Society of Mayflower Descendants
in the State of Arizona

How to Prove Your Lineage

The most difficult part is getting started. It will be easier in the beginning to start with yourself and work back through the generations. Keep in mind that you are interested in four key items: names, relationships, dates and places of birth, marriage and death. You must document each item. This means collecting photocopies of all of the source material which proves the validity of each item. For the last three generations, counting the applicant, Certificates of Birth, Marriage and Death are required. If there is more then one marriage or divorce, birth records for those spouses, plus the marriage and divorce records must be submitted.

Guidelines for submitting copies:

  1. DO NOT send your original documents
  2. DO NOT use highlight marker on any documentation being submitted
  3. Submit TWO copies of each piece of documentation. (One copy will stay in the State Society and the other copy will be mailed to Plymouth)
  4. Keep a set of copies of everything mailed for yourself (just in case the papers are lost in the mail)
  5. Obituaries and Tombstone pictures should have State, Town and name of the newspaper or name of the cemetery listed on the documentation
  6. If possible, Bible records should include the Title page of the Bible plus the copyright date

Documentation should consist of primary source material, such as:

  1. Vital Records of Birth, Marriage, Death
  2. Bible and Church Records
  3. Cemetery records
  4. Probate Records
  5. Military and Pension Records
  6. Land Records: Deeds or Property Distributions
  7. Guardianship and Orphans Records
  8. Contemporary Family Letters, Diaries, Doctor's Day Books
  9. Tax Lists
  10. Gravestones and Morticians Records

Family genealogies, town or county histories and census records are secondary source material and would be considered only when primary records are not obtainable and only when it cites the source used to prove what is published or when it reproduces the primary source itself. Once you come within five generations of your Mayflower ancestor, the Silver Books, published by the General Society of the Mayflower Descendants, usually can supply the documentation needed for the balance of the line. The Arizona Society distributes the "Mayflower Families" Silver Books to the following libraries. New Books from the General Society are continuously being printed, so periodically checking at the libraries could find new sources.

Libraries

Arizona State Department of Library, Archives and Public Records
Genealogy Library
1700 W. Washington, 3rd Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Mesa Family History Center
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
41 South Hobson
Mesa, AZ 85204

West Valley Genealogy Society/Library
12222 N. 111th Ave
Youngtown, AZ 85363

Tucson Family History Center
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
500 South Langley Ave
Tucson, AZ 85710

Flagstaff Public Library
300 W. Aspen Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Learning How To Do Genealogy Research:

The Family History Society of Arizona (FHSA)
PO Box 63094
Phoenix, AZ 85082-3094
(Five Chapters serving the metro valley cities and Fountain Hills

AZ State Department of Library, Archives, and Public Records
(Monthly interest classes. Call to get schedule of next classes.) (See Above)

Mesa Family History Center (See above)

West Valley Genealogy Society (See Above)