Hereditary Societies and You

“My great-grandfather fought in the Civil War.”

“I’ve always heard we were related to George Washington.”

“We’re supposed to be descended from the Pilgrims who came on the Mayflower.”

Family history and lineage societies aren’t just for the elite. There are literally hundreds of organizations offering membership to those who can trace their ancestors to a specific individual or event. From early settlers to presidential relatives, these groups span events covering the length of American history, embracing Americans from all walks of life (societies exist worldwide, but this article will focus mainly on U.S. societies). The list below includes some of the most popular hereditary societies, their purposes, and the requirements for membership.

As part of its dedication to genealogy, Legacy Tree Genealogists' researchers are familiar with the membership requirements of these groups. Whether your family lore already includes stories of possible ties to one of these hereditary societies or you hope to find the family connection necessary for membership to a particular organization, we can provide the genealogical research necessary to assist you with completing your application for membership to one or more of these societies. (Click the below titles to link to each of the societies' websites.)

General Society of Mayflower Descendants

Purpose: To remember those Pilgrims who established Plymouth Colony

Requirements: Must be able to document descent from one or more of the Mayflower Pilgrims

The Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence 

Purpose: To strengthen in American life the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, and to perpetuate the memory of those men who, in signing that Declaration, mutually pledged their Lives, their Fortunes, and their Sacred Honor in the cause of Liberty

Requirements: Must be a direct descendant, male or female, of one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Only 15 of the 56 signers have descendants today

Daughters of the American Revolution

Purpose: The DAR is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children

Requirements: Women 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence via military, civil, or patriotic service for the period between 19 April 1775 and 26 November 1783

National Society, Sons of the American Revolution

Purpose: The SAR is a historical, educational, and patriotic non-profit, corporation that seeks to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, an appreciation for true patriotism, a respect for our national symbols, the value of American citizenship

Requirements: Men, age 18 and above, who have traced their family tree back to a point of having an ancestor who supported the cause of American Independence during the years 1774-1783

General Society of the War of 1812

Purpose: The collection and preservation of rolls, records, books, and other documents relating to the War of 1812; encouragement of research and the preservation of historical data; the caring for the graves of veterans of the War of 1812

Requirements: Any man who is a lineal descendant of one who served during the War of 1812, (7 November 1811 – 18 July 1815) in a military service of the United States.

Descendants of Mexican War Veterans

Purpose: To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the American soldiers and sailors who served their country during the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-1848, by preserving documents and relics of the war, securing and memorializing historic sites connected to the war, and promoting the annual celebration or observance of momentous events of the war

Requirements: Any person who is at least 18 years of age and is the lineal descendant of a U.S. veteran or civilian employee of the U.S. armed forces who rendered honorable service in the war with Mexico for any length of time between April 25, 1846 and August 2, 1848

Sons of Confederate Veterans

Purpose: The SCV serves as a historical, patriotic, and non-political organization dedicated to ensuring that a true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved

Requirements: Male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces; membership can be obtained through either direct or collateral family lines

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Purpose: The SUV is a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of heroes who fought and worked to save the Union

Requirements: Male descendant, 14 years of age or older, who is directly descended from a member of the military who was regularly mustered and served honorably in, was honorably discharged from, or died in service between 12 April 1861 and 9 April 1865; collateral memberships are available

Presidential Families of America

Purpose: The organization is dedicated to identifying and preserving the family history records of all American presidents as well as nurturing fellowship among their descendants and relatives

Requirements: Men and women who can prove either direct descent from a president of the United States or a collateral relationship based on descent from a common ancestor who resided in what is now the U.S.

Hereditary Order of the Families of the Presidents and First Ladies of America

Purpose: Foster patriotism and to enlarge the knowledge of its membership through the collection and dissemination of information concerning the Presidents and First Ladies of America

Requirements: Men and women of the age of 18 years or older, able to prove a blood relationship to any of our Presidents or First Ladies of the United States or other qualifying entities such as the Continental Congress, and other Republics which existed in what became known as the U.S.

