Our Society
About Us
In 1620, the small sailing vessel Mayflower set out across the uncharted waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Plymouth, England with a patent for the northern part of the Colony of Virginia. Blown off course, it finally dropped anchor off Provincetown on Cape Cod early in November. Most of the 102 passengers were of English origin seeking a new home free from religious persecution where they might retain their English identity and customs. Some, however, had been hired to supply much-needed expertise essential for founding a new community in a new land.
In remembrance of those God-fearing and dauntless Pilgrims, the first English settlers of New England, their descendants founded the General Society of Mayflower Descendants on January 12, 1897. The original Societies were New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
The General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) is made up of 54 Member Societies representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Member Societies are volunteer organizations that were authorized and granted a Charter by the General Board of Assistants (GBOA). Each Member Society has its own Constitution and Bylaws and elects its own officers. Additionally, Member Societies set their own dues and fees. Those applying to become a member of The Mayflower Society must apply for membership through a Member Society.
The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of North Carolina was chartered in 1924. To see a list of the Charter Members, click here.
Colonies
The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of North Carolina is divided into six physical and one virtual colony (listed east to west) - I Northeast Colony, II Southeast Colony, III Central Colony, IV Piedmont Colony, V Charlotte Colony, VI Western Colony (see map below) and the VII Speedwell Colony (Virtual).
Names of new members coming into the Member Society, residing within the State, are passed along to the officers in the Colony area in which they reside for addition to the Colony rolls. Each Colony generally holds one or two meetings a year, one in the spring and the other in the autumn prior to the Annual Meeting of the Member Society.
Currently each colony is working on projects to engage and promote new Pilgrim scholarship, research, and publications, as well as instill a passion for history and awareness of the Mayflower Compact and the Pilgrim story through education. We continue to fundraise to gain sufficient funds to purchase and place the Mayflower Families Through Six Generations – known as the Silver Books – into our local libraries. The GSMD is the only lineage society that researches and publishes books about its ancestors’ descendants. Those interested in joining can use the Silver Books to research their ancestors.”
Each colony places Mayflower Families genealogy books in local libraries. These volumes are 5 generations of a Mayflower Family published by the National Society. These books are used when proving Mayflower lineage, a necessary step in joining the society
Welcome Message
More than one hundred years ago, a group of descendants of the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 saw the need for a national society to honor their memory. The intention was to remember these Pilgrims who established Plymouth Colony.
Today, there are tens of millions of individuals descended from these brave souls. It is the goal of The Mayflower Society to join together people who share this heritage and to carry on the memory of our Pilgrim ancestors.
Each state society is an autonomous organization. If you live in North Carolina, you can apply for membership in the NC Mayflower Society. If you live elsewhere and wish to join locally, follow the link to the General Mayflower Society website, where you will find contact information for other state societies.
If your roots are in North Carolina (or, even if they aren't) and you want to join our state society, you are certainly welcome to join us.
