Every family has a story. Where does yours begin?
Your family history may hold a connection to the founding of our nation. If you have an ancestor who supported the cause of American independence, you may have a Patriot ancestor—and a story waiting to be discovered.
You don’t need to be an experienced genealogist to begin. We’ll help you understand what to look for, where to search, and how to take the next step.
And if this process seems complicated or even a little daunting, don’t worry. We can help you research your family tree based on information you can provide. So, as you look through the resources below, don’t be discouraged—we’re here to help.
How do I begin?
Start with what you know. You don’t need to trace your family back to the Revolution all at once. Begin with yourself and work backward, one generation at a time.
- Start with your family
Talk with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives. Gather names, dates, places, photographs, family Bibles, obituaries, and other records your family may already have. - Build your family tree
Work backward from yourself, documenting each generation as you go. Birth, marriage, death, census, cemetery, and military records can help confirm each connection. - Look for a Patriot connection
As your family tree reaches the 1700s, look for an ancestor who may have served or supported the cause of American independence. Patriot service took many forms—not only military service.
Where can I search?
Once you have gathered what your family already knows, online records and genealogical resources can help you extend your family tree and document each generation. These are good places to continue your search.
- FamilySearch — Free
An excellent place to build a family tree and search historical records. - Ancestry — Subscription
Our strongest recommendation among commercial genealogy services for broad U.S. research and family-tree building. - Findmypast — Subscription
Particularly valuable when research reaches Britain and Ireland; its collections include British censuses and extensive British and Irish newspaper holdings. - National Archives — Free government resource
Especially useful for federal census, military, immigration and naturalization records. - SAR Patriot Research System — Patriot research
Search for documented Revolutionary War Patriots and explore existing SAR genealogical records that may help identify a connection to your family line.
Think you found a Patriot?
Finding a possible Patriot ancestor is exciting, but the next step is to document the connection from one generation to the next. The Sons of the American Revolution requires evidence linking you to your Patriot ancestor, and you don’t have to work through that process alone.
Members of the Point of the Mountain Chapter can help you evaluate what you’ve found, understand what documentation may be needed, and guide you through the next steps toward SAR membership.
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you’ve identified a Patriot ancestor or you’re still working on your family line, we’d be glad to help.
Explore Membership →