Membership
Membership in the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford is open to any person who:
- Can prove that he or she is descended from someone who settled in Hartford before February 1640, as shown in the Book
of Distribution of Land. The list of these settlers may be found here
- Is 18 years old or older;
- Is of good moral character and good reputation; and
- Pays the Life Membership fee.
The Council (Executive Board) of the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford will determine whether
these criteria have been met.
Those wishing to apply for membership in the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford must fill out
a Application supplied by the Society. To obtain a Application, click here (.doc format) or here (.pdf format) (Print out on acid-free LEGAL sized paper) or write by postal
mail to:
Timothy Jacobs, Genealogist
PO Box 270771
West Hartford, CT 06127-0771.
When you have received the Application, fill it out and send it, along with the needed supporting materials, to:
Timothy Jacobs, Genealogist
PO Box 270771
West Hartford, CT 06127-0771.
Do NOT send any money at that time.
Note: Please keep photocopies of everything you send, in case the originals get lost in transit.
It is the applicant's responsibility to do his or her own genealogical research. The Society will seek to
verify information submitted, but the Society will not do original research into family lines.
After your line has been approved, you will be sent an Application for Membership. Please sign the Application and
return it to:
Timothy Jacobs, Genealogist
PO Box 270771
West Hartford, CT 06127-0771
accompanied by a check for $300.00 for Life Membership payable to “Founders of Hartford”
(there is no separate Application Fee).
Here are some guidelines to filling out the Application.
Please type the information in the Application or print legibly.
Documentation need be furnished only through the blood line. That is, if your descent is through your grandmother,
you need not supply your grandfather's proof of birth.
Full names, not initials, and maiden names of wives are to be used. If a woman is a widow, show her maiden name
in parentheses.
Official Vital Statistics records should be furnished through the first three generations - that is, yours, your
parent's, and your grandparent's.
An official copy of the applicant's birth certificate, showing parentage, must be furnished. (A birth
certificate that does not show the first and last names of both parents is unacceptable.)
Under Authorities as to Descent, after each generation number please show or cite the documents or papers submitted
as proof. Please submit all material cited.
If you are directly related to a living or deceased member of the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of
Hartford, you need not fill out the entire Application. Please fill out as much of the Application as is necessary to show
your descent from the member, and include supporting material showing that relationship. For example, if your mother is or
was a member of the Society, you would fill out your information, and your mother's information. If you know your
mother's membership number, please indicate that. Then send the Application with a copy of your birth certificate (showing
your mother's name), to prove your descent from your mother.
The following materials may be helpful in proving your descent from a Founder of Hartford:
- Birth, marriage or death certificates.
- Church records of births, marriages, or deaths.
- Compilations of Vital Records.
- Cemetery records (including clear photos of gravestones).
- Wills and other official probate records.
- Land records.
- Reputable published family genealogies and town and county histories containing genealogical data. In such a case,
please submit a copy of the title page and pages on which relevant material is found. Please underline or highlight
the pertinent data and place the generation number in the border. Where there are several generations in one volume, type
the title of the volume once under “Authorities as to Descent” after the appropriate generation number,
followed by the page number(s). For succeeding generations, type “ditto” followed by the page number.
- Census reports.
- Family Bible records. The relationship of the parent to the child must be explicit. Photocopies of relevant
pages, including title page, must be submitted. In cases where it is impossible to do this, a certified Transcription
is acceptable.
- Newspaper or magazine obituaries, with the source and date of publication shown.
- Records of town or county governments.
- Court records.
Or combinations of any of the above. A copy of the title page must be attached to copies of individual pages from
published volumes.
Please Note that in general, online genealogical material by itself is not acceptable as proof of descent.
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