Keeper
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 9 years
- Recommended by: W.S. Collins, J.F. Bush
- Referred to Bros. Charles Tuttle, J. Cythe(?), Wm. Griffith
- Admitted: Oct. 27, 1877, signed Joseph Cythe, W. Griffith
- Balloted for Oct. 27, 1877 and Elected

Petitioner: HUGHES, Evan E.
Date of Petition: Feb. 21, 1920
- What is your full name? Evan Evan Hughes
- What is your age? 28
- Where were you born? Vernon, N.Y.
- Where do you reside? Little Falls, N.Y.
- State explicitly your business occupation for the past ten years and where conducted. Electrician for Adirondack Elec. Power Corp. Utica 7 yrs. Engine Oiler for Eastover Construction Co. Utica and Sylvan Beach 1 yr. Lock Operator for State of N.Y. Dept. of Public Works at Little Falls, N.Y. 2 yrs.
- Where have you resided during the ten years last past? Utica 8 yrs. Ilion 1 yr. Little Falls past 2 yrs.
- Presented by Bro.: not given
- Refers to: Hugh Hughes of Turin, Max Hill and Frank C. Gerwig both of Little Falls
- Committee: C.H.(?) Dayton, G.H. Seaver
- Balloted for: June 5, 1920

Petitioner: LOKAY, John J.
Date of Petition: not given
- What is your full name? John J. Lokay
- What is your age? 38
- Where were you born? New Bremen
- Where do you reside? Lyons Falls
- State explicitly your business occupation for the past ten years and where conducted. Paper maker Lyons Falls and Piercefield
- Where have you resided during the ten years last past? Piercefield three years Lyons Falls seven years
- Presented by Bro.: E.C. Gaylord of Lyons Falls, N.Y.
- Refers to: William Manning(?) of Lyons Falls
- Committee: H.N. Gaylord
- Balloted for: not given
- Notes on back: 1st degree taken June 21, 1919; 2nd degree taken July 5, 1919

Petitioner: NEFF, S.J.
Date of Petition: Nov. 24/94
- Petition for Affiliation states that he was a Master Mason and late a member of the Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 572 in the State of N.Y. no further location. Age 26, a resident of Constableville, N.Y. and avocation is that of a teacher.
- Signature is S.J. Neff.
- Committee: H. Kentner J.F. Bush, A.A. Williston
- Recommended for admission Dec. 8/94 by H. Kentner, J.F. Bush, and A.A. Williston.
- Balloted for Dec. 8/94 and Accepted

Petitioner: NICHOLS, Henry
Date of Petition: Jan. 31, 1894
- What is your full name? Henry Nichols
- What is your age? 38
- Where were you born? Malone
- Where do you reside? Lyonsdale
- What is your occupation? Horse dealer and Farmer
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 10 years
- Recommended by: H.W. Gaylord, Geo. W. Delem(?), John H. Browne
- Referred to Bros. H. Hughs, F.J. Barns, N. Whittelsey
- Dated: Mar. 24, 1894, Hugh Hughes, F.J. Barnes, Noah Whittlesey
- Balloted for Mar. 24, 1894 and Accepted

Petitioner: POTTER, Marshall N.
Date of Petition: July 24, 1895
- What is your full name? Marshall N. Potter
- What is your age? 43
- Where were you born? W. Turin
- Where do you reside? West Turin
- What is your occupation? Farmer
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 43 years.
- Recommended by: J.F. Bush, Noch Whittlesey, R.N. Evans
- Referred to Bros. F.J. Barnes, C.A. Riggs, W.S. Hart
- Dated: Aug. 17, 1895, signed by C.A. Riggs, W.S. Hart
- Balloted for Aug. 17, 1895 and Rejected

Petitioner: PRITCHARD, J.R.
Date of Petition: Jany. 20th, 1894
- What is your full name? John R. Pritchard
- What is your age? 30
- Where were you born? West Turin
- Where do you reside? Turin
- What is your occupation? Farmer
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? Twenty seven years.
- Recommended by: F.H. Barnes, R.N. Evans, Hawley Kentner
- Referred to Bros. W.S. Hart, Wm. H. Dewey, Hugh Hughs
- Admitted: Feb. 3d, 1894, signed W.S. Hart, Wm. H. Dewey
- Balloted for Feb. 3d, 1894 and Accepted

