the one on Slate-pit Hill, on the road below Yardley in (now Lower) Makefield township. And 10 mo. 10, 1721, Daniel Burgess (devisee of Samuel Burgess) conveyed six acres to the same; it having been discovered that the six acres donated Falls Meeting by Samuel Burgess and conveyed by him to its trustees, 4 mo. 4, 1690, had been laid out in another place. On 12 mo. 7, 1774, Joseph Atkinson, as son and heir of William, last surviving trustee, conveyed these two lots to new trustees; it was stated that at that time the Janney gift was walled in. 2 At the monthly meeting 5 mo. 7, 1714, the bequest of John Sirket for keeping the grave yard at Falls Meeting House in repair, was placed in care of William Atkinson. He was appointed a trustee for the Bristol burying yard, by Falls Monthly Meeting, 12 mo. 7, 1710. On June 12, 1711, Samuel Carpenter conveyed to Joseph Kirkbride, Thomas Stevenson, William Croasdale, George Clough, Samuel Burgess and William Atkinson, for use of Bristol Meeting, two lots in that borough, one of 4 acres, and one of 19 perches, the latter at the corner of Market and Wood streets. May 18, 1738, William Atkinson, as survivor of the above, conveyed these two lots to the new trustees, Joseph Kirkbride, William Blakey, Samuel Bunting, John Hutchinson, Jr., Thomas Marriott, Jr., and Joseph Atkinson. It will be noticed that in two of these trusteeships William Atkinson was succeeded by his son Joseph. On 1 mo. 6, 1727/8, William Atkinson acquainted the monthly meeting of his intention of going on a voyage to sea, and requested a certificate. This was to Barbadoes; he was gone about seven months; on his return he presented to Falls, 9 mo. 6, 1728, a certificate from Friends at Barbadoes. William Atkinson in his will dated Sept. 22, 1749, proved Nov. 30, 1749, speaks of himself as of the "Burrough of Bristol" and "ffar advanced in years." He left his daughter Rachel Atkinson furniture and money, and his daughter Mary Banckson and son Samuel Atkinson each a 1 Fact recited in deed to their successors, 12 mo. 7, 1744, Bucks Co. Deed Book 17, p. 205. Bucks Co. Deed Book 17, p. 205. 3 Bucks Co. Deed Book 4, p. 166. Bucks Co, Deed Book 10, p. 181. 5 Bucks Co. Will Book 2, p. 168. 4 small sum, and directed the residue to be equally divided between all his children, "as well them above named as the rest." He also mentioned his son-in-law John Hall, and "cousin" Samuel Bunting (a nephew of his second wife). The executors named were his son Joseph and daughter Rachel. He gave them power to sell all real estate, but did not specify what he possessed; the inventory made Nov. 18, 1749, mentioned some woodland and a house and lot, but not their extent nor location; the house and lot were, of course, his residence on Mill Street, Bristol, which the executors sold in 1758 to William Atkinson, Jr. William Atkinson married, first, 2 mo. [April] 6, 1704, at Falls meeting,' Mary Hough, (b. 6 mo. 1, 1685, d. 9. mo. 11, 1720,)1 daughter of Richard and Margery (Clows) Hough, of Makefield township, and sister to his brother Isaac's wife. For account of Richard Hough, Provincial Councillor, etc., and Margery Clows, his wife, see Penna. Mag., Vol. XVIII, pp. 20-34; also Note B. appended to this article. Mary (Hough) Atkinson was active on the women's side of Falls Monthly Meeting; her particular meeting being Falls before marriage and Bristol after. She was chosen a representative to the Quarterly Meeting 3 mo. 6, 1719; and was named on committees of the monthly meeting 12 mo. 7, 1710/1; 3 mo. 4, and 10 mo. 7, 1715; 3 mo. 2, 1716; 2 mo. 1, 1719; and 5 mo. 6, 1720. She was appointed an overseer (presumably for Bristol meeting) 4 mo. 1, 1720; on 3 mo. 3, 1721 the minutes say: "By reason of the death of our ffriend Mary Atkinson, Jane Chadwick is appointed to be an overseer in her stead." In a letter in possession of the writer, dated 3 mo. 13, 1721, from William Atkinson to Phebe Radcliffe in Bristol he says in part: " for all my private Retirements and Meditations are intermixed with a Natural Sorrow, for Loss of so many of my most near ffriends, ffirst my Dear Sister (in the nearest Relation) M: W: then of my Dear Brother: W. 1 Register of Falls Mo. Mtg. B: and then of my near Dear true Companion and Bosome ffriend, (which is most Direfull to Bear) then of my poor Brother Isaac and mother all which have so succeeded one another, that ever Since that day that I came to Neshaminy quarter meeting when M: W: Lay dying I have waded deep through unexpressable Sorrow ***” The "Dear true Companion," etc., meant his wife; M. W. and W. B. must have been sister and brother in the religious sense only, as none of his own, nor his wife's, nor his stepfather's family, corresponding to these initials, died at this time; the mother was doubtless his mother-in-law Margery Hough, whose death followed Isaac Atkinson's as the letter states. The Phebe Radcliffe to whom the letter was written was daughter of Henry Baker & widow of Edward Radcliffe ; she will be written of in Notes D and E. William and Mary (Hough) Atkinson had issue: (Births from register of Falls Mo. Mtg.) 10. SARAH ATKINSON, b. 1. 