How do I document a DAR or SAR ancestor from Quebec?

(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 fromContinueContinue reading “How do I document a DAR or SAR ancestor from Quebec?”

Family Samplers: An unusual resource – and one you can still make

When we talk about supporting documentation, we generally think about documents – things on paper. But “documentation” can include fabric too! Family samplers, a form of needlepoint with information on the family structure and vital records events, can also provide evidence of birth, death, marriage and relationships. According to the Smithsonian, the first known exampleContinueContinue reading “Family Samplers: An unusual resource – and one you can still make”

Land Records: An Underused Source in Lineage Society Applications

No birth certificate, no will. How do you document the relationship between parent and child to meet the standards of a lineage society, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution? For many families, land records can help fill in the gaps. You may not have had enough money to require a will nor theContinueContinue reading “Land Records: An Underused Source in Lineage Society Applications”

Avoid Common Lineage Society Mistakes: Know What Documents You’ll Need to Provide

Family trees? Ancestry ThruLines? A family genealogy? Lineage societies have rules about records you can and cannot submit as supporting documentation. Knowing what those rules are can save you significant time and frustration. Check with your specific society before proceeding, but here are a few general rules. If a vital record (birth, death or marriageContinueContinue reading “Avoid Common Lineage Society Mistakes: Know What Documents You’ll Need to Provide”

How can I use Civil War records in my lineage society applications?

Even if you’re not applying to a Civil War related lineage society, Civil War records can still help your applications in a few different ways. They can put an individual in a certain place at a certain time. If an ancestor had to register for the draft or mustered in, you know where they wereContinueContinue reading “How can I use Civil War records in my lineage society applications?”