Hi list, First of a large thank you to all those who responded to me regarding possible Mason lodges of which my G-G-Grandfather William Paynton could have been a member. I would dearly love some additional advice and help regarding Masons. I have since learned that William is buried in New York Bay Cemetery, in a section labeled "Montauk Lodge". His stone bears what looks to be the Masonite symbol. I have written to Mr. Bellini of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Burlington, as per the website (http://njfreemasonry.org/) and he wrote me back that there was no information regarding William in their records. Though the name was spelled correctly on all correspondence to me, in pencil at the bottom of their official search form it says that no "Paytons" exist with a first name William. Is it worth writing back (no email listed) to make sure that they checked the right spelling? The name to be searched is spelled correctly at the top of the search page, so I'm inclined to think not. Are there any other resources that might tell me about William's membership and if he was a member of Montauk Lodge? Anyone have any info on Montauk Lodge? This seems like just to good a lead to have it unearth nothing! :) Thanks all. Mary researching Paynton, Painton in Hudson County Mary Paynton perky@wolfenet.com ************************************************************************ "Mr. Roberston, your predecessor, an excellent librarian, savaged three people last week and had to be destroyed." -Monty Python. Gorilla Librarian Sketch.