The Society was re-organized in 1986, to replace the predecessor organization of the same name that was established in the mid-1950s. There were 2261 approved lineages in January 1996.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIETY

• To assist and encourage the preservation of the colonial records and of historic sites associated with our Colonial Heritage.
• To foster the continued interest in Historical and Genealogical Research of the conolnial era.
• To encourage and support the growth and development of Libraries specializing in Genealogical and Historical Data of the Colonial Era.
• To publish on a regular basis A Lineage Book of the Society to record the names of members and their ancestral data.
• To encourage and develop a true and honest respect for the contribution of our Ancestors to the establishment of a New Nation.

MEMBERSHIP ELEGIBILITY

Membership is open to any American man, of eighteen years of age and of good moral character and reputation. He must provide proof of lineal descendant from an ancestor who rendered civil or military service in any of the Colonies in America before 4 July 1776, including service:

• In a battle under Colonial Authority
• Under the banner of Great Britain in North America in any of the wars in which the Colonists participated
• All Military and Naval service of the Colonies
• Filled office of Governor, Lt. Governor or Deputy Governor
• Member or delegate to Council or Assembly
• Member of House of Burgesses
• Deputy or Representative to General Court
• Commissioner of the United Colonies; of Boundaries or Treaties; of impost or excuse; to the French or Indians
• Secretary, Magistrate, Selectman, Justice, Judge of any Court of Law, or Equity Attorney, Advocate or Solicitor
• Founder or Trustee of any College in North America founded prior to 1776
• Minister of the Gospel, or Commissary of the Bishops of London
• Member of the Committee of Safety of the Continental Congress 1774-1775
• Member of Council of Safety of 1689
• Signer of the Mayflower Compact
• Speaker of the House of Deputies
• Physician or Surgeon
• Member of Provincial Congress
• Signer of the Declaration of Independence
• Huguenot Refugee
• Signer of Oath of Allegiance to Great Britain
• Member of the London, Plymouth and Virginia Companies who actually came to the colonies, and descendants of the members of these companies who resided in the Colonies
• Palatine Settlers
• Descendants of coventers from Scotland
• Original land owner or proprietor, not inheritor

FEES AND OTHER INFORMATION

The application fees are set by the state chapters. The National Society has annual membership and life members.

The Society holds an annual dinner during April each year in Washington, D.C. to which all members are invited. Other business meetings and dinners are held at the call of the Governor General.

Since there is a great variety of services used to determine a qualifying ancestor for membership in The Sons of the American Colonists, the number of surnames of qualifying ancestors must be very large. The estimated non-Native American population of the Colonies in 1776 was about 2,500,000. One would expect that a great number of these individuals either performed a qualifying service or descended from an earlier qualifying ancestor.

If you have any question as to whether you have a qualifying ancestor for the Sons of the American Colonists, contact the Society.

The number of qualifying ancestors that Freeman Family Lines identifies must be in the thousands, including direct line ancestors, their siblings and spouses, their nephews and spouses, and their nieces and spouses. A sampling of these individuals can be found in the Surnames List.

Membership in the Society was presented to George Freeman in celebration of his 90th birthday on January 23, 1996.

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