Directions & Suggestions for Completing Form

EVERY YEAR SAR MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE AN EFFORT TO REGISTER AT LEAST ONE REVOLUTIONAY WAR VETERAN OR PATRIOT GRAVE.

HAVE YOU DONE YOURS FOR THIS YEAR YET?

FORMS FOR GRAVE REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON THE VASSAR WEBSITE. BURIAL INFORMATION IS THERE FOR YOU TO FILL OUT AT LEAST ONE FORM. OVER 1000 REV WAR BURIALS ON THIS WEBSITE (APRIL 2009) NEED TO BE REGISTERED!

Directions & Suggestions For Completing Registration Form

Before completing the form check to see if the patriot’s grave has been already registered. To do so check the NSSAR site: https://memberinfo.sar.org/patriotsearch/search.aspx This will give you information through about 2003. If this site indicates the information was obtained only from the USDAR or only by an SAR application, a registration form is still needed. For possible registrations after 2003 consult the national CD of Rev War burials and the Virginia Burials CD distributed by the VASSAR Rev War Graves Chairman. Also check the Revolutionary War Graves section on the VASSAR website at http://www.sar.org/vassar/revwargraves.htm Check the JLARC report datasets and its supplement on this site and the sources they used. On the supplement, note if the grave has been registered or not. This site has an e-mail form that can be filled out on the computer and forwarded electronically to the chapter Graves chairman. If a prior registration has occurred, but you are providing new information, such as better directions, a GPS reading, a photograph, better service documentation, please complete the form and place a checkmark in the heading Update. Updates are needed and desired.

Your completed form will probably be archived at National SAR Headquarters for researchers to review in the future, thus the more information it contains the better. Typing is desired, but legible handwriting is acceptable. Supporting documents may be attached but they should be so noted on the form and provide important information. Please attach a photograph of the gravestone if you can. If the gravestone inscription can not be easily read, please quote the exact description under the photograph and in the comment’s section of the form. Use the back of the form or add additional sheets as needed. Please quote a source for all information entered. If you are getting the information from a cemetery book record that information.

If you are not sure of the veteran’s service, pension or Bounty Land Warrant information, please contact your chapter or VASSAR Graves Chairman for assistance. Be sure to enter these important sources on the form if available to you. For patriots that gave to the cause in Virginia see http://ajax.lva.lib.va.us/F/? func=file&file_name=find-b-clas34&local_base=CLAS34

If you find a male person’s burial in a cemetery or cemetery book and the birth and death dates are in line with possible Revolutionary War service, copy/record the stone’s inscriptions and the cemetery name and directions. If you can not find war or patriotic service for this burial so you can complete the form, contact your chapter or VASSAR Graves Chairman. They may be able to provide you with the information. It is important that all patriot and veteran’s graves are found and registered.

Remember any Revolutionary War grave in the country may be registered by you. It does not have to be in your chapter area or in Virginia or be a relative of yours. Also if you have a proof of burial, no gravestone needs to exist for you to complete the form. Note: some burials are listed in early church vestry minutes.

In the comments section you may enter children’s names and family information. A map may be attached to assist researchers in locating the cemetery. Contact your Graves Chairman if you have any questions. If you need information to fill out a form contact Mike Lyman at [email protected]

Please send the completed form with attachments to your chapter Graves Chairman. Chapter chairman please sign and send the form to the VASSAR Chairman who will approve the submittal, establish a file at VASSAR and sign and forward the form to the National Chairman. The National Chairman will use the form to up-date the National Registry, and undoubtedly the information will be included on the next revision to be published.

Myron (Mike) E. Lyman Sr., VASSAR Revolutionary Graves Chairman Revised April 2009