SAR GENEALOGICAL POLICY

"Grandfathering" of the Use of SAR Applications
Whose Documentation of Descent is not
Acceptable by Current SAR Standards

GR050705

Operational Summary:

An application that cites an earlier SAR application
(from a close relative) that has incomplete documentation
of lineage (under present requirements)
will be processed as though the documentation were complete
rather than being "pended" while the applicant makes a search
for the required documentation.

An application that cites an earlier SAR application
(from a close relative) that has incomplete documentation
of patriotic service
will be "pended" until the applicant makes a search
for the required documentation.

These procedures are based on the following:

Amendment to ByLaw 1 Section 5
(Effective July 5, 2005)

The 2005 NSSAR Congress in Louisville amended (by a vote of 168 to 33) BYLAW #1 SECTION 5 so that it now reads, in its entirety:

Section 5: Whenever an applicant for Membership in the Society is a lineal descendant of a present or former member of the Society whose application contains references to authorities or sources for the ancestor of that present or former member having been eligible as a Son of the American Revolution as provided in Article III of the Constitution, it shall only be necessary to establish the applicant's descent from such present or former member and to include such member's National Number; provided that proofs satisfactory to the Genealogist General are on file at NSSAR Headquarters to establish the line of descent from the ancestor to the present or former member.

Direct descendants of current or former SAR members, including sons, grandsons, nephews and great nephews only, may apply using only a copy of their ancestor's SAR membership approved application and no additional proof may be required of the applicant to be approved for membership provided the ancestor's patriotic service is not in question and is fully documented. When his membership certificate is sent to him he may be requested to submit additional information about those ancestors listed on his SAR ancestor's application form.

Until and unless any requested additional proofs deemed necessary by the Genealogist General are provided the line will be acceptable to direct descendants, including sons, grandsons, nephews and great nephews only, of the original SAR member, and will not be useable by third parties for either original applications or supplemental application.

Genealogist General Ed Butler noted that

  • If the earlier application has incomplete documentation of patriotic service, the application will be "pended" until the applicant makes a search for the required documentation.

  • #2. When the new membership certificate (or supplemental certificate) is mailed to the compatriot who used the earlier SAR application as documentation, he will be requested to provide the additional information if it is available.