GENEALOGIST BOT™ · LINEAGE SOCIETY RECORDS
Getting your records together for a DAR or SAR application
Joining the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) or the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) means proving your family line, one generation at a time, back to a Revolutionary War patriot. Here's what that means in plain words, which records help, and where we can help.
What DAR and SAR ask for, in general
- Proof of every generation. You document each generation, from yourself back to your patriot ancestor. Your parents are the next generation, then your grandparents, and so on. (DAR: How to Join; SAR: Apply in 4 Easy Steps)
- Documents, not just a family tree. DAR asks for documentation for each statement of birth, marriage and death. SAR asks for proof of lineage for all generations, ordinarily proving each parent-child link. Family trees and stories alone aren't accepted as proof. (SAR Genealogy Committee Policies)
- Proof of the patriot's service. The patriot must have helped the cause of American independence through accepted military, civil or patriotic service. DAR's accepted period runs from April 19, 1775 to November 26, 1783. (DAR: Accepted Revolutionary War Service)
- Other requirements. DAR is for women 18 and older. SAR also asks for two current SAR members as sponsors, and your local chapter can usually help. Rules change, so always check the official pages above and talk with your chapter registrar.
Public records that often help
- Birth records and birth certificates that name the parents
- Marriage records from counties, towns and churches
- Death records and death certificates
- Census records, especially from 1850 on, when households list everyone by name
- Probate records and wills, which often name children
- Land and deed records, which can link a father and son
- Church records of baptisms, marriages and burials
- Military and pension records from the Revolution, which can show service and family
How our Genealogist Bot™ helps
Our $29-a-month Genealogist Bot™ web membership searches free public records and puts what it finds on your own private web page. For a lineage application, you can use each month to work on one generation or one question, starting from what you already know. For each person, you get:
- The records we found, with a source for every fact, labeled confirmed, likely or family story
- Gaps and conflicts listed plainly, so you know what still needs proof
- Draft letters to archives, courts or churches for records that aren't online, for you to send
- Your family tree file (GEDCOM) to keep
You can list several ancestors and attach your existing family tree file, and we'll work down the line month by month.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK
DAR and SAR records: common questions
Do DAR and SAR accept a family tree from Ancestry or another site as proof?
No, not by itself. Both societies ask for documents that prove each name, date, place and parent-child link. Family trees and unsourced online genealogies aren't accepted as proof, though they can be useful clues for where to look.
How far back do I have to prove?
Every generation, from you back to your Revolutionary War patriot. You are generation 1, your parents are generation 2, and so on. The patriot's generation is the last one.
What counts as the patriot's service?
DAR and SAR accept military service and certain civil and patriotic service during the Revolution. DAR's accepted dates are April 19, 1775 to November 26, 1783. Check the official DAR and SAR pages for the full list, and remember that service needs its own proof.
Can Genealogist Bot™ fill out my application?
No. We find and organize the public records for each generation, with a source for every fact, so you and your chapter registrar or volunteer genealogist can work from them. The society's genealogists decide what's accepted.
Are you affiliated with DAR or SAR?
No. Bots On The Job™ isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution or the Sons of the American Revolution.
Will you guarantee my application is approved?
No. Nobody outside the society can promise that. Some records were lost or aren't online, and the society applies its own standards.
Do you use DNA?
No. This service uses public genealogy records only. If you'd like DNA-based research, that's a separate request on our DNA research page.
How much does it cost?
$29 a month for the Genealogist Bot™ web membership. Each month covers one research round on one ancestor or question, so you can work through your line one generation at a time. Cancel any time by emailing hello@botsonthejob.com.
DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution, SAR and Sons of the American Revolution are names and marks of their owners. Bots On The Job™ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by them. Requirements summarized from the official DAR and SAR pages linked above, checked November 2, 2026. General family-history research help only.