My Ancestor was a Freemason Pat Lewis. 1999. ISBN 1 85951 405 7. Paperback. 46pp. Available from the Society of Genealogists, 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Rd. London EC1M 7BA. £2.95.

This little book is necessarily an introduction to a complicated subject which, until this ‘time of openness’ has been perceived as inaccessible to family historians trying to trace their ancestors who may have been Freemasons.
    As the number of men who have been masons under the UGLE could run into millions, and as every mason must first be a member of a Craft lodge, the first step must begin with Craft.
    Artefacts such as china, glass, certificates, aprons, jewels or medals, photographs &c are often inherited without information as to origin. Difficulties can be encountered because friendly societies and trades unions often used regalia similar to that of Masonry. Another subject in which family historians are often interested is the military: lodges, POWs and war memorials are covered in the book.
    Sources mentioned are widely available for all to explore in libraries, museums, record offices and newspaper collections.
    The author is a Vice-President of the Essex Society for family History and while on a Local History course at Essex University wrote an essay on some masons in Essex and Suffolk up to 1850 and her research provided the base for this book.
    According to VW Bro Peter Neivens OBE, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Essex: “This latest publication by Pat Lewis provides a most useful aid to any family history researcher who has reason to believe an ancestor may have been a member of a Masonic Lodge within the English Constitution. It also helps to reject the allegation that Freemasonry is a secret society, because members of the United Grand Lodge of England have provided assistance and co-operation at every stage of her work.”