The only thing I've found is the history the Freemasons themselves use, and it'd be interesting to know if there are any independent sources about the origins of Freemasonry.
Freemasonry has several well documented origins:
The stonemasons of Europe formed guilds that kept secret the techniques of their craft and taught workers to identify other members of their guild.
These guilds eventually developed status with the governments that they served and at some point began to admit members of the aristocracy as well as laborers. This was the beginning of "speculative Masonry." They gathered in groups called Lodges and these Lodges eventually decided that they needed a central authority.
The United Grand Lodge of England was thus formed in 1717 and would charter additional Grand Lodges in Ireland and then Massachusetts Colony (the latter in 1733, a date I know because I live in Massachusetts and am a Freemason).
Claims that we are older than the stonemason guilds of Europe are a part of our tradition, but it's allegorical only, IMHO.