WILLIAM HOLLOWAY

 

William Holloway was initiated in Jamaica in 1759 but at the time of the Medina restoration he was the Customs Secretary at East Cowes.  He was Junior Warden in 1799.  In 1787 he was appointed Prov. J.G.W  At this time Edward Rushworth was Deputy P.G.M. but appears never to have visited the Lodge (the only one in his Province).  The W.M. in 1792 was Hugh Sime, a local doctor, who wrote asking Sir Thomas Dunckerly, the P.G.M. , to appoint someone else and offering to recommend someone.  The result was the he appointed Holloway  as his Deputy, a position he retained for 27 years.

An inventory made in 1802 list the following gifts he made to the Lodge:-

4 Candlesticks and case to contain them

A Lewis Pullies and Triangle with a mahogany stand

A cedar Square, Level and Plumb Rule and a pair of Compases

A perfect Ashlar, a Rough Ashlar

A twenty four inch Gauge, in four parts

Two Gavels

One small Hiram

A brass Plumb and Trowel

A brass Scale and Line of Chords

 

The Oxford Dictionary gives a Lewis as a contrivance for lifting heavy stones using three poles and a  system of pullies.  The Lodge has two of these, on the Masters Pedestal and the other on the Senior Warden’s.  I think the one presented by William Holloway is the one on the Master’s Pedestal.  It is nice to see his case of Working Tools is now back over the desk use for signing the register.

LANCELOT FOQUETT

 

Lancelot Foquett – Master at the reconstitution, 1779. W. Bro. Jack Goodson seems to have drawn a blank when trying to trace Lancelot Foquett.  We know he was the first Master at the reconstitution of the Lodge in 1779. However, I have now discovered that he was a Custom Officer with the position of Tidesman and that according to the Whippingham Rate Book he lived in Whippingham.  There was no parish of East Cowes as that came during the next century, when St. James’s Church at East Cowes was built as a chapel of Ease to Whippingham.  He presented the inscribed copy of the Bible which now only adorns the Master’s Pedestal for the installation meeting.  His Executors were William Holloway and John Siers.  Holloway we know as a member and Siers was part of the boatyard with Robert Fabian and Samuel Kent.  The Will is dated 25^th April, 1796.  Here is an extract:-

“As a mark of my great regard to Masons and Masonry my two silver plated candlesticks to the Medina Lodge to be an accompaniment to the Bible I heretofore gave to the said Lodge.  As also a silver mounted dagger for the said Lodge with my name engraved thereon.  All my Masonic apparatus and everything relating to Masonry I give to my good friend and Trustee William Holloway immediately after my death, as also my close bodied coat and three waistcoats, and for his son Stephen Holloway my new silver watch, and for his wife my silver buckles as I promised her.

He also provided for his widow with the bulk of his estate being managed by Holloway, that his widow may live comfortably although frugally.

He died in April 1797.

We can find no trace of the silver plated candlesticks or inscrived silver dagger. However, in 1849 when the Lodge was in a desperate plight it was proposed to sell the Lodge furniture and jewels but eh presentation Bible donated by Lancelott Foquett was retained.

Everything else seems to have been sold because we later find the furniture disposed of was gradually replaced, Bro. Dawson presenting a Tracing Board and Bro.  Osborne presenting three especially made Candle Sticks with three, five and seven steps which meaning have been explained during the Ceremonies.

A subscription was raised to purchase processions. This is the one at the right of the Worshipful Master’s Chair.  The one on the left was presented by Asher Barfield in 1882.

GEORGE MAYNARD

 

Was a Member of the “Three Tuns” Lodge at Portsmouth.  He was Licensee of the Vine Tavern which was to the west of the Dolphin Hotel.  He survived the Lodge resuscitation, having been the host for the Lodge meetings before and after the change.  His tavern was an obvious meeting place as, with High Street frontage and the rear portion built on piles over the water, it gave a landing for the seafarers and easy access from land .  The Lodge met fortnightly in the summer and monthly in the winter.  The winter meetings were held on the Thursday nearest the full moon.  This gave light to guide the landsmen home and provided an evening high water for the seamen.  His name disappeared from the Lodge Roll in 1780 but the following year he wrote from Winchester Gaol petitioning for relief.  The Lodge sent him One Guinea.  He attended the Lodge again in 1784, obviously well thought of, as he was invited to occupy the Senior Warden’s chair.

 

JAMES DAVIS

Also survived the transition, having been Secretary of the Lodge for James Day and also of the reconstituted Lodge.  He also was a Three Tuns mason. Having been initiated there in 1755, a year after Thomas Dunkerley.

