documentation – Page 6

What is the Court of Appeal in Cases of Capture?

Privateers played a major role in American naval activities during the American Revolution. With permission from the government, privately owned ships could attempt to capture an enemy ship. If the capture was judged to be legal, the contents and ship would be sold – and the profits redistributed to the crew. At the start ofContinueContinue reading “What is the Court of Appeal in Cases of Capture?”

County or no county?

“Shouldn’t you be listing the county on the lineage society application?” This question has been coming up a lot recently as I’ve been preparing applications. Under the current guidelines for most societies, the answer is yes – but only if the document lists the county. Here’s the reasoning. The listing of counties was standard upContinueContinue reading “County or no county?”

I’m ordering vital records for my lineage society application. Do I need a certified copy?

The answer to this one is straightforward: no in 99.9% of cases. The lineage societies do not require it. Some states require you to purchase a certified copy every time you want to request a certificate. However, it’s not required by any lineage society of which I’m aware. If an information copy is offered, goContinueContinue reading “I’m ordering vital records for my lineage society application. Do I need a certified copy?”

What does this word being used by my lineage society mean?

Lineage societies have a vocabulary of their own. If you’re in the process of applying, knowing what the terms mean can make your life much easier! Here are a few common terms: Lineage Society: Also called a hereditary society, this is an organization that decides membership based on the actions of an applicant’s ancestor. QualifyingContinueContinue reading “What does this word being used by my lineage society mean?”

Can I use the results of a mitochondrial DNA test in a lineage society application?

First of all, what’s a mitochondria? For those of you who don’t recall your high school biology class: a mitochondria is a structure within the cell. It’s often referred to as a cell’s “energy center.” There’s a really good explanation here. Mitochondria have their own DNA, so they can be tested separately. It was longContinueContinue reading “Can I use the results of a mitochondrial DNA test in a lineage society application?”