Bob, Harlow is quite right, this subject has been covered at different times over the years by both Bette and myself. The society doesn't care a whit about a line carrier being born out of wedlock. It doesn't affect the validity of the line as long as parentage is proven. You will see in MF 17:82 that Thomas6 Cushman, son of Thomas5 Cushman and Alice Hayward is listed with the other children as an accepted child thru which descent is accepted. Susan E. Roser www.rootsweb.com/~canms/canada.html ----- Original Message ----- From: <R1946AT@aol.com> To: <MAYFLOWER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 11:23 PM Subject: [MFLR] Susan Roser - membership? > This question is for Susan, but if you know the answer then please feel free to jump in and answer the question. > > My question has to do with descendants of children born out of wedlock where the parents never married. Would those descendants be able to join the Mayflower Society? The line I have interest in is the Isaac Allerton/Cushman lines. Thomas Cushman had a son, Thomas Cushman, born out of wedlock to Alice Hayward. Since they never married will the descendants of Thomas Cushman, out of Alice Hayward, who married Bethia Thompson be eligible to join the Mayflower Society, thru his father,Thomas Cushman, son of Robert Cushman and Persis Lewis? > All responses will be greatly appreciated. (There are way too many Thomas Cushman's in this family. <G>) > Bob Trapp > > ______________________________