My chasing letters seem to have had some effect. When you have a chance to digest this lot come back to me. Shame about the missing minute books but the declaration book should give his address at his initiation in 1892. Must be some significance that he went "missing" from Musbury House circa 1914/15 at the same time he resigned from Cranbourne. But if he rejoined in 1918 was he back in Hertfordshire (or at your Limehouse pub)- or was he returning from war service ( a bit old I think ).

From: "Graham Jelley"

Dear W. Bro Jeff,

Thank you for your letter dated 14th February 2004 regarding the above person. Unfortunately your letter addressed to me at Ashwell house seems to have gone astray.

As you can probably appreciate to go back that far in any Lodges history would involve quite a lot of digging. However I think I'm right in saying that the minute records for the first 50 years of our existence are missing. All we have as a record of that period is a book produced to mark the 50th Anniversary. As you can appreciate the booklet produced in 1926 is now quite rare but I'm pleased to say that I have a copy within the recode I have of the Lodge. All our early records are now held at the County Records Office, County Hall, Hertford. The earliest minute record held there are from May 1928. Should you wish to examine those I certainly would have no objection.

Bro E W T Hoare was initiated into Cranbourne Lodge on 1 May 1892. He was Master of the Lodge in 1900 and did as you say become Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1904. He resigned from the Lodge in 1914, but rejoined in 1918 along with two other ex members. Obviously I'm unable to say if his resignation in 1914 and rejoining in 1918 is of any significance. As far as I can tell he was still a member of the Lodge in 1926 when the book was written. So I presume was still a member of the Lodge on his death in 1927. From the Lodges point of view I am surprised that his wife died in poverty in 1930

Having now studied what books are still in existence I see that the declaration book for the period you are interested in is still in existence at the Records Office which may give some indication of an address. To assist you further I have attached to this email the receipt which shows what records are held at Hertford for your information. I have also copied some of the pages from the book where Bro Hoare is mentioned.

If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me

Yours sincerely and fraternally

Graham Jelley Secretary