Ceremonial Apron

Period1770 - 1790

Place MadeFreehold, New Jersey, U.S.A.

MediumLambskin, silk, silk brocade, cotton

Dimensions12 × 16 in. (30.5 × 40.6 cm)

ClassificationsGroup and Organization Memorabilia

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1936

Object number960

DescriptionThis ceremonial Masonic rectangular apron is constructed of off-white lambskin, with a triangular top flap attached along the upper edge. Fine blue and red silk form narrow borders along both apron and flap. A central Masonic square and compass emblem is painted on the front of the apron, flanked by fine red and blue silk rosettes. Narrow cotton waist ties are sewn to the left and right upper corners of the apron.
Curatorial RemarksAlthough its true beginnings are uncertain, Freemasonry traces its roots to early Medieval stonemason guilds of Europe. By the early 18th century, Freemasonry was fast growing in England, and by 1740 it had spread through Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean to America. George Washington was a Mason, joining in 1752. Many notables such as Benjamin Franklin, John Paul Jones, and the Marquis de Lafayette were all Masons. In general, Freemasonry provided a fraternal framework helpful in building social connections, promoting the ideas of the Enlightenment, also known as the "Age of Reason." Beginning in the 17th and 18th centuries, this broad philosophical movement embraced, among much else, individual liberty, the pursuit of happiness, the scientific methods, progress, and religious tolerance. The first New Jersey Masonic Lodge was founded in Newark in 1761. According to family history, Freehold resident Moses Sproul wore his lambskin, silk and linen apron at a Masonic ceremony on the night of June 29, 1778, the day after the Battle of Monmouth. George Washington was also present. The emblems of the carpenter's or mason's square and pointed compass may well have been painted by Moses Sproul himself.NotesMoses Sproul was born in about 1748 to Elizabeth Laird Sproul and James Sproul. His name appears in documents spelled a variety of ways, including Sproule, Sprowl, Sprowle, and Sprouls. Sproul served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution from 1775 to 1783. He enlisted in November 1775 as a Private in the 3rd New Jersey Regiment, rising through the ranks first as Corporal, then Sergeant. Sproul suffered through the bitter winter at Valley Forge. He was promoted to Ensign on June 21, 1781, and continued his service until November 1783. Sproul was an original member of the Society of Cincinnati. After the war, Sproul and his family lived in Monmouth County and were active members of Old Tennent Church. At some point prior to 1786, Sproul married Susanna Laird. Some records indicate Sproul married a second time, possibly to Susanna's sister Mary. The couple had at least one child, a daughter named Elizabeth, who was christened in Old Tennent Church in 1787. In 1789, Sproul purchased farmland in Freehold Township, now part of the Battleground Country Club in Manalapan. He also ran a dry goods store in Englishtown. Moses Sproul died on September 22, 1819, and was buried at Old Tennent Church. Sproul was a Mason, and wore his calfskin and silk ceremonial apron at a meeting of Master Masons the day after the Battle of Monmouth, June 29, 1778, at which George Washington was present. Sproul kept a diary while serving as quartermaster sergeant in the 3rd New Jersey Regiment, from May 17 to October 17, 1779. The diary, now in the collection of the New-York Historical Society, details troop movements, skirmishes, and other events. Sproul's daughter Elizabeth did not marry, and his apron descended through other family members. It was purchased from the estate of Miss Harriet Applegate, a collateral descendant of Moses, in 1936.

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