The term "DAR Patriot" functions as a noun phrase, where "Patriot" is the core noun. It refers to an individual, male or female, who provided recognized service in the cause of American independence during the Revolutionary War. This designation is specifically used by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to identify an ancestor whose documented service qualifies their direct female descendants for membership in the organization. The status is not a general historical title but a specific genealogical classification based on verified records.
Qualifying service is broadly defined and encompasses three main categories. The most common is military service, which includes serving in the Continental Army, a state navy, or a local militia. The second category is civil service, which involved holding a public office and supporting the war effort, such as serving as a town clerk, a member of a Committee of Safety, or a delegate to a continental or provincial congress. The third category, patriotic service, is the most diverse and includes actions like paying supply taxes, providing material aid (such as food, livestock, or weapons) to the troops, taking an Oath of Allegiance, serving as a minister who preached patriotic sermons, or being a recognized refugee or defender of a fort.
The practical application of this designation is central to genealogy and lineage society membership. The DAR maintains an extensive database, the Genealogical Research System (GRS), which documents these proven ancestors and their specific services. For a prospective member, proving an unbroken bloodline to a recognized individual is the primary requirement for admission. Therefore, identifying a qualifying ancestor is the foundational step in the application process, making the term a crucial piece of nomenclature within American genealogical research focused on the Revolutionary period.
