----- Original Message ----- From: <RicTurner@cs.com> To: <MAYFLOWER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 8:06 PM Subject: Re: [MFLR] Descendants of John Howland - lines later proved invalid? > 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 ______________ Rick covered it very nicely above - there's not much more I can add. Susan www.rootsweb.com/~canms/canada.html www.rootsweb.com/~canms/canada.html