Good Evening - Could this be someone who not only seals (tans) leather but also trades in hides, searching for the best before tanning. Freemasonry is the oldest of associations that exist I believe, and the thinking is as in the following quote: "The principles of FREEMASONRY are founded on the choosing of Abraham the Father of Judaism - ISLAM- CHRISTIANITY, to follow the MASONIC path of there being one Creator of the Universe." Whether or not this indicates a founding before Christ is debateable and certainly thought provoking but whilst Freemasonry has no affiliation to Stone Masonry, a Stone Mason may well be a Freemason in his own right. Kind Regards Roy LD Cox Family Historian Member of SA&NHS Member No. 1066 (And all That!) Web Site: www.coxresearcher.com/index.htm I also use www.archivecdbooks.com and www.localhistory.co.uk/ambra for my research -----Original Message----- From: Norman Lee [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 5:01 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [OEL] SEALER OF LEATHER Sounds more like a tanner, doesn't it. I think perhaps the best thing is to look for a web site for the guilds of each occupation. They may well have the history. Apprenticeship for some began at seven and you became a journeyman at 21, although I wait for correction on this. I think that the freemason may have been an occupational status title but, again, I'd look to find a guild site for stone masons. I believe the Duke of Sussex was the man who originated the society of freemasons but don't know when that began. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald Tomkinson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 4:07 PM Subject: [OEL] SEALER OF LEATHER > In 1631 Thomas Tomkinson was appointed a "searcher and sealer of > leather" in Newcastle under Lyme. I'd be grateful for an explanation > of the duties of the office. I assume that it was connected with > assessing the qualities of leather. Would it also imply that Thomas > was a cordwainer or a tanner? > > Don Tomkinson > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > THREADED archives for OLD-ENGLISH: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=OLD-ENGLISH > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 268.10.9/416 - Release Date: 10/08/2006 > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== OLD-ENGLISH Web Page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.9/416 - Release Date: 10/08/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.9/416 - Release Date: 10/08/2006

At 20:06 13/08/2006, Roy wrote: >Whether or not this indicates a founding before Christ is debateable and >certainly thought provoking but whilst Freemasonry has no affiliation to >Stone Masonry, a Stone Mason may well be a Freemason in his own right. Er, no Roy, a free mason was exactly that, a mason free from ties to a master. Have you never wondered why the Freemasons paraphernalia includes the working tools of a mason? In 1636 a freemason would most certainly be nothing other than a worker in stone as the masonic orders had yet to come into being. John

Thank you John, I take your point but as this is not really a subject for this list I will say no more except that I deduced my opinion from various Freemasonry web sites. Many Thanks Roy -----Original Message----- From: John [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 13 August 2006 20:28 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [OEL] SEALER OF LEATHER At 20:06 13/08/2006, Roy wrote: >Whether or not this indicates a founding before Christ is debateable >and certainly thought provoking but whilst Freemasonry has no >affiliation to Stone Masonry, a Stone Mason may well be a Freemason in his own right. Er, no Roy, a free mason was exactly that, a mason free from ties to a master. Have you never wondered why the Freemasons paraphernalia includes the working tools of a mason? In 1636 a freemason would most certainly be nothing other than a worker in stone as the masonic orders had yet to come into being. John ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== To UNSUBSCRIBE from list mode -- Send the one word UNSUBSCRIBE to [email protected] -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.9/416 - Release Date: 10/08/2006