Where to Begin Patriot Ancestor Research for DAR Applications
Find a Patriot Ancestor
Document Your Lineage
Build an Application!
Start with an ancestor who lived in America during the time of the Revolution
DAR Patriots were in the military or contributed civil or patriotic service during the period between 19 April 1775 (Battle of Lexington) and 26 November 1783 (withdrawal of British Troops from New York).
Your Ancestor Patriot’s Service may already be verified by the research of over 1 Million DAR members since it was founded in 1890. Each DAR Patriot Ancestor # in the DAR Genealogy Resarch System (GRS) which is publicly available.
Here’s a tutorial on how to use the GRS.
When a Patriot Ancestor doesn’t appear in the GRS, or their record is flagged as ineligible for applications, this is a good time to attend a William P Duval Chapter Lineage Research Committee meeting. They meet monthly, September to June.
When you are a member, and your mother or grandmother was a DAR member, you may qualify to inherit their Patriot Ancestors, without the research or the significant expense of applying for each one. When you attend the meeting, ask the Chapter Genealogy Committee or Lineage Research Committee about inheriting.
Document your lineage to a DAR Patriot Ancestor
Let’s say you searched the DAR GRS for a Patriot Ancestor DAR record named Smith, from Pennsylvania and found one your recognize from the birth date, location, or service description.
Now, document how you are related!
Is the Patriot an ancestor of your mother or father? That will determine the line you will document.
- list the parents for each generation
- is the mother the only wife? (this will determine if “building an application” from a previous DAR member, is possible or which generations may be included)
- note as much as is known about the dates and place for birth, death, marriage for each generation (for example, from a family bible or vital records in the family archives)
- make copies of all these sources
- less is more! (for example a death certificate usually documents parents, birth date and place, residence, spouse and often a child who signs the certificate)
Some places to find missing vital records:
- A free online resource is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website at familysearch.org.
- Ancestry.com
Hit a dead end? Prospective members are welcome to join members at the Monthly William P. Duval Lineage Research Meeting.
The Registrar, Genealogist and Lineage Research Committee members will help you find new resources, including identifying if there are any existing DAR member applications with shared generational lines already verified in the DAR database which you may build from.
Required Documentation for DAR New Member or Supplement Applications
Generation 1-3 on Page 2 of Application:
Complete dates and places for birth and death. Government issued vital records are preferred,
Generation 4 and later on Page 2 of Application:
Birth, Date, Marriage and Place with available sources to attach.
- Sources are required for either the birth date & location or the death date & location for each person in these generations.
- If no sources are available for other data, leave them blank.
- When “building an application” from another member’s application, do not change any data from the “borrowed” generation, unless providing new sources.
- No application will be accepted with a large amount of data lacking.
All sources attached and listed on Page 3 of Application will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Examples of good documentation:
- From the state or county Vital Records:
- Birth (BC), Death (DC, Marriage (MC).
- Deeds, Wills that prove location or relationships, underlined in red.
- Bible Records, with the title page and date of publication.
- Church and Cemetery Records (FindaGrave photos of readable headstones)
- Obituaries, with newspaper name, location and the date.
- Reference all attached source documents on page three with the citation and abbreviations described in the current DAR guidelines accessed by members from the website (see links in the slideshow below)
Undocumented Lineage Papers from other organizations, family group sheets, and family tree charts do not meet DAR standards.
Finalizing Application Source Documents:
- Only attach one source document to verify names, dates & locations entered in the application. Less is more!
- Cropped, Clear, readable document copies, with no additional notations, except pertinent content underlined in red.
- No sticky notes, paperclips, or staples
- All source documents should be attached in order from the applicant generation (most recent) to the Patriot generation.
Back of Source Documents:
- APPLICANT: Your name and member #
- ANCESTOR: John Doe A123456
- CHAPTER: William P Duval 3078 FL
- GENERATION: (circle the number) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Finalize Application
- Use the “Build an Application” form or the most recent Application form from the DAR website.
- Print on legal size paper.
- Include Application Fee Payment by Check made out to: Treasurer General NSDAR
- Sign in Blue Ink
Bring it all to the Lineage Research Committee Meeting at the Winter Park Library.
- If the registrar is not available, the Regent, Vice Regents, Treasurer, or Recording Secretary may sign.
- Mail to the address on the Application. by
Updated on June 15, 2025