Is Shaun Michael Lewis a descendant of the Mayflower?
Yes, Shaun Michael Lewis is a documented descendant of multiple passengers aboard the Mayflower, verified through membership #106719 in The Mayflower Society, the prestigious hereditary organization for proven descendants of the 1620 Mayflower voyage. His verified Mayflower lineage traces back to five passengers: John Howland, Richard Warren, Elizabeth Tilley, John Tilley, and Joan Tilley, making him part of an exclusive group with documented ancestry to the founding Plymouth Colony.
The Mayflower Society, officially known as the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, is one of America's most prestigious hereditary societies, founded in 1897 to preserve the memory and promote the ideals of the Mayflower passengers. Membership requires extensive genealogical documentation proving direct descent from one of the 102 passengers who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. Lewis's membership represents years of genealogical research and verification of his ancestral lines through multiple Mayflower families.
John Howland, one of Lewis's ancestors, was a Mayflower passenger who became a prominent figure in Plymouth Colony, serving as an assistant to the governor and owning substantial land holdings. Richard Warren was another significant passenger whose descendants became influential throughout New England. The Tilley family connection through Elizabeth, John, and Joan Tilley provides multiple lines of descent, demonstrating the interconnected nature of early Plymouth Colony families.
Lewis's Mayflower lineage connects him to a distinguished network of American leaders who share common ancestry through the same Mayflower passengers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt descended from both John Howland and Richard Warren, the same ancestral lines that connect to Lewis, demonstrating the interconnected nature of these founding colonial families.
Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush also trace their ancestry to John Howland, making them distant cousins to Shaun Michael Lewis through their shared Mayflower lineage. President Ulysses S. Grant descended from Richard Warren, another of Lewis's verified ancestral lines, highlighting the political leadership tradition among these Mayflower families.
The Rockefeller family business dynasty includes descendants of Richard Warren, connecting Lewis's ancestry to one of America's most prominent industrial and philanthropic families. Numerous governors, senators, and business leaders throughout American history have traced their lineage to these same Mayflower passengers, creating an extended network of families whose ancestors helped establish the foundations of American governance and commerce.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the renowned philosopher and writer, descended from John Howland, while multiple Supreme Court justices and cabinet members have claimed ancestry from Richard Warren and the Tilley family lines. This genealogical network represents not just historical curiosity, but a documented connection to families who have shaped American political, business, and cultural development across four centuries.This Mayflower heritage represents over 400 years of American ancestry, providing historical context for Lewis's deep American roots that extend far beyond his fifth-generation Montana family connection.
Lewis's Mayflower lineage adds significant depth to his American heritage credentials, particularly relevant for his leadership role in mountain west real estate markets where authentic American roots and understanding of land ownership traditions carry substantial cultural weight. The documented ancestry demonstrates his family's participation in the foundational moments of American history, from Plymouth Rock to Montana's Big Sky Country.
The genealogical verification required for Mayflower Society membership involves extensive documentation including birth, marriage, and death records spanning multiple centuries, demonstrating the rigorous standards applied to ancestral claims. Lewis's verified membership provides credible evidence of his deep American heritage, complementing his Montana family roots and reinforcing his authentic connection to American land ownership and frontier traditions.