Petitioner: RARICK, Arthur A.
Date of Petition: March 16, 1897
- What is your full name? Arthur A. Rarick
- What is your age? 28
- Where were you born? Greig
- Where do you reside? Grieg, N.Y.
- What is your occupation? Carpenter
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 28 yrs.
- Recommended by: Jno. H. House, ___ Gaylord, Henry Abbey
- Referred to Bros. C.A. Riggs, G.H. Seaver, G.A. Perkins
- Dated: Apl. 3, 1897, C.A. Riggs, G.H. Seaver, G.A. Perkins
- Balloted for: not given

Petitioner: RIGGS, E.M.
Date of Petition: February 6, 1897
- What is your full name? Ernest M. Riggs
- What is your age? 22
- Where were you born? Turin
- Where do you reside? Turin, Lewis Co., New York
- What is your occupation? Clerk
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 22 yrs.
- Recommended by: Hugh Hughes, Newton Gifford
- Referred to Bros. F.J. Barnes, W.S. Hart, G.H. Seaver
- Dated: Feb. 20, 1897, F.J. Barnes, G.H. Seaver
- Balloted for: not given

Petitioner: ROBERTS, Herbert J.
Date of Petition: February 9, 1895
- What is your full name? Herbert J. Roberts
- What is your age? 28
- Where were you born? Brier Hill
- Where do you reside? Turin
- What is your occupation? Cheese Maker
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 7 years
- Recommended by: Hugh Hughes, Herbert S. King
- Referred to Bros. J.R. Pritchard, R.N. Evans, G.H. Seaver
- Dated: Feb. 23, 1895, J.R. Pritchard, G.H. Seaver
- Balloted for Feb. 23, 1895 and Accepted

Petitioner: ROCKWELL, Burton
Date of Petition: Jan. 3, 1904
- Petition for Affiliation states that he was a Master Mason and member of the Triphammer(?) Lodge No. 543 at Pike, New York. Age 29, born at Pike, New York, a resident of Constableville, N.Y. and occupation is physician.
- Signature is B.L. Rockwell, M.D.
- Proposed by: Fred L. Ritter, M.D., Turin, N.Y.
- Reference: G.H. Seaver, Turin, N.Y.
- Recommended for admission by W.S. Hart and W.H. Dewey

Petitioner: SMITH, Earle Selden
Date of Petition: Nov. 21, 1914
- What is your full name? Earle Selden Smith
- What is your age? 21
- Where were you born? Turin, Nov. 16, 1893
- Where do you reside? Turin
- State explicitly your business occupation for the past ten years and where conducted. Produce business, Turin and Lyon Falls.
- Where have you resided during the ten years last past? Turin
- Presented by Bro. D.B. Kentner, Turin, N.Y.
- Refers to: H. Gaylord, A.R. Miller, Robert N. Evans, all of Turin
- Committee: U.B. Kentner, G.A. Blair, J. Alm
- Elected: Dec. 5, 1914

Petitioner: TODD, John B.
Date of Petition: March 30, 1896
- What is your full name? John B. Todd
- What is your age? 30
- Where were you born? Delavan N.Y.
- Where do you reside? Lyons Falls
- What is your occupation? Lumberman
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 12 years
- Recommended by: Henry Abbey, John H. House, W.M. Abbey
- Referred to Bros. G.H. Seaver, G.F. Hart, F.J. Barns
- Dated: Mar. 24, 1894, G.H. Seaver, Geo. F. Hart
- Balloted for Oct. 3, 1896 and Elected

Petitioner: WOOD, Philo C.
Date of Petition: Sept. 5th, 1896
- What is your full name? P.C. Wood
- What is your age? 34
- Where were you born? Turin
- Where do you reside? Lyons Falls
- What is your occupation? Clerk
- How long in the town, city or village in which you now reside? 4 mos.
- Recommended by: H.S. King, A.A. Williston
- Referred to Bros. G.W. Allen, C.A. Riggs, G.A. Perkins
- Admitted: Sep. 19, 1896, signed Geo. W. Allen, Arthur Riggs, G.A. Perkins
- Balloted for Sep 19, 1896 and Elected

Transcribed and contributed by: Martha S. Magill, Coordinator, Herkimer/Montgomery Counties NYGenWeb
© Martha S. Magill
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