According to the Rhode Island Freemasonry website (http://www.rimasons.org/) “Thomas Oxnard – Provincial Grand Master of New England and Grand Master of Massachusetts – granted the petition for the constitution of St. John’s Lodge of Newport, December 27, 1749, the first in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.” Eight years later the soon to be state of Rhode Island got its fist Grand Lodge. Freemasons have a long history in Rhode Island including burial plots inside North Burial Ground cemetery. This photo was taking at North Burial Ground cemetery located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Phineas Potter Jr. was a member of the Rhode Island Freemasonry futurity born on June 21, 1821 and passed away March 18, 1876.