Membership

Many Americans and Canadians can claim descent from a Mayflower passenger. If you have documentation that shows that you may be descended from a passenger on the Mayflower voyage of 1620, you may be eligible to join the Society. The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the District of Columbia welcomes applicants who live in or have ties to the Greater Washington, DC region. If you are interested in applying, please contact Historian Glenn Williams

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If you have researched your line and are reasonably confident that you can prove your descent from a Mayflower passenger with a recognized line, please open, download, and complete our

Preliminary Review Form

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The form should include your direct family line back to one of 51 Mayflower passengers (see Table below). While you do not need to send supporting documents with the Preliminary Review Form, you may send any previously approved Mayflower applications that support your line. We will review your form and provide instructions on how to proceed.

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There are many organizations and companies that offer products that will give you a great looking certificate or chart stating that your ancestors arrived on the Mayflower, but please be aware that they cannot confer membership in The General Society of Mayflower Descendants or the State Mayflower Societies.

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If you are interested in joining The Mayflower Society, we are here to provide assistance and advice as you assemble your documentation.  While it can be a lengthy process, we can help you determine if a previously approved application can be used in support of your own application. We can also offer advice as to whether you should seek the assistance of a professional genealogist. 

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WHO ARRIVED ON THE MAYFLOWER IN 1620?

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There were 102 passengers aboard the Mayflower, including 50 men, 20 women and 32 children. Any person able to document their descent from one or more of the following 51 Mayflower Pilgrims is eligible to apply for membership in the Mayflower Society:

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       John Alden                             Francis Cooke                      Priscilla Mullins

       Bartholomew Allerton                  John Cooke                        William Mullins

       Isaac Allerton                           Edward Doty                      Degory Priest

       Mary (Norris) Allerton                 Francis Eaton                      Joseph Rogers

       Mary Allerton                          Samuel Eaton                      Thomas Rogers

       Remember Allerton                     Sarah Eaton                       Henry Samson

       Elinor Billington                        Moses Fletcher                    George Soule

       Francis Billington                       Edward Fuller                     Myles Standish

       John Billington                         Mrs. Edward Fuller                Elizabeth Tilley

       William Bradford                       Peter Browne                      John Tilley

       Love Brewster                          James Chilton                      Joan (Hurst) Tilley

       Mary Brewster                         Mrs. James Chilton                 Richard Warren

       William Brewster                      Mary Chilton                       Peregrine White

       Wrestling Brewster                    Giles Hopkins                       Resolved White

       Peter Browne                          Stephen Hopkins                    Susanna White

       James Chilton                          John Howland                     William White

       Mrs. James Chilton                    Richard More                       Edward Winslow

       Mary Chilton                                                               

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There are many online resources that can help you with your research. The GSMD recommends the following sites:

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AmericanAncestors.org
Ancestry.com
ChroniclingAmerica.loc.gov
CyndisList.com
FamilySearch.org
FindMyPast.com
Fold3.com
GenealogyBank.com
Newspapers.com
NewspaperArchive.com
OpenLibrary.org