General Society of Mayflower Descendants

What General Society of Mayflower Descendants does

The General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD), operating under the brand The Mayflower Society, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit lineage society founded on January 12, 1897 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It serves individuals who can prove direct lineal descent from passengers of the 1620 Mayflower voyage who remained to establish Plymouth Colony. The organization verifies lineage through a decentralized network of 54 Member Societies spanning all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Europe, and Australia, supported by a paid HQ staff of 20+ at 18 Winslow Street, Plymouth, MA, and a dedicated Research Center at 4 Winslow Street.

The society's core technology and content assets include the Silver Books (a multi-volume genealogical publication series tracing descendants through five generations, with 22 volumes on-site and a 42-volume target framework), more than 1 million digitized historic member application images indexed through a partnership with the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) at Mayflower.AmericanAncestors.org, and the Mayflower DNA Project operated with FamilyTreeDNA for Y-DNA and MtDNA verification. Service products include the Mayflower Lineage Match ($100 per submission, 8-week processing), hourly genealogy research ($125/hr members, $150/hr non-members, 10-hour minimum), a $5,000 Mayflower Research Package, supplemental lineage applications, and the Mayflower Quarterly Magazine. Educational content is distributed through monthly public lectures, genealogy webinars, a YouTube channel, and a 2026 Exploring Plymouth Massachusetts video series. The society also operates the Mayflower Society House (built 1754), the Mayflower Society Shop for branded merchandise, organized heritage tours, the annual Pilgrim Academic Research Award, and a multi-tier descendant scholarship program.

Revenue is generated through six streams: annual membership dues set independently by each Member Society; merchandise sales via the Mayflower Society Shop; fee-for-service genealogy research; donations and planned giving (Governor General's 1620 Club, Mayflower Meetinghouse Project, Garden Walkway Project, Silver Books Project); affiliate referrals (FamilyTreeDNA discounted kits, Church Hill Classics diploma frames, FreeWill estate planning); and a $250 annual partnership fee from 21 endorsed Family Societies. The organization is governed by a triennial General Congress, a General Board of Assistants, and an Executive Committee led by Governor General Lisa Pennington. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

General Society of Mayflower Descendants

Legal name

General Society of Mayflower Descendants

Website

https://themayflowersociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The General Society of Mayflower Descendants is a 501(c)(3) lineage society, founded 1897 and headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, that verifies and serves individuals able to prove direct descent from Mayflower passengers through 54 Member Societies worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Villa Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual dues collected by 54 Member Societies. Each society sets its own dues and fees independently.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Mayflower Society branded merchandise including books, jewelry, insignia, clothing, gifts, and home decor through the Mayflower Society Shop
3. DNA Partnership: FamilyTreeDNA partnership offering discounted rates to members for DNA testing kits
4. Genealogy Research Services: Fee-for-service genealogical research including hourly research ($125/hr members, $150/hr non-members) and the Mayflower Research Package ($5,000 for research and application assembly)
5. Church Hill Classics Partnership: Custom diploma frames sold through partnership with Church Hill Classics, using code GSMDpartner for $20 off
6. Donations and Planned Giving: Contributions including the Governor General's 1620 Club, Mayflower Meetinghouse Project, Garden Walkway Project, and Silver Books Project donations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The General Society of Mayflower Descendants verifies and documents direct lineal descent from passengers of the 1620 Mayflower voyage who stayed to establish Plymouth Colony. It sells membership in a hereditary lineage society, fee-based genealogical research and lineage-verification services, the 42-volume Silver Books publication series, and related heritage merchandise and educational programming (lectures, webinars, tours, scholarships).

Product overview

The General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) operates as a genealogical lineage society offering multiple interconnected products and services centered around verifying and documenting descent from Mayflower passengers of 1620. Core offerings include the membership application and verification process, the Mayflower Lineage Match service, Genealogy Research Services with the Mayflower Research Package, the Silver Books publication series (42 volumes), The Mayflower Quarterly Magazine, and Genealogy Webinars. Additional services include the Research Center and Library access, Supplemental Applications for additional lineage claims, the Patriots to Passenger Project connecting Revolutionary War ancestors to Mayflower passengers, and the DNA Project with FamilyTreeDNA for genetic genealogy. GSMD also operates the Mayflower Society Shop for merchandise and insignia, offers Pilgrim Society House tours, organizes Mayflower Tours to historic sites, hosts a Lecture Series, and administers the Pilgrim Academic Research Award and GSMD Scholarship Program. The organization is governed by 54 Member Societies representing all 50 states, DC, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Mayflower Quarterly Magazine: Official publication of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, delivered to members and available online in the members-only area
• Silver Books
• Pilgrim Academic Research Award

