Mayflower descendancy, part 1

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I find myself languishing in the genealogical doldrums after a few months of inactivity, and I need a project to put some wind back in my sails. As it so happens, I finally heard back from the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD or just “Mayflower Society”) about their preliminary review of my application, which was based on my pedigree showing descent from Mayflower passenger John Alden, as well as his wife Priscilla Mullins, and her parents William Mullins and Alice Atwood.

The genealogist performing the preliminary review stated that the first six generations of my submitted pedigree—from John Alden (ca. 1599–1688) to Seth Vinton (1756–1853)—had been conclusively proven by earlier genealogists, so I would not have to re-establish those facts. What I would have to do, however, is conclusively establish my direct descent from Seth Vinton in order to qualify for membership in the Mayflower Society.

My goal is to join well in advance of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s sailing from the Old World to the New World in Fall, 1620. I would like to celebrate the 400th anniversary of that voyage knowing that I’ve proven my descent from passengers on the Mayflower.

So six generations have been taken care of for me by others, but I have to document the last eight generations to a standard of proof acceptable by the Mayflower Society. Let’s go!

Here’s an overview chart of the line I’m trying to document, as well as which portion still needs to be proven (note that in this and subsequent posts I will not be displaying the names of living people):

Here’s a list of the basic facts that I believe I will need to support with accepted documentation:

  1. That Dorcas Vinton is the child of Seth Vinton and Polly Rider
  2. That Dorcas Vinton married Solomon Noble
  3. That Dorcas Vinton and Solomon Noble were Catherine Noble’s parents
  4. That Catherine Noble married Alonzo B. Bailey
  5. That Catherine Noble and Alonzo B. Bailey were William Noble Bailey’s parents
  6. That William Noble Bailey married Ellen Caroline Severson
  7. That William Noble Bailey and Ellen Caroline Severson were Lucinda Tracey Bailey’s parents
  8. That Lucinda Tracey Bailey married Frank Ross McMurry
  9. That Lucinda Tracey Bailey and Frank Ross McMurry were Dorothy Ruth McMurry’s parents
  10. That Dorothy Ruth McMurry married Vernon Cornelius Black
  11. That Dorothy Ruth McMurry and Vernon Cornelius Black were Keith Vernon Black’s parents
  12. That Keith Vernon Black married {my mother}
  13. That Keith Vernon Black and {my mother} are my parents

Thirteen basic facts to prove. That doesn’t sound so hard, right?

Continued in Part 2.

7 thoughts on “Mayflower descendancy, part 1”

    • I’m impressed you’re coming back for seconds so soon—that SAR application process seemed painful!
      While you may well descend from a Mayflower passenger (it’s estimated that 11–12% of Americans are descended from at least one Mayflower passenger), I’m afraid our common lineage won’t help you in this regard. My Mayflower line married into the McMurrys after our lines diverged—when my great-grandmother Lucinda T. Bailey married Frank R. McMurry (your grandmother’s brother). So your grandmother was the sister-in-law of the Mayflower descendant I’m tracing.
      The Mayflower passengers are very well researched down to 5–6 generations, so I’d recommend writing down a list of the surnames of any ancestors who lived in New England in the late 1700s/early 1800s and then look those names up in one of the multi-generation Mayflower descendants books or databases out there. I used “Mayflower Increasings” waaay back in the day, but your state chapter of the Mayflower Society (in Hydro, OK) should have a full set of the definitive “Silver Books” that you can access. I thought Ancestry had most of these, but I can only find Mayflower Increasings.

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    • Caroline A. Woodruff (ca. 1848–5 Aug 1898) was my third great grandmother. She was the daughter of John W. Woodruff (1822–1909), who was the son of Aaron Woodruff (1799–aft 1870), who was the son of James C. Woodruff (1774–1846), who was the son of Benjamin Woodruff, Sr (1744–1837—Revolutionary War veteran), and so on all the way back to, supposedly, Thomas Woodruff (1508–1552).

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