Mayflower Society applications can get expensive. I get it. Not only are you dealing with the application fees, you may have certificate costs of several hundred dollars – and that’s before you decided to hire help from a professional genealogist. If you have a budget, there are a few things you can do to makeContinue reading “I’d like to apply to the Mayflower Society – but I have a budget. Is there anything I can do to save money?”
Tag Archives: Mayflower Society
My ancestors are from Fairfield County, Connecticut. Do I have Mayflower ancestors?
This question comes up far more frequently then I would have expected – and the answer is, unfortunately, generally no. Why? In the 1600s, there were many more colonies in New England than states existing today. Much of Fairfield County fell under the political jurisdiction of New Haven Colony and the commercial realm of NewContinue reading “My ancestors are from Fairfield County, Connecticut. Do I have Mayflower ancestors?”
What’s a “Silver Book”?
You’re working on an application to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (“Mayflower Society”). Someone asks if you’ve checked the “Silver Books” yet. What do they mean? The “Silver Books” is a term used to describe a series of publications called “Mayflower Families through Five Generations.” Each publication – which has a silver cover –Continue reading “What’s a “Silver Book”?”
Do I need to have documents translated for my lineage society application?
As you’re preparing a lineage society application, you may discover some of your ancestor’s records are written in a non-English language. Because of the settlement patterns of the United States in the 18th and 19th century, French, German, and Spanish commonly appear in records. That usually raises a question: do I need to have theseContinue reading “Do I need to have documents translated for my lineage society application?”
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?”
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?”
Is there an easy way to check my Mayflower line?
Think you have Mayflower ancestors but aren’t ready to delve into the research yourself? There are three good options to help you check the line. If you apply for Mayflower Lineage Match, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants will check to see what portion of the line has been documented in a previous application. ThereContinue reading “Is there an easy way to check my Mayflower line?”
Common Mayflower Society Questions: Can I access old applications to see what’s on file already?
Lineage society applications sometimes contain research goldmines. There’s the attestation from someone that died decades ago or the Bible family record that’s gone missing. The old Mayflower Society applications are no different. But how do you access them? FamilySearch and the New England Historic Genealogical Society have announced a partnership to digitize General Society ofContinue reading “Common Mayflower Society Questions: Can I access old applications to see what’s on file already?”
Common Mayflower Society Questions: What marriage records do I need to provide?
All lineage societies require some documentation of births, deaths, and marriages (if they happened). In most cases, the society requires only the record of the marriage that produced the child. The Mayflower Society is a bit different : in general, you will be asked to provide all marriage records for the “line carrier.” Who isContinue reading “Common Mayflower Society Questions: What marriage records do I need to provide?”
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