What is the “Mayflower Index” and the “Mayflower Ancestral Index”, and can they be used as a source on my lineage paper?
The “Mayflower Ancestral Index” (MAI), vol. 1, was published by the General Society in 1981, covering approved lineages of the families of Brewster, Chilton, Eaton, S. Fuller, More, Rogers, Soule & White as found in the files of the Society by 1981. The book itself describes it thus: “…a roster of the family elements of the members of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants…. At best an index is secondary source material but it is not genealogical evidence. It may not be offered as documentation for membership in the Society.” This is a guide only, to tell you which lines in the above families were approved before 1981. The index contains the names in the lineage only, no sources, no places or dates (save for the occasional “1710-1784”). Since the inclusion of a line in this book means the line was approved before 1981, these approved lineage papers in the Society’s files may not be well documented. The Mayflower Index, a 2 volume set, was first published in 1932 then updated
