04/13/2026
Our first WM was a Revolutionary War veteran serving under both Washington and Lafayette. He fought at Philadelphia, Brandwine, and Valley Forge. He help d found Liberty Academy, one of the first educational institutions in Robertson County. At the time he held the office of WM, his son-in-law, Willie Blount, was the Governor of Tennessee.
Dr. John Eberle
Lodge Historian
Goodlettsville Lodge #9
A Forgotten Founder of Tennessee Freemasonry: Major John Baker Sr.
Born in 1755, he answered the call of liberty during the American Revolution, serving under General George Washington, fighting at Brandywine (where he was wounded), and enduring the harsh winter at Valley Forge.
But his story didn’t end there.
In the 1790s, Baker moved west into what would become Tennessee where he helped shape a new frontier. He served his community, supported early education, and became a leader among pioneers. In 1812, he took part in founding Rhea Lodge No. 61 in Port Royal, later known as Western Star Lodge No. 9, serving as its first Worshipful Master and soon after helped lay the foundation for the Grand Lodge of Tennessee itself.
Soldier. Pioneer. Mason. Builder. Major John Baker Sr. represents a generation that didn’t just win independence, they built what came next. His legacy still stands today in Tennessee and in the Brotherhood he helped establish.