The National Society of Washington Family Descendants

Purpose: The society is memorial, educational, benevolent, and social, and commemorates with pride and affection the life of George Washington

Requirements: Eligibility for membership in the society is open to persons who can prove their lawful lineal descent from one of the following ancestors of General George Washington: Colonel John Washington or his brother Lawrence Washington, Nathaniel Pope, Nicholas Martiau, George Reade, Augustine Warner, Sr., Colonel William Ball, or Mary Johnson Ball Hewes

The Monticello Association

Purpose: The Monticello Association was founded to care for and preserve the family graveyard at Monticello; to protect and perpetuate the reputation and fame of Thomas Jefferson, and to affirm the right of the descendants of Thomas Jefferson to burial in the addition to the Monticello graveyard

Requirements: Any lineal descendant of Thomas Jefferson

The Military Order of The Crusades

Purpose: The focus of MOC is to honor and perpetuate the memory of their brave ancestors, their ideals, and achievements as well as to support and encourage activities of noble purpose

Requirements: The membership is comprised of individuals of proven lineal descent from one or more Crusaders of Knightly or Higher Rank who participated in one or more of the Crusades between 1096 and 1291; prospective members do not need to prove their relationship to the Middle Ages, but may simply prove their lineage to one of over 300 “Gateway Ancestors” approved by the MOC

La Société des Filles du roi et soldats du Carignan (The Society of the Daughters of the King and soldiers of Carignan)

Purpose: To honor the memory of our courageous ancestors, the filles du roi (King’s Daughters) and the soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment of 17th century New France [Canada]; to foster a sense of pride in our common French Canadian heritage, to encourage the study of the history and culture and the practice of genealogical research, and to promote related educational goals

Requirements: Membership is for direct descendants of a King’s Daughter and/or a soldier of the Carignan Regiment; the King’s Daughters were 770 women who arrived in Canada between 1663 and 1673, most of whom married Canadian soldiers and settlers. The soldiers of Carignan include 1200 men who arrived in Quebec between June and September 1665; most persons of French Canadian descent can claim a King’s Daughter or a soldier of Carignan as their ancestor.

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas

Purpose: To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved and maintained the independence of Texas and to cherish and preserve the unity of Texas

Requirements: Any woman 16 years or older, who is a lineal descendant of a man or woman who rendered loyal service for Texas prior to 19 February 1846 as a colonist with Austin’s Old Three Hundred, as an officer or private in the service of the Colonies or of the Republic of Texas, as a loyal resident, or as a recipient of a land grant authorized by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Texas

Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage

Purpose: Sons & Daughters of the United States Middle Passage (SDUSMP) is a lineage society for descendants of individuals enslaved in English colonial America and the United States of America from 1619-1865.  It is dedicated to preserving the memory of our freed and enslaved ancestors.  The organization was started in 2011 and incorporated in Washington, D.C.  SDUSMP is a non-profit, charitable 501(c)3 organization.

Requirements: Any person is eligible for legatee membership in the National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage (SDUSMP) who is not less than eighteen years of age and who can prove lineal descent from a man, woman, or child who is of African descent and was forced into slavery, including indentured servitude, in the United States of America, including its colonial days, prior to the end of slavery as marked by the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, effective December 1865.

Society of the First African Families of English America

Purpose: To perpetuate the memory of the First African Families of English America and their services or sacrifices during the founding of English America.

Requirements: Lineal descendant from an ancestor who was of African descent who lived in English America before March 5, 1770, the date of the Boston Massacre and the death of Crispus Attucks the first patriot casualty of the American Revolution and/or participated in the founding of the United States of America by serving in the military during the Revolutionary War or contributed to the war cause. Membership to the Society also includes descendants of an individual who lived in that part of French or Spanish North America and later became part of English America who meet all the eligibility requirements.

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