Research

Genealogical and family history research can be a very satisfying activity.  The thrill of discovering the names and histories of your ancestors is like no other experience.  Part of what makes genealogical research so exciting is that, with the advent of modern information technologies,  it has become easier than ever before.  Computers, the internet, and various information storage and retrieval technologies have  significantly increased the efficiency of doing research.   However, while modern technological tools greatly facilitate this research, doing it can still be hard work, but the rewards are well worth it.

To join the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, you must document your direct lineage from one of the 26 Mayflower passengers listed on the membership page of this web site.  This process might take considerable time, even with the use of modern technology, but don’t get discouraged.  Your research may also be aided by information held by living relatives and others who have already researched your family lines.

It is critical that the documentation you submit to the Society for proving your direct lineage from a Mayflower passenger shows all the parent-child “connections”  from the Mayflower passenger down through the generations to you.  Documentation that demonstrates these connections, referred to as primary documentation, includes the following:

• Vital records of birth, marriage and death

• Church records and Bible records

• Marriage bonds and licenses

• Cemetery records

• Probate records

• Military or pension records

• Deeds and wills

• Mortician’s records

• Contemporary family letters and diaries

• Tax lists

• Divorce records

• Social security records

• Published books and genealogies

Secondary documentation may be used only after all efforts to find primary documentation have failed.  Secondary documentation includes:  

• County and town histories

• Published family genealogies

• Federal and state census records

• Newspaper obituaries

• Newspaper marriage accounts

• Photos of gravestone inscriptions

• Affidavits

The following documentation is unacceptable:

• Mayflower Index numbers

• Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Patriot Indexes

• Indexes to any other lineage papers

• International Genealogical Index (IGI)

• Lineage papers that have been submitted to any other hereditary society

• Genealogical compendiums such as Virkus

• Family group sheets, ancestral files and pedigree charts

• Family web pages and other internet sources

• Who’s Who

• Social registers

• Social Security Death Index (SSDI)

• Unpublished handwritten or computer-generated genealogical compilations

Researching these records for the purpose of joining the Mayflower Society  is your responsibility.  As you conduct research, remember that you are looking for original records, which constitute the proof of your Mayflower line.  While they may be interesting and worth keeping, old family stories handed down through the generations, and faded notes jotted down by your relatives are not considered original records.  

The General Society of Mayflower Descendants does not accept LDS family group sheets, ancestral files, or other computer-generated documents.

Once your documents bring you within five generations of your Mayflower ancestor, the Silver Books, published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, can usually supply the documentation required for the rest of your Mayflower line.  Our Historian uses these books to verify the information you supply the Society on your application review form. 

The Ancestral File, the Pedigree Resource File, the Vital Records Index, and the International Genealogical Index can be accessed at www.familysearch.org. The Family History Library’s collection concentrates on records of deceased persons who lived before 1920. All records are obtained legally with the approval and cooperation of the government and local authorities who have jurisdiction over the records.

Genealogical Resources on the Web

www.familysearch.org

This is the official web site for the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City.

www.cyndislist.com 

This web site contains over 200,000 links to various genealogical resources.  The site includes a detailed topical and subject index to help you find the type of documentation you are searching for.

www.rootsweb.com

This web site, supported by Ancestry.com, lists numerous web sites, databases and other resources for conducting genealogical research.

www.newenglandancestors.org

The New England Historic Genealogical Society is the oldest genealogical society in the country.  For over 150 years, NEHGS has helped new and experienced researchers trace their heritage in New England and around the world.

www.americangenealogist.com

The American Genealogist (TAG) is an independent quarterly journal, dedicated to the elevation of genealogical scholarship through carefully documented analyses of genealogical problems and through short compiled genealogies.

www.genealogy.com

This is a subscription-based service for doing genealogical and family history research.