Freemasonry In The Seventeenth Century: Warrington, 1646.

There was certainly a gentle family of Littler or Lytlor settled in Cheshire at this time . In the Inq . p . Mortem of Sir Richard Bnlkeley , Knt ., of Cheadle , in Cheshire , taken at Northwich , 8 April , 6 th of Edward VI . [ 1552 ] the name of Robert Lytlor , of Wallerscott , appears as a juror . * Inq . p . ni . f of John Davenport , Esq ., who married Anne , daughter of Randle

Mainwaring , of Karincham , taken at Northwich Sept . 11 th , 1583 . Richard Lytler , gent ., is one of the jurors . The same appears again as a juror , in the Inq . p . m . J of Sir John Savage , Knt ., taken at Chester 1 Oct ., 41 Eliz . [ 1599 ] . In the Inq . ji . ra . § of Thomas Leigh , Esq ., of Adlington , taken at Chester , 7 Oct ., 44 Eliz . [ 1602 ] the name of Ralph Litlor , of Wallerscote , gent . And again in the Inq . p . m . \\ of Thomas Wycho , gent ., taken at Micldlewich , 16 Sept ., 17 James [ 1619 ] the marriage of his son Richard Wyche , gent ., with Anne , daughter of Robert Litler , of Tarven , is mentioned .

The Rev . Robert Littler , M . A ., the son of the Rev . Robert Littler , incumbent of Goostrey , near Saiiclbach , was in 1826 incumbent of both Marple and Chadkirk , which he resigned for Poynton in 1832 and 1837 . A good yeoman family bearing the name of Ellam has long been resident in the Parish of Winwick ancl the neighbourhood . In the list of persons a . bove eighteen years of age , within Winwick and Honlme ( an adjoining hamlet on the high road between Warrington and

Winwick ) , who took the Protestation oath before the Rector of Winwick , Ave find : — William Ellam , sen . ; John Ellam , and William Ellam , jun . The will of Alice Ellam , of Croft , in the Parish of Wiirwick , widow , dated 1636 , is in the Probate Court at Chester , ancl there is also the will of Thomas Ellam , of Croft , in the Parish of Winwick , dated 1612 . 1 [ The John and Richard Ellam mentioned by Ashmole were doubtless members of this family , a probable branch of which had

apparently settled at Lymm , a village in Cheshire , about five miles from Warrington , and in the appendix I give the Will of Richard Ellam , Freemason , and that of John Ellam , husbandman , but cannot assert that the latter refers to the person mentioned by Ashmole . At the same time this John Ellam may have been a Freemason ; he appears to have been more wealthy than Richard , leaving , as he did , goods to the value 6 f over ; £ 165 , and a tenement .

Of the family of Hugh Brewer , I regret to say , no trace has come to hand . One word as to the present oldest Lodge at Warrington . From information kindly sent to me by my friend Bro . William Sharp , P . P . G . J . W . It appears that the original Charter of Constitution was granted by " John Smith , of Hammersmith , in the Parish of Fiilham , ancl County of Middlesex , Gentleman , Provincial Grand Master , & c , for the County of Lancaster , " 8 th November , 1765 . This was confirmed by the Earl of ZetlandGrand Master ( the Earl de

, Grey and Ripon , D . G . M . ) , on the 6 th February , 1863 ; as the " Lodge of Lights . " From this warrant it appears that at the time of the original constitution the Lodge was No . 352 . At the alteration in 1770 it became No . 289 , ancl at the alteration in 1781 it became No . 232 . At the alteration in 1792 it became No . 198 , and at the Union , on December 27 , 1813 , it became No . 246 . At the alteration of numbers in 1832 it became No . 173 . The Warrington Lodge

, , at the closing- up of the numbers in 1863 became , and is now , No . 148 . Its warrant for a centenary jewel is dated 9 fch March , 1865 , and that of the Charter of Constitution to hold a Hol y Royal Arch Chapter , by the title of " The Chapter of Elias Ashmole , " bears date 2 nd May , 1866 . I have nothing more to add . My endeavour has been to select from my note books only such facts as bear directly on the subject , and to make clear to