Bryna O’Sullivan

Men of what age were likely to have served as soldiers during the American Revolution?

It’s a good rule of thumb that if your ancestor was “of age” during the American Revolution, they likely participated in the Revolution in some way. Yet, many of us look for soldiers. How do we determine which ancestors were likely to have fought? Local law can actually be a hint. Connecticut, for example, requiredContinue reading “Men of what age were likely to have served as soldiers during the American Revolution?”

How can Revolutionary War claims help me document my ancestor’s service?

The American Army had limited resources going into the Revolutionary War. They borrowed goods, supplies, and even food. People had their homes and business damaged by the American Army – or the British. Many of those who lost money or property as a result later filed claims against state governments. These Revolutionary War claims filesContinue reading “How can Revolutionary War claims help me document my ancestor’s service?”

What’s an SS-5 and how does it help my lineage society application?

Depending on where you lived, if you were born before the 1910s, you may not have had a birth certificate. New England required them as early as the 1640s. In the South, it was much later. Yet, lineage societies request “proof” of an individual’s birth. An SS-5 can often be submitted instead of a birthContinue reading “What’s an SS-5 and how does it help my lineage society application?”

Professional v. Volunteer: Do I need to hire help with my lineage society application?

Another one of those questions no one wants to ask: “Do I need to hire professional help with my lineage society application?” First of all, what’s a lineage society? A lineage society is a membership based organization that determines membership based on the activities of an applicant’s ancestor. These societies are also referred to asContinue reading “Professional v. Volunteer: Do I need to hire help with my lineage society application?”

Connecticut Census Enumerations

To apply to a Revolutionary War era lineage society, the applicant needs to document not only the ancestor’s service but also the ancestor’s residence during the War. For Connecticut ancestors, there are four sources typically used to “prove” residence: One could add a fifth: census enumerations. Even though few survive, there are scattered records ofContinue reading “Connecticut Census Enumerations”