Membership
The Michigan Society of the Sons of the American
Revolution, West Michigan Chapter is actively
seeking new members. We would be happy to assist you
in the exploration of your ancestry to determine
whether you qualify for membership in our society.
A Lineage Society
The SAR is a "lineage" society. This does NOT
mean that you need to have the same last name as a
patriot ancestor, but it does mean that each member
has traced their family tree back to a point of
having an ancestor who supported the cause of
American Independence during the years 1774-1783.
Do You Have A Patriot Ancestor?
If you already know that you have such an
ancestor, then great! You’re ready to start the
membership process. Follow this link (http://www.sar.org/forms/sarworksheet.pdf)
to start your application process! Complete the
form, print it off, then mail it to:
Jim Bergenham
President, West Michigan Chapter SAR
1438 Marwood Dr. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
You can also print off a blank application then
fill it out by hand. Either way, you need to send it
to Compatriot Bergenham to begin the processing of
your application.
If you have any questions regarding the
application, please feel free to e-mail Compatriot
Bergenham (jbergenham@aol.com).
He or another member of the West Michigan Chapter
will be more than happy to answer any questions you
may have.
If you aren't sure whether any of your ancestors
lived in the United States during the Revolution,
don't lose heart. Many people who never set foot in
the United States supported the American colonists
struggle against British domination -- for example
the king of Spain. Many patriots (or their
descendants) moved to foreign lands and their
descendants moved back later, not knowing their
ancestors were here before. Many French, German, and
Spanish soldiers and sailors fought in support of
American independence and returned home without
making their descendants aware of their
participation in gaining American independence.
E-mail Compatriot Bergenham (jbergenham@aol.com)
to start your search!
