JOINING
A Mayflower Lineage Match (MLM) form is first obtained from either the State Historian, State Co-Historian, or local Colony Historian. There are two application fees. The first application fee you will be required to pay is $40.00 made payable to FSMD (Florida State Society of Mayflower Descendants). This fee is given to the Colony Historian before your application can begin. It is non-refundable and is valid for 24-months. If the application is not completed in 24 months, the fee must be paid again. The second application fee you will be required to pay is $125.00* — also made payable to FSMD. It is due at the time your application goes to Plymouth for verification/approval and also is a non-refundable fee.
Annual dues to your local Mayflower Colony are $54.00 payable upon election and thereafter in October or November for the upcoming year. The annual dues provide continued membership benefits in the national, Florida, and local Mayflower organizations.
Please complete the MLM in this section and print for future reference and assistance. The colony historian is the person who will assist you with your official application. The Colony Page on this website will allow you to see the information for colony officers in the colony nearest you.
*Fee reflects the current rate which is subject to change by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants in Plymouth, MA.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Membership in the Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants includes membership in the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, subscription to The Mayflower Quarterly magazine, and to preserve your family heritage for future generations. You will also receive newsletters from your colony and from the State Society with the opportunity to learn more about our Pilgrim ancestors and to share your family heritage.
RESEARCH RESOURCES
Many of the colonies supply local libraries with the Mayflower Families Through Five Generations silver books, which are published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. The silver books contain the first five generations of most of the Mayflower passengers. However, if you unable to go to the library, you can investigate on your own through the American Ancestors’ online database:
https://mayflower.americanancestors.org/pilgrim-database.
They have the fifth generation of all the Mayflower Families silver books digitized as well as other resources, so you can quickly find out if your lines are good or bad, at least for the first five generations. Your Colony Historian is available to assist you in finding the necessary documentation and help you with completion of your application.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application process is described in more detail in the Florida Application Procedures Guide available below. You will be assigned a Historian who will assist you with your application. Usually this is a local Colony Historian. All Historians are volunteers and cannot do extensive genealogical research. Please understand many people are seeking confirmation of their Mayflower lineage and applications can take a year or longer to complete.
Applicants are encouraged to periodically contact their assigned Historian concerning the status of their applications. If there are further questions or concerns, please contact the Florida State Historian or State Co-Historian, who oversees your area (contact information is on page 13 of the 2021 Application Procedures available below).
Once your application is submitted to the General Society for review, the Florida Colony Historian or State Co-Historian will inform you and give you an estimate of review time.
2023 FLORIDA APPLICATION GUIDE
The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Florida has prepared an application procedures guide for persons interested in seeking membership.
**THIS IS REQUIRED READING FOR ALL APPLICANTS.