Daughters of the American Colonists

Thomas Poe Chapter

Membership Requirements

Any woman who is a citizen of the United States of America, of good moral character, who has attained her eighteenth year, shall be eligible to membership. provided that she shall be acceptable to the Chapter and to the National Society, Daughters of the America Colonists and shall be the lineal descendant of an ancestor who rendered civil or military service in any of the colonies prior to July 4, 1776, as listed in the twenty-six categories of Article III, Section 1(c), of the National Bylaws.  Legal adoption sall not qualify for lineal descent.

Ancestors' services must pertain to one of the thirteen original colonies which joined to form the United States of America.

Membership is by written invitation after an affirmative vote of the chapter or state society without chapters. Applicants must be endorsed by two members of the chapter or state society without chapters, both of whom are in good standing.

Acceptable Service

 
An applicant must furnish proof of her lineal, not adoptive, descent through legal and lawful marriages, not polygamous, from an ancestor who served, prior to July 4, 1776, in any one of the following 26 categories:

•  In battle under colonial authority

•  Under the banner of Great Britain in North America in any of the wars in which the colonies participated

•  All military and naval service of the colonies (Proof must establish that such service was rendered prior to July 4, 1776.)

•  Furnished troops or funds (Proof of payment of tax assessments is not acceptable service.)

•  Filled office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor or Deputy Governor

•  Member or Delegate to Council or Assembly

•  Member of House of Burgess

•  Deputy or Representative to the General Court

•  Commissioner of the United Colonies, of Boundaries or Treaties, of Import or Excise, to the French or Indians

•  Secretary, Magistrate, Selectman, Justice, Judge of any Court of Law or Equity, Attorney, Advocate, Solicitor,

•  Juryman, Sheriff, Constable

•  Founder or Trustee of any College in North America founded prior to 1775

•  Minister of the Gospel or Commissary of the Bishops of London (Proof must be submitted that the ministry was entered prior to July 4, 1776.)

•  Member of the Committee of Safety of the Continental Congress, 1774 and 1775

•  Member of the Council of Safety of 1689

•  Signer of the Mayflower Compact

•  Speaker of the House of Deputies

•  Physician or Surgeon (Proof must establish ancestor as practicing prior to July 4, 1776.)

•  Member of the Provincial Congress

•  Signer of the Declaration of Independence (Proof must establish that the signer was elected to represent the colonists prior to July 4, 1776.)

•  Huguenot Refugee

•  Signer of the Oath of Allegiance to Great Britain (The Oath of Allegiance was taken by the Freemen in New England, the Dutch in New Amsterdam, the Swedes in Delaware, and other early settlers. Proof must be submitted that the oath was taken prior to July 4, 1776.)

•  Original Land Owner, not inheritor (Proof must establish that the ancestor received the land through a grant or patent, or from the Indians; that he was actually the first colonial owner of the specified tract of land; and that he did not buy it or inherit it.)

•  Member of the London, Plymouth or Virginia Companies who actually came to the colonies, or the first immigrant descendant of any member of these companies who resided in the colonies

•  Palatine Settler

•  Descendant of Covenanter from Scotland

•  Salzburger of Georgia
                                                                               

                           

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