But I've never done it. Would be interested in what you find out.

Tammy briefly kicks Senator Kirk's ass discussing her genealogy. Took her less than 2 minutes. It probably won her her Senate seat.

They were infamous for refusing to allow Marian Anderson to sing at a concert in 1939, bringing down the wrath of Eleanor Roosevelt - who arranged for her to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. My grandmother belonged (she managed to locate some ancestor who'd been a soldier in the Revolution), so I suppose I could join, too, but I was always put off by their conservative leanings. I don't know whether that has changed more recently.

My dad's sister and a couple of his cousins belonged, but I've always said I could never join an organization Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from in protest.

Like all of us here, I consider myself a patriot, but I hate the fact that that term has been taken over by the right-wing.

My 7-times Great-grandfather, General Putnam, served along side George Washington, and helped win the revolutionary war.

The local chapter has been sewing and donating masks, and I am in a somewhat liberal area, I just don’t know how to go about inquiring their political leanings as they are not supposed to be political...

Another one was in New Jersey and so I wonder if he was in the Battle of Trenton.

I am sure there are plenty of conservatives in the DAR, but as an organization, they seem pretty neutral. I do live in a liberal area, though I joined a chapter back in Michigan.

My grandmother was a member too. I don't have kids, but I also thought that if my niece get interested when she grows up, my being a member would make it easier for her to dig up the info she needs. Dues are (hilariously) $76 a year.

Another one was in New Jersey and so I wonder if he was in the Battle of Trenton.

I am sure there are plenty of conservatives in the DAR, but as an organization, they seem pretty neutral. I do live in a liberal area, though I joined a chapter back in Michigan.

My grandmother was a member too. I don't have kids, but I also thought that if my niece get interested when she grows up, my being a member would make it easier for her to dig up the info she needs. Dues are (hilariously) $76 a year.

They send a magazine and a lot of emails. Nothing seems overtly political, actually, it doesn't seem political at all. My mom - strong Democrat - wanted me to join. It was cool to find out I had an ancestor who was a Minute Man.

What state are you in?

I can assure you she is not a right-winger.

Herself is my wife. I prefer not to type out what she calls me.

I’m from the McKinnon clan.

The Clan McKinnon is a great and noble clan.

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But like old primaries, we should not continue to fight old wars.

... the Scots-Irish, or Ulster Scots, too. It was encouraged by his friend, King James, to supposedly help turn Ireland to Protestantism.

Centuries of fighting and deaths ensued, obviously.

They had a long feud with the Cunningham clan too. Given how I'd like to wring the neck of a local right-wing radio host named Bill Cunningham, I like to pretend that all of the Cunningham's in Scotland were just like him.

There are many places in the U.S. named for General Montgomery, e.g. Montgomery, Alabama and Montgomery County, Arkansas.

Last edited Sat Oct 24, 2020, 05:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Montgomery County, OH.

I'm not a descendant of him, but I think he was from the same clan in Scotland.

Their Y-DNA has roots from the Middle East, of all places. The Y-Tree seems to indicate a Phoenician (Lebanon) origin, then Sardinian and later British/Scottish. So maybe their ancestors actually arrived with the Romans? Hard to know.

Other Montgomery's show a more typical R-haplogroup (among others) for the British Isles.

And he was (one of) my Rev ancestors.

I had found 14 "patriot" ancestors and mostly wanted a place to hold the various documentation (other than myself).

The local meetings didn't impress me very much, and I soon learned that I was much more liberal than the other attendees. It might vary depending on the location?

I ended my membership after getting a second "supplemental" ancestor in the records at Louisville (for a total of three), and I was once again given a tit-for-tat situation by a local member in order for him to approve my paperwork and records to send them forward to the verifying genealogists at Louisville. (I don't think the DAR includes that ridiculous initial screening step.)

He said that it looked good, but he'd need me to do the local chapter a favor before he'd send the information. (Despite me already paying for it. It's not like it cost me nothing money-wise.)

So I asked what it entailed, and he said I needed to pass out medals to some JROTC students at a high school for their various achievements. I initially declined, saying that I didn't want to stand in front of a crowd of students and give a speech or whatever. He replied, "No, no, no... it's nothing like that. Their commander will give a speech at the ceremony while you await off-stage, and then you'll just pass out the medals when he announces it's time for that part of it." So I agreed.

Showed up on schedule. While behind the curtain and listening to their commander at the podium, he suddenly announced to the crowd of students and their families that I'd give a speech to them about the SAR for about 15 minutes and then I'd pass out awards! Then he turned towards me while clapping, as I stayed behind the curtain while waving my arms from side to side and mouthing "No! No! No!"

After he ignored that, I slowly stepped onto the stage and behind the podium. I wasn't prepared for a speech at all! I started by pulling an SAR pamphlet out of my pocket and just reading it to the crowd, while my mind was scrambling about what else to tell them. During that time, I decided to recount the history (probably not entirely accurate) of my ancestor from Maryland who was an officer during the Southern Campaign of the war.

