The premise of
lineage societies is that an ancestral line can be tracked back to 'x' (a
category of people, or someone famous…or someone infamous) through direct
ancestors (read blood line).
This is a situation
where it is "just the facts m'am," though you may well have to go far
(or very far) afield to get the proofs required for the linkage. For each generation it must be proved that person 'x'
was born to parents 'a' & 'b,' and
usually that a & b were married to each other. All those other things that make interesting
tales around the campfire - occupation, migration, other children -- are not
necessary for the lineage, though they may be called upon to prove the lineage.
And
when one parent child triangle is proved, take the parent who is headed the
right direction, treat the parent as the child and form another triangle with
parents. In other words…rinse and
repeat.
DAR (Daughters of
the American Revolution) & Mayflower Society (descendants of the colonists
who arrived on the Mayflower) are venerable US lineage societies. These two, and many others celebrate the
history and settling of the US.
My
paternal grandmother was DAR, and I may follow her lead.
I am also aware that
many states have a "First Families" designation. New England goes one step further, offering a
First Families of New England designation to all who can prove first family in
each New England state. It's tough.
Family friends
belong to a society that is open to descendants of President's wives. This society allows collateral connections --
so the potential pool of members is HUGE.
At the same time,
against the serious are a whole raft of "tongue-in-cheek" lineage
societies, for which one has to prove descendancy from a pirate, a witch, or a
black sheep, to name a few. I must admit
I have a soft spot in my heart for these who honor the diversity of our
heritage in this manner … and note my personal favorite, encountered at a
Scottish Highland games some years ago.
This is the "Venerable Order of the Flamingo." To join you are
required to wear a flamingo hat, and while standing on one leg and flapping
one's arms, repeat the oath of the order, vowing to protect and value flamingos
forever and always, whether of flesh and blood and feathers or of plastic and
wire and paint. It was a moving
ceremony; obviously I have not forgotten it, though I have no idea what
happened to my membership parchment.
Till next time,
Liz
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2018 begins with an "ABC-darium," a walk through the alphabet expanding into short comments on matters genealogical. Published usually on Tuesday and some Fridays, a letter may be visited more than once before moving on.
© 2018, SE Ross
