Welcome

The General Society of Colonial Wars is a society of men who trace their descents from forebears who assisted in the establishment, defense, and preservation of the mainland American colonies of Great Britain. The society was founded in New York in 1892 to further the interest in, and study of, America’s Colonial history for the period between the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia on May 13, 1607 and the battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.

The society continues its mission by collecting and preserving manuscripts, rolls, relics and records; erecting memorials; hosting commemorations; and supporting academic research to foster within the community a respect and reverence for those whose service made our freedom and unity possible.

We invite men aged 18 and over who are residents of Michigan and who trace their ancestry to the Colonial period to join our group. The nominal annual dues — fully deductible as we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit — furthers our work of preserving colonial history, educating the public, and celebrating the people and events that shaped the formation of the United States

The General Society

The General Society of Colonial Wars is a hereditary society composed of men who trace their descents from forebears who, in military, naval, or civil positions of high trust and responsibility, by acts or counsel, assisted in the establishment, defense, and preservation of the mainland American colonies of Great Britain. Approximately 23,000 men have joined the organization from its beginnings in 1893. Typically, there are 4,000 to 4,500 active members at any time. The Society is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Society of Colonial Wars was founded in New York in 1892 to further the interest in, and study of, America’s Colonial history for the period between the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia on May 13, 1607 and the battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.   In 1893, the General Society began to charter state societies to build an organization of national scope. Currently, there are state societies in 32 locals — Alabama, British Isles, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The Society has long sought to improve public awareness of the importance of colonial events and the individuals that shaped America. A number of monuments, plaques, and markers have been installed by the General and State Societies at sites nationally. The Societies also fund research and educational initiatives on the colonial period, including the Samuel Victor Constant Fellowships awarded annually for postgraduate study of the history of colonial American.

The Society continues its mission by collecting and preserving manuscripts, rolls, relics and records; erecting memorials; hosting commemorations; and supporting academic research to inspire respect for those whose made our freedom and unity possible.   In 1988, the General Society established a collection at the University of Baltimore to preserve and make available the historically significant records of the Society and to build a resource collection on the Colonial Period in America. An endowment fund has been established in the University of Baltimore Educational Foundation to support this collection — contributions are welcomed.

The Michigan Society

The Michigan Society was organized on April 1, 1897, elected its first officers on May 13th, and adopted its Constitution and By-Laws on 18 November i897 wen the General Society granted its charter.   The thirteen charter members who founded the Society were Henry Hawes Meday, Frederick Trowbridge Sibley, Rev. William Prall, Truman Handy Newberry, Charles Albert Du Charme, Rufus Woodward Gillette, Kirke Lathrop, Sidney Trowbridge Miller, Benjamin Hand Scranton, William Charles McMillan, John Newbury Bagley, Theodore Horatio Eaton, and Henry Whipple Skinner. Many of these original members subsequently took active roles in the Society’s formative years. From the start, Pontiac, an Ottawa war chief, was an important symbol to the group. To honor him, the Michigan Society held its Annual Spring Court in the spring on May 7, 1898, the day Pontiac launched his siege of Fort Detroit in 1763.

The original mission of the Michigan Society was “the encouragement of interest in the history of the Northwest during the Colonial period and the suitable marking of spots of historical note.” It was established that “no party political question of the day, or controversial religious subjects, shall be discussed or considered at any Court of the Society.” Initially, membership was limited to one hundred members who shall “hold a celebration commemorative of some martial event in Colonial history, and dine together at least once in each year.” A nine-member Council would govern. In its first year in 1897, dues were set at $10 annually. A summary of the first 100 years of the Michigan Society appears on this site in the article on our Centennial Anniversary.

Yearly Events

The Michigan Society hosts a series of meetings from September to June for members. It has also proudly hosted several gala meetings of the General Society of Colonial Wars, most recently the Northwest Summer Court at Mackinac Island in the summer of 2024.