Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older who can prove lineal descent from an ancestor who was a resident of the Virginia Colony on or prior to 31 December 1699 is eligible for membership provided they are acceptable to the Membership Committee.  Lineal descent (descendant