Genealogy Chat

My Grandad was a member of the Buffaloes and I have some shreds of his membership card, which shows him as no 4019 in Ye Olde Laira Lodge, Plymouth August 1922. Has anybody been searching for Buffaloe records, that could guide me to the correct searches. Thanks

The number 4019 is the number of the lodge and not his membership number. You may find some information here, but it doesnt look complete. http://www(.)raobplymouth(.)co(.)uk/4520.html

Thanks for that Carol, I'll have a look. It makes sense now with the number because there is another scrap of paper with it and that gives number 3485, Excelsior Lodge and I have a photo of his Lodge medals, which state Excelsior and Laira. Thanks

Dont forget to remove the brackets. I have had another look and even though the images at the top dont open, there is quite a bit of information there. There are some contact names and numbers, may be worth a try.

Carol. Iv'e sent an E.Mail off to see if they can help. I have a photo of his medals and a sash that was worn around the neck, so they might be interested in seeing them. Thanks. Jan

Jan, I have just remembered that the husband of a friend of my mothers was a 'Buff' in Yorkshire. When he died, he had a special Buffs funeral as well as the conventional one, so that may be worth checking out. Also, it was a common belief that the Buffaloes were the poor man`s Freemasons.

My Grandad was also a member of the RAOB, in Nottingham. Nottingham Archives hold some information on some of the lodges in Nottingham, but unfortunately not for the dates I was interested in. Might be worth you contacting the local Archives. also do a search for it on the a2a site, as there is some stuff on there.

Carol My grandfather was in a lodge in Hythe and my mum always referred to it as the poor man's masons. I googled and found quite a few sites. nell