I explained their repeated losses to the Brits, and how Nathaniel Greene had adopted guerrilla tactics instead. And how the Brits destroyed their supplies in a push to catch them and destroy Greene's forces once and for all. And how that decision, which was unsuccessful, resulted in their troops seeking new supplies at Yorktown VA, where Washington and Greene trapped them by land while French ships trapped them by sea. And how it ultimately lead to the British surrender and the end of the war. Then I added some "Rah, rah America!" commentary at the end of some kind, and announced that's all I wanted to share.

Then I stood there at the podium while thinking, "They hated it! Nobody is making a sound out there!" But then as I started to step away from the podium, the place erupted into loud applause and whistles! So I took a couple steps back to the podium, nodded my head at them, and then walked behind the curtain again.

The commander-guy returned to the podium while clapping, where he praised my "rousing" speech about this country's wonderful history, and the crowd loudly applauded again. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Then I handed out the medals while the JROTC students (who were really quite nice) acted like I was a hero or something.

So it turned out far better than I could have imagined, but I was still bitter about yet another lie (or misunderstanding) by the local SAR guy when he asked for the favor, and that ended the SAR membership for me.

... everyone else that I met during local meetings were very old! So the big age difference wasn't very conducive to making any real connections / friendships for me there.

So that might be something to keep in mind too? Yet it seemed like the DAR had more women of all ages.

It would be easy-peasy. I have several verifiable ancestors who fought in the revolution, and various relatives of mine have joined without issue. I'm just wary of such groups.

My thought process in the 90's was that my work might be lost and some future relative would have to start from scratch.

I'm not concerned about it now. There's all kinds of electronic records.

I really disliked the SAR's initial screening process of the documentation. It was rick-solid, and I didn't need some old guy to barely look at it and then basically blackmail me to do favors for them.

I fully understand where you're coming from on all counts. I'd have been furious about both the jerk who was blackmailing you, and the jerk who made you do the speech for which you were unprepared. I have issues with anxiety and this scenario with the speech would NOT have ended well for me!

... when I started. (Not a major introvert, but still an introvert.)

Then I started recounting the recent history books that I'd read, often pausing to tell the story in a sensible manner, and I think that reduced the trembling because my brain was going through a work-out to make the words flow in an easy-to-follow manner.

Despite the applause, I was still salty about it!

their racist ways? My mother told me I could join but she did not like organizations like that. She didn't and I didn't.

I’m sure local chapters vary. I’m in California, but I still don’t know much about them.

but got busy with work and never finished the process (my Aunt in Michigan has all the genealogy paperwork, never got around to having her mail it to me).

I know a few of the women in the local chapter and they are definitely liberals.
It most likely varies from place to place. NOVA is pretty blue, in general.

Normally, I would suggest going to see a guest speaker or some other public event hosted by your local chapter, to feel things out and chat people up a bit, but that’s probably not possible now because of covid.

It’s good to hear that you know a few liberal members.
Maybe I will wait, and do as you suggest.

My father's family was in the north and my mother's family was in the south. The civil war talk at our dinner table was rather hilarious sometimes.

I thought of joining the local chapters in various states where I've lived, but I feel like it's like bragging about something someone else did. All I did was get born generations later and their accomplishments were so big that it feels like I'm taking credit for a name.

The American Revolutionary War against the British (1775-1783) is what the DAR and SAR are about.

That was basically a civil war too, though, since many Americans wanted to remain subjects (Loyalists) of the king. Many people in the South were that way.

But according to Ancestry.com I am a Mayflower descendant. Need to look into that more.

My dad's cousin did a lot of geneology work years ago, after she retired she actually traveled around the country looking up records and contacting relatives. Luckily, one of her daughters added most of her research to Ancestry so I was able to piggy back on all her work.

So, I'm descended from Edward Fuller (who did not survive the first year, fortunately his sons did) how about you?

He has no ancestors who fought in that war according to professional genealogists.

My parents were just crazy and being from both sides of the mason dixon line brought endless amusement.

My dad's family came here in the late 1500s from Wales by way of Barbados and were deeply involved in the war of independence by both signing the Declaration (my grandfather's reward was to have the family estate burned to the ground, cattle stolen and the people driven from their home.) My uncle assembled the final writing for the Constitution and penned the preamble and was Washington's ambassador to France during their revolution and he 600wrote their constitution as well.

My mother's family came to Tennessee from England in the early 1600s, fought on the side of the revolution as well and includes ambassadors and a SCOTUS justice.

When we get to the Civil War my families were on opposite sides of the war and hence the rancor about generations gone by.

As I said, these aren't my accomplishments.

But I'm still just me and that was them.

I just answered someone else's question on your post! I love the internet. You got much more information than you wanted. Sorry about that!

I was thrown off because you described that part of your family's past in the body of your previous post.

I get confused about which war is going on sometimes.

So, do you think it's worthwhile to join with people who revere the revolution? I have always thought that they would be more interested in how it puffed up their lives. But did you get the genealogy info that you hoped for?

I mostly joined in the early 1990's to get the documents stored in their library, for any future relatives who might be curious about it since my living relatives don't care about it.

