How to Become a Compatriot in the Sons of the American Revolution

1. How to Become a Compatriot in the Sons of the American Revolution https://members.sar.org/media/uploads/pages/201/tOyqUjkCqSoX.pdf Edward G. Elgart Genealogist Washington Crossing Chapter

2. What Is the SAR • The SARThe SAR, the largest male lineage organization in the U.S., consists of 50 societies with more than 500 local chapters, several international societies and over 34,000 members. SAR is dedicated to assisting our members, schools, teachers and the general public in their efforts to sustain and preserve our history and constitutional principles. • , the largest male lineage organization in the U.S., consists of 50 societies with more than 500 local chapters, several international societies and over 34,000 members. SAR is dedicated to assisting our members, schools, teachers and the general public in their efforts to sustain and preserve our history and constitutional principles.

3. Mission of the Washington Crossing SAR • The Washington Crossing chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution – located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania – has a unique mission in addition to supporting our parent organization’s national goals. • We strive to celebrate and promote the story of “Washington’s Crossing” and other Bucks County Revolutionary War history including Moland House – which served as Washington’s headquarters prior to the battle of Brandywine, and where the Marquis de Lafayette and Casmir Pulaski pledged themselves to the cause of American Independence and where the Betsy Ross flag is supposed to have been presented for the first time.

4. The SAR Pledge • ​"We descendants of the heroes of the American Revolution who, by their sacrifices, established the United States of America, reaffirm our faith in the principles of liberty and our Constitutional Republic, and solemnly pledge ourselves to defend them against every foe."​​

5. Service or Direct Assistance • Participation in one or more of the following types of service is required of an ancestor if a descendent is to be admitted into the Sons of the American Revolution. • Signer of the Declaration of Independence  • Member of any of the Continental Congresses • Rendering material aid, such as: • Furnishing supplies with or without remuneration • Lending money to the Colonies, munitions makers, and gunsmiths • Any other material aid which furthered the Cause • Military or naval service: • Service at the Battle of Point Pleasant, October 10, 1774 • Service from April 19, 1775 to November 26, 1783 • Furnishing a substitute for military service • Members of the • Boston Tea Party • Kaskaskia Campaign • Galvez Expedition • Cherokee Expedition • Edenton Tea Party • Defenders of forts and frontiers; rangers. • Prisoners of war, including those on the British ship "Old Jersey," and other prison ships. • Physician, surgeon, nurse, or others rendering aid to the wounded. • Civil service under the Colonies from April 19, 1775, to November 26, 1783, inclusive • Member of committees made necessary by the war, such as • Committee of Correspondence • Committee of Inspection and Safety • Committee to care for soldiers' families • or any other Committees, which furthered the cause of the Colonies from six months before the Battle of Point Pleasant. • Any pledge to support the cause of the Colonies, such as signing the Oath of Fidelity and Support: • Oath of Allegiance • Articles of Association • Association Test • Signers of • The Mecklenburg Declaration, 1775 • The Albemarle, Virginia, Declaration • The Cumberland Compact • and similar declarations. • Signers of petitions addressed to and recognizing the authority of the provisional and new state governments. • Persons accepting obligations or acting under direction of the provisional and new state governments, such as persons directed to hold elections, to oversee road construction, to collect provisions, etc. • Minister’s known to be in sympathy with the Colonies, either by sermon, speech, or action.

6. Who Can Become A Member? • Any man 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, which can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. SAR defines a "patriot" as one who provided service or direct assistance in achieving America's independence.

7. How About Loyalists Who Fought? • Sorry, even though we are the Sons of the American Revolution, ancestors fighting or supporting the British during the war are not allowed for eligibility • If you are descended from a loyalist, there are societies established for that purpose • There is no judgment here – at any one time more than half the Colonial population were unsure about the rebellion.

8. So Let’s Get Started • Documentation is the key to being accepted • Family Tradition in regard to the service of an ancestor or the line of descent is not acceptable as documentation • Having a direct ancestor who is a member of the DAR or SAR is helpful, but not required

9. Start With Yourself, Parents and Grandparents • Each person needs to have Birth Certificates • For those who have passed away, they must have Death Certificates • All Marriages need to have Certificates • If there are multiple marriages you may omit divorces providing there was no name change or children

10. Where To Get These • Depending on Where the Event took place, records may be at local, county or state records offices • The National Institute for Health Statistics has a link to most common places that documents will be available https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm • There are also fee for service sites on the web • Local/State Archivists Can Help • Events outside the US should still be documented

11. Great-grandparents to the Patriot • If available, the same certificates that were used for the first three generations are preferred -Many individuals lived in states with early record keeping • Once you have exhausted the official document pipeline, there are many ways to prove descent

12. Acceptable Documents • Church Records such as Birth, Baptism, Marriage or Death. Records should show multiple relationships • Spouse • Parents • Children • If only the person and event are shown on the document, it can be used if there is other documentation that gives it support

13. Acceptable Documents • Federal Census Records from 1870 – 1940 • Earlier records are not reliable for establishing relationships • State or Local Census Records where relationships can be shown • These records not only establish relationships but are helpful in proving birth years as well

14. Acceptable Documents • Immigration Records that establish date and place of birth, as well as relationships to other individuals • Newspaper birth, marriage, death obituary announcements that establish dates and relationships. • Other newspaper articles that establish relationships are also acceptable • The article must be on the full page of the newspaper and have the paper’s name, date and page of the event

15. Acceptable Documents • Court Records • Wills • Estate and Probate • Deeds of Property • Civil or Criminal Court Records • Any other record of the court that is relevant to proving relationships

16. Acceptable Documents • Military Records • Draft Registration • Pension • Enlistment Records • Other documents establishing relationships • Government Records • National archives • State archives • County/City/Local Archives • Social Security Applications • Other documents establishing relationships

17. Acceptable Documentation • Relationship to a Member of the DAR or SAR • A Record Copy showing their National Number and documents showing direct lineage from them • As a General Rule, applications over 20 years old are not acceptable • Relationship to a Member of the DAR or SAR • A Record Copy showing their National Number and documents showing direct lineage from them

18. Documents Not Acceptable • Bible Pages or Records • Family Trees from Online Genealogical Sites • Newspaper articles that are clipped • Find A Grave memorials • Oral Histories/Family Traditions • Indexes • If there is an index then you need to order the whole document • Family History Books • Scholarly Books may be acceptable, i.e. The Adams Chronicles, Colonel Roosevelt, etc. • Include Title Page and Publication Info with relevant pages

19. DAR Record Copies • DAR Website Has a place for ancestor search • http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search/?Tab_ID=1 • Fill out the form with all you know about your Revolutionary ancestor • Look through records to find most recent and relevant to your situation • You can order a copy to use in your package. You can purchase a DAR Application Record Copy from the DAR website for $10 per electronic download or $15 through the USPS.

20. SAR Record Copies • SAR Record Copies can be ordered from National HQ • https://members.sar.org/media/uploads/pages/201/AyEwkF6h7WYS.pdf • The NSSAR restricts fulfilling requests of application copies and ancestor information of living NSSAR members to:Ž Members of the NSSAR, NSDAR and N.S.C.A.R.Ž Prospective members of the NSSAR may order a record copy through a Chapter or State Registrar or other NSSAR member assisting them with an application.

21. Documents Rarely Acceptable • 1790-1860 Census • Except to establish residency • Applications to other Societies than the DAR/SAR • The Mayflower Society • The Society of Colonial Wars • Colonial Dames • Founders and Patriots Society • Other societies

22. The Application Form • Only original applications on special paper will be accepted. I have the paper • Forms are available at https://sar.org/application • There are different ways you can fill out the form • Adobe PDF version - this is a PDF file that allows the user to produce an application form that can be saved to a hard drive for editing later or to use when filing a Supplemental Application that shares much of the same lineage.  Remember to use the "Save As" command, and change the name of the file when creating an application. • Microsoft Word version - this is a Microsoft Word file that allows the user to produce an application form that can be saved to a hard drive for editing later.  Remember to use the "Save As" command, and change the name of the file when creating an application. • SARApAid by Cox Software - this is available through a third-party, licensed agreement.  It will produce an application form and allow the user to save, edit, and print a completed form.  The cost is $20 per downloadable software copy and a $10 renewal after 2 years from the date of purchase for future updates.

23. Application Example

25. 2nd Page Application Sample

26. 2nd Page Application Sample

27. Fees

28. Need Help ? • Hire a Board Certified Professional Genealogist • Utilize the Genealogical Services of the SAR • Local Archivists and Historical Societies Can Help Find Information-but You Need To know What To Ask For • I can give suggestions when you hit a Brick Wall eguerrye@hotmail.com

29. Questions?