The Mayflower Society - General Society of Mayflower Descendants

In continuing our look at lineage societies, the next one on the list is “The Mayflower Society - the General Society of the Mayflower Descendants”.

“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, in what was then called the northern part of Virginia. 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.” Source: http://www.themayflowersociety.com/index.htm.

Established in 1897 in Plymouth Massachusetts, the Society strives to educate interested parties regarding the history of the Pilgrims. In addition, they endeavor to reveal the Pilgrims roles and contributions which helped shape the history of the United States of America. The Society is one of the three largest hereditary organizations in the U.S.

In regards to genealogical resources pertaining to the Society, the Jacksonville Public Library holds the following material:

Mayflower index, compiled and edited for the General society of Mayflower descendants by William Alexander McAuslan, historian general.

GEN 929.373 M117m

This resource gives the names of men who married daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters of Mayflower Pilgrims. Part One provides (1) the names of persons descended from the Mayflower pilgrims in alpha order numbered consecutively, (2) the name of their spouse, (3) and the parent’s number which corresponds to the parents’ names. Part Two contains the names of husbands and wives included in the list of descendants.

Mayflower families through five generations : descendants of the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, Mass., December 1620.
GEN 929.2 A1M468

This is a 20 volume set. Each volume in this series contains detailed information on individual families, genealogies, histories, vital records, and much more.

Mayflower marriages: from the files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants.
GEN 929.3 R816m

Source provides information regarding 10,000 marriages spanning five centuries, with names, dates, and sources. It shows the line of descent within each marriage, as found in the Bowman files. Inter-marriage among Mayflower descendants is also shown with descent of the partner. Also included are names of partners who had a child together but were not married. All name index.

History and Genealogy of the Mayflower planters and first comers to ye olde colonie.

GEN 973.22 h555h

This item provides in-depth pedigree material on the Mayflower planters, and "first comers" to Plymouth and Cape Cod. Based largely on the genealogy of Mayflower planter Stephen Hopkins, includes both male and female lines through a number of generations.

The Mayflower Reader: a selection of articles from The Mayflower descendant.

GEN 929.374 M4682Bo

A comprehensive selection of articles from the first seven volumes of The Mayflower Descendant, an authoritative journal devoted to Pilgrim genealogy and history, discontinued in 1937. Includes transcriptions of wills, inventories, passenger lists, memoirs, genealogies and historical sketches

Mayflower source records : primary data concerning southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard: from the New England historical and genealogical register.

GEN 929.37448 R644m

Sixty articles from more than 150 issues of the Register. It identifies 25,000 persons of Mayflower descent and consists of church records, vital records, cemetery inscriptions and probate records - all referencing numerous offspring of the original Pilgrim fathers.

The May-flower & her log, July 15, 1620-May 6, 1621.

GEN 974.48202 A513m

This resource discusses the May-Flower's charter and information about the ship itself as well as the May-Flower's consort, the Speedwell. Also provides insight into the officers and crew, passengers, quarters, food and cooking. Appendix includes the agreement of the merchant adventurers and planters, many letters written by Robert Cushman and the May-Flower compact. Preface and index are new additions to original edition.

The English ancestry and homes of the Pilgrim Fathers: who came to Plymouth on the "Mayflower" in 1620, the "Fortune" in 1621, and the "Anne" and the "Little James" in 1623.

GEN 929.374482 B218e

This gives biographical sketches of 112 passengers who sailed on the first four ships to New England, including origins, family connections, and later histories. Passengers presented in alphabetical order by ship.

Mayflower increasings (for three generations).

GEN 929.3744 R816m

Based on a 37 page booklet published in 1922, this has revised and expanded the descent of the Mayflower passengers to three generations. Well documented sources. It is indexed by family name.

Mayflower births & deaths: from the files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower descendants.