10, 1704/5, d. 10. 1706.1 12. WILLIAM ATKINSON (JR.), b. 9. 18. 1709, d. 1794. 13. MARY ATKINSON, b. 7, 19. 1713, d. 14. JOSEPH ATKINSON, b. 10. 5. 1716, d. 15. SARAH ATKINSON, b. 9. 4. 1719, d. 2. 7. 1726.1 William Atkinson married, second, 4 mo. [June] 5, 1722, at Bristol meeting,3 Margaret Baker, (b. 6 mo. 2, 1693, d. 6 mo. 20, 1748), daughter of Henry and Mary 1 Register of Falls Mo. Mtg. 2 Hall Family Bible, the entries in which were printed, with notes, as Records af the Hall Family, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, in PENNA. MAG., XI, 309–317. 3 Register of Falls Mo. Mtg. So in Register of Falls Mo. Mtg.; in White's Henry Baker, and Records of the Hall Family, her death is given Dec.- 1748. Baker, of Makefield township; at this date Henry Baker was deceased, and his widow, with her daughter Margaret, was living in Bristol borough. For an account of Henry Baker, one of the leading men of early Bucks County, see sketch of him by Miles White, Jr., in Publications of Southern History Ass'n, vol 5, pp. 388-400, 477-496; also Note D. following this article. Margaret Atkinson's mother, before marrying Henry Baker, was widow of James Radcliffe, an eminent minister of the Society of Friends; the Radcliffe family was connected with the Atkinsons in other ways also; see Note E. Margaret (Baker) Atkinson served frequently on committees of Falls Monthly Meeting, viz.: 6 mo. 7, 1723; 2 mo. 7, 1724; 8 mo. 2, and 9 mo. 6, 1728; 9 mo. 5, 1729; 1 mo. 3, 1735/6; 8 mo. 5, and 9 mo. 2, 1743; 5 mo. 2, 1746; 4 mo. 3, and 5 mo. 1, 1747. William and Margaret (Baker) Atkinson had issue: (Births from register of Falls Mo. Mtg.) 16. RACHEL ATKINSON, b. 3. 23. 1723, d, 5. 8. 1803.' 17. REBECCA ATKINSON, b. 5. 26. 1725, d. 8. 8. 1731.2 19. ISAAC ATKINSON, b. 5. 12. 1729, d. 7. 16. 1747.3 In Martindale's MSS., vol 6, on the 32nd page Rachel's birth is given as 3. 27; on the 56th page her birth is given as 3. 21, her death as 5. 9, and Thomas's birth as 11. 9; as these MSS. have frequently been found inaccurate, we give the preference to the meeting register dates, as copied above. The mistakes on the 56th page as to Rachel's birth & death are repeated on the 61st page. 1 In Isaac C. Martindale's genealogical MSS. in possession of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, vol. 6 (not paged), on the 32nd page, Margaret Baker's husband is given as William Atkinson, of Middletown, son of John; this William was of the other (Christopher and John) Atkinson family, and the true facts as to him will be found in Part II of this article. The children named by Martindale on that page are actually Margaret's children as given above. On the 56th page her husband is correctly called William Atkinson of Bristol, son of Thomas, and the same list of children reappears. 2 Register Falls Mo. Mtg. 3 Martindale's MSS., just mentioned. (To be continued) THE MASONIC CHRONOLOGY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. COMPILED BY JULIUS F. SACHSE. The Masonic career of Benjamin Franklin extends over a period of almost sixty years, during which time he was accorded the highest Masonic honors at home and abroad. Born Boston, O. S. January 6, 1705-6. N. S. January 17, 1706. Initiated in St. John's Lodge, Philadelphia, February 1730-1.1 Drafts a set of By-laws for St. John's Lodge June 1732.2 June 24, 1732 Elected Junior Grand Warden.3 June 24, 1734 Elected Grand Master of Pennsylvania.* August 1734 Prints his "Mason Book" a reprint of Anderson's Constitutions, the first Masonic book printed in America." 1734-5 The State house (Independence Hall) built during Franklin's administration. According to old Masonic and family traditions, the corner-stone was laid by him and the brethren of St. John's Lodge. 1735-8 Serves as Secretary to St. John's Lodge.? April 13, 1738 Franklin in a letter to his Mother, says: "Freemasons have no principles or practices that are inconsistent with religion and good manners."8 1 Vide "Liber B" in Collection of The Historical Society of Penna. 2 Vide Proceedings Grand Lodge of Penna. 1885 pp. 37-39. 3 Pennsylvania Gazette No. 187. June 26. 1732 Copy in Hist. Soc. of Penna. and in Masonic Temple Library, • Vide Votes of the Assembly, Etting's History of Independence Hall, also date on water spouts, of the Hall. "Liber B" 1734-1738. 8 Original draft in Franklin's handwriting in his Common-place Book, Collection Hist. Soc. of Penna. |