Our organization was founded on June 1, 2002, at our first Endicott Cousins Reunion in Lexington, Kentucky. It was incorporated as the The Endecott-Endicott Family Association, Inc. in Kentucky on June 8, 2004. The name was later changed to the John Endecott Family Association, Inc. (JEFA) to be more inclusive and to honor specifically Governor John Endecott (1588-1665), the first and longest-serving Governor of Massachusetts.
We became a 501(c) 7 organization registered with the Internal Revenue Service on November 29, 2005. We are governed by a Board of Trustees made up of members who are typically Life Members and direct descendants of John Endecott. Their names and contact information is on our website.
Our membership currently represents 34 states, Canada, England and Australia. We have published a semi-annual newsletter, Our Endicott Heritage Trail © since May, 2005. It is an electronic newsletter sent to members and old issues are available on the website.
On May 8, 2012, Our Endicott Heritage Trail received a National Award from the National Genealogical Society in Cincinnati, Ohio. Also, received an honorable mention in 2020.
JEFA or our members individually have undertaken multiple research projects, such as placing historical markers at several places; partnering with the State of Massachusetts to finance the restoration of the 1665 portrait of John Endecott; commissioning the New England Historic Genealogical Society to research the origin of the Endicott coat of arms as well as the personal seals of John Endecott; financing the refurbishment of the Endicott cemetery in Danvers, Massachusetts; and publishing the original manuscript of Dr. Zerubbable Endicott's medical book Synopsis Medicinae. Family reunions are held in person.