If you’re interested in joining a Revolutionary War lineage society, it’s recommended that you use an ancestor already on file. However, with the exception of the Society of the Cincinnati, the recommendation is not a requirement. Most Revolutionary War lineage societies allow you to add new ancestors – provided that the ancestor meets their requirements.
So, how do you document a new ancestor?
- Identify an ancestor who meets their requirements for “qualifying service,” the specific activities that the society uses to decide whose ancestors do and do qualify for membership.
- For the list of qualifying service of the Daughters of the American Revolution, visit https://www.dar.org/national-society/accepted-revolutionary-war-service.
- For the list of qualifying service of the Sons of the American Revolution, visit https://www.sar.org/how-to-apply/.
- For the list of qualifying service of the Sons of the Revolution, visit http://www.sonsoftherevolution.org/membership/ (this list is from NY but should apply to the General Society).
- Document that service using original sources: pensions, muster rolls, town meeting minutes, etc. Debbie Duay’s “Revolutionary War Service” provides a good starting list.
- Confirm and document your ancestor’s residence during the American Revolution, using a marriage record, children’s birth records, land records, and more. This helps confirm that it was your ancestor and not another of the same name who provided that service.