U. S. Lineage Societies on the State Level
Most Are for Descendants of “First Families”
Aug 27, 2008 Rosemary E. Bachelor
California: Society of California Pioneers. Requirement: Direct descent from a California settler before 1850.
California: Los Californianos. Requirement: Proof of descent from an Hispanic person living in Alta, California prior to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848.
Connecticut: Order of First Families of Connecticut. Requirement: Descent from an ancestor residing within bounds of the present state between 1633 and 1662.
Florida: Los Floridanos Society. Requirement: Descent from a Spanish settler arriving in Florida during the "First Spanish Period" (1565-1763).
Georgia: First Families of Georgia. Requirement: Descent from an ancestor residing in the colony between 1733 and 1797.
Kentucky: First Families of Kentucky. Requirement: Direct descent from pioneer families in Kentucky before June 1, 1792.
Louisiana: Louisiana Colonials. Requirement: Descent from a colonist in the Louisiana Territory before April 30, 1803.
Maine: Order of the First Families of Maine. Requirements: Lineal descent from an ancestor living in present day Maine prior to 1652; descent must be from lawfully married parents; restricted membership.
Maryland: Order of the First Families of Maryland. Requirements: Verifiable lineal descent from either Sir George Calvert or an ancestor who lived in Maryland before Dec. 31, 1734.
Mississippi: Order of the First Families of Mississippi. Requirement: Descent from a resident of territory now the present state of Mississippi between 1699, when Old Biloxi was settled, and Dec.10,1817, when Mississippi achieved statehood.
Massachusetts: Hereditary Order of the First Families of Massachusetts. Requirement: Proven descent from an ancestor in the Massachusetts Bay Colony before 1650.
Minnesota: Minnesota Territorial Pioneers. Requirement: Descent from an ancestor residing in Minnesota before May 11, 1858.
Montana: Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers. Requirement: Descent from an ancestor living in Montana before 1869.
New Jersey: Descendants of Founders of New Jersey. Requirement: Direct descent from a founder prior to April 17, 1702.
North Carolina: Order of First Families of North Carolina. Requirement: Proven descent from an ancestor who resided in the Province of North Carolina before July 12, 1729.
Ohio: First Families of Ohio. Requirement: Direct descent from someone who settled in what is now Ohio before Dec. 31, 1820.
Oklahoma: First Families of the Twin Territories. Requirement: Documented descent from an ancestor who resided in one of Oklahoma's territories before Nov. 16, 1907.
Oregon: Sons and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers. Requirement: Descent from pioneers who settled in the Oregon or Washington Territory prior to Oregon statehood Feb. 14, 1859.
Rhode Island: Order of the First Families of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Requirement: Descent from a resident before 1648 of the present Rhode Island.
South Carolina: First Families of South Carolina. Requirement: Descent from a settler who arrived in South Carolina prior to 1700.
Virginia: Order of First Families of Virginia. Requirement: Lineal descent from an ancestor who aided in the establishment of Virginia, 1607-1624. Note: Membership is by invitation; requests for membership are considered inappropriate and are not answered..
Washington: Pioneer Association of the State of Washington. Requirement: Descent from Washington residents before statehood granted Nov. 11. 1889.
Large lineage societies, such as the DAR and Mayflower Society, have state units. Membership in some societies is by invitation; many have websites.
There is also information on lineage societies for women, for men and for both women and men.
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