What is the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)?

The SAR is a historical, educational, and patriotic non-profit, United States 501(c)3, corporation that seeks to maintain and extend

-the institutions of American freedom
-an appreciation for true patriotism
-a respect for our national symbols
-the value of American citizenship
-the unifying force of e pluribus unum that has created, from the people of many nations, one nation and one people.

We do this by perpetuating the stories of patriotism, courage, sacrifice, tragedy, and triumph of the men who achieved the independence of the American people in the belief that these stories are universal ones of man's eternal struggle against tyranny, relevant to all time, and will inspire and strengthen each succeeding generation as it too is called upon to defend our freedoms on the battlefield and in our public institutions.

The Origins of the SAR

In 1876 there were many celebrations to commemorate the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, l776. As part of this patriotic fervor, a group of men in the San Francisco, California, area who were descendants of patriots involved in the American Revolution, formed an organization called the Sons of Revolutionary Sires. Their objective was to have a fraternal and civic society to salute those men and women who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the battle for independence from Great Britain. They desired to keep alive their ancestors' story of patriotism and courage in the belief that it is a universal one of man's struggle against tyranny -- a story which would inspire and sustain succeeding generations when they would have to defend and extend our freedoms.

Out of the Sires grew the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, which was organized on April 30, l889 -- the l00th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as our nation's first President. We have used the acronym SAR to identify ourselves for over l00 years. The SAR was conceived as a fraternal and civic society composed of lineal descendants of the men who wintered at Valley forge, signed the Declaration of Independence, fought in the battles of the American Revolution, served in the Continental Congress, or otherwise supported the cause of American Independence. The National Society was chartered by an Act of the United States Congress on June 6, l906. The charter was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a member of the SAR. The charter authorizes the granting of charters to societies of the various states and territories and authorizes the state societies to charter chapters within their borders.

Who can join?

The SAR 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.

Any man of age eighteen ( 18 ) years or over, who is a lineal descendant of an ancestor who supported the war for American independence is eligible for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. These ancestors are referred to as Revolutionary War Patriots and include those persons who fought in the military and / or militia, who provided supplies to the American cause, who served on political bodies supporting the Revolution, who signed oaths of support and similar acts.

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 descendents moved to foreign lands and their descendents 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 descendents aware of their participation in gaining American independence.

Where Should You Start?

The first thing to do is to determine which branch of your family tree leads you by bloodline (not through adopted children) to a Patriot Ancestor. That means that you don't need to know an entire family tree, just a single line back.

Be brave! Even though this branch of your family tree may be seven to ten generations long and you are not sure that you have a patriot ancestor, there are large databases of ancestral chains and records showing links between generations (birth certificates, wills, etc.). Many genealogical societies, Web sites, and lineage organizations provide assistance with family history searches. The SAR has many volunteer helpers to guide prospective members in their development of a lineage to a patriot ancestor. In many cases a quick scan of some of the resources on this site or a linked site could reveal a likely ancestor, promising leads, or suggestions of good references in libraries near to the prospect.

The SAR 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, so it may seem rather overwhelming. However, the task can be simple if someone in your family has already done the research. If the information is already on file with the SAR or DAR (from an earlier application) you need not submit it again, but can simply refer to the earlier application.

Example #1 -- In the last century many SAR and DAR members have submitted documentation for lineages from their Patriot Ancestors to themselves. If your great- aunt or your second cousin (a person you may not know) is or was a member of the SAR, they have already submitted the documentation to cover the generations from your Patriot Ancestor to your great-grandfather. Your New Member Helper can look into the SAR and DAR records to see if we already have information about some of your lineage.

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? Your New Member Helper may know where to get county biographical histories that tell the ancestry of the citizens of that county. Or he may know how to contact a contract researcher in upstate New York who can get the information you need for a modest fee.

From these examples you can see how an New Member Helper can assist you. If you already have all the information together and are ready to file your SAR application your Helper can assist you through the process. One of the requirements for membership in the SAR is that you join a State Society (or one of the International Societies if you reside outside the U.S.). With this in mind, please visit the National Society webpage and choose a helper in the state you are located.