Grand Lodge of Virginia

A Pennsylvania Grand Lodge was probably working as early as 1727, or slightly before the one that was next formed in Massachusetts, circa-1730.

The grand lodge relocated its offices to Richmond, Virginia, in 1784, where it remains to this day.

The grand lodge was formally constituted on October 30, 1778, with its first headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia by the union of eight chartered lodges: Norfolk, at Norfolk; Port Royal in Caroline County; Blandford at Petersburg; Fredericksburg at Fredericksburg; Saint Tammany at Hampton; Williamsburg at Williamsburg; Botetourt at Gloucester Courthouse; Cabin Point in Prince George County.

Four other Virginia lodges that were also in existence during the colonial era, but chose not to participate at all in this Virginia formative effort, were: York at Yorktown; Alexandria at Alexandria; Winchester Hiram at Winchester; and Hobbes Hole at Tappahannock.

[6] While all of those lodges eventually received West Virginia charters, they petitioned the Grand Lodge of Virginia to keep their VA charters, which was eventually granted.

John Marshall, a leader of the Federalist Party and Chief Justice of the United States , was an early Grand Master of Virginia Freemasons.
Robert Brooke, a Governor of Virginia , was an early Grand Master of Virginia Freemasons.
William Terry, a commander of the Stonewall Brigade during the American Civil War , was a Grand Master of Virginia Freemasons.
James Hubert Price, known as the " New Deal " Governor of Virginia, was a Grand Master of Virginia Freemasons.