ANNOUNCEMENT: The 2024 Florida Mayflower Scholarship form is available! Follow this link for more information.

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:

ColonyLocationChartered
1.William Brewster ColonyMiami22 Nov 1942
2.John Alden ColonyFort Lauderdale1949
Dr. Samuel Fuller ColonyTampa1 Apr 1950
(disbanded)
3.William Bradford ColonySt. Petersburg1951
4.Francis Cooke ColonyDaytona Beach10 Nov 1954
5.Richard Warren ColonyPonte Vedra Beach15 Nov 1957
6.John Howland ColonyWinter Park1962
7.Edward Fuller ColonyPolk County1968
8.Isaac Allerton ColonyWest Palm Beach1970
9.Myles Standish ColonyNaples1975
10.Edward Winslow ColonyTallahassee1977
11.Elizabeth Tilley ColonySarasota, Manatee and
Charlotte Counties
1982
12.Edward Doty ColonyPensacola1989
13.William Mullins ColonyOcala27 Mar 1999
14.Stephen Hopkins ColonyVero Beach13 Nov 2001
15.James Chilton ColonyThe Villages10 Jan 2004
16.Henry Samson ColonyFort Myers26 Oct 2011
17.Samuel Fuller ColonyPalm Beach13 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.