Men and women over the age of 18 years, who are lineal descendants of men or women who settled within the bounds of the Massachusetts Bay Colony before the year 1650 may be eligible for membership.  For purposes of this Order, the term “settler” refers to one who lived in the Colony for at least one year, although possibly in more than one town during that time.

The following settlements comprised the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay before the year 1650:

Andover 1634 * Boston 1630 * Braintree 1635 * Cambridge 1632
Charlestown 1629 * Concord 1635 * Dedham 1636 * Dorchester 1630
Gloucester 1642 * Haverhill 1641 * Hingham 1634 * Hull 1630
Ipswich 1633 * Lynn 1632 * Lancaster 1643 * Malden 1649
Manchester 1645 * Marblehead 1630 * Medford 1630 * Newbury 1635
Reading 1642 * Rowley 1639 * Roxbury 1630 * Salem 1626
Salisbury 1640 * Springfield 1636 * Sudbury 1639 * Topsfield 1648
Watertown 1630 * Wenham 1643 * Weymouth from 1622 * Woburn 1647

In addition, the following New Hampshire settlements qualify:
Dover 1623, settlement of John Tuttle
Exeter 1638, settlement of Rev. John Wheelwright
Hampton 1638, settlement of Rev. Stephen Batchelder
Portsmouth (Strawberry Banke) 1630, Leadership of Capt. Walker Neal

A list of proven ancestors:

TO RECOMMEND SOMEONE FOR MEMBERSHIP

Members may recommend others for membership.  If you would like to do so, please send an e-mail message (or write) to the Genealogist General:

Mr. David Lawrence Grinnell, First Families of Massachusetts, 3501 Desert Creek Trail, Palm Springs, CA  92262-9754

Please be sure to reference the Order by name, as Mr. Grinnell does genealogical work for more than one Society.

TO FILE SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATIONS

If you wish to file a supplemental application to the Order, please contact the Genealogist General for the appropriate form.