Our History

In 1897, a group of descendants of the Mayflower pilgrims formed the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Their intention was to provide a national organization to honor the memory of the pilgrims. One year later, on March 22, 1898, the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the District of Columbia was chartered by the General Society.         

 

There were 22 charter members in the DC Mayflower Society. Today, the DC Society has approximately 430 members, with about 0ne-third living outside of the greater Washington, DC area, including a number of members who live overseas.

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The DC Mayflower Society has four membership meetings a year and four meetings of the Board of Assistants. The membership meetings are usually scheduled for February, May, September, and November. The November meeting is the annual Compact Day dinner celebrating the signing of the Mayflower Compact on November 21, 1620 (using the Gregorian calendar) and the annual Business Meeting of the Society occurs at the September meeting. At that meeting, Board members report to the membership on the activities of the Society and, in years ending with an even number, elections for the Board of Assistants are held.