Beyond Origins of New Mexico Families

SAR Membership Qualifications

The precise qualification for membership is given as follows: "Any man shall be eligible for membership in this Society who, being of the age of eighteen years or over and a citizen of good repute in the community, is the lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to, and rendered active service in, the cause of American independence, either as an officer, soldier, seaman, marine, militiaman or Minuteman, in the armed forces of the Continental Congress, or of any one of the several Colonies or states; or as a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, or as a member of the Committee of Safety or Correspondence; or as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial Congress or Legislation; or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain." In addition, the SAR defines as one aspect of acceptable services as 'Rendering material aid, such as furnishing supplies with or without remuneration; lending money to the Colonies, munition makers, and gunsmiths; or anything which furthered the Cause."