Membership Requirements
These are the membership eligibility requirements as set forth by the
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in the most recent (1996)
handbook.
Eligibility "An applicant
for membership must be no less than 18 years of age. She shall prove lineal
blood line descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American
independence. She must provide documentation for each statement of birth,
marriage, and death. This shall include the applicant's birth certificate naming
her parents. This applies to "new ancestors" and to previously accepted lineages
for which documentation was not required at the time of acceptance."
Acceptable Service"The
National Society accepts service, with some exceptions, for the period between
19 April 1775 (Battle of Lexington) and 26 November 1783 (withdrawal of British
Troops from New York)."
Some examples of qualifying service are:
- Signers of the Declaration of Independence
- Military Service, such as participation in:
- Army and Navy of the Continental Establishment
- State Navy
- State and Local Militia
- Coast Guard and Privateers
- Military or Naval Service performed by French nationals in the American
theater of war.
- Civil Service (holding office under authority of the Provisional or new
State Governments) such as:
- State Officials
- County and Town Officials such as:
- Town Clerk
- Selectmen
- Juror
- Town Treasurer
- Judge
- Sheriff
- Constable
- Jailer
- Surveyor of Highways
- Justice of the Peace
- Patriotic Service, which includes:
- Members of the Continental Congresses, State Conventions and Assemblies.
- Membership in Committees made necessary by the War, including service on
committees which furthered the cause of the colonies from April 1774, such
as Committees of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, committees to care
for the soldiers' families, etc.
- Signer of Oath of Fidelity and Support, Oath of Allegiance.
- Members of the Boston Tea Party.
- Defenders of Forts and Frontiers, and Signers of petitions addressed to
and recognizing the authority of the Provisional and new State Governments.
- Doctors and nurses and others rendering aid to the wounded (other than
their immediate families)
- Ministers who gave patriotic sermons and encouraged patriotic activity.
- Furnishing a substitute for military service.
- Prisoners of war or refugees from occupying forces.
- Prisoners on the British ship "Old Jersey" or other prison ships.
- Service in the Spanish Troops under Galvez or the Louisiana Militia
after 24 December 1776.
- Service performed by French nationals within the colonies or in Europe
in support of the American cause
- Those who rendered material aid, such as furnishing supplies with or
without remuneration, lending money to the Colonies, munitions makers,
gunsmiths, etc.
The above information is quoted from the 1996 edition of the DAR
handbook and National Bylaws pp.12-14.
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