GEN 929.3744 R816m

Compilation of birth and death records from the Bowman files, the largest manuscript resource on Mayflower genealogy in existence. It encompasses all vital records with references to 50,000 Mayflower relations. Also includes references to burial location, cause of death, and address at death gleaned from land and will records, court and church records, transcripts of personal letters, and more. Each volume separately indexed.

Mayflower deeds & probates: from the files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants.

GEN 929.3744 R816m

This is a compilation of deeds and probate records extracted and transcribed from the Bowman Files. Several thousand deed abstracts provide such information as name, occupation and residence, date, sale, price, acreage, and location of the land, witnesses, date of recording and much more. This index contains 25,000 entries.

The Mayflower Quarterly
First published in 1935, this quarterly publication contains societal news, events, and updates as well as articles regarding Mayflower genealogies. Although the Jacksonville Public Library does not have a current subscription, it does have issues between 1976 and 2006.

In short, the above resources are prime tools to begin searching your pilgrim connection. To learn more about the Mayflower Society and their resources, please visit their webpage at http://www.themayflowersociety.com/index.htm.

“Family History – Past, Present, and Future”

New Materials: Maryland Source Records

Last month, we received a sizable donation of source records pertaining to Maryland. They are now on the shelves and ready for you to use. Below are some of the new titles:

• Maryland Calendar of Wills, 1744-1749
• Roster of the Soldiers and Sailors Who Served in Organizations from Maryland during the Spanish-American War
• Baltimore County Atlas, 1877
• Inhabitants of Baltimore County, 1763-1774
• Settlers of Maryland
• Anne Arundel County, Maryland Marriage Records, 1777-1877
• Early Catholic Church Records in Baltimore, Maryland, 1782 through 1800
• The Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War
• History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-5
• Sketches of Citizens of Baltimore City and Baltimore County
• Historic Graves of Maryland and the District of Columbia
• Index to the Roster of the Maryland Volunteers, 1861-1865
• Gleanings from Maryland Newspapers
• Index to Marriages in the Baltimore Sun, 1851-1860
• Index of Obituaries and Marriages in the Baltimore Sun, 1861-1865
• Maryland Mortalities, 1876-1915, from the Baltimore Sun Almanac
• Departed this Life: Death Notices from the Baltimore Sun, 1851-1860
• Index to Marriages and Deaths in the Baltimore County Advocate, 1850-1864
• Revolutionary Patriots of Harford County, Maryland, 1775-1783
• Historic Long Green Valley, Baltimore County, Maryland
• Baltimore Directory of 1799: Containing the Names, Occupations and Places of Abode of the Citizens
• The Particular Assessment Lists for Baltimore and Carroll Counties, 1798
• Signers of the Oath of Fidelity to Maryland during the Revolution
• Letter from the Secretary of War Transmitting a Report of the Names, Rank, and Line of Every Person Placed on the Pension List, in Pursuance of the Act of the 18th March, 1818
• A Supplement to the Early Settlers of Maryland: Comprising 8,680 Entries Correcting Omissions and Errors in Gust Skordas 'The Early Settlers of Maryland'

Thanks to Nina Searcy for this donation!

JPL Adds 33,000 Names to Online 1945 Florida Census Index

In accordance with the 1838 Constitution, Florida state censuses were conducted in 1845 and every ten years after until the state census was abolished in 1949. Although 10 state censuses were conducted, the only schedules that exist today are the 1885, 1935, and 1945 censuses. A printed index exists for 1885 but no index is available for 1935 or 1945.

Jacksonville Public Library is making the 1945 Florida State Census more accessible by digitizing and indexing each of the 90 Duval County precincts. The schedule includes the following information: name, address (whether inside or outside city limits), age, sex, race, relation to family, place of birth, degree of education, whether home owner or renter, and occupation.

Today we added 33,000 names to our online census index. We now have a total of 63,000 names indexed. You can access the census online at http://www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/coll/gen/1945census/.