SIR THOMAS DUNKERLEY

 

Is a name that crops up a lot in the early days of Medina Lodge. He was the man who organised the reconstitution of the Lodge in 1729.  In 1754 he was initiated into the Three Tuns Lodge at Portsmouth, meeting at the King’s Head, and from then on he appears to have dedicated his life to Masonry.

He was  a Gunnery Officer in the Royal Navy and served on the warship ‘Vanguard’ with Wolfe in Canada.  While there he installed the first Provincial Grand Master for Quebec and subsequently founded a Lodge on board Vanguard.

Returning from that trip he found that his mother had died, leaving him a letter.  This informed him that he was the illegitimate son of King George the Second, who by this time had died, being succeeded by King George the Third who, after due investigation, acknowledged him and gave him a pension from the Privy Purse and a grace and favour apartment at Hampton Court Palace.

This really gave him time to apply himself to the furtherance of Freemasonry and, after a slight contre temps between James Day, the master of Medina for 18 years, and Grand Lodge, he was given the job of reconstituting it.

The Lodge still has the original Dispensation written in his own hand.  This authorises Lancelot Foquett, Robert Dixon, William Holloway, James Davis and George Maynard to hold a Lodge in Cowes and to make Masons, Davis and Maynard being the only two to make the transition from the old to the new.

On the 29^th October 1779 Sir Thomas Dunckerly presided over the first meeting of Medina Lodge after it’s resuscitation, also becoming a member himself. Grand Lodge slao restored the number Thirty Nine which had been granted in 1770, which would not have happened if the rift had been very deep.

At the meeting he installed Lancelot Foquett as Master, who marked the occasion by presenting an inscribed Bible.  Sir Thomas stayed in Cowes for three weeks presiding over five meetings, during which fifteen ceremonies were performed.

ISHAM CHAPMAN

 

Was initiated in Medina in 1790.  He was also a Customs Officer, being the landing Surveyor.  He also had trouble with James Day and had him bound over by the Justices to keep the piece.  He was also a friend of Sir Thomas Dunkerley who came down from Hampton Court and personally initiated him.  He was the one exception at Medina not to be charged a fee on consideration of his being made, passed and raised by our Provincial Grand Master.  He was destined for Great things, being appointed Junior Warden before his raising and Provincial Grand Warden two years later.

William Arnold, his Customs boss, died in 1801 and Isham Chapman succeeded him as Customs Collector.  Arnold also held the position of Postmaster for the Island.  This office Chapman had transferred to his widow, Martha.  She had the income but Chapman carried out the duties.

Both Williams and Arnold and Isham Chapman have memorial plaques in Whippingham Church.

ROBERT FABIAN W.M. 1792 AND 1793

 

The shipyard at East Cowes which had built so many fine ships for the Royal Navy was acquired by a Rober Fabian who has a small boatyard at Eling, building fishing boats. With the facilities he had at East Cowes he quoted for and obtained a Naval contract to build a third Rater to be named H.M.S. Renown, which he launched in 1774, followed by the 28 gun Andromeda in 1780, the 64 gun Repulse and the 32 gun Astrea both launched in 1781 and the 20 gun Swallow followed by the 44 gun H.M.S. Experiment.  He died in 1786, succeeded by his son, Robert also.

Son Robert is the Brother who was Master for the two years from 1792.  He went in the Chair at thirty-one years of age.  But what I find remarkable is that he carried on where his Father left off and launched H.M.S. Veteran, a 74 gun ship of the line 1787.  He was then twenty six years of age.  He took Samuel Kent as a partner.  He also was a member of Medina Lodge and an Executor of Lancelot Foquett’s will.

Cowes

Isle of Wight

County of Southampton

To Wit

                  We the underwritten Hugh Sime, M.D. and Thomas Coombs Stationer of Cowes in the Isle and County aforesaid two of the members of the Lodge of Free Masons held at the Vine Tavern at West Cowes called the Medina Lodge and being No. 31 in the list of Lodges so hereby, pursuant to “an act for the more effectual suppression of Societies established for Seditious and Treasonable purposed and for better preventing Treasonable and Seditious Practices” Certify upon Oath that the said Lodge of which we are respectively Members aforesaid, hath, before the passing of the said Act been usually held under the Denomination of a Lodge of Free Masons under the Constitution of England and in conformity to the rules prevailing among the Societies or Lodges of Free Masons in the Kingdom.