Not much point in being so concerned about that anymore, with improvements in electronic records.

eat breakfast, have more coffee because it was a different post, but still you! Oh my, my dotage is showing. Have a wonderful day

a long time ago in my early '20s. Most of the women were much older, 60's+, but they were very nice. They had a young native American man speak at their meeting. Later I left at the same time as him and his girlfriend as we walked to the elevator. They looked at me sort of curiously as to why someone my age would what to join such a group but were too polite to ask. I never joined, just felt like it wasn't for me at the time.

Another time, also when in my very early '20s, my great aunt and her daughters came to DC for the DAR Convention and invited my dad and I to come for the first night. It was quite a show. At the start of the convention, a huge flag was released and fluttered down from the ceiling. Very dramatic. Then 50 young women, all dressed in white marched in carrying their state flag and deposited them around the podium. There was a speaker too, a retired general, who gave a very pro-military speech. My dad was highly amused at all my reactions to the convention and we exchanged several amused glances, especially during the speech. My great aunt noticed us and made a comment, something like, "well he had very strong opinions".

I did the My Heritage DNA which just traces where our ancestors originated.
Most of it supported the things I had been told about the roots of my family, particularly my mother's: English, Scotch, Irish and a little German.
Mostly the same on my father's side with Wales and Swiss thrown in. It has been a lot of fun rummaging through all of this stuff and it is addicting.

Kentucky was settled early and all branches of my family trace back to pre Civil war times. There are definitely soldiers from the Revolutionary period so yes I could join DAR, if I wanted to. One ancestor of my Great grandmother did fight in the Confederate army.

One really cool discovery though: our grandfather told us we were direct descendants of President John Tyler. My sister and I just sort of did mental eyerolls at that. Come to find out it is really true; My great grandmother was a Tyler, and her father was the president's grandson. Something else: those Tylers were really good at having kids!! President Tyler's father was Governor of Virginia and one of his brothers was a US Senator from Virginia. Tyler was not that great of a president as far as I can tell. He was the first vice president to succeed to the presidency due to death of the president though .

He still has one living grandchild who is 95.

Now I want to do 23 and Me. The local blood center tells me I carry Sickle Cell Trait, which is nuts considering how totally white I am!!! They call me when they are desparate for blood to help a Sickle Cell patient who is having surgery. I really want to know how I ended up carrying this trait. I think it is pretty bizarre, considering how long my ancestors have been in North America, and as far as I can tell none of them originated around the Mediterranean area.

https://www.txhealthsteps.com/static/warehouse/1076-2009-Dec-2-5rauxyhn2z019k2l7075/section_1.html#:~:text=Sickle%20cell%20disease%20occurs%20in%20many%20other%20races%20and%20ethnicities,Americans%20carry%20sickle%20cell%20trait.

Regarding DAR membership, I'm eligible through my paternal grandmother. My 5th g-grandfather was a militia member from MA in the Revolution and his father was a militia officer from MA.

I was never interested in joining the DAR. The ancestral history is interesting to my family and to me, but membership is based in the actions of a select group, not on anything I achieved. I'm happy for their service in creating a nation that I was born into. But, my citizenship is shared with millions of others who are citizens by birth or by naturalization, who are not Revolutionary descendants. What I do today to preserve that nation for all of us is more important to me.

Besides, General Washington complained about militia members being less useful because they were less well trained and disciplined than regular Army members. There's also the fact that the other side of my grandmother's family descended from people who fought for the British. So there's that to think about. Can't take credit or blame for what my my ancestors did.

somehow. My DNA test from My Heritage showed a very tiny percentage from Spain so maybe it's that. Who knows?

I received some new matches in my ancestry which go back to the 1500s in England. Direct line through 10 generations through the Tyler branch. It took me by surprise that it had been tracked that far. I discovered the Revolutionary ancestors in the Tylers.

to the 1400s and another to the 1200s. Once in the American colonies, a couple ancestors in one of those lines married colonial descendants who trace back to the Normans, who in turn had ancestral lines in France and Spain. But that was so long ago (1500+ years ago), with so many generations since then, that it's genetically insignificant today. There are some Scots and Welsh who made it into the family tree, too, but most were Anglo-Saxon and Norman English.

I found those people at Ancestry about 25 years ago, when Ancestry was fairly new and the trees were better researched and documented, not so muddled like they are today. Still, I had to verify what I found to be sure that the information was accurate.

The fun part was finding out as much as I could about some of those people in records from their communities. There are some good tales about a few of them.

The members of my local chapter tend to keep politics out of our meetings, and religion as well for the most part. Not all chapters do though. I’ve been to some regional meetings where I thought some attendees crossed the line and were too political or inserted their religious views where they were not needed or welcome - at least by me. And they are always right-wing unfortunately.

So I think it depends on the local chapter, and probably the area where you live. I’m in a deep red state. My chapter lets prospective members attend some meetings while they are deciding whether or not to join, and/or getting their “paperwork” completed. If you can do that maybe you can get an idea of how that chapter operates.

They do a lot of good projects, and they are not religious or political.