Lineage Society

I have Canadian ancestors. Can I still qualify for an American lineage society?

Yes! Of course, it depends on when and where your ancestor arrived in Canada. Some regions of Canada saw an influx of American immigrants in the mid to late 18th and early 19th century. You may hear the terms “New England Planter,” “United Empire Loyalist,” or “Late Loyalist.” Each of them arrived a different timeContinueContinue reading “I have Canadian ancestors. Can I still qualify for an American lineage society?”

How old were those who fought in the American Revolution?

To identify “service” during the American Revolution, we generally look at those born between the 1710s and the 1760s. However, that’s all types of service. If we narrow it down to military service, what ages are involved? Militia service requirements provide a good guideline for the Army. Connecticut required men to serve between ages 16ContinueContinue reading “How old were those who fought in the American Revolution?”

What if I can’t find a document that names my ancestor’s parents? Can I still join a lineage society?

Lineage societies generally want one original document that names an ancestor’s parents to make a parent-child connection, such as the child’s birth certificate. Yet, not every ancestor has such a document. In that case, can you still join a lineage society? Most societies allow the submission of what they call an analysis to make aContinueContinue reading “What if I can’t find a document that names my ancestor’s parents? Can I still join a lineage society?”

Why make a time line?

The period between the late 18th and early 19th century was a period of great migration in the United States. Families were moving from New England to the Midwest, from the Atlantic Seaboard into the South, and more. Yet, because European settlements were relatively new, there are few centralized, indexed records. A time line -ContinueContinue reading “Why make a time line?”

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, requiredContinueContinue reading “Men of what age were likely to have served as soldiers during the American Revolution?”