U. S. Lineage Societies for Men and Women
Descent from Kings, Clergy, Doctors, Huguenots and Quakers
Aug 27, 2008 Rosemary E. Bachelor
Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons & Daughters of the Kings of Britain--Eligibility is based on descent from an illegitimate son or daughter of a King; an illegitimate son or daughter of a child of a King; or an illegitimate child of a grandchild of a King of England, Scotland, or Wales.
Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence is a lineage society for persons who descend in a direct unbroken paternal line of either mother or father from a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Flagon and Trencher membership is limited to individuals who can prove direct descent from a person conducting a tavern, inn, ordinary, or other type of hostelry prior to July 4, 1776 within the area which became the first 13 states.
General Society of Mayflower Descendants members must descend from a passenger of the Mayflower voyage which arrived at Plymouth, MA in December, 1620. Application should be made through a state society.
Huguenot Society members descend from 1) a Huguenot who, prior to the Nov. 28, 1787 Promulgation of the Edict of Toleration, emigrated from France to America or any other country, or 2) a Huguenot who, in spite of religious persecution, remained in France until or after the edict.
Jamestowne Society membership is open to descendants of stockholders in the London Company and Virginia Company, or from those who owned land or lived in Jamestown before 1700.
National Society, Descendants of Early Quakers members must descend from a member of the Society of Friends before 1835.
Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States is open to descendants of the Carolingians who ruled in Italy until 924, in Germany until 911, and in France until 987. Descent must be from the emperor Charlemagne.
Order of Descendants of Colonial Governors membership is open to direct line descendants of a governor or acting governor who served during the colonial period in America.
Order of Colonial Lords of Manors in America membership is open to people who descend from a person who enjoyed feudal rights in any of the American colonies prior to July 4, 1776 as a proprietary, lord of the manor or landgrave, enjoying equal rights and privileges.
Order of Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chirurgiens membership is open to descendants of a physician, chirurgien (surgeon), or licensed midwife practicing in North America before 1784.
Society of the Ark and the Dove membership is open to lineal descendants from Sir George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore, or those who came to Maryland in the ships The Ark and The Dove.
Society of Descendants of Colonial Clergy is open to anyone who descends lineally from a clergyman regularly ordained, installed or settled over any Christian church within the limits of the 13 colonies before July 4, 1776.
Society of Descendants of Knights of the Garter members must have lineal descent from a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
St. Nicholas Society of New York members must descend from a native or resident of the city prior to 1785.
Information is also available on lineage societies for only women, for only men and for lineage societies on the state level.
For additional societies, consult Robert R. Davenport’s Heredity Society Blue Book in your local library or the nearest library with a genealogy section. It gives mailing addresses and other information for 147 lineage organizations.
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles