I have certainly had wide experience with using SAR, DAR and LDS sources, and they all have their strengths and shortcomings. One always needs to treat information without documentation with skepticism. The problem with SAR and DAR sources is that they are limited to those families who qualify as supporters of the Revolution, and that their early sources were often entirely bogus. (I found my ancestor James McMullan on the DAR rolls even though I could document from LDS sources that he was busy tending his farm in York County when he was supposed to be at sea). As someone has already pointed out there is a great difference in reliability in LDS sources depending upon whether they were submissions from a person or from a source. I once knew how to tell the difference but I seem to have forgotten how. About a year ago while in the DAR library in Washington DC, I came across some information in one of their books that I knew to be incorrect. When I pointed it out to the librarian she instructed me to make a pencil correction in the blank space on the page, even though I had no documentation with me. (I left it alone). In a message dated 7/17/2006 8:22:35 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, brivas1@cox.net writes: I can verify what both Dwayne and Michael have said. Some 20 years ago, I helped an aunt process quite a few additional lines. I had each one with solid documentation, meaning mostly court records, copies of bible pages, etc. But I have seen all too many errors in the LSD information. I will not give them mine because they also have a tendency to wrap it up and put it on a CD and then sell it back to you. I've seen people take some of my information and paste it all over Ancestry.com, and other places, and I know there are errors in the information to begin with since some of it was not fully documented and researched. But these errors will be copied, and passed on, and people will believe it's the truth. Unfortunately, people have a tendency to think that because something is "printed" it's the gospel truth. Far from it. If I had to choose, there would be no hesitation: DAR information anytime as long as it's of the more "modern" type. michaeljohnston1@comcast.net wrote: >As registrar for my local NSSAR chapter, I can vouch for the accuracy and completeness of DAR applications. The same can be said of SAR applications. > >ANYTHING located via the LDS should be taken with a very health dose of salt. In regard to my own lineage I have found numerous errors of significant magnitude that I have contacted the LDS in Salt Lake City in an effort to have it corrected, and have offered to submit the appropriate documentation. They were not interested. Which means erroneous and inaccurate data regarding my family is floating around on the Internet and being propagated by those unaware of it's faulty genesis. In one instance it regarded my ancestors from Lebanon County who fought in the American Revolution. > >My personal advise is to use the LDS information as a guide and pre-cursor only, but NOT as solid documentation or proof. Genealogy without solid documentation is fiction. > >As with the DAR, a record copy of an SAR application can be obtained, and if requested, so can the documentation that accompanied the application if you're willing to pay the fee. The following link http://www.sar.org/forms/reqcopy.pdf will take you to the NSSAR form to request a record copy of an SAR application. The same data can be requested from the DAR. However, their cost is $30 for a record copy. > >Neither the SAR or DAR accepts Internet-generated genealogy without other forms of proof to substantiate it. Each generation should have some form of birth, marriage and death documents - and the more the better. > >I'm not attempting to give the LDS a black eye. But I have had to return applications from prospective SAR members who think if it's on the LDS search site, it must be gospel - and that just ain't so. > >Regards, > >Mike Johnston >Fox Valley Chapter, ILSSAR >www.foxsar.org > > >-------------- Original message -------------- >From: "Jack and Kay Lund" <lundgolf@earthlink.net> > > > >>Tony, >> >>I have found that there is a huge difference between what the DAR >>requires and what the LDS will accept. Although I do plan to submit my >>family information to our local LDS, so other researchers might benefit, I >>was surprised to learn that the data entered into their records does not >>have to be documented. Applications for membership in the DAR must be >>documented and verified for every generation, first by the chapter Registrar >>and then by the DAR staff in DC. I have found their record copies to be >>extremely helpful and reliable. The one I recently received for Johannes >>Beshore, lists 11 different resource references, including page numbers, >>just for his generation alone. That's a lot of proof! >> >> >> >>By the way, anyone can go to dar.org and get Patriot information >>through a DAR volunteer. If I can help, please don't hesitate to ask. I >>will just need the Patriot's state of service, in addition to dob and spouse >>name, if known. >> >> >> >>Marcia >> >> >> >>==== PALEBANO Mailing List ==== >>Lebanon County Gen Web Home Page: >> >> >> >> > > >==== PALEBANO Mailing List ==== >Lebanon County Gen Web Home Page: ><http://www.chm.davidson.edu/PAGenWeb/> > > > > > ==== PALEBANO Mailing List ==== Access Pennsylvania On-Line Library Catalogue: <http://accesspa.brodart.com/>