The first appearance of Freemasonry is a guess at best. What we do know is that its Charters came from Europe. Historical records show that Jonathan Belcher, the governor of the colonies of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Jersey, was made a Mason in London ca. 1704. He is one of the few masons in America known to have joined the Craft before 1717.

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania possesses a book that is the earliest known record of any American Lodge. The first record is for June 24, 1731. In that month, there is record of Benjamin Franklin paying dues in February. (I wonder what the dues structure was in 1730?)

The first lodge in Boston was constituted on July 30, 1733. Most American Lodges originated from one of the Grand lodges from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France or other countries. If there were any Masonic meetings before 1730, they were not recorded.