Hereditary Societies in Connecticut

The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants

2000

Objectives:
About SMFSD. The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants was founded in 2000 by Gale Thomas Howe-Cornwell, whose grandfather, Seymour Cornwell, led the initiative to install the plaque on "Founders Rock" at Middletown's 250th anniversary in 1900. In 1996 Gale Cornwell began contacting descendants of Middletown first settlers with the idea of participating in the 350th anniversary. By 2000 over 200 people across the U.S. had signed on to Cornwell's idea, and on Oct. 29, with 58 in attendance in Middletown, the SMFSD was officially formed as a genealogical society. Officers were elected, bylaws adopted, and Godfrey Memorial Library offered to house society archives. Plaques were mounted at the library commemorating the 350th anniversary of the settlement and recognizing the first settlers. The SMFSD meets in Middletown every three years for organizational business, genealogy research, museum visits, member networking, and social gatherings. Between meetings, SMFSD member networking is facilitated by the annual membership roster and the twice-yearly newsletter, The Middler.

Requirements:
If you are a descendant of anyone on the above list, and would like to join SMFSD:
(1) Send an outline/worksheet of your lineage to the Registrar. The applicant shall do their own genealogical research, and the resulting lineage should be accompanied by copies of reference material by generation. The Society seeks to verify submitted information, but does not research family lines.
(2) Send a check payable to the Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants for the non-refundable $10.00 application handling fee.
(3) The application is then reviewed by the Society for approval. Documentation need be furnished only through the line of descent from the 1650-1700 founder. If needed, guidelines will be sent that help document descent by generation. (The Society will return an application if more documentation is needed. It is the applicant's responsibility to do any additional research, and to complete any gaps in the records.)

When approved, new members can choose to pay annual or lifetime dues: (A) Annual dues from November 1 to October 31 are $15.00 (in addition to the initial $10.00 application handling fee). (B) New members may elect to pay lifetime dues (instead of annual dues) based on age: Age 0-50, $300; Age 51-70, $200; Age 70+, $100.

Leader and Membership Contacts:

Web Site:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ctsmfsd/Index.html