In honor of Independence Day, Ancestry.com launched the
Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, a collection of more than one million applications from men with a direct link to either a supporter or participant in the fight for United States independence during the 18th century. This collection is FREE through July 4th.
Like its well-known sister organization, The Daughters of the American Revolution, also available through Ancestry.com, the
Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications contain handwritten historical information that can take a family back through two centuries of history.
The applications contain references to Revolutionary War pension files, documented family and local histories, family Bible records, deeds, court documents, census records and typically include a short summary of the ancestor's service.
In celebration of America's Independence, Ancestry.com invites the public to discover proof of their own link to the founders of freedom by searching in the Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 for free during a long weekend of access, Thursday, June 30th through Monday, July 4th. To begin searching users can visit
Free Sons of American Revolution.
I have one ancestor, John Fertig, who was in the Chester Co, PA militia during the Revolutionary War. Searching for him in this database, I got 725 hits and found the names of previously unknown-to-me distant cousins with their lineage on these applications. I'm still examining the records to see what else I can find.
I also have a 5th great uncle who was denied a Revoltionary War pension, yet his descendants were accepted into the Sons of the Revolution. Interesting.
