(Partially a repost from May – with a few updates!)
Two societies – the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution – permit applications from prospective members whose ancestors did not live in the (now) United States, provided those ancestors demonstrated support for the American cause. This includes ancestors from Quebec, some of whom sided with the Americans during the attempted invasion of Quebec City. If your ancestor is among those individuals, be prepared to document their residence and service, as many are new ancestors.
Deb Duay has provided an index that can help you find the documentation you need to support your ancestor’s service. Alphabetical by ancestor’s last name, it includes the individual’s name, date and location of birth, residence during the War, spouse, and the source of service. Some sources can be submitted directly, while others are really indexes for which you’ll need to find the original documentation.
Be aware: it’s best to confirm the translation of any entries in French language sources about your ancestor. In at least one instance, we found that the French language record and the English translation did not agree – and that the difference would cause at least one of the societies to disallow descendants of this ancestor based on the society’s “last act” policy requiring that the individual’s “last act” be in support of the Americans.
For more on French-Canadian patriots and the “Last Act” policy, see our articles on the subject in the NGS Magazine.
Don’t forget, a line “from Quebec” may actually originate in the American colonies. Many of the settlers in the region of Quebec called the Eastern Townships were what is now called the “Late Loyalists.” These individuals arrived after the American Revolution in search of low cost land and may not have had pro-British sentiments. In fact, a number were American militia soldiers and officers. Do some digging on your Quebec lines. You may be surprised to find one trace back to Massachusetts, New Hampshire or another New England states.
Questions? Contact Charter Oak Genealogy.