How Thornhill Decided the American Election (Side B)

How Thornhill Decided the American Election of 1832

In 1826, in Batavia, N.Y., William Morgan published Illustrations of Masonry, an expose of the first three degrees of Masonry. For his efforts he was imprisoned, allegedly for a two dollar debt. Someone paid off his debt, and upon his release from prison, he was seized, gagged and thrust into a yellow carriage. There was a wild ride, with relays of horses, to the Niagara Frontier. It was commonly believed he was then murdered and dropped into Lake Ontario.

His disappearance and the obstruction of justice by politically influential Masons raised popular indignation to a point that a third party, the Antimasonic Party with William Wirt as its leader and Presidential candidate, was born.

Just prior to the Presidential election of 1832, a body found near the mouth of the Niagara River, said to be Morgan's, was claimed by his family. It turned out to be someone else's, but was said by the Antimasonic Party to be a "Good enough Morgan 'till after the election", a statement of political deceit. Andrew Jackson won, in part because the Antimasonic candidate drew votes Republican Henry Clay.

All this time William Morgan was in Thornhill, operating a distillery in Brewers Hollow, southeast of this location.