History of Warrant No. 23

There is no record of the issue of this warrant in the Grand Lodge Register, but was issued to brethren in Colonel Hamilton's Regiment, (sometimes known as Colonel Zacmariam Tiffin's Regiment of Foot) later the 27th Foot, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, probably in 1733. (See below) 27th foot
       
In 1739 the Regiment, six hundred strong, was sent to Porto Bello, with Vice-Admiral Vernon and the Isthmus of Darien, only nine returned.
 
By 1744 the Regiment was recruiting in Yorkshire and in 1750 a further Warrant, No. 205, was granted to the Regiment. The warrant was erased on the 5th November 1801.
     
 

Military Uniform circa 1800's
WARRANT ISSUED IN NEWRY 1809
 
1 June, 1809 – Read a Memorial from Bros. Archibald Thompson, Bernard Casey, and Robert Hamilton of 933 praying a revival of either Warrant 23, 24 or 26 to hold a Lodge in Ballybot, Newry. Granted [23].
         
On the 1st of June 1809 Union Masonic Lodge No. 23 was formed. A total of 189 brethren were registered up to 27 December, 1853.
         
The Lodge has met in various locations in Newry including; a house in Mill Street above Duffy's Dining Rooms as tenants of Lodge 18 and in the Old Masonic Hall, Hill Street, Newry immediately adjoining the original "Newry Reporter" premises.
         
         
         
MASONIC WARRANTS HELD BY THE REGIMENT (27th Foot Iniskilling Fusiliers)
 
 
YEAR
WARRANT No
YEAR RETURNED  
         
 
1733
23
5th November, 1801  
         
 
7th February, 1750
205
Moved to Moy 3rd August, 1790 and cancelled 6th January, 1814
   
 
2nd August, 1787
528
6th July, 1815 (Thos. Naylor; Edw. Burns and Sergt. Brown being the first three members)
         
 
5th March, 1789
692
1818 (Thomas Ashe, Worshipful Master was shot in Sicily 1808)