Seventeenth Century Qualifying Ancestors
The following criteria are used to determine whether an early settler may be included as a qualifying ancestor for purposes of membership in the Jamestowne Society. The individual:
(1) was a stockholder in the London Company or the Virginia Company, or a member of one of the guilds which invested in the above, during the active investment period; (2) owned land on Jamestown Island or lived on the Island prior to 1700 (owning land in a neighboring area or neighboring county does NOT of itself qualify an individual); (3) was a resident in Virginia at the time of the 1624/25 Muster or earlier; (4) served as Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, Clerk of the General Court, Member of the Council or House of Burgesses prior to 1700; these persons shall be conclusively presumed to have had their domiciles on Jamestown Island during their terms of office; (5) was an Anglican Church (Church of England) minister in Virginia prior to 1700; or (6) served as an official Indian Interpreter in Virginia prior to 1700. |
The list of Qualifying ancestors is below. The Register can be ordered using the form under the Shop section of this website. In addition to information posted on this website, the Register also includes the number of members with lineages proven back to that Qualifying Ancestor and problem lines of Qualified Ancestors.
To apply for membership, see the Membership Application Process Page.
PLEASE NOTE: The Jamestowne Society does not provide genealogical research for individuals. If you are interested in adding a Jamestowne-era ancestor to the Qualifying Ancestors Index, you must prove that they had appropriate service as defined by this Society, and your lineage, as part of the Membership Application Process.
To apply for membership, see the Membership Application Process Page.
PLEASE NOTE: The Jamestowne Society does not provide genealogical research for individuals. If you are interested in adding a Jamestowne-era ancestor to the Qualifying Ancestors Index, you must prove that they had appropriate service as defined by this Society, and your lineage, as part of the Membership Application Process.
Note that 17th century spelling was very variable. Look for variations of the spelling of names you are interested in.
Click on a name below to get additional information.
Click on a name below to get additional information.
Last Update: 22 April 2021