Unfortunately the records of Adoniram Lodge have never been traced and we only know the names of three of their members: Capt. Fox, Lyman Hubble and Col. John Askin.
Regarding the latter we read in Neal’s History of the Township of Sandwich:
The
Askin family attained influence in the Detroit District at an early period. The name was originally the Scottish
“Erskine” and was changed to conceal identity after the Jacobite defeat in 1715. One of the old family removed to Ireland and had a
son, John Askin, who settled in America and at the time of the Conquest of Canada was a
merchant in Albany. In the Pontiac outbreak he transported the supplies from Albany to Detroit and received as a reward, grants of
land at Detroit. In 1764, he went as commissary to Michilimackinac, returning in 1780 to Detroit as a trader. He was successful in business and amassed much
property, which he was forced to abandon to the United States at the close of the
Revolutionary War. He then settled in Canada on the east side of the Detroit River. He was
appointed a Captain of Militia in 1787 by Lord Dorchester and in 1796 was promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel in 1801.
This was the Col. Askin who was a member of Adoniram Lodge whose descendants to the
fourth generation were closely identified with the history of Essex County.
Regarding old Adoniram Lodge this much has been recorded:
That in the early days of the War of 1812, the
doors of the Lodge were closed due to the advance of the enemy and Masonry remained a dead
letter on the Canadian side of the river for thirty-seven years. During this period of darkness an event known as
the “Patriot” War occurred and because it involved so many men who were later
identified with Masonry in Amherstburg, Sandwich and Windsor - we deem it worthy of
mention in this history.
Doran, V.W.B. William, P.G.S., A Masonic Story of Old Sandwich and Windsor, Ontario, 1962, p. 4,
5.
July 6, 1801 “A letter was received from Bro. Jas. Donaldson intimating the probability that the brethren resident at Amherstburgh and formerly members of this lodge would shortly receive a warrant establishing them a separate lodge and requesting a copy of Bye Laws. Agreed N.C.D. that they be supplied with them.”
May 3, 1802 “Bro. name* not attending agreeable to summons the sec’y is desired to write to the Master and Brethren of Adoniram Lodge at Malden requesting he will please to inform us how he conducts himself there, further that they will report the same to us.” * name withheld in respect of family
June 7, 1802 “Bro. Sec’y forwarded a letter to Adoniram Lodge as ordered last regular lodge night respecting Bro. name but has not yet received an answer.”
July 5, 1802 “Bro. Askin acquaints us that the Brethren of Adoniram Lodge had taken our letter respecting Brol. name into consideration and were to have answered it but not having received it, it is agreed to let it lay over until next regular lodge night.”
August 2, 1802 “Bro. Askin informs us that he received a letter from the Brethren of Adoniram Lodge the purport of which he was informed was an answer to our letter respecting Bro. name, but having forgot it deprives us of knowing the contents and agreed to let it lay over until next regular lodge.”
September 6, 1802 “Received a letter from Adoniram Lodge respecting the conduct of Bro. name. After maturely considering its contents we are unanimous for his being expelled and reported to the Grand Lodge.”
June 4, 1804 “Having received a polite invitation from the Brethren of Adoniram Lodge No. 18 requesting the brethren of Zion Lodge to join them on the 24th inst. in celebrating the festival of St. John the lodge resolved unanimously to comply with this invitation for the celebration of the festival and that the sec’y do notify the brethren accordingly, also that all Masons within the cable tow be invited to join us.”
September 17, 1804 “The Secretary is ordered to write to the W. Master and Brethren of Adoniram Lodge No. 18 for the necessary information respecting James Smith said to be a deserter. Desiring their positive answer to the following questions. Viz, is there any officer, non-commissioned officer, soldier or any other man, that can go before Bro. John Askin Jr. or any other magistrate and testify they ever saw James Smith enlisted? Are there any credentials of his being sworn of attested in his Britannic Majesties service? As also for such further light as the Brethren of Adoniram can throw upon the subject.”
June 3, 1805 “A committee consisting of Bro. Scott and Bro. R. Abbott are appointed to invite the Brethren of Lodges No. 14 and 18 Upper Canada and other visiting brethren to unite with us in celebrating the festival of St. John, June 24th.”
June 24, 1806 “Bro. Scott on behalf of the committee appointed for inviting the Brethren of Lodges 14 and 18 to celebrate the present day. Reported that they had proceeded in their invitations so far as to invite the Brethren of No. 14, that we were and witness that on the 11th inst. our Hall together with the whole town of Detroit was consumed by fire in consequence of which they ceased their invitations.”
May 5, 1806 “Bro. Senior Warden acknowledges to have received from the W. M. of Adoniram the sum of fifteen pounds, thirteen shilling and 2d the amount of their share of the expenses of the funeral of Bro. Rice.”
September 18, 1806 “A communication from the W.M. of Adoniram No. 18 requesting the attendance of this lodge at the funeral of our late Bro. Samuel Culberstson at Sandwich which was read together with other letters from Bros. Forsyth and Pringle on the same subject.
The vote of the lodge was taken whether the Brethren should attend the funeral when the ballots terminated as follows 2 yeas and 5 nays and the Sec’y was accordingly ordered to apologize to the Worshipful Master of Adoniram Lodge for their non-attendance and at the same time stating their reasons, regret, etc.”
Herbert L. Smith,
Secretary Zion No. 1
George W. Clunis W.M.
Zion No. 1, F. & A.M.