Membership in the
Winthrop Society is one of the most difficult to achieve in the assemblage
of notable American hereditary societies, on the order of the Society
of the Cincinnati, Order of Founders & Patriots, Mayflower Society,
and Maryland's Ark and Dove, as we demand a proven lineage back nearly
four centuries to at least one of only about a thousand settlers.
The Society currently
consists of over 400 descendants of these first settlers of the Massachusetts
Bay Colony.
THE MEMBERS
Our standards for
qualification are based almost entirely upon the quality of the genealogical
research of the applicants, but we are very proud that our membership
by some coincidence includes mainly persons of high achievement and
honor in a broad spectrum of academics, business, Protestant clergy,
the military, and other public service.
Successful applicants
for membership will receive a handsome certificate
on gold parchment, suitable for framing, personalized with the Member's
name and information about their qualifying ancestor. Lifetime membership
is also available. Lifetime and active Members have full privileges
to:
Please view our
application form for membership, as well as
our schedule of fees.
SUPPLEMENTAL
ANCESTORS
Members and Lifetime
Members who are able to prove biological descent from more than one
qualifying ancestor may submit additional lineages claiming supplemental
ancestors. Use the standard membership application, following instructions
on the application forms page. There is a one-time
flat fee for submitting and enrolling each supplemental lineage. Members
who submit acceptable lineages of supplemental ancestors will be awarded
a handsome certificate on ivory parchment,
suitable for framing.
Please contact
the Registrar for further information.
THE ASSOCIATES
Other persons,
upon unanimous decision of the Officers, may be awarded the status and
certification of Associate of the Winthrop Society for their voluntary
donation of the worthy fruits of their researches. Such Associates will
not share the duties and voting rights of Members, but they may participate
in other aspects and benefits of the Society, and will enjoy the full
protection of their personal privacy.
The Associates
are grouped into three categories:
- Gold Associates,
or Great Migration Associates, who have researched and proven ancestry
from a "Great Migration" settler of the Massachusetts Bay,
1634 to 1643;
- Silver
Associates, or New English Associates, who have researched
and proven ancestry from any 17th century resident of New England,
Long Island, or New Ark (New Jersey);
- Ivory
Associates, or Research Associates, who might not have submitted
their lineage, but have contributed valuable research on our focus
of 17th century New England. Click here for
information on how to submit research for Ivory Associate consideration.
Gold and Silver
Associate applicants may submit their lineages using the appropriate
application form.
The Society wishes
very much to receive your genealogical contributions! Associates of
all classes will receive a handsome certificate
suitable for framing, personalized with the Associate's name and information
about their ancestor. A nominal fee (currently $15) is requested for
the preparation and mailing of your personalized certificate (fees are
waived for Ivory Associates). No further fees are ever asked of Associates.
GIFT MEMBERSHIPS
If you have a blood
relative who you think would like to join the Winthrop Society, we encourage
you to make a gift to them of a Winthrop Society membership! You are
welcome to submit his or her name under your own lineage; simply provide
us with acceptable documentation showing your relationship to the recipient,
along with a shipping address. We will send your relative a membership
package complete with certificate, and a cover letter welcoming them
to the Society and identifying you as the giver of the gift membership.
Many of our members
have made gifts of memberships to their family members, including to
young children! Contact the Registrar for
details.
