Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Florida

Greetings from the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Florida. We have recently revised and updated our website to better inform you about the Florida Society, and what is happening at our active state organization and 17 colonies throughout the state. We welcome new and transferring members to our organization. The Florida Society is one of the largest state organizations of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Membership information is included at this website.  Please feel free to contact one of our state or colony officers for additional information. 

HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA SOCIETY OF MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS

The Florida Society, the 28th state to organize, was chartered 31 July 1937 with 24 charter members.  The organizational meeting was held 07 Aug 1937, at “Perrydell” in Rio Vista, overlooking the Halifax River, north of Daytona Beach.  The first annual meeting was held in Jacksonville in the home of the Secretary.  Dinner was $1.00 per plate.  Initiation fee $5.00; annual dues $3.00; and Life Membership $50.00.

The Florida Society’s Charter was presented by Governor General Burnham Standish Colburn.  GG Colburn (NC #1 & first NC Mayflower State Governor) was the Governor General of the General Society for six years, from 1933 to 1939.

By 1958 six colonies had been chartered and many followed.  We now have 17 colonies throughout the state:

	Colony	Location	Chartered
1.	William Brewster Colony	Miami	22 Nov 1942
2.	John Alden Colony	Fort Lauderdale	1949
	Dr. Samuel Fuller Colony	Tampa	1 Apr 1950 (disbanded)
3.	William Bradford Colony	St. Petersburg	1951
4.	Francis Cooke Colony	Daytona Beach	10 Nov 1954
5.	Richard Warren Colony	Ponte Vedra Beach	15 Nov 1957
6.	John Howland Colony	Winter Park	1962
7.	Edward Fuller Colony	Polk County	1968
8.	Isaac Allerton Colony	West Palm Beach	1970
9.	Myles Standish Colony	Naples	1975
10.	Edward Winslow Colony	Tallahassee	1977
11.	Elizabeth Tilley Colony	Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties	1982
12.	Edward Doty Colony	Pensacola	1989
13.	William Mullins Colony	Ocala	27 Mar 1999
14.	Stephen Hopkins Colony	Vero Beach	13 Nov 2001
15.	James Chilton Colony	The Villages	10 Jan 2004
16.	Henry Samson Colony	Fort Myers	26 Oct 2011
17.	Samuel Fuller Colony	Palm Beach	13 May 2016

The organization is involved in school programs, talking about our ancestors’ lives and history and what it means for our country today.  The state organization sponsors an annual scholarship program for High School seniors.  A working Board of Assistants makes it all happen and great fellowship makes our organization so meaningful. If you are interested in learning more about the state society and the individual colonies please contact us.