                                                                                 Hugh Sime

                                                                                 Tho. Coombs

Sworn at Newport in the Isle

of Wight this 25^th Day of

September 1799

Before W. Oglander and another.

Cowes

Isle of Wight

County of Southampton

To Wit

                  Register to be enrolled pursuant to an Act of the 39^th year of His present Majesty entitled “an act for the more effectual suppression of Societies established for Treasonable purposed and for better preventing Treasonable and Seditious Practices”. Of a Lodge of Free Masons called the Medina Lodge, being No 31 and usually held at the house of Joseph Harrington at West Cowes aforesaid on the First and Third Thursday of the month in Summer and in Winter on the Thursday nearest the Full Moon and compoded of the following members.    Vizs.

 

Christian & Surname            Place of Abode            Title Profession

                                                                                 Or Business

Hugh Sime                            West Cowes                M.D.

Thomas Helmore                          Do                       Inn Keeper

Thomas Coombs                           Do                       Stationer

Peter Barkerville                           Do                       Captain in the R. N.

George Phillips                              Do                       Gentleman

Isham Chapman                   East Cowes                  Officer of Customs

William Holloway                          Do                                         Do

John Godsell                         Yarmouth                    Inn Keeper

Thomas Godsell                   West Cowes                Rope Maker

John Crasburgh                             Do                       Ship Master

George M Ross                              Do                       School Maker

Samuel Kent                                  Do                       Ship Builder

David Worsley                               Do                       Merchant

James Knight                                 Do                       Mariner

Richard Pinhorn                            Do                       Grocer

Charles Coundley                          Do                       Carpenter

WILLIAM ARNOLD’S REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONERS – JULY 1794

 

We humbly beg leave to represent to your Honourable Board, that on the 14^th inst., Mr. James Day, the younger, who acts as agent in foreign ships putting into this port, came to the Custom House with two other persons, one of whom was captain of the Dutch brig lately under seizure, and out of which a considerable quantity of Geneva had been seized and since condemned. He demanded some boxes of tobacco, wine and tea, part of the said vessel’s cargo, contending they ought ot have been given up with the vessel, which after condemnation, the Attorney-General had consented would be delivered to the claimant on payment of £200.  He was told that everything had been delivered that we were authorised to deliver, and that the articles he applied for had been ordered by your Honours to be prosecuted.  Not satisfied with this, and with our reading to him of your order, which directed the prosecution of the tobacco, &c., Mr. Day insisted that the Collector had said  nothing but the spirits were intended to be prosecuted. Upon being told by the Collector that he had never said so, he replied ‘You are a lyar! It is an infamous transaction! You have robbed and plundered the Captain! You are perjured!  You swore falsely in the Exchequer! Your character is well known in London, and I’ll take car it shall ve more known!’  On being told by the Collector to get along out of the office, for he would say nothing more to such a fellow he advanced in a menacing manner towards the desk on the opposite side of the which the Collector was sitting., and with his fist clenched repeated, ‘You are a damned lyar, and if you don’t like that I will serve you worse!’  That such and attack, insult, and abuse merits the severest censure it is unnecessary for me to add; and being offered to your Collector in the execution of his office, and when sitting at his desk in the Custom House, we cannot consider it a very aggravation of the offence,  We humbly hope your Honourable Board will, not only from regard to the office which the Collector has the honour to hold, but from the opinion which he flatters himself you entertain of his character and conduct from almost seventeen year’ knowledge and experience of them, assist him in punishing this offender in the present case by giving such directions as you my judge necessary and proper to effect it.  July 1794

Messrs. Day & Co. accuse the officers in general with exacting immense sums of money for illegal fees.  Tey so grossly abused Mr. Chapman, the Landin Surveyor, in the public streets, that he was obliged to apply to the Bench of Justices, who bound over both the Brothers to keep the peace towards him, Other officer complain of proper fees withheld, and Tidesman placed on board were often refused provisions.

LOCAL NAMES WITH CONTINUITY IN COWES

 

John Lallow was initiated in 1780.  He was a sailmaker in Newport who, with the newfound prosperity in Cowes following the building of the Day and Gregory wharf, moved to Cowes with his business.  He never mad the Chair but was popular.  On his death he had made provision in his Will for five illegitimate children.

 

Chris Ratsey, however, did make the Chair in 1789.  He was a grocer and tallow chandler.

His son, Restell Ratsey, also make the chair in 1828. He had a boatbuilding business in Cowes and married Charles Pinhorn’s sister.  Charles had inherited Richard Pinhorn’s coal business and on his death it went to his sister married to Restell Ratsey.

