Do you qualify for membership in a lineage society?

Can you trace your direct line of ancestors back to one of the Mayflower Pilgrims? If so, you qualify to join the Mayflower Society. Perhaps you cannot do that, but there are many other lineage societies for which you may be eligible to join. Some examples are those societies honoring our nation’s early colonists, founders or patriots of the American Revolution. Others recognize contributions made by religious or ethnic groups. 

Contrary to what some may think, you nor your ancestors need to be rich or famous for you to join a lineage society. But you do need to produce vital records or documentation when completing an application.

Margaret Cheney, president of the Ohio Genealogical Society, has been at the forefront of helping various OGS chapters streamline their application forms for First Families of Ohio’s counties and other local lineage groups. She also serves as Lineage Chair for First Families of Lorain County and is responsible for establishing OGS’s fifth lineage society, the Society of Families of the Old Northwest Territory.

If learning more about lineage societies interests you, Cuyahoga West Chapter, OGS, invites you to attend their next meeting on Wednesday, July 20, at 7:00 p.m. at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road. Margaret Cheney will discuss the basic information, documentation and organization needed to successfully complete an application to any Lineage Society.

Cuyahoga West members who are also members of various lineage societies, including the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will be on hand to answer questions specific to those groups. Members and visitors are encouraged to wear their lineage society pins to the meeting. Social time, with refreshments, is from 6:30-7:00 p.m. For additional questions, email cuyahogawest@gmail.com.