Right Matron – carry on!

Rule from 1791 re Matron’s salary

From The Rules and Regulations of the Royal Free Mason Charity, 1791.

The salary of the Matron (above from 3 years after the first appointment) was a good, solid income and so it is hardly surprising that there were many applicants. Continuing with the list in the Rough Minute Book, we come now to the last two candidates not yet written about.

A right matron carry-on

Continuing the saga of the first matron appointment, the first name on the list of candidates for the post of matron was Mrs Mary Miller of No 18 St James Place, “recommended by the Royal Patroness [Duchess of Cumberland], the Rt Hon Elizabeth Luttrell, Mr Hale, Mr Millington, The Rev’d Wm Conillis, Miss Mary Gates, Mrs Ann Gates, James Meyrick Esq, several others residing in the country wishing to vote by proxy.” (Rough Minute Book)

Carry on Matron

From a Rough Minute Book recording the Freemasons’ School Committee meetings, dated 1788, we find information about the election of the first Matron for the School, following an advertisement that had earlier been placed in a newspaper.

The candidates below were some of those shortlisted, together with their addresses at the time and any recommendations they had received to support their applications.

Carry on Matron!

In this series of blogs, the candidates for the post of Matron, and the outcomes of the ballot of shortlisted names, will be considered. This posting concerns four more of the candidates who were shortlisted but unsuccessful in their application.

Carry on Matron

From a Rough Minute Book recording the Freemasons’ School Committee meetings, dated 1788, we find information about the election of the first Matron for the School, following an advertisement that had earlier been placed in a newspaper.

World (1787) (London, England), Friday, October 10, 1788

There were 17 candidates shortlisted, together with their addresses. In the meeting held at the Oxford Coffee House, Strand on Thursday 30th Oct 1788 “Ordered that the Secretary insert in the Register the names & recommendations of each candidate for the Place of Matron who has applied, in consequence of the Advertisements.” (Rough Minute Book – RMB) Applying modern research techniques to the information given in the Rough Minute Book gives a greater understanding to what would otherwise be sparse information.

In this series of blogs, the candidates for the post of Matron, and the outcomes of the ballot, will be considered.