To initiate the membership process, you begin by ensuring that you can satisfy membership requirements and that you descend from an accepted Patriot. We do not restrict membership on basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, nation of citizenship or residency. To establish eligibility, you must link yourself to a Patriot with appropriate documentation. Legitimacy of an ancestor is not a factor if appropriate proof of descendancy is provided to create a solid link. Plural marriage families are not excluded from SAR membership. Proving bloodline descent from a patriot ancestor to yourself is what is required and what must be documented. Additionally, you must be sponsored by two current SAR members.
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, always, unfailing in loyalty to, and rendered acceptable service in, the cause of American Independence. The SAR accepts service rendered, with some exceptions, for the period between 19 April 1775 and 26 November 1783.
When you are confident in your eligibility requirements, the next step is to place you in personal contact information with the appropriate South Carolina State Society SAR chapter and chapter registrar. The person, that will accomplish the contact, is the State Society Registrar.
By completing and sending the inquiry form below, he will introduce you to the SAR chapter officers geographically nearest your home or the SAR chapter of your choice. The assigned chapter registrar or chapter officer will contact you and assist guiding you through the patriot application process.
Your membership interest in the Sons of the American Revolution and the (SAR) South Carolina Society is very important to the State Society and the mutually assigned Society Chapter. That interest supports and reflects your desire to honor and respect your ancestor and our American history and heritage. Our State Society and its’ member Chapters are here to guide you through the patriot application process. Your success is our success!
Your completed patriot application and supporting proof documentation represent a commitment of time, effort and monetary investment, for both you and the South Carolina Society. You must be willing to dedicate time and effort to document, or have documented, acceptable evidence establishing acceptable lineage proof documentation to your patriot ancestor.
You and your assigned chapter registrar (or chapter officer) will determine when your patriot application and proof documentation is complete and ready to submit to the State Society Registrar.
At this time, the chapter registrar will request a check to provide payment to the National and Societies as well as the local chapter. The completed patriot application, proof documentation and check with then be forwarded to the South Carolina State Society Registrar.
The State Registrar will review the submitted patriot application and proof documentation. He will either approve or “pend” and return the patriot application to the chapter registrar, for further research and development. The chapter level time frame for completion of the patriot application and proof documentation is totally dependent upon the chapter registrar and candidate’s commitment and quality of the developed patriot application and proof documentation.
The State Registrar approved patriot application and supporting proof documentation, will be forwarded to the South Carolina State Secretary for review and approval. Upon approval the patriot application and proof documentation will be forwarded to the National Society for professional genealogist review and approval. The National Society normally takes, approximately, three months.
It is important to note, that at any time, prior to the forwarding of the patriot application and proof documentation to the National Society, the candidate may withdraw his patriot application and his check will be returned, or destroyed at his request by the State Society.
At this point, you have researched your patriot’s lineage and developed definitive direct/indirect ancestral proof documentation to your patriot.
You are ready to begin your application to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
Click here for the SAR Online Application