Products and services

• Mayflower Lineage Match (MLM) Verification service that determines if a proposed lineage aligns with documented lines from Mayflower Families through Five Generations books or previously approved Mayflower Society applications. Costs $100 per proposed lineage submission with 8-week processing time; fee rebated upon joining.
• Genealogy Research Services Fee-for-service genealogical research offering hourly research (minimum 10 hours at $125/hr for GSMD members, $150/hr for non-members) and the Mayflower Research Package at $5,000 including research and membership application assembly.
• Mayflower Society Membership Annual membership in the hereditary lineage society with annual dues set by each of 54 Member Societies. Members receive an official membership certificate, Mayflower Quarterly Magazine, access to member-only online content, free Research Center admission, DNA test discounts, scholarship eligibility, and organized tours.
• Silver Books (Mayflower Families through Five Generations) A 42-volume (22 volumes cited as a key reference set) publication series tracing descendants of Mayflower passengers through multiple generations, forming the primary resource for Mayflower descendant lineage verification. Fifth generation volumes are digitized and indexed on the NEHGS AmericanAncestors.org website.
• The Mayflower Quarterly Magazine Quarterly publication delivered to members by mail and available online in the members-only area of the website.
• Genealogy Webinars Educational video series created by the Education Committee covering Mayflower genealogy topics including getting started, application procedures, vital records, census records, Silver Books, and paleography.
• Supplemental Applications Service for existing members to document descent from additional Mayflower passengers beyond their original approved ancestor.
• Research Center and Library Genealogy research center located at 4 Winslow Street behind the Mayflower Society House. Free access for members; $5 fee for non-members. Resources include family genealogies catalog, general collections, archives, and periodicals.
• The Mayflower Society Shop Online store offering books, digital media, clothing, jewelry, insignia, gifts, home items, and members-only merchandise.
• Mayflower Society House Tours Historic house museum tours of the 18th-century Mayflower Society House originally built by Edward Winslow's great-grandson in 1754. Members receive free tours; public access during Plymouth First Fridays.
• Mayflower Tours Organized trips through The Mayflower Society to historic Pilgrim sites in the U.S., Canada, England and Holland. Includes Pilgrim Origins Tour to UK (September 26 – October 6, 2026).
• Mayflower Society DNA Project Cooperative Y-DNA and MtDNA project with FamilyTreeDNA to match genetic descendants back to Mayflower families. Acceptance requires 67-marker test or higher, society membership, or match to a Society member.
• GSMD Scholarship Program Scholarship program for graduating high school seniors who are Mayflower descendants. 2026 awards: 1st Prize $6,000, 2nd Prize $5,000, 3rd Prize $4,000, Mary Chilton Winslow Scholarship $2,400, and Native American Scholarships $1,300 each.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 members historically welcomed since 1897
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to digitize over 1 million images of historic Mayflower Society member applications and create documented descendant family trees accessible online at Mayflower.AmericanAncestors.org. Offers members discounted rates on NEHGS AmericanAncestors.org membership and free 15-minute genealogist consultation for new members.
• FamilyTreeDNAcoreTechnology or IntegrationCooperative DNA project matching genetic descendants back to Mayflower families. Y-DNA Project requires 67-marker test or higher, society membership, or match to society member. MtDNA Project identifies haplogroups of daughters of proven descendants.
• Church Hill ClassicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner for custom diploma frames celebrating Mayflower Society membership. Made in USA, eco-friendly frames. Code GSMDpartner provides $20 off orders.
• FreeWillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline estate planning service available to members as a membership benefit. Guides members through creating wills or trusts in 20 minutes.
• Family Society PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner21 endorsed Family Societies focused on specific Pilgrim families including Alden Kindred, Brewster Society, Cooke Society, Soule Kindred, Standish Society, and others. $250 annual partnership fee provides marketing exposure, magazine features, and GBOA meeting space.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Daughters of the American Revolution: A lineage society with 190,000+ members verifying descent from Revolutionary War patriots, using a federated chapter structure, membership dues, and dedicated historical properties — the closest functional analog to GSMD's heritage membership model.
• National Society Colonial Dames of America: A lineage society for women descended from colonists who lived in America before 1750, with similar membership application, chapter network, and historic house museum operations.
• Sons of the American Revolution: A male-lineage heritage society with state societies, lineage verification, scholarships, and historic preservation programs — directly comparable structure and revenue model to GSMD.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS): The premier US genealogical research society and GSMD's core partner; runs AmericanAncestors.org with 1.4B+ records, professional research services, and member-based access — a direct functional comparator and ecosystem collaborator.
• National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Foundation: Broader SAR ecosystem including the SAR Foundation managing historic preservation and education funds; relevant comparator for GSMD's Meetinghouse and 1620 Club fundraising programs.
• Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence: A lineage society requiring documented descent from a signer of the Declaration of Independence, with comparable membership dues, application review, and historic preservation focus.
• National Huguenot Society: A lineage society verifying descent from French Huguenot ancestors, with comparable membership application, lineage documentation standards, and historical research mission.
• Jamestowne Society: A lineage society for descendants of people who lived in Jamestown, Virginia prior to 1700; same niche as GSMD with documented descent requirements, state chapters, and heritage education programs.
• Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States: A hereditary society with documented lineage requirements, membership dues, scholarly publications, and chapter structure paralleling GSMD's operations.

Broad incumbents

• Ancestry.com: The largest consumer genealogy platform offering DNA testing, document digitization, and family tree tools at massive scale — the dominant broad incumbent whose technology offerings increasingly overlap with GSMD's research services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mayflowersociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/MassMayflowerDesc
• Instagraminstagram.com/virginiamayflowersociety
• Xx.com/gsmd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-of-mayflower-descendnt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about General Society of Mayflower Descendants