Revolutionary War Veterans' and Lineage Society Records

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National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This society was organized in 1890. The following DAR sources are helpful to researchers:

• Researching a Patriot Ancestor is an online tutorial. It teaches how to get started researching, finding records of a Revolutionary War patriot, and how to documenting a lineage back to that patriot in order to apply to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
• DAR Patriot Index. Three volumes. Washington, D.C.: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 2003 (FHL 973 C42da 2003.) An alphabetical list of over 100,000 patriots whose service has been established by the Daughters of the American Revolution between October 1890 and October 2003. The information was compiled from extracted data of membership applications and other sources.
• DAR Patriot Index. An Index to the Spouses of the DAR Patriots. Volume 3. Washington, D.C.: National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, 1986. (FHL book 973 C42da V.3.) An alphabetical list of the wives of patriots named in the first two volumes of the 1986 edition of the Patriot Index.
• Lineage Books. . . . 166 Volumes. Washington, D.C.: DAR, 1895–1939. (FHL book 973 D2d; fiche 6051226.) Compiled lineages taken from membership applications with national numbers between 1 and 166,000.

An index to these is:

• Index of the Rolls of Honor in the Lineage Books. . . . Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1988. (FHL book 973 D2d index; fiche 6051293, 1980 edition.) Contains the name of the soldier and the volume and page number of the lineage book where the soldier’s information can be located.

Copies of membership applications can be obtained for a fee from the national headquarters:

National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
1776 D Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20006
Telephone: 202-628-1776
Fax: 202-879-3252

This web site links to information about headquarters buildings, membership requirements, work of the society, state chapters, overseas units, their genealogy library (including an online library catalog search), museum, and news.

National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

This society was organized in 1889. For this society, the Family History Library has the following:

• SAR Membership Information, 1776–1996

You can also obtain microfilm numbers for the above sources using the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under

UNITED STATES - SOCIETIES

The society’s address is:

National Society, Sons of the American Revolution
1000 South Fourth Street
Louisville, KY  40203
Telephone: 502-589-1776

This web site has information about the society’s patriotic, historical, and educational efforts, links to state chapter web sites, and their online genealogical library catalog search.

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published in 1998 a Patriot Index on compact disc with over 450,000 records. The 1999 edition will contain an additional 140,000 records.

Society of the Cincinnati

The Society of the Cincinnati was organized in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army. Hereditary membership is through the eldest male and his posterity. Published lists of society members include:

• Thomas, William Sturgis. Members of the Society of the Cincinnati. Original, Hereditary and Honorary: with a Brief Account of the Society’s History and Aims. New York, New York: Tobias A. Wright. 1929. ( FHL book 973 C4sct.) Lists original hereditary and honorary members in the United States, with a separate list for members in France. Includes name, rank, whether or not an original member, and state society of the member.
• Metcalf, Bryce. Original Members and Other Officers Eligible to the Society of the Cincinnati, 1783–1938. Strasburg, Virginia: Shenandoah Publishing House, Incorporated, 1938. (FHL book 973 C44mb.) A list of original members and the years they served in the society. It lists their descendants eligible for the society and includes rules of eligibility and admission and officers of state societies.

The society’s address is:

Society of the Cincinnati
2118 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20008-2810
Telephone: 202-785-2040

Cincinnati Fourteen is the Society’s newsletter (FHL book 975.3 C45.)

Daughters of the Cincinnati was established in 1894 by female descendants of Revolutionary War officers. The society’s address is:

Daughters of the Cincinnati
122 East 58th Street
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: 212-319-6915

The following sources are available at the Family History Library:

• Ancestor index file, A–Z. (FHL film 0915852.) Index lists ancestor’s name, regiment and rank, with name of applicant.
• Eligible ancestors index, A–Z. (FHL film 0915853 item 1.)
• Membership list and ancestors roster. (FHL film 0915853 item 2.)
• Application packets. (FHL film 0915854–67.)

Other Veterans' Groups

For details about records of American Loyalists (United Empire Loyalists), see the Canada Research Outline. For records of German mercenary troops known as “Hessians,” many of whom settled in the United States, see the Germany Research Outline. For records of British forces who served in the American Revolution, see the England Research Outline, the Ireland Research Outline, and the Scotland Research Outline. For records of French forces who fought as United States allies, see the France Research Outline.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)