From time to time items of importance and essential to preparing applications for SAR membership will be posted on this web page. Additionally it can be used as a forum for Q&A that is of interest to all society chapter registrars. Voice your interest and comments.
1.00 Essentials for Application preparation:
The processing time for applications is critical for quick review and approval. Therefore consider the following tips to help move your application along:
- Mark in red at the top of each document the generations to which the document applies [e.g. “Gen. 3 – 4”].
- Underline the information in red that applies to the proof expressed in the source document and note the generation.
- No gem clips or staples holding documents together.
- Provide a copy of approved SAR application when used as source for a new application or supplemental application. It is the source for those generations to which it applies.
- Provide on separate page an enlarged image of census or other document that are too small to read.
- Provide full page images of census or any other document.
- Place on the back of each document the following: “Applicant’s last name/Patriot’s last name/Chapter name/Georgia”.
- Review the documentation to ensure that each generation is connected.
2.00 New Application Forms:
Changes to application forms approved by the Trustees at the Spring 2017 Leadership Meeting and to be implemented by 1 August 2017 are now to be on all applications received at NSSAR after 1 January 2018. Forms modified before this date can, of course, be used as soon as they are released. [MS Word and PDF format applications forms are available from the State Registrar] [make your request to 2rasapp@comcast.net]
3.00 Alternatives to Military Service:
Opportunities for supplemental applications are available when pursuing the older parents of patriots. In most of the colonies that became states an oath of allegiance was taken in 1776-78. The patriot’s father may have been too old to serve but had to take the oath. Have you considered that? In North Carolina, for example, an oath of allegiance was required to buy or sell land during the Revolutionary War. Also an ancestor may have owned land that became the basis for supply tax levied in 1778-83. In South Carolina an oath was required to serve on a jury. Mine this area for a supplemental patriot.
4.00 What about age:
The Continental Congress established the service age as 16 to 50 years old. Sticking with the Continental Military tends to eliminate age variations that occurred in the militias. In 1774 Massachusetts Provincial Congress established the age for militiamen as 16 to able to serve. Sergeant Peter Woodbury was 69 years old when he served two days in the Lexington Alarm of 19 April 1775. He died in May just short of his 70th birthday. Militiamen [Associators] in Pennsylvania served at the age of 16-53 years as required by statute. Rhode Island’ militia was 16-50 years with a special census of those able to serve age 50-60. Virginia militia age was 16-50 however the militia was also a supply for the Continental Line. When insufficient volunteers signed up to meet Congress requirements, draftees were taken from the militia to fill the Line quota. Check the statutes for the colony [state] in which you are searching for militia age requirements.
5.00 And Age in other areas:
There are certain statutes that govern age requirements for different roles. Colonial common law required that a person be 21 years old to own land. Also this age requirement was for those who made contracts, served on jury, and were witnesses to deeds, wills or contracts. Any one under 21 could be listed as an infant or minor. All orphaned minors were required to have a guardian appointed by the court to handle their affairs until they became of age. If over 14 years, the minor could select his guardian. Persons under the age of consent were required to have parental consent to marry. In many cases this is noted on the marriage bond or license.
Your state registrar is open to questions and suggestions for preparing applications that are not pended at either the state or national level.
Georgia Society Registrar(s)