Portsmouth Commandery No. 5, originally known as Portsmouth Encampment No. 5, has a rich history dating back to January 16, 1827, when it was first instituted. Portsmouth Commandery No. 5 also provides the history for both Grice Commandery No. 16 and Hampton Commandery No. 17. Portsmouth Commandery is known as the “God-Mother” for Grice and Hampton Commanderies.

On February 4, 1885, the Grand Commander of Virginia, Right Eminent Francis A. Reed, authorized a dispensation to Hampton Commandery, in the county of Elizabeth City. He also issued Dispensation to Richmond Commandery No. 2 and Old Dominion Commandery No. 11, to confer the orders of Knighthood without awaiting the usual time of probation.

During the 1886 Annual Convocation, it was resolved that the Dispensation would be continued in full force as the processing of documents was not completed. The 1888 Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Virginia reports the following information on Hampton Commandery:

Hampton Commandery No. 17, Old Point, Va.

At the last Assembly of this Grand Commandery, the following was adopted:

Whereas A Dispensation was issued for the establishment of a Commandery at Hampton in February 1885; –

And, whereas, The Dispensation, with the necessary documents, has not been  returned; thereforeResolved, That on the return of the said Dispensation and the necessary papers, that the Right Eminent Grand Commander be authorized to continue the said Dispensation, or to issue a Charter, as he may deem proper or expedient.

On July 10, 1888, just before the Grand Convocation, the Grand Commander received the missing documents and dispensation from Sir Knight Joseph G. Fulton, thus removing any further delays in the charting and constituting this new Commandery. Hampton Commandery No. 17 is chartered two days later, on July 12, 1888.

On July 19, 1888, Right Eminent James B. Blanks, Grand Commander of Virginia, arrives at the Hampton asylum, performs the constitution ceremony for Hampton Commandery No. 17, then proceeds to confer the Orders of Knighthood on 12 new candidates. Sir Knights Fulton, Crowell and Crouch remain in their officer positions.

Hampton Commandery No. 17 was thus founded in 1888 and originally met at a bank building on Queen Street in downtown Hampton. The first officers of Hampton Commandery (under dispensation) to receive with Sir Knight William B. Crowell as Generalissimo (designate) and Sir Knight William B. Crouch as Captain General (designate), with a complement of 22 members in their first year.

On July 28, 1889, there appears to have been a Knight Templar Drill Team competition in Wheeling, West Virginia, where Hampton Commandery, No. 17 has arrived with a count of 25 Sir Knights for this event to compete against other Commanderies. The Sir Knights of Hampton stayed together in one house to which they room & board.

In their Commandery Newsletter from October 20, 1927, the fraters of Hampton report that the Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Virginia will take place in the city of Norfolk and that it was necessary to turn out numbers and support to show well for Sir Knight A. L. Evans, as the most likely new Grand Commander and member of Hampton Commandery.

Over the years, Hampton Commandery has met in downtown Hampton, downtown Newport News, at Transportation Lodge, Bremond Lodge, the Newport News Scottish Rite Masonic Center and now at Poquoson Lodge. I think it would be fair to say that the Sir Knights of Hampton Commandery have been on the move for many years. 134 years after the start of Hampton Commandery No. 17 in downtown Hampton, we are still here today and are keeping the legacy and history of Hampton Commandery alive.

The following members of Hampton Commandery No. 17 have served as Grand Commanders of the Grand Commandery of Virginia:

Sir Knight Philip T. Woodfin (1898-1899)

Sir Knight Alfred Lancaster Evans (1927-1928)

Sir Knight Alexander MacPhee Conner (1947-1948)

Sir Knight Frank Allerton (1956-1957)

Sir Knight Russell Beale Frost (1973-1974)

Sir Knight J. Linwood Holloway (1979-1980)

Sir Knight Peter Reginald Spring (2021-2022)

Works Cited

Grand Commander of Virginia. 1885-1890. Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templars of Virginia. Grand Conclave Minutes, Richmond: Grand Commandery of Virginia.

Hampton History Museum. 1927. “Program for Hampton Commandery No. 17.” Hampton History Museum. Accessed 2022. 

Library of Virginia. 1889. “Wheeling Sunday Register.” Library of Virginia. Accessed 2022.

By Sir Knight Steve Andrew Urban, Commander Hampton Commandery No. 17

And Sir Knight Shelby Chandler, PC, Fredericksburg Commandery No. 1