How to Apply to Join the Society
In order to apply for membership in The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia you must:
Have a Qualified Propositus: (Propositus – the person from who a line of descent is derived) An applicant must be a male descendant of a “Qualifying Propositus” (See the Membership Qualifications below for the specific requirements). Please note that, as a minimum, applicant’s Propositus must have served as an officer in the Continental Army or Continental Navy during the American Revolution. (Militia officers do not qualify.)
“Georgia Continental Officers: See the list of Georgia Continental Officers at the bottom of this section. This list of Continental Officers in the State of Georgia is NOT a list of “Qualified Propositi” as required for membership in the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia. A number of the officers on this list do not meet the Georgia Society’s requirements to be a “Qualified Propositus” for a variety of reasons.
In addition to officers who served in the Georgia Continental Line, officers who served inthe Continental Line of states other than Georgia and who later became “Original Members” of the Georgia Society may be “Qualified Propositi” for the Georgia Society.
The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia will determine, on an individual basis, if an officer meets the Georgia Society’s requirements to be considered a “Qualified Propositus.”
Download list of Continental Officers in the State of Georgia (Excel File)
Download list of Continental Officers in the State of Georgia (PDF)
Propositus Not Represented: To apply for Hereditary Membership in the Society of the Cincinnati in The State of Georgia, the applicant’s Propositus cannot be currently represented by a member of the Society.
Present Proofs: Present proof of legitimate, biological direct descent from: a “Qualifying Propositus”, or a legitimate sibling of a Qualifying Propositus, or an aunt or uncle (by blood as opposed to by marriage) of a Qualifying Propositus. Proofs must include a completed Lineal Descent form with copies of the complete documentation of the lineal descent from applicant’s Qualified Propositus to applicant, including birth, marriage and death proof for each generation as well as proof of legitimate parentage in each generation.
Be Recommended: The applicant must be recommended to the Society as a gentleman appropriate for membership. This requires a minimum of two written recommendations based on personal knowledge, both being from members of The Society of the Cincinnati, with at least one of them being from a member in good standing of The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia.
Actively Participate: When the Society was founded in 1783, one of the “Immutable Principles” of the Society was desire to perpetuate and render permanent the sense of brotherly affection that had developed among the Continental officers during eight long years of war. The Society became known as the “One Society of Friends”. It is still the desire of the members of the Society to maintain that sense of brotherly affection among our current members. In order to achieve that, the current members are expected to actively participate in the meetings, functions and/or work of the Georgia Society, their State Association or the General (National) Society.
The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia has members living twenty-one different states. Traveling regularly to Savannah for Georgia Society meetings or to Washington, DC for General Society meetings is not practical for some of our members. Those members that are not able to attend meeting on a regular basis are able to participate in the work of the Society by being an active member of one of the numerous committees of the Society. As part of the application process, the applicant will be asked to tell the Georgia Society how he plan to participate in the work of the Society.
Support the Annual Fund: Members are also expected to donate each year to the Annual Giving Campaign of the General Society which supports:
- the training of teachers and educational groups from all over the United States, encouraging teachers to share the remarkable story of our War for Independence and the men who won it
- the preservation of the remaining unprotected revolutionary war battlefields
- the Society’s American Revolution library at the General Society’s headquarters at Anderson House in Washington, DC.
Be Approved by Membership: Applicants must be approved by vote of the Membership Committee, the Standing Committee and the Membership of The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia. Applicants for membership are voted on by the Membership in February and October.
Pay Fees: There is a $250 initiation fee due when applying for membership. $200 will be returned if the applicant is not accepted. Annual dues and assessments are set by a vote of the membership. Currently annual dues and assessments are a total of $250 per year.
The first step in the processing of joining the Society is determining that you have a qualifying propositus and that your propositus is not currently represented in the Society by another member. Each Propositus may be represented in the Society by only one Hereditary Member. (See the requirements for “A Qualifying Propositus” below)
After it is determined that you have a qualifying propositus and that the line is open, in that there are no current members of the Society based whose membership is based on being descended from your propositus, you will be able to apply for membership in the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia.
If you have a propositus that meets the qualifications for a “Qualifying Propositus” please email the following information, if known, to the Membership Committee for its verification and approval:
Your name:
Your nick name or name called:
Home Address:
City, State, Zip:
Date of birth:
Home phone:
Cell phone:
Email address:
Name of Propositus:
Propositus – Date and place of birth:
Propositus – Date and place of death:
Propositus – Resident of:
Propositus – Rank in the American Revolution:
Propositus – Continental Line state of service:
Propositus – Unit (Battalion, Regiment, General Staff, Ship, etc.)
If additional information is available on the Propositus that may help the Society Genealogists and Historian in their review of the Propositus, please submit that as well. The information should be emailed to: Membership@GASocietyOfTheCincinnati.org
After your Propositus has been approved, you will be sent a Membership Application Package. You will be required to submit:
1. A completed typed and signed original “Application for Membership” and one signed photocopy of the completed application.
2. Two copies of the completed “Lineal Descent” form with two copies of the complete documentation of the lineal descent from your Qualifying Propositus to you, including birth, marriage and death proof for each generation as well as proof of legitimate parentage in each generation.
3. Two copies of the completed “Participation Form”
4. Two personal letters of recommendation from Society of the Cincinnati members in good standing, at least one of which must be a member of the Georgia Society. If you do not personally know two Society members, please let the Society know and we will work see how we can get you together with some.
5. Two recent full-face photos about 3″ x 5″ or an electronic copy
6. A check in the amount of $250 payable to the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia as an initiation fee. (Please note that only $200 will be returned to you if your application is not accepted.)
Applications are voted on by the Georgia Society only twice a year, at the February and October meeting. Applications must be submitted sufficiently in advance of the Society’s February and October meetings so that the Membership Committee can consider the application and the Society’s Genealogists and Historian can review the submitted materials.
We look forward to hearing from you. If you have questions about the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia please contact: Membership@GASocietyOfTheCincinnati.org
Qualifying Propositus
The Qualifying Propositus must having the following minimum qualifications:
(Please note – Non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, commissions issued by a state governor or legislature and militia commissions do not qualify.)
1. Held a commission in the Georgia Continental Establishment or in the First Battalion of the Georgia State Line; or
2. Held a commission in any other Continental Establishment during the American Revolution. However, should Propositus have served in a Continental Establishment other than Georgia, an appropriate release agreeing for the Applicant to apply for membership in the Georgia Society must have been obtained from such state Society or the French Society, as appropriate; and
3. Held that commission and served honorably for a minimum of three years; or the Propositus died or was killed in commission under honorable circumstances; or served until the close of the American Revolution provided that this requirement may be waived by the Society in cases where a shorter length of service does not evidence a disaffection with the cause of American independence or such cases as officers:
- who were made supernumeraries or “half-pay” officers; or
- who were “deranged” (placed on retired status or released from further commissioned service due to act of Congress or of the Georgia Assembly reducing the Continental Line in Georgia); or
- who were transferred to the Continental service of some other line; or
- were paroled; or
- where the records are unclear but there is nothing to indicate that they did not complete the three-year service requirement; or
- they were honorably released from service because their services were no longer required;
Furthermore, following termination of service and prior to the execution of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783 the Propositus must not have actively opposed the cause of American independence or taken an oath of allegiance to the Crown.
4. Or, the Propositus was an Original Member of the Society of the Cincinnati in The State of Georgia; and
5. The Propositus is not currently represented in the Society of the Cincinnati by another Hereditary Member.