This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FO.2ADI/177 Message Board Post: Dear All: There have been questions on this message board about the last needed connection, brickwalls, and the status of various descendant lines. The best way to solve these mysteries is to get help from the Mayflower Society and the Silver Books. There has been a interesting thread running in the Mayflower mailing list. This thread pertains to the question of using the Mayflower Silver books as the documentation source for those last 5 to 8 generations. ( Normally these are the really tough ones). For most cases, the Silver books get you down to the mid 1700's or even 1800. This time zone is important because it gets a researcher to the point where a census is available, vital records became more widely available etc. You will see replies below from Susan Roser ( noted author) and Mrs Bette Bradway ( the assistant historian for the society). The short answer is that normally the Silver Books are acceptable. These Silver books are tremendous bargains. They provide information that took thousands of hours of research, and also looked at records and information that is only available on a very limited basis. Everyone should look first at these books. They are available by Interlibrary loan, most libraries, etc. The other major resource ( and great bargain) is the information available when you send in the preliminary request form. The cost is $5.00! The response to you is then the status of needed information and other people that may have provided information going to the same ancestor. You can then "piggyback" on that proven line of ancestors. What a deal! You can download those forms from the Society home page. http://www.mayflower.org/apform.htm There are some really good FAQ's at: http://www.macatawa.org/~crich/mayfaq.htm http://members.aol.com/calebj/mayflower.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~canms/applicat.html Susan Roser writes the following on her website: "A synopsis form can be printed from the General Society’s site (where you will also find their address) and should be filled out (Mayflower passenger #1) and sent along with $5 (U.S.). If a previously approved, well documented paper is found, you will be sent a copy, and will be able to use the data & sources from that paper, up to the point where your lines branch off, which means your documentation efforts will begin at this point. If the search proves successful, this could be extremely beneficial and cut down on the number of generations you will have to document." I hope this helps you to get going on that last push to make the application steps. The first application is the most important since you then find out where you need more documents and what the available documents are to assist you. Best Regards John A Hansen Board Admin Here is the summary of the thread: Dear Susan: Thanks so much for your reply. (Mrs.) Bette Innes Bradway Assistant Historian General, et. al. wrote: "the Silver Books have ALMOST ALWAYS been fully accepted by the Historian General, without any further documentation being submitted". This qualifier was due to the possibility that later correspondence had been received indicating some errors or conflicts etc. So it's now clear. I would like to post your answer on the message boards as well since there is some traffic over there and you and Mrs Bradway have cleared the question. Please confirm that posting would be ok. Thanks again. Best Regards John A Hansen Message Board Admin > -----Original Message----- > From: Susan E. Roser [mailto:roser@iprimus.ca] > Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2002 8:09 AM > To: MAYFLOWER-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [MFLR] GSMD Documentation > John asked: > > "Do you happen to know if there has been a change in > policy regarding the accepting of the documentation in > the Silver books as proof. In other words can the Silver > books be quoted as the documentation on > a certain line? At one time that was not the case and > independant certified copies had to be supplied with the > application" > > and > > "So my question remains: When a person submits > the application to the Historian , will the > Silver Books alone be sufficient proof that this line > of ancestors is properly documented? > John, > > The silver books alone are sufficient proof to cite that the > line is valid. I don't know about a change in policy as you > state above, this has been the case as long as I've been > a state Historian (10 years). And please note > while it may have been the case many years ago, copies of > your documentation do NOT need to be certified these days. > > Susan E. Roser,Historian, Governor > Canadian Society > www.rootsweb.com/~canms/canada.html >