Western Reserve Colony

Social Media

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/westernreservecolony/

Announcements

March 29, 2025 – Genealogy Expo, Pilgrim Church, Cuyahoga Falls

June 14. 2025 – Picnic

September 20, 2025 – gathering at the Spread Eagle Tavern, Hanoverton

November 9, 2025 – Compact Day, Canton Women’s Club

History

On June 28, 1927, Western Reserve Colony became one of the first Colonies in the United States to organize outside of a state society, and remains the oldest continuously active Colony in existence. 

The Western Reserve Colony has a special relationship with the General Society and its Governor Generals. Periodically, the Western Reserve Colony hosts “The Great Book Signing” at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland. “The Great Book” was published in 1618 and is one of approximately two dozen books printed by William Brewster at his Choir Alley Printing Shop in Leyden, Holland. At one point this book belonged to Christ’s College in Cambridge, England. It was purchased by John Pearson, a well-known book collector from Cleveland. In the 1940s, Mr. Pearson took the book to the General Congress of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) to have the new Governor General and all previous Governor Generals sign the book. He then donated the book to the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland with the stipulation that all future Governor Generals be invited to sign The Great Book. You can read more under the “History” section of this website.

The Western Reserve Colony has a proud history of creating Mayflower-related products as a way to promote Mayflower history and encourage our Mayflower “cousins” to take pride in their family heritage, including “The Mayflower Maize,” a bingo-style educational game developed and copyrighted by The Western Reserve Colony in 1989.

In 2018, the Western Reserve Colony Board approved the creation of the Western Reserve Colony Distinguished Descendant Award, honoring those who have provided outstanding contributions to the field of genealogy for the Western Reserve Colony or to the Ohio Mayflower Society.

Western Reserve Colony Distinguished Descendant Award Recipients:

• Richard (“Dick”) Fetzer – November 11, 2018 (Compact Day)
• Ann Gulbransen – November 14, 2021 (Compact Day)
• Jill Parker – November 12, 2023 (Compact Day)

Officers

Resources

Mayflower Guard

Guard handbook 9-30-17 final

Mayflower Guard Ohio Guarantor Donation Form

Mayflower Guard Procurement Guide

Mayflower Guard Recruitment

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