Become a Member
If you’re interested in joining the Sons of the American Revolution, the Dakota Society Sons of the American Revolution (DSSAR) can assist you with the genealogical research and application process. Becoming a member is a meaningful way to honor your ancestors while contributing to our nation’s historical legacy. As a member, you will also be connected to a community of individuals who share a passion for history, heritage, and patriotism.
Eligibility
Membership in the SAR is open to any male, regardless of race, age, color, religion, national origin, nation of citizenship, or residency, who can trace their ancestry to a patriot of the American Revolution by providing appropriate documentation. Legitimacy through marriage of an ancestor is not a factor as long as appropriate proof of descendancy is provided to confirm the applicant’s direct descent from their Revolutionary War Patriot (Your Revolutionary War Patriot must be a great-great grandfather or great-great-grandmother of some degree. Plural marriage families are not excluded from SAR membership.
Proving bloodline descent from a patriot ancestor to yourself is what is required for SAR membership and is what must be documented. Additionally, you must be sponsored by two current SAR members; your DSSAR can likely assist you in fulfilling this requirement.
To quote the SAR Bylaws, “Any male shall be eligible for membership in the SAR who is a citizen of good repute in the community; and a lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to and rendered acceptable service in the cause of American Independence”.
The SAR accepts patriotic service rendered, with some exceptions, for the period between 19 April 1775 and 25 November 1783. Membership in the SAR requires documented, acceptable evidence that your ancestor participated in one or more of the following types of service. The patriot ancestor in question must have:
- Been a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Mecklenburg Declaration of 1775, the Albemarle Declaration of 1779, or the Cumberland Compact of 1780;
- Been a member of any of the Continental Congresses;
- Rendered material aid, such as: Furnishing supplies with or without remuneration; lending money to the Colonies, munitions makers, and gunsmiths; or any other material aid which furthered the Cause;
- Served in the military or navy, including: Service during the dates falling on or between 19 April 1775 and 25 November 1783, service at the Battle of Point Pleasant on 10 October 1774 (this location and date only), or furnishing a substitute for military service;
- Been a participant in the Boston Tea Party, Kaskaskia Campaign, Galvez Expedition, Cherokee Expedition, or the Edenton Tea Party;
- Been a defender of forts and frontiers or a ranger;
- Been a prisoner of war, including those on the British ship Old Jersey or other prison ships;
- Been a physician, surgeon, nurse, or otherwise rendered aid to the wounded;
- Rendered civil service under the Colonies during the dates falling on or between 19 April 1775 and 25 November 1783;
- Been a member of committees made necessary by the violation of colonial rights by England or the War, such as committees of safety, observation, inspection, and correspondence;
- Pledged to support the cause of the Colonies, such as: the Oath of Fidelity and Support, the Oath of Allegiance or the Articles of Association, or the Association Test;
- Been a signer of petitions addressed to and recognizing the authority of the provisional and new state governments;
- Accepted obligations or acted under direction of the provisional and new state governments, such as persons directed to hold elections, to oversee road construction, to collect provisions, or similar responsibilities;
- Been a clergy member or other recognized leader of any religion who performed overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain which could only be performed by religious leaders.
Resources for Collecting Your Data
The following material will help you get a basic understanding of how to look for genealogical information.
Start Your Application
Thank you for showing an interest in membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. The Dakota Society is comprised of members in both North and South Dakota, however, we have members living throughout the United States.
All the information that you need to join is on the SAR website. There are PDFs that you may download to help. Information on the four steps to apply is located here: Apply in 4 Easy Steps – National Society Sons of the American Revolution (sar.org)
You will need to fully document, from the applicant to the patriot, the first three to five generations. You will need to provide primary source documentation – birth and death certificate are acceptable. If you are married, you should provide the same documentation for your wife, along with your marriage certificate. You will need to provide primary source documentation: obituaries, State & US Census, bible entries, some book histories, newspaper articles, etc., can be used as documentation.
Copies of sources, documents, or evidence proving your lineage to your patriot will need to be mailed or emailed to the contact below. Please ensure the information is easy to read and is on letter size paper.
The state and national application fees of $15.00 and $150.00, plus the first years national dues of $50.00, for a total of $215.00 will need to be submitted to the Dakota Society SAR (NOT AT THIS TIME). The application will be mailed to you on water marked, bonded paper you will sign, date, and mail back along with a check made out to the Dakota Society-SAR.
Please do not send payment until notified by the contact below. We will first ensure that your application will be approved by the National SAR, which may take a week or longer to complete.
DSSAR Registrar:
Stuart Rice
(605) 484-8995
[email protected]
If you have any questions about SAR Membership, please contact DSSAR .