Can the same person be a qualifying ancestor for multiple societies?

Don't worry, you're not the first one to wonder! Your grandmother or sibling has joined one society, and you'd like to join another - using their paperwork. Is it possible? Maybe. First of all, review the qualifying ancestor guidelines for the society you'd like to join and the society your family member joined. Is thereContinue reading "Can the same person be a qualifying ancestor for multiple societies?"

…”nothing is certain but death and taxes.”

Benjamin Franklin's quote may date to after the Revolutionary War, but the payment of taxes is considered to be a source of qualifying service for both the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. But which taxes? The Sons of the American Revolution requires that the taxes "support the War." The Daughters of the AmericanContinue reading "…”nothing is certain but death and taxes.”"

Not the only colony – Plymouth and the New England colonies in the early 1600s…

With the focus on Plymouth Colony this time of year, it's easy to treat it as the center of European settlement in New England. The reality is far more complicated. While Plymouth may have the earliest date for European arrival, it was one of multiple colonies being established in the 1630s. These colonies were inContinue reading "Not the only colony – Plymouth and the New England colonies in the early 1600s…"

I have Canadian roots. Might I have Mayflower ancestors?

The simple answer: yes. If your family was from an area that was popular with the New England "planters" , Revolutionary War era Loyalists, or economic "Late Loyalists," they may have roots in colonial Massachusetts. If you want to identify Mayflower line ancestors, focus on using established techniques for researching planters, loyalists, or late loyalists.Continue reading "I have Canadian roots. Might I have Mayflower ancestors?"

How do I start my application to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants?

The General Society of Mayflower Descendants ("Mayflower Society") is made up of 54 member societies. To start your application, you need to begin by choosing the society to which you would like to apply. Some applicants choose a society based on emotional ties to an area. They may have grown up there, or it mayContinue reading "How do I start my application to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants?"