The Sons of the American Revolution is a male lineage society, which means that each member has traced his family tree back to an ancestor who supported the cause of American Independence during the years 1774-1783.
If you already know that you have such an ancestor, then you may want to continue on to the "Some Benefits of Joining" section or go straight to the "Where Should I Start?" section below.
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 had been 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.
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. The popular, new television show, "Who Do You Think You Are?," created in cooperation with Ancestry.com, is a prime example. Getting involved in your genealogy usually produces interesting family stories and an improved appreciation for the problems and opportunities that your ancestors had to face.
While the lack of a documented Patriot ancestor may prevent you from joining the SAR, there are many other societies that can help you explore your family history, meet other people of the same lineage as your own, and support the political institutions that make the United States a great nation.
Current National Application Fee: $80
2010 National Annual Dues: $30
2010 State Application Fee: $5 (State waives 1st year dues.)
2010 Norfolk Chapter Annual Dues: $20
Total Submitted with each Application:* $135.00
Chapter, State and National meetings, access to Chapter and State newsletters, quarterly distribution of SAR Magazine, recommending individuals for awards, recognizing youth, attending events like Yorktown Day, Battle Great Bridge celebrations, etc.
Get involved:
Help with an activity, join a committee or become an officer. Get information on patriot graves, mark a grave site, learn about local historical markers and tell your friends. Volunteer to speak at a local school or civic association. Join or support a color guard unit with Revolutionary War uniforms. Support local historical research, get it published or on to the Web. And, most importantly, fly the flag of our nation correctly and often at your home or business and recognize those who do.
If your genealogy isn't yet documented, you should begin by determining which branch of your family tree leads you by bloodline (not through adopted children) to a Patriot Ancestor. This means that you don't need to know an entire family tree, just a single bloodline.
The process of tracing & documenting your family tree back several generations to a Patriot Ancestor either can be relatively easy (if it is documented already) or challenging, requiring exhaustive research.
The SAR National website at www.sar.org has an excellent step-by-step process to membership application. You should also review the documents and pamphlets available on our website navigation bar at left. In particular, pay close attention to the "Application Instructions" document, since it will help define what qualifies as acceptable "service" for your ancestor (whether or not he meets SAR's definition of "Patriot") and offers guidance on what types of documentation are permitted.
If you get snagged, our Chapter has several individuals willing to help. Once you've gone through the steps, contact our Chapter Registrar to finalize your application and submit it to the State Registrar. (You may not submit your application to the State or National Societies yourself.)
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the Officers of the Chapter, who will be able to direct you to the appropriate Chapter genealogist. As always, we're here to help. Finally, guests are welcome at our General Membership Dinner Meetings. For more information, please visit our Chapter Calendar.
The Officers and Board of Managers of the Norfolk Chapter wish you the best of luck in your efforts.