Robert Graham Hatfield
2007, 2008
Brother Robert Graham Hatfield was born at Plainfield, New Jersey on October 29, 1936. In 1945 his family moved to a farm in Peterborough, New Hampshire where he attended schools and graduated from Peterborough High School in 1955. He served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1964. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree cum laude; from New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire in 1969.
On July 7, 1972 he married Margaret L. “Peggy” McNeil and they have 2 children, John and Brenda, and one Grandchild.
Brother Hatfield retired from the New Hampshire Department of Revenue in 2000, having worked there as Tax Administrator since 1969. He and Peggy operated the Maplehurst Inn in Antrim, New Hampshire from 1978 to 1986. He recently sold a sand and gravel business that he had operated since 1998. He is a Notary Public and Justice of the Peace and has variously held jobs as a real estate salesman, tax accounting, licensed securities salesman, bartender and farmer. In his spare time he enjoys antique cars, collecting stamps and coins, and cutting firewood to feed a cast iron cook-stove that is still in use today in the more than 223 year old house that he and Peggy call home.
He served as town auditor for the town of Weare, New Hampshire from 1973 to 1993 and was chairman of the finance committee in 1987 and 1988. He has been the assistant town treasurer since 2005.
Brother Hatfield was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge No. 38 of Hillsboro. He received the Entered Apprentice degree on June 17, 1970, was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on September 16, 1970 and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on November 4, 1970. In 1971 he was appointed to the progressive line of the Lodge and served as Worshipful Master from 1981 to 1983. He served as the Lodge Marshal in 1984 and was selected as the Lodge Treasurer in 1984, a position he continues to hold.
In the York Rite he is a member of Trinity Royal Arch Chapter No. 2 and served as High Priest in 2000 and 2001; Horace Chase Council No. 4, Royal and Select Masters and has been Treasurer since 1994; and Mount Horeb Commandery No. 3 where he served as Commander in 2004-2006. He received the Order of the Purple Cross in 2005.
In 1979 he joined the Scottish Rite and he is a member of Alpha Lodge of Perfection; Arial Council, Princes of Jerusalem; and Acacia Chapter of Rose Croix, all of Concord and is a 32nd° member of the New Hampshire Consistory in Nashua.
He is a member of the New Hampshire Society of Veteran Freemasons; the Red Cross of Constantine; Profile York Rite College No. 100; the Order of High Priests; the Holy Royal Arch Knight Masons; Scenic Council Knight Masons; the National Sojourners; the Swords of Bunker Hill and the Royal Order of Scotland. He received the DeMolay Legion of Honor in 2007.
Brother Hatfield served as the District Deputy Grand Lecturer for the 4th Masonic district in 1985 and 1986 and as District Deputy Grand Master in 1987 and 1988. He served as the Grand Lecturer from 1994 to 1998. In 1998 he was appointed to the progressive line of Grand Lodge and on May 19, 2007 was selected and installed the 111th Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New Hampshire.
The Masons of New Hampshire may be justly proud of the fine husband, father, grandfather and Master Mason, who is now the leader of the fraternity in the Granite State.
