Lineage Societies
- you either love them or hate them. Me?
I enjoy proving I can join. Most of the groups are patriotic, support
our vets and the military, respect the flag, sponsor volunteer work and support
organizations through giving time and money.
Check out how many lineage groups there actually are. Wikipedia.com
lists the names of many - too many to count - on the "Lineage
Societies" page.
You can join societies that show lineage to royalty,
founders of our country, as well as
military (Civil War and Revolutionary War and many others) and even occupations.
Most states have some sort of first family organization - first settlers in the
state. Did your ancestor sign the Declaration of Independence? Was he a Whaling
Master or a Colonial Clergy? Did he own
a tavern? One of my favorite names for an organization is: Descendants
of the illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain - or - (The
Royal Bastards). Wouldn't that be fun to tell people - I am a member
of The Royal Bastards... actually, can't
prove I am at this time! I do have FitzRandolphs in my family and a friend told
me that is what the Fitz stands for - more research needed. Maybe next year.
I enjoy being a member of a lineage society. Currently I am
a member of NSDAR (National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution);
The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century; and the National Society
United States Daughters of 1812. I am in
the process of applying for the National Society of the Dames of the Court of
Honor (DCH) (one of my DAR soldiers held the rank of Captain) and - my all time
favorite - the Association of Daughters of Early American Witches! Who knew! I didn't. I had no idea that my 9th
great-grandfather, Nicholas Disbrow/Disborough from CT/MA was accused of being
a witch. He was not convicted. There is an interesting write-up on him on: http://bapresley.com/genealogy/hawkins/kelsey/nicholasdisborough.html
It sounds to me as though a disgruntled neighbor was
involved, but then most of the "witch" stories sound like someone
else was out to get the person accused.
It is almost the ultimate of bullying, especially when you read the stories
of the young women accused by other young women, convicted and hanged.
I am still working on four NSDAR supplements to go with my
initial soldier, Robert FitzRandolph. The supplements already proven are: Joseph Hazelton(ine) and Capt. John Noyes.
I could probably prove approximately 50
supplements to Colonial Dames - a lot of our family came from England in the
1600s. But the grandmother of them all, in my opinion, is The Mayflower Society
- I would like to reprove that someday. My great-grandmother, Mary Ella
Hazelton Childs, was a member, but because she joined over 100 years ago I need
to reprove it, and I have a letter in my files from the Mayflower Society at
that time and they had questions about her membership, but they allowed it. One soldier from the Revolutionary War,
Samuel Hitchcock, (also a difficult reprove) was probably married to 1) Sarah
Sears, and then her sister 2) Elizabeth
"Betsey" Sears. The Sears
family would be my path to the Mayflower and Elder William Brewster. The question is: was he married to them both
and is Sarah the mother of the first three children by Samuel Hitchcock. It
really wouldn't matter for purposes of getting into the Mayflower Society which
sister is the mother, but I would like to prove - or disprove - the existence
of Sarah Sears.
We genealogists - as a friend says - are never bored! Not enough hours in the day.