Indexing the 1945 Florida State Census would not be possible without the help of our dedicated volunteers. The following people have worked hard to complete the portion that is now available on our website: Patricia McCullough, Rae Oliver, Bryan Batty, Pamela Gibson, Bertha Powe, Betty Lee, Marta Metcalf, Norma Guthrie, Jill Ross, Holly Timm, Renee Wilson, Wanda Hutton and Jennifer Workman.

This indexing project is still in progress. If you would like to participate, you can learn more at http://www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/coll/gen/volopp.html.

Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database

"Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database" launched Friday in conjunction with a conference at Emory University marking the bicentennial of the official end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1808. Emory spearheaded the two-year interactive project, which is free to the public, accessible online at http://www.slavevoyages.com/. The database has information on almost 35,000 slaving voyages between the 16th and 19th centuries. It also includes an African Names database which identifies over 67,000 Africans aboard slave ships, using name, age, gender, origin, and place of embarkation.

Click here to view the press release.

The image above is of a map of West Africa published in William Snelgraves’ “A New Account of Guinea” in 1754. Snelgrave was captain of several slave vessels that sailed to the coast of West Africa in the first half of the eighteenth century. The map shows some of the major slave trading ports along the coast between the River Senegal and Cape Lopez as well as details about the peoples, cities and states located in the interior of West Africa. The image is reproduced courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University.

Season's Greetings!

If it's been a while since your last visit, now is the perfect time to stop by the Library. For the month of December, the Main Library has been transformed into a Winter Wonderland. The Junior League and Jacksonville Public Library have partnered to bring us the Festival of Trees, a display of spectacularly decorated trees, each inspired by a different book. The Festival of Trees features 26 trees that encircle the grand staircase on three floors of the Library.

The holiday cheer continues as you enter the Special Collections area on the 4th floor. For the second year in a row, Genealogy Collection volunteer Patricia McCullough has lent her International Santa Collection and her decorating talent to design our annual holiday display. The theme of this year's display is "The International Spirit of Giving." Below are two of the featured Santas. You can view more pictures of the display on our flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jplgenealogy/sets/72157610580777549/

Obituaries and Death Notices: Is There a Difference?

Obituaries and Death Notices are great resources for genealogist and for those tracing their ancestors. The information they provide varies in many respects and can lead to other forms or sources of information. Although obituaries and death notices are used synonymously, there is a difference.

An obituary generally is an announcement in the local newspaper regarding the death of an individual. It provides minimal information such as, name of the deceased, date of birth, date of death, place of residences, and perhaps a cause of death. Depending upon the town, city, or community obituaries may be published for free in the local newspaper or for a fee.

Death notices, on-the-other hand, have a tendency to contain more substantial information about the deceased. This includes information, such as the name of the deceased, his/her age, name of wife/husband, children’s names, parents, siblings, place of residence, cause of death, the name of the funeral home, occupation, and even a picture of the deceased. As with obituaries, death notices may cost to be published. If a fee is assessed, this may affect the amount of information contained in a notice, especially if the cost is per letter or per word.

Another item of note is that information contained in obituaries and death notices may not be accurate always. Errors in the information can occur anywhere in the process. Incorrect data may be provided by the individual supplying the information, or by the newspaper person taking the information, or by the editor proofing the obituary/death notice, or by the worker preparing it for press. Therefore, as with all genealogy research, you will want to verify the data using other sources of information, as much as possible.

Also, as mentioned earlier, obituaries & notices of death can lead to other primary and secondary sources for locating information regarding your ancestors. For example, an obituary/death notice can lead you (1) to funeral home data for funeral records, (2) to city directories (which you can use to trace the residential history of the deceased) which in turn may lead to court and land records, (3) to names of relatives and family members (who still may exist and be able to provide information about the deceased that cannot be found in a census record), and (4) to cemetery and other record types.

In short, when conducting genealogical research, don’t forget those obits and death notices.