The Pilgrim Peter Brown Society: Honoring a Mayflower Ancestor and His Legacy

The Pilgrim Peter Brown Society is a hereditary organization dedicated to preserving the memory and lineage of Peter Brown, one of the passengers who arrived in America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. The society honors his life, his descendants, and his role in shaping the Plymouth Colony and, by extension, the early history of the United States.

Formation of the Society

The Pilgrim Peter Brown Society was established in was founded on September 6, 2014 in Plymouth, Massachusetts by a group of Peter Brown descendants.While the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD)—founded in 1897—serves as the overarching organization for all Mayflower descendants, individual passenger societies like the Peter Brown Society provide a more focused community for genealogical research, family connection, and education.

The society’s founders were descendants of Peter Brown who recognized a need to centralize research on his family lines, promote fellowship among his living descendants, and ensure that his legacy remained visible within the broader context of Pilgrim heritage.

Mission and Purpose

The mission of the Pilgrim Peter Brown Society includes:

Honoring the life and memory of Peter Brown, Mayflower passenger and signer of the Mayflower Compact;
Preserving genealogical records of his descendants through verified documentation;
Supporting historical education about the Mayflower voyage, Plymouth Colony, and early New England life;
Promoting fellowship among verified descendants and researchers interested in the Brown lineage;
Encouraging historical preservation projects, particularly those related to Pilgrim settlements and memorials.

Who Was Peter Brown?

Peter Brown (1594–1633) was among the 102 passengers who journeyed on the Mayflower from England to the New World in 1620. He was one of the 41 signers of the Mayflower Compact, the foundational self-governing agreement of Plymouth Colony.

Brown was was baptized in 1594/5 in Dorking, Surrey, England, and was listed among the single men aboard the Mayflower. He received land in Plymouth and was active in community affairs. His property was noted in the early division of land in 1623 and the division of cattle in 1627, where he was listed with his wife Martha and their two daughters, Mary and Priscilla.

Brown died around 1633, likely during an illness that affected many Plymouth settlers that year. Though his life was short, his descendants went on to play significant roles in the expansion of New England communities.

Membership

Membership in the Pilgrim Peter Brown Society is open to individuals who can:

Prove direct descent from Peter Brown through documented genealogical records accepted by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants;
Support the society’s goals of heritage preservation, education, and fellowship.

Membership categories include regular members (verified descendants), associate members, and honorary members.

Legacy

The Pilgrim Peter Brown Society ensures that the story of one of the lesser-known Mayflower passengers remains an active part of early American history. While Peter Brown’s name may not carry the fame of William Bradford or Miles Standish, his legacy—through thousands of descendants—continues to represent the courage, faith, and perseverance that defined the Mayflower generation.

By combining genealogical rigor with a spirit of fellowship, the society honors both the individual and the enduring ideals of the Pilgrims who helped shape America’s foundation.

Conclusion

The Pilgrim Peter Brown Society exemplifies how individual lineage groups can illuminate the personal stories behind monumental historical events. By preserving genealogical records, promoting education, and connecting descendants worldwide, the society ensures that Peter Brown’s courage, faith, and pioneering spirit continue to inspire modern generations—just as they helped establish a new world in 1620.