To identify and honor the memory of ancestors who were “planters” within lands today comprising the 48 states of the continental United States between 1607 and 12 April, 1861; To collect and preserve records, documents and relics pertaining to the history and genealogy of such “planters”; To produce and distribute publications of all kinds relating to the history and genealogy of such “planters”; To study and apprecaite the rural and country life led by our ancestors in all of the original colonies and territories from which the 48 states of the continental United States are derived; To inculcate true patriotism and a strict devotion to historical truth; And to engage in other elated educational, historical, genealogical, patriotic, literary and social activities.
Who can join?
Membership is available to men and women 18 years of age or older who are lineal descendants of a “planter” living on land today included in the 48 states of the continental United States between 1607- April 12, 1861. A “planter” is a large farmer, one owning not less than 500 acres of land. A rancher would be included in this definition. The 500 acres or more, does not have to be in one plot or in contiguous plots or even in the same county or same state. The property of one spouse may be aggregated with the property of the other spouse even if legal title is vested in a trustee, but aggregation is permitted only where the applicant descends from both spouses. Also eligible are collateral descendants of a “planter” brother or sister of the whole blood of a lineal ancestor, both residing on land in one of the 48 states of the continental United States between 1607 and April 12, 1861.
Why am I not surprised that in an organization such as this you will not find one reference to slavery. Perhaps the descendants of the men and women responsible for creating the planter’s wealth can join under the category of “collateral descendants.” And before some of you get into an irrational tizzy over what you perceive to be another anti-South post please keep in mind that slaves generated wealth for planters in both the North and South.