Professional Genealogists Specializing in Lineage Society Applications
Founded in 1780 by Esther de Berdt Reed, the Ladies' Association of Philadelphia raised money for the Continental Army through door to door fundraising. The organization raised over $7,000, which was used to clothe soldiers. Although heavily critiqued, the Association was one of the first American examples of organized political action by women. The family's… Continue reading What was the Ladies’ Association of Philadelphia?
I have an update to this 2021 post... Died at Groton Heights? Descendants of Benjamin Graves, baptized in 1734 in East Haddam, Connecticut, have long claimed he died from wounds received in battle at the Battle of Groton Heights.[1] Yet, he is not included among those listed as killed and wounded.[2] Where and when… Continue reading Did Benjamin Graves die at the Battle of Groton Heights?
An ancestor who loaned money to the Continental government during the American Revolution would be considered to have "patriotic service" by the Sons of the American Revolution or the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Daughters of the American Revolution has begun digitizing records of the loans made from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.… Continue reading My ancestor supposedly loaned money to the Continental government. How do I find evidence?
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.… Continue reading How do I document a new Revolutionary War ancestor?
There's a published history of your family. It traces your family back to a lineage society qualifying ancestor. Can you use it for the application? The short answer: maybe. Here are the questions you need to answer: Is it a published source or a written report? Yes, families do pass down pedigree charts (ie. family… Continue reading Can I use my family’s genealogy for a lineage society application?
Thanks to the Connecticut Historical Society, a collection of Revolutionary War era manuscripts are now available for viewing on the Connecticut Digital Archive. This diverse collection includes images of several orderly books, hospital records, correspondence, muster and pay rolls, and more. Of particular interest is a document attesting that Backus Fox, a man held in… Continue reading A digital collection covering Connecticut in the American Revolution
Many people start the lineage society application process with the Sons of the American Revolution or the Daughters of the American Revolution. The fact that these societies allow applicants to reference previously submitted applications makes that first application seem manageable for most. But when it comes to doing a second application for a pre-Revolutionary War… Continue reading I joined the Daughters of the American Revolution. How do I find a qualifying ancestor for another society?
Women supported the American cause during the Revolutionary War. Yet, most of the available records address men. Why - and how does it impact our research? In a word: coverture. Wikipedia's explanation of the legal principal is quite clear (and detailed, for those interested in the history). As the listing indicates, coverture is "a legal… Continue reading Why is it so challenging to document a female patriot?
...may not be where you'd expect. Between 1750s and 1782, both Connecticut and Pennsylvania attempted to claim the area. The conflict resulted in a war prior to the American Revolution, referred to as the Yankee-Pennamite War. By 1776, Connecticut had control of the region. Appointments and commissions to Revolutionary era positions can be found in… Continue reading Wyoming Valley PA records during the American Revolution…
At it's most basic level, privateering could be considered legalized piracy. Privateers were given a commission by the state government or Continental Congress to search for and attack merchant ships. This action benefited both the authorizing government, as it weakened the enemy's supply chain, and the privateer, who received a portion of the proceeds from… Continue reading How do I find a Connecticut privateer’s commission?
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