I thought I'd ask this here, but will also ask in the APG list if no one here knows. As background: I know that the DAR website allows downloading the lineage file for $10 and the supporting documents file for $20. This is the second time this has happened to me, so I'm wondering what the rule of thumb is about the supporting documents. I paid for and downloaded the supporting documents for an application that was not tied to any other application. In other words there was nothing to indicate that a short form was used or that in the portions of the lineages shown (so the more distant generations) that another application was being used as a shortcut. Therefore I would expect the supporting documents to include all the documents for all generations included in the application (although maybe they don't include the ones for living people). I am interested in a particular generation about three down from the patriot. The lineage shown on the website indicates that a death date and place are known for the particular person. I recently had worked on the genealogy of this line (it's a collateral for me, but a DNA match), and I had been unable to find the death date and place for this person. So that's what I was interested in. When I download the supporting documents, it included ONLY the supply tax and exoneration lists showing the patriot and his son which I presume was used to demonstrate financial support during the RW. No other documents were included. There is a will showing the son's relationship to the father, so these weren't needed for that purpose. I was disappointed that I had wasted my funds getting stuff I already had and it did not include what I specifically wanted. Did I go wrong somewhere in interpreting what should be included? How can I tell? It used to be that one could choose from several options for documents. You could get all the documents for a particular patriot and his descendants. You could pick just one lineage. And I don't remember what other options were. Patti ᐧ
Hi Patti, The only way (that I know of) to find out what will be included in the supporting documents package is to ask a DAR member who has "image access" to check for you. Typically, this includes members who are chapter registrars and those with "volunteer genealogist" credentials. Otherwise, there is no way to know anything except the number of pages included. FWIW, when viewing the list of member applications, i.e., under the Ancestor Search tab, check to see if there is an "S" next to the name of the patriot's child. That means the application submitted was a "short form," and will only include the first 3 generations before linking to an existing "long form." Again, and DAR member with image access could view the application and refer you to the referenced long form so you don't waste your money. Elizabeth O'Neal (Captain Henry Sweetser Chapter Registrar)
Hi Patti, The only way (that I know of) to find out what will be included in the supporting documents package is to ask a DAR member who has "image access" to check for you. Typically, this includes members who are chapter registrars and those with "volunteer genealogist" credentials. Otherwise, there is no way to know anything except the number of pages included. FWIW, when viewing the list of member applications, i.e., under the Ancestor Search tab, check to see if there is an "S" next to the name of the patriot's child. That means the application submitted was a "short form," and will only include the first 3 generations before linking to an existing "long form." Again, and DAR member with image access could view the application and refer you to the referenced long form so you don't waste your money. Elizabeth O'Neal (Captain Henry Sweetser Chapter Registrar)
Hi Patti, The only way (that I know of) to find out what will be included in the supporting documents package is to ask a DAR member who has "image access" to check for you. Typically, this includes members who are chapter registrars and those with "volunteer genealogist" credentials. Otherwise, there is no way to know anything except the number of pages included. FWIW, when viewing the list of member applications, i.e., under the Ancestor Search tab, check to see if there is an "S" next to the name of the patriot's child. That means the application submitted was a "short form," and will only include the first 3 generations before linking to an existing "long form." Again, and DAR member with image access could view the application and refer you to the referenced long form so you don't waste your money. Elizabeth O'Neal (Captain Henry Sweetser Chapter Registrar)