 As Governor of The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Illinois, I cordially welcome you to our website. I am pleased that you have taken time to view our offering of information and see who we are, if you are one of us, and who the Pilgrims were that caused us to gather in the first place. The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Illinois is made up of men and women, and boys and girls, who have traced their heritage to those early English settlers we know as the Pilgrims. Perhaps the Pilgrims are best known for celebrating the first Thanksgiving in 1621 after surviving a difficult voyage across the Atlantic and a particularly harsh first winter when half of them died as a result of starvation or disease. Known for their strong faith, they refused to give up their vision and ideals. The Mayflower Compact, written on board ship as they arrived, is the first form of self goverance in the history of our country. In 1897, our ancestors formed this organization in Illinois to join four other states that were also creating similar organizations at that time. Today all states, federal districts and Canada, have societies that belong to the national organization, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, which is headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Illlinois, we meet several times a year throughout the state and are always looking for missing "cousins" to join us. Are you one? Present members represent but a small fraction of the estimated 25 million people who are eligible to join. We hope you will take a minute to go to the Am I one? page to see how to decide if you are a cousin also. Much of our effort is focused on education about the Pilgrims, their families, the early history of this country and the freedom and liberties they sought to preserve which we now enjoy. The Pilgrims were an amazing group of people, and we work to preserve their memory and principles for future generations for it is fascinating to know - who were they? If you have further questions about our Illinois Society, please feel free to contact me: Ralph Moore, Governor 1620 Appalachian Trail Rochester, Illinois 62562 email: plimouthman@comcast.net |
|||
Artwork provided by 
|
|