In a message dated 8/23/02 4:24:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jonesgenealogy@yahoo.com writes: > f someone joined the Society years ago and it was learned later that the > line they joined on turned out to be invalid, does that person retain > membership in the Society anyway? Yes, based, at least on my personal experience. Allow me to plead my case. In the early 1980s, I applied as a descendant of Francis Cooke, via the children of his daughter Jane, who married Experience Mitchell. At that time, it was presumed that all the children of Experience Mitchell were descendants of his first wife, Jane Cooke, and not by his second wife, Mary ------. Afterwards, two independently written articles were published by both NEHGR and by TAG, which refuted this, saying that there was considerable circumstantial evidence to suggest that some of Experience Mitchell's children were by his second wife, who was not, because her surname was unnown, a Mayflower descendant. I personally made the decision to resign, because I did not wish to file an incorrect lineage. I later received a letter from the historian general of the society stating that this was not necessary, as I applied in good faith, according to the knowlege available at the time. I was fortunate to be able to prove an alternate line to Francis Cooke, which was acceptable. But the point is this...if you prove a lineage, which eventually is "unproven" you will still retain membership. However, on your lineage paper, which is on file with the society, it will say, across the top of said paper..."DISPROVED" I would invite both Ms. Roser and Ms. Bradway to comment on this matter, to give their perspectives. Regards, Rick Turner "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."---The Declaration of Independence "I love the word 'friends'. It means so much, for we are, and should be, friends for the glory of God and the salvation of the world."---Alice C. Winslow (1856-1927), 1913