GENEALOGY
CAROL DIPIRRO-STIPKOVITS
Research Your Revolutionary Roots T
he Fourth of July has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition dates back to the eighteenth century and the American Revolutionary War that began in 1775. Suffice it to say, if your ancestors lived in America between 1775 and 1783, there’s a good chance one of them aided in the struggle for independence by serving in the military. Men between the ages of sixteen and sixty, although typically born between 1715 and 1767, may have served at some point during the war in either the Continental Army, State Line Troops, or a local militia built up to help the Continental Troops. Those who supported the rebellion may be mentioned in
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records as a rebel or patriot while loyalists or Tories were those who opposed the rebellion. Discovering this part of your heritage can be fascinating and can leave you feeling proud. Tracing your lineage back to the 1770s, plus finding evidence of your ancestor’s service, can be a
www.foreveryoungwny.com | July 2020
challenge. (That’s 256 sixth greatgrandparents!) I always suggest asking relatives first for family lore, photos, or records. Our own family—parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles—can be a great resource of our own family’s history. If you know particular branches in your family tree that have deep roots in
the United States/early America, focus your research there, then choose one ancestor to investigate first. As you research and work back to this time period, take note of any ancestors with roots in known areas of activity. The next step is to look for evidence of patriotic service. Some ancestors engaged in the fight for independence by serving in a local or state militia, Army, Navy or by assisting allies. Keep in mind that service to country took many forms such as serving as a town or state official, providing aid to the wounded, furnishing food and supplies, or signing petitions for the cause. Many people have heard of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), lineage societies that people can join when they have proven their relationship to a soldier or to someone who had participated in or supported American independence. Obtaining membership can be difficult because of the strict requirements for proving the applicant’s lineage, but if others have applied under your ancestor patriot before, the collections of the SAR or DAR may have what you need to prove one or more generations of your ancestors’ lineage. With so many ancestors, finding a relative who is or was a member of the DAR or SAR is a quick path in the right direction. Find more information at the following sites: Revolutionary War Graves
