Forgotten Patriots Committee

Many patriots of the American Revolution have not been recognized by having a descendant join the SAR or DAR on his or her services. The purpose of the Forgotten Patriot program is to remember these patriots through an application—original or supplemental—anchored on their Revolutionary War services.This document the contribution of the patriot to the cause of Liberty.

Many patriots of the American Revolution have not been recognized by having a descendant join the SAR or DAR on his or her services. The purpose of the Forgotten Patriot program is to turn Forgotten Patriots into Remembered Patriots through an original or supplemental application on their Revolutionary services.

Thousands of Americans of African and indigenous descent, both free persons of color and enslaved, supported the American Revolution. Estimates range from 6,000, to over 10,000, Americans of African descent participated in the Revolution in various ways. Americans of African descent and indigenous people fought in every major battle in the Revolution, beginning April 19, 1775, and continuing on through Yorktown. They served in the Continental Army, in militias and at sea. The SAR welcomes as members proven descendants of Black and Indigenous Patriots who, by force of arms or rendering material aid, contributed to the Patriot cause.

Uncovering and recording the story of men and women who contributed to the Revolution is one of the core objectives of the SAR. In carrying out the Forgotten Patriot program, we not only help accomplish this core objective but also open lines for future applicants.

Every chapter can remember a Forgotten Patriot, and have been able to report more than one in a single year. Many members, having successfully joined the SAR, put off working on any supplemental applications until “next year,” or stop with a single supplemental. However, supplemental applications are an important way to record our Revolutionary heritage. The mother, father, mother-in-law, or father-in-law of a Patriot often made contributions to the Revolution as well.

Patriots may easily be identified by their military service. However, ancestors may also be deemed Patriots based on other qualifying services. Civil Service to the Revolutionary governments performed between April 19, 1775 and November 26, 1783 include: 

  • Serving as a juror,
  • Working on road construction, or
  • Appraising an estate.

 Patriotic Services include:

  • Signing articles of association,
  • Taking the oath of loyalty to one of the new state governments. Maryland and Pennsylvania especially have extensive lists. Some lists have survived for New York and North Carolina. A few Virginia lists have survived, some recorded in county deed books,
  • Participating in the Boston Tea Party, Kaskaskia Campaign, Galvez Expedition, Cherokee Expedition, or the Edenton Tea Party
  • Signing a petition addressed to and recognizing the authority of the provisional and new state governments. Virginia has numerous petitions in the Virginia State Archives. A very large proportion of a county’s adult male residence would often sign petitions for or against a proposal to create a new county, and
  • Providing material aid to the Cause, including supplies with or without remuneration. Virginia has extensive records of public service claims, as do North and South Carolina.

Routinely checking for these services will facilitate the identification of Forgotten Patriots, and supplemental applications will help everyone in the quest to recognize all of our Patriot Ancestors.

For a complete list of qualifying services, go to the Acceptable Service page on the National SAR website.

Committee