Sometimes when I’m building my tree, I’ll come across a well-documented line that goes back pretty far. In my excitement, I add the people as soon as I verify their parentage, and I don’t always look deeply for additional information at the time. “I’ll do it later – let me get these people on my tree first!” I tell myself. I do usually go back, and look at individuals more in-depth. Most of them are ordinary people leading ordinary lives, so not much is written about them. Every so often, I run across a gem –someone who did something noteworthy enough to wind up in the newspaper, a history book, or in the case of my 6th great-grandfather, John Cutler, have a Masonic Lodge named after them. Week 12 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge is Membership, and I’m covering John Cutler who was a prominent and respected member of the Masons.
The Cutlers were a wealthy and respected Boston family. The first Cutler to come to America was John’s grandfather, a physician from Holland by the name Johannes Demesmaker. Demesmaker anglicized his name to “John Cutler” as noted in the birth records of his first few children. The original John Cutler and his wife, Mary Cowell, had several children, including John Jr., who followed in his father’s footsteps and became a physician, and our John’s father, David. David died when our John was young, so John Jr. raised his nephew since he had no children of his own.
Our John Cutler, who was born around 1723, was liked and admired in his community for his work as a successful brass founder, importer, and owner of a popular tavern called The Golden Cock. Though he lived through one of the most exciting and politically charged times in Boston, he remained politically neutral, entertaining both patriots and British officers in his home. Cutler loved music, and not only played the pianoforte, but built one. He was considered an intellectual, and it is said that he was an impartial person who treated everyone with fairness and respect. John Cutler was viewed by all who knew him as a man of great integrity, which was a key character trait of a Freemason. During his membership, he was a member of several committees and held many offices. One of the most important committees he was on oversaw the merger of his lodge – the St. John’s Grand Lodge with the Massachusetts Grand Lodge. He became the first Grand Master of the merged lodge, a position he held from 1792-1794, when he was succeeded by Paul Revere. During his administration, he granted eight additional lodge charters, five of which were still meeting as of 2010. During his term, he helped craft and establish many of the Masonic traditions still practiced today.
One of the last Masonic rituals John Cutler participated in before he became too ill and infirmed was the Funeral Obsequies of George Washington, which took place in Boston in January of 1800. He was asked to be one of the six pall supporters for Washington’s Golden Urn, created by Paul Revere (also one of the six pall supporters). It contained a lock of George Washington’s hair. Washington was also a Mason and had a Masonic funeral. Washington’s Golden Urn, which is considered one of the lodge’s most sacred relics, is kept under lock and key. It’s removed from the vault every three years and carried in by a procession of officers of the Grand Lodge when the new Grand Master is installed. The fact that Cutler was asked to be one of the six pall supporters speaks volumes about the esteem those in charge of the Grand Lodge held him in.
John Cutler’s funeral on October 31, 1805 was a grand, Masonic event. His body was taken from his home on Marlboro Street and the funeral procession marched from there to Trinity Church where he was laid to rest. The Portland Gazette reported that George Washington’s Golden Urn was taken out and paraded down the street in front of Cutler’s casket, which was a high honor. While the Boston Gazette failed to mention that, their reporting was more detailed:
The remains of JOHN CUTLER, Esq. deceased, were deposited with the Grand Masonic Honors, on Thursday last. The procession formed in Trinity Church, passed through several streets, and contained a great number of the Craft. – Of the visitors, were the Officers of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, in the rich jewels of their order. The pall was supported by the following Past-Grand Officers, M.W PAUL REVERE, M.W. JOSIAH BARTLETT, R.W. WILLIAM SCOLLAY, R.W. JOSEPH LAUGHTON, R.W. MUNGO MACKAY, and R.W. SAMUEL PARKMAN; who were invested with the Mourning scarves, and jewels of their Order. The body was deposited in Trinity Church. – After the Episcopal Funeral Service as performed by the Rev. Mr. GARNER, the Brethren deposited on the Coffin of their departed Brother, the sprigs of acacia, which each had borne in the procession. – And the invocation and blessing were pronounced by the Rev. Mr. MURRAY, Grand Chaplain.
John Cutler’s name is not one many remember today outside of the Freemasons, but his contributions to his favorite organization continue to this day. Not only did he help create many of their practices, but a Lodge was dedicated in his honor in 1860, and is still active today -- the John Cutler Lodge in Abington, Massachusetts.
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