It’s October, and we of course are all celebrating “National Family History Month.” Have you decorated yet? I noticed everyone is getting into the spirit of National Family History Month with skeletons, witches, and even a few headstones springing up in front yards. Well done!
As part of my own celebration I decided to finally join a lineage society. You know, those organizations that only accept members with ancestors who meet certain elevated standards, like Daughters of the American Revolution, or Colonial Dames of America, or… the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches. Yes!
Looking through The Complete List of Active Hereditary Societies I discovered oh so many organizations for the rest of us. And they sound like their meetings must be way more fun:
- Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons & Daughters of the Kings of Britain
- Associated Daughters of Early American Witches
- Flagon and Trencher (descendants of early tavern or innkeepers)
- Order of Descendants of Pirates and Privateers
- Registry of Infamous and Famous Relatives in American Families
- National Society of Saints and Sinners
Alas/fortunately, I do not qualify for any of those societies. Looking forward to the next big holiday I love to celebrate—Thanksgiving (because I was born on Thanksgiving and I really like pie)—I plan to apply to The General Society of Mayflower Descendants or National Society of Old Plymouth Colony Descendants. They don’t let you join just because you like pie, however, so I will need to come up with some proof of descendancy from my 10th great-grandparents, John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. I will let you know how it goes.
Check out the Complete List of Active Hereditary Societies—I’ll bet you qualify for at least five organizations. Let me know what you find.
On Granny's Trail 
Alice Alyse Stokes Young, “the Windsor Witch” is my 9th great grandmother. I went to your website and downloaded your list, however, you should put birth and death dates such as Alice and Samuel Stratton. Now Samuel Stratton 1592-1672 & Alice Prentiss are my 10th GGP’s. Are they the Samuel and Alice of your list? If so, is Alice Prentiss considered a “witch”?
Hi Ellen—I think you’ll need to contact the owner of the list you are referring to in order to get any changes made. I only provided links to lists—I didn’t actually compile the lists of individuals. Thanks 🙂
I’m the 13th great granddaughter of Mercy Disbrow, the last woman to be accused of witchcraft, in CT, in 1662. She was “floated” in the mill pond, and she floated which meant she was guilty. She was stripped naked and her body searched for witch marks. She was found guilty in a court of law, and sentenced to hang. Instead, she spent about a year in jail, until a minister testified on her behalf, after which she was acquitted.