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 WarContinue reading “I joined the Daughters of the American Revolution. How do I find a qualifying ancestor for another society?”
Tag Archives: documentation
Why am I being asked for my spouse’s certificates?
You’re joining a lineage society yourself, but you’re being asked for vital records for your spouse. Why? This is a question we get all the time. The basic answer: the societies are looking ahead to your children and grandchildren who may be interested in membership. Anything they already have on file, your descendants do notContinue reading “Why am I being asked for my spouse’s certificates?”
Why is it so challenging to document a female patriot?
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 legalContinue reading “Why is it so challenging to document a female patriot?”
Can I use Ancestry ThruLines as proof for a lineage society application?
The simple answer: no. The reasoning lies in how “ThruLines” are created. The following is from Ancestry’s description: “We use the family tree linked to your test to find people who are in your tree and are also in your matches’s linked trees. […]” In short, ThruLines searches the submitted family trees of your DNAContinue reading “Can I use Ancestry ThruLines as proof for a lineage society application?”
Can the same person be a qualifying ancestor for multiple societies?
Don’t worry, you’re not the first one to wonder! Your grandmother or sibling has joined one society, and you’d like to join another – using their paperwork. Is it possible? Maybe. First of all, review the qualifying ancestor guidelines for the society you’d like to join and the society your family member joined. Is thereContinue reading “Can the same person be a qualifying ancestor for multiple societies?”
I have Canadian roots. Might I have Mayflower ancestors?
The simple answer: yes. If your family was from an area that was popular with the New England “planters” , Revolutionary War era Loyalists, or economic “Late Loyalists,” they may have roots in colonial Massachusetts. If you want to identify Mayflower line ancestors, focus on using established techniques for researching planters, loyalists, or late loyalists.Continue reading “I have Canadian roots. Might I have Mayflower ancestors?”
Is there an easy way to check my Mayflower line?
Think you have Mayflower ancestors but aren’t ready to delve into the research yourself? There are three good options to help you check the line. If you apply for Mayflower Lineage Match, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants will check to see what portion of the line has been documented in a previous application. ThereContinue reading “Is there an easy way to check my Mayflower line?”
Why isn’t my Revolutionary War ancestor already on file?
The Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution maintain records of many of those who served in the American Revolution. This can include images of family Bibles, vital records, pensions and more. Yet, some ancestors aren’t listed. Why? The files held by DAR and SAR were created when someone joinedContinue reading “Why isn’t my Revolutionary War ancestor already on file?”
Profiles of Service: What role did my ancestor play in the American Revolution?
In addition to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Daughters of the American Revolution classifies three types of Revolutionary War “service”: military, civil, and patriotic. Clients often wonder how I know they’ve assigned the wrong service to their ancestor. There are actually profiles of the “typical” ancestor with each kind of service. IfContinue reading “Profiles of Service: What role did my ancestor play in the American Revolution?”
Who was Private Cuff Liberty?
In 2020, the Daughters of the American Revolution launched the E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative in order to increase awareness of under represented patriots, including indigenous, African American, and female patriots. Connecticut’s African American patriots are currently named in some of their publications, including Forgotten Patriots. Yet, there is much more to their stories. AccordingContinue reading “Who was Private Cuff Liberty?”
You must be logged in to post a comment.