Researching Your Revolutionary Ancestor

With the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

You may be well ahead of me in knowing how to research your Revolutionary War Patriot Ancestor. You may be very familiar with Fold3, for example, which I have certainly used. However, I don’t enjoy that website, and I accept the fact that I may just need to use it more so I can get used to it. In this post, I’d like to discuss the research tools available through the DAR website. You don’t have to be a member of the DAR in order to use their search tools.

Spirit of ’76 by Archibald MacNeal Willard (1876)

THE ANCESTOR SEARCH BOX

Here is what the initial search box looks like. You may have to try alternate spellings, as you do on any genealogical research site. If you know the Ancestor Number, that’s all you need. Otherwise, I would start with just the name unless it’s a very common one. Then you may want to fill in another fact box in order to limit the results.

IF YOUR ANCESTOR IS NOT LISTED

If you don’t find your ancestor listed, then the DAR database will not be of any benefit to you. However, if your goal is to join the DAR with that ancestor, you may be the first one claiming that particular individual. You will have work to do because you will have to provide proof not only of the ancestor’s service but also of your descent. Your local DAR chapter will help you with your application.

IF YOUR ANCESTOR IS ALREADY LISTED

It’s definitely much easier to get into the DAR if other people have already joined with that ancestor. You can find information about your ancestor’s service as well as documents that previous applicants have submitted. This is valuable for genealogical research, regardless of whether you want to join the DAR or not. You will probably have to pay to receive these records. Even if you pay for these documents, you should know that it is illegal to post them publicly due to copyright restrictions. I do have DAR documents posted in my Ancestry tree, but my tree is private.

Sometimes, you will find your ancestor is listed, but there will be notations indicating better documentation is needed. In the past, people may have been approved for membership despite faulty documentation. The DAR is now more careful about which ancestors are approved, so accurate proof of your lineage is required in order to join.

WHAT SEARCH RESULTS LOOK LIKE

If you want to see what the search results look like, you can try searching for my ancestor. I was accepted into the DAR through Henry Johnson (A063212). Put his number in the search box, and you will see what information is publicly available and what additional information can be purchased. You do not have to prove what other people have already proven, so it’s a big help when you only have to document your link to what’s already there.

After I was approved with Henry Johnson, I received a supplemental approval with one of my dad’s West Virginia ancestors, Philip Ensminger (A205029). It was easy because other descendants had already done it. I would like to get more supplemental ancestors approved, but there is a fee every time you do that, and I don’t have so much pride that I’m willing to pay for it!

SEARCHING FOR A MEMBER’S RECORD

If you know someone’s DAR member number, you can also do a search that way. For example, my DAR member number is 962028. You would go to the Member search box and put in that number. Then you can see which patriots have been approved for that member.

Here’s mine:

MORE ABOUT USING THE DAR WEBSITE

Within the next few days, I plan to enter the names of your patriot ancestors to see what information the DAR has about them. I will share my findings with you in my next post. If you already know your ancestor’s number or your member number, that would certainly be a big help.

Please note: There are many genealogy resources on the DAR website, but I am unfamiliar with them because I have been inactive in the DAR for a few years. Do check out the website for more resources.