SAR GENEALOGICAL POLICY

Acceptance of non-U.S. Residents (as Patriot Ancestors)
for Service against Great Britain Anywhere in the World

Change in Article III of the SAR Constitution for the
December 2002 Publication of the SAR Handbook

GR021201

Article III of the SAR Constitution defines eligibility for membership in the SAR. As published in the December 2002 SAR Handbook, Article III defines as acceptable patriot ancestors those non-U.S. residents who were "... a foreign national of; but not limited to, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland who rendered service in the cause of American Independence or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain ...."
This was a change from the Article as published in the September 1999 version, which included a limiting phrase [in italics below, added here for emphasis] "... a foreign national of; but not limited to, France, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or Germany who came to North American and rendered service in the cause of American Independence or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain ...."
This change in policy is noted in a 2003 Aug 28 letter from Genealogist General William B. Neal to Francis Sherman, which says,

"At the direction of President General Musgrave and in accordance with the agreement of the NSSAR Executive Committee in the meeting of July 5, 2003, the following is submitted:

"During the Military Alliance between the United States and France, specifically from February 6, 1778 to September 3, 1783 the military personnel in the French forces who engaged in combat against the British anywhere in the world are eligible [as patriot ancestors on applications] for membership in the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution."