Lineage Society

Lineage Society Application FAQs: I’m a new registrar. What information would be helpful for new applicants?

Although I don’t actually get posed this question by registrars, I’ve seen applicants struggle with the same issues over and over. If you have the ability, creating some sort of reference material can save a huge amount of time and stress. Here are some of the common things they need to know to be successful:ContinueContinue reading “Lineage Society Application FAQs: I’m a new registrar. What information would be helpful for new applicants?”

Lineage Society Applications FAQs: Can I use my Daughters of the American Revolution paperwork to join the Colonial Dames?

This is one of the more frequent questions I see as a genealogist specializing in lineage society applications. And the answer? Maybe. Remember that there are three societies that use the nickname “Colonial Dames.” (To learn more, visit our blog post on the topic.) Ancestors qualifying for the DAR would be too young to beContinueContinue reading “Lineage Society Applications FAQs: Can I use my Daughters of the American Revolution paperwork to join the Colonial Dames?”

I have Revolutionary War ancestors. What lineage societies might I qualify for?

A lineage society – also called a hereditary society – determines its membership by descent from an ancestor who participated in certain activities. There are multiple societies covering ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War era. Typically, societies are only open to one gender. Women’s Societies: National Society Colonial Dames of America: As NSCDA acceptsContinueContinue reading “I have Revolutionary War ancestors. What lineage societies might I qualify for?”

Lineage Society Application FAQs: Why am I being asked for extra marriages?

It seems pointless. You’re being asked to document your great-grandmother’s second or third spouse, the one not actually in your line. Why? Name changes. Some societies will ask for all marriages just to ensure the completeness of the genealogical record. Most will ignore additional marriages for the male but ask for them for the female.ContinueContinue reading “Lineage Society Application FAQs: Why am I being asked for extra marriages?”

Lineage Society Application FAQs: Do I need to document both spouses?

This question is a point of confusion for many lineage society applicants. The qualifying “bloodline” runs through a single spouse. Do you really need to document both? The short answer: yes. This has actually changed within the last decade or so. Originally lineage societies were focused on just documenting the bloodline. Now, they’ve realized thatContinueContinue reading “Lineage Society Application FAQs: Do I need to document both spouses?”