Join the SAR!

The New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution (NJSSAR) honors our Revolutionary War Patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, serving our communities, and educating and inspiring future generations about our founding principles. Any male 18 years or older-regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, is eligible for membership.

If you can prove bloodline descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, you can join our organization as a Compatriot Member by following these four easy steps outlined below.

While you are moving through the application process, or if you cannot prove your family bloodline descent to a patriot of the American Revolution, you can join the NJSSAR as an “Associate,” regardless of where your American story begins. To join the NJSAR as an Associate Member, click here.

1. DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY

To initiate the SAR membership process, you should begin by ensuring that you can satisfy the SAR membership requirements and that you are a direct descendant of a Revolutionary War Patriot. The SAR does not restrict membership on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, nation of citizenship or residency. To establish eligibility, you must be able to confirm that you are a direct ancestral line descendant of a Patriot by providing appropriate SAR-acceptable documentation. Legitimacy through the marriage of an ancestor is not a factor as long as appropriate proof of descendency 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, whether legitimate or illegitimate, from a patriot ancestor to yourself is required for SAR membership and must be documented. Additionally, you must be sponsored by two current SAR members; your local SAR chapter 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 26 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 26 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 26 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 the direction of the provisional and new state governments, such as persons directed to hold elections, oversee road construction, 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.

Please note that family tradition regarding the services of an ancestor will not be considered proof. No preliminary decision will be given concerning a line of descent, service, or whether the proposed evidence is acceptable. When properly examined in context with all available evidence, preliminary decisions might prove incorrect, and the SAR will not render improperly formed evidentiary decisions. We reserve the right to accept or reject any evidence submitted.

2. FIND YOUR CHAPTER

If you meet eligibility requirements, the next step is to find a SAR sponsor near you (often the local SAR Chapter Registrar). This person will help guide you through the SAR membership application process and can help review information assembled to enter into SAR membership application forms. Regardless of where your Patriot ancestor lived, SAR Members join the most convenient chapter to where they currently reside. Members are welcome to become dual members of other state societies. Your next step is to find the chapter nearest you. This will help you get the sponsor needed to proceed. If you live outside New Jersey, click on this link to choose a chapter. If you do not choose a Chapter, you will be assigned to the Elizabethtown Chapter - the first chapter of the SAR dating back to 1889. If you live in New Jersey, click on this link.

3. COLLECT YOUR DATA

Properly documenting a genealogical line to a patriot ancestor can often be accomplished with only modest effort, provided you know what to look for and where to find it. If you have an ancestor who lived in the United States prior to 1900, chances are you may be the descendant of a Revolutionary War patriot.

This material will help you get a basic understanding of how to look for genealogical information. Please note, however, that the primary focus of this resource is obtaining the documentation needed for an SAR membership application, therefore, it does not cover other fascinating aspects of researching your ancestry, such as immigration records. As you become more experienced at finding information, you will become a treasured resource for your local SAR chapter, SAR state-level society, and community.