Our Founding and Our Mission
The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of New Jersey was chartered by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants on August 15, 1900. The New Jersey Society was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of New Jersey on October 1, 1980.
The Society was organized with the following objectives:
The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of New Jersey is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made to the Society are fully deductible to the extent of the law. The corporation operates exclusively for educational, historical, and other non-profit purposes, and no part of any net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any private member.
The Society was organized with the following objectives:
- To preserve genealogical and historical data relating to the Pilgrim Fathers and to perpetuate their memory.
- To maintain and defend the principle of civil and religious liberty as set forth in the Compact of the Mayflower, “for the glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our Country.”
- To cherish and maintain the ideals and institutions of American freedom, and to oppose any theories or actions that threaten their continuity.
- To transmit the spirit, the purity of purpose, and steadfastness of will of the Pilgrim Fathers to those who shall come after us, an undiminished heritage of liberty and law.
The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of New Jersey is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made to the Society are fully deductible to the extent of the law. The corporation operates exclusively for educational, historical, and other non-profit purposes, and no part of any net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any private member.
Our Activities
Membership - Our Members meet twice a year - once in the Spring, typically mid-May, and once in the Fall on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Our meetings commemorate the history and significance of our Pilgrim ancestors, provide a forum for speakers to address topics of historical interest, and to facilitate social interaction and a spirit of comradery among members who share a love of history and pride in their Mayflower ancestry.
Education - We support education concerning the Pilgrims and the ideals of civil and religious liberty which they brought to these shores. In connection therewith, we provide Teacher's Guides and copies of the Mayflower Compact to elementary schools throughout the state. In addition, we have provided scholarships to graduating high school seniors to assist in their college education.
Genealogy - Research and preservation of genealogical information is an important objective. We make established genealogical research available to the public by partnering with Libraries and Historical Societies. The General Society of Mayflower Descendants is engaged in an ongoing project to document the first five plus generations of Mayflower descendants in its Silver Book series. We support member libraries and historical societies by providing the entire Silver Book collection (over 40 volumes) at no cost to over 20 facilities throughout the state.
Education - We support education concerning the Pilgrims and the ideals of civil and religious liberty which they brought to these shores. In connection therewith, we provide Teacher's Guides and copies of the Mayflower Compact to elementary schools throughout the state. In addition, we have provided scholarships to graduating high school seniors to assist in their college education.
Genealogy - Research and preservation of genealogical information is an important objective. We make established genealogical research available to the public by partnering with Libraries and Historical Societies. The General Society of Mayflower Descendants is engaged in an ongoing project to document the first five plus generations of Mayflower descendants in its Silver Book series. We support member libraries and historical societies by providing the entire Silver Book collection (over 40 volumes) at no cost to over 20 facilities throughout the state.