RICHARD PINHORN – W.M. 1806 – 1813

 

Born 23^rd October 1759 and baptized at Northwood Parish Church, where his grandfather, also a Richard Pinhorn, was Parish Clerk.  Richard and Mary Pinhorn lived in Cowes where he was  a coal merchant working form the Day and Gregory wharf.  He was also quartermaster of the Isle of Wight Volunteers during the Napoleonic

Wars.  He had a son, Charles, who was Master in 1832.

In 1809, when depressions really were that, Grand Lodge suspended all dues, as did most Lodges.  Every able bodied man went to war, including most Members of Medina, leaving it with only two subscribing  Members, William Holloway and Richard Pinhorn.  These two members kept the Lodge operating with foreign seafarers visiting Cowes and in 1805 one, Arnoldus Van Den Bergh, was admitted at a reduced fee to act as lodge Interpreter.

Richard died in March 1828 and was buried at Northwood, where he still has a headstone.

His eldest son, Charles carried on with the coal business,  while his sister married Restell Ratsey who had a boatyard. Charles carried on the Masonic tradition and was in the Chair in 1932. He died in 1851 unmarried. His sister inherited the business, which is how Ratseys became coal merchants.

THE EARL OF YARBOROUGH P.G.M. I.O.W

 

In 1825 Richard Pinhorn proposed as a Candidate for Initiation the Right Honourable The Earl of Yarborough.  This proposal was unanimously seconded.

The Lodge adjourned to Appuldurcombe House (the Candidate’s residence) for his initiation in April of that year and again in June for his Raising, on both occasions entertaining the Lodge right royally.

The following year he was appointed Junior Warden,  Bro. Restell Ratsey, the occupant of the Chair, readily making way for him. It was no hardship s he never occupied the Chair. Later the same year he was appointed Provincial Grand Master of the Isle of Wight.  The Island brethren attended on him when he went in procession to church to celebrate his appointment, returning afterwards to dine at the Vine Inn in the greatest harmony and conviviality.

His personal life is worth noting also.

He was born in 1781 as the Hon. Charles Felham. He was a founder member of The Yacht Club at the Thatched House Inn, London in 1815.  He had a yacht named “Falcon” built in John Jely’s old yard at East Cowes.  This was the yard bought by Whites when they moved to Cowes.  My generation knew the yard as the old submarine shed.  After the launch of his yacht the yard was renamed the Falcon Yard in his honour.

In 1824 he led the first known yacht rally of nineteen boats to Cherbourg.  He had one more yacht built also named “Falcon” and then two more named “Kestral”.  He presented the first Royal Yacht Squadron Cup in 1826, having been elected Commodore in 1825.  He took part in the battle of Navarro in 1827, being on the dispatch boat.  He finally died on board the second “Kestrel” in Vigo, Spain in 1846.

The Royal Yacht Squadron had the Yarborough Monument on Culver Cliff erected in his memory.  Last year, 1996, the Squadron convened a meeting at the monument, when speeches were made, toasts drunk and sea shanties sung to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of his death.

He was succeeded as Provincial Grand Master of the Isle of Wight by his son, the second Earl of Yarborough, who had been his deputy.  He was also a member of Medina Lodge.

HENRY HAVEN WHEELER

 

Was installed into the chair twice, the first time by Asher Barfield in 1882 and again, in 1890, by the Rt. Hon. Bramston-Beach M.P.

He served the Lodge for over 50 years,  following his father, who was in the Chair in 1830.

He was a painter and plumber and the Lodge met in a room over his paintshop at 85 High Street Cowes from 1857 until the building on our present site was purchased from the Ward Estate in 1919.

Freddy Wadmore was installed in January 1920 and during his year 20 candidates were initiated, passed and raised.  The money raised by these  was needed to help pay for the building.

During the blitz on Cowes in May 1942 Wheeler’s Paintshop was destroyed but, when clearing the rubble, two chests of ancient books and papers were discovered which turned out to be our ancient minute books, etc.

The Midland Bank now occupies the site.

ASHLER BARFIELD

 

Was initiated in Medina Lodge in 1846, being raised the following year.  He was not installed in the Chair until 1879.  He had an accountancy business in Cowes.  He was appointed Grand Treasurer in 1888 and that year presented the Lodge with a magnificent Library of Masonic books, many of which we still have.

The Asher Barfield Chapter attached to this Lodge was named after him and he was elected the first Treasurer.  Although one of our more famous brethren, I shall not dwell further on him as W. Bro. Roy Caws has compiled an excellent history of the Chapter, including Asher Barfield himself.