APG-L Archives

From:
Subject: Re: [APG] DAR Application
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2001 12:28:29 EST

In a message dated 02/18/01 8:44:09 AM Mountain Standard Time,
writes:


> I am a member of DAR and aware of their high standards of proof. My question
> is posed to those of you who do Lineage Research. Will DAR ever accept
>

Dear Jan,

I have found that the DAR does accept that type of evidence, if presented in
a tightly bound, logical format. We have had a few problem lineages like
this accepted very recently. They encompassed a *very* comprehensive
analysis.

In our thesis, we indicated the purported family relationship and presented
the reasons and evidence for the conclusion. We also enumerated during the
course of the report, why there is no extant record that would provide the
single item of irrefutable proof. And then, in cases were there were
multiple other possibilities for parents' names, those other possibilities
were shown to be 'not possible' (process of elimination).

If one were to imagine that he or she were a lawyer in court, then it becomes
clear to see that laying out the logic (the possibilities and
impossibilities) is of the utmost importance. Think Perry Mason :)

For me, these types of lineage proofs have generally involved very long
reports, so if I could provide you with a few bits of advice: a) plan ahead
with the client regarding budget when you decide to take a project like this
on and realize that 60% or more of the total time can be in the writing b)
stock up on aspirin or other pain reliever (your head might hurt trying to
sort out and present what you know by intuition, skill and experience to be
true).

So, I've had episodes of good fortune for clients applying to the DAR by
following the above methods. I've actually found that the only times that
one of the DAR applications can be filled out nearly 'perfectly' is if the
Revolutionary War ancestor were from one of the New England states where
vital statistics were kept in town records, if there is a published bible
record somewhere (pension file, etc.), or if the soldier filed a pension and
included his children and their birthdates among the papers.

Good luck,
Natalie Cottrill
<A HREF="http://www.progenealogists.com">http://www.progenealogists.com</A>;

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