Welcome Mayflower Cousins

This blog is full of information for applications to the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Ohio. Check back often to learn more about producing a successful application. Click the email link at the bottom to be notified of new posts as they happen.

Our contact information is:
Ann Gulbransen, Historian, historian@ohiomayflower.org
Lee Martin, Deputy Historian, deputyhistorian@ohiomayflower.org

Sunday, November 22, 2015

How to help your historian

Almost all the partner society historians are volunteers, Only the largest societies have paid staff. Most of us spend a lot of time fixing things our applicants have either not done or done incorrectly. Here are a couple of tips to help your historian process your application quickly.

1. Read and follow the instructions! This sounds simple, but I am always amazed at applicants who don't follow explicit instructions. If the instructions say send two copies of each document, send two copies. If the instructions tell you how to organize your documents (as Ohio's does) then follow those directions. Ohio's instructions say no binders, no folders, no sheet protectors. I can't tell you how much time I have spent undoing work that applicants have done incorrectly! It is a waste of your time and a waste of mine.

2. Make sure you have linked the generations clearly. Any application will fail if you don't.

3. Answer your emails/letters! If you move or change your email, let your historian know ASAP!

4. Keep in touch so your historian knows about your progress. We technically have a time limit on a preliminary approval but most of us will happily grant extensions (who wants to do work over). If you keep in touch, we will keep granting extensions. If you don't, your application may get canceled.

Ancestor vs Descendant

Grammar police here - your parents, your grandparents and all the generations before them are your ANCESTORS. Your children, your grandchildren and all future generations are your DESCENDANTS. Every time I read "I have found a new Mayflower Descendant" I cringe. You have found another Mayflower ANCESTOR! You are the descendant. Sorry, rant over...