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Our new library catalog is now accessible online.

Library catalog website: https://www.librarycat.org/lib/ColonialWarsNY.

You can browse around - try searching for some terms like "genealogy", "biography", "New England", "religion", "flags", "exploration," and "Indian wars". If you click on the titles on the results list, it takes you to the full record.

You can also contact the office if you would like to check out a book. Please note that certain books (rare, old, fragile) may only be consulted at the office.

MEMBERSHIP in the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New York is by invitation only. Prospective members must also meet the eligibility requirements set forth below. Please note that eligibility requirements may vary from those established by other state Societies.

Anyone interested in membership should contact a member in good standing to whom the candidate is well known.

The Society does not provide genealogical assistance. Those interested in research should contact a professional genealogist.

Membership Eligibility

Any male above the age of eighteen years, of good moral character and reputation, shall be eligible to membership in the Society of Colonial Wars, provided he be lineally descended in the male or female line from an ancestor:

  1. Who served as a military or naval officer, or as a soldier, sailor, or marine, or as a privateers man, under authority of any of the Colonies which afterward formed the United States, or in the forces of Great Britain which participated with those of the said Colonies in any wars in which the said Colonies were engaged, or in which they enrolled men, during the period from the settlement of Jamestown, May 13, 1607, to the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775;or
  2. Who held office in any of the Colonies between the dates above mentioned, as
    1. Director General, Vice Director General, or member of the Council, or legislative body, in the Colony the New Netherlands;
    2. Governor, Lieutenant or Deputy Governor, Lord Proprietor, member of the King\'s or Governor\'s Council, or of the legislative body, in the Colony of New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, or Delaware;
    3. Lord Proprietor, Governor, Deputy Governor, or member of the Council, or of the legislative body in Maryland, the Carolinas, or Georgia;
    4. Governor, Deputy Governor, Governor\'s Assistant, or Commissioner to the United Colonies of New England, or member of the Council, body of Assistants, or legislative body, in any of the New England Colonies.
    5. Justice, Judge, Justice of the Peace or other judicial officer.

Any male under the age of eighteen years who is a natural brother, natural nephew or natural lineal or collateral descendant of a living or deceased member may be enrolled by such member or by such person\'s parent or grandparent or guardian as a Junior Member of the Society upon payment of an enrollment fee. Junior Members shall not be liable for annual dues, shall have no vote at meetings of, and shall not hold office in the Society. A person\'s Junior Membership shall cease upon his attaining the age of eighteen years. Any person who has held Junior Membership and is elected a member shall be exempt from the payment of an initiation fee.

The membership of the Society shall be limited to 1,000.

A member of the Society of Colonial Wars in another state wishing to transfer to the New York Society must be interviewed by the membership committee. Upon approval from the membership committee he shall submit to the secretary of the New York Society a letter of good standing signed by the secretary of his original Society, copy of original application papers, together with dues for one year. Upon recommendation of the Membership chairman the Council may then admit such applicant to the New York Society.

Membership Dues

Membership dues are $125 per year, or $2,500 for a Life membership.

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