Who can Join?

A Lineage Society

The Sons of the American Revolution (S.A.R.) is a "lineage" society. This means that each member has traced their family tree back to a point of having an ancestor who supported the cause of American Independence during the years 1774-1783.

Do You Have A Patriot Ancestor?

If you aren't sure whether any of your ancestors lived in the United States during the Revolution, don't lose heart.  Many people who never set foot in the United States supported the American colonists struggle against British domination -- for example the king of Spain.  Many patriots (or their descendants moved to foreign lands and their descendants moved back later, not knowing their ancestors were here before.   Many French, German, and Spanish soldiers and sailors fought in support of American independence and returned home without making their descendants aware of their participation in gaining American independence.

Where to Start?

The following is useful information from the National S.A.R. as well as The Long Island Chapter S.A.R: The S.A.R. application requires listing your lineage and must be accompanied by copies of the documents that support this lineage; this means finding documents linking parents to children through seven to nine generations or more. For those of you seeking to join the Long Island S.A.R. you may want to review the preparation of application requirements click here.To assist you with this click here for a downloadable PDF S.A.R. worksheet provided by the Long Island S.A.R.  You need to complete this S.A.R. worksheet first. The formal application will be prepared by the Long Island S.A.R. Registrar. He will be your sponsor and helper throughout the process.  If you have questions about membership please email Edward Burns, the Long Island S.A.R. Registrar, with your questions.

It may seem rather overwhelming at the start, however, the task can be simple if someone in your family has already done some of the research. The following are two examples:

Example #1 -- Over the years, many individuals have applied to the S.A.R. and D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) and have submitted documentation.  If someone in your family tree was accepted by the S.A.R. or D.A.R. there may be records showing the lineage.   Email Edward Burns to obtain assistance in helping you check for those records.   If records exist, they can help you acquire a "Record Copy," which may help lead you in the right direction for collecting more information on your family.

Example #2 -- You know your lineage only back to your great grandfather, who lived in upstate New York.  Was he the descendent of a Patriot?  Email Edward Burns to obtain assistance in helping you to get county biographical histories that tell the ancestry of the citizens of that county (or he may be able to provide a contract researcher in upstate New York who can get the information you need for a modest fee).

If you already have all the information together and are ready to file your S.A.R. application email Edward Burns so he can assist you through the process.  One of the requirements for membership in the Long Island Chapter S.A.R. is that you join the Empire State Society (or one of the International Societies, if you reside outside the U.S.). 

Suppose You Don't?
Even if you do not identify an ancestor who participated in the struggle for American Independence you can still have hours of fun searching for information on your ancestors.   Getting involved in your genealogy usually produces interesting family stories and an improved appreciation for the problems and opportunities that your ancestors had to deal with.

While the lack of a documented patriot ancestor will prevent you from joining the S.A.R., there are many other societies that can help you explore your family history, meet other people of the same lineage that you have, and support the political institutions that make the United States a great nation.