Mr. Amery gives as an instance of this local indifference to the past the fact that the family of Mr. Joseph Gribble, solicitor and county coroner, who had been prisoner agent at Ashburton, had lived opposite to the entrance to the vicarage until 1899, but that by that time everything about the prisoners had been forgotten by them.
Mr. Amery writes to me:
‘I have heard our people say that my great-uncle who lived here at that time used to have open house for the prisoners on parole. The French were very nice and gentlemanly, but the Americans were a much rougher lot, and broke up things a good deal. The French used to teach French and dancing in the town.’
The following Masonic Petition from Ashburton is interesting:
‘Ashburton, April 6, 1814, of our Lord, and in Masonry 5814. To the Grand Master, Grand Wardens, and Members of the Grand Lodge, London.
‘Brethren,
‘We, the undersigned, being Ancient York Masons, take the liberty of addressing you with this Petition for our Relief, being American prisoners of war on parole at this place. We are allowed 10s. 6d. per week for our support. In this place we cannot get lodgings for less than 3s. per week, and from that to 5s. per week. Meat is constantly from 9d. to 1s. per lb., and other necessaries in proportion. Judge, brethren, how we live, for none of us have any means of getting money. Our clothes are wearing out, and God knows how long we shall be kept here; many of us have been captured 9 or 10 months, as you will see opposite our signatures. We form a body in this place by ourselves for the purpose of lecturing each other once a week, and have had this in contemplation for some time, but have deferred making application until absolute want has made it necessary. We therefore pray that you will take into consideration and provide some means for our relief. You will please address your letter to Edwin Buckannon.
‘We humbly remain your pennyless brethren.
‘Edwin Buckannon. G. W. Burbank. Pierson Baldwin. Wm. Miller. Archd. Taylor, Junr. Ezra Ober. Wm. Smith. James Lans. John Schers.’
There was also a French Lodge at Ashburton, ‘Des Amis Réunis’, but the only record of its existence is a certificate granted to Paul Carcenac, an initiate. It is roughly drawn by hand on parchment, and is entirely in French, and, as the recipient is under obligation to affiliate himself to some regularly warranted French Lodge immediately on his return to his native land, it would seem that the Lodge at Ashburton was only of a temporary or irregular character.
The foregoing references to Freemasonry remind us that this universal brotherhood was the occasion of many graceful acts during the Great Wars between men of opposing sides.
Tavistock
There were upon an average 150 prisoners here. The Prison Commissioners wrote:
‘Some of them have made overtures of marriage to women in the neighbourhood, which the magistrates very properly have taken pains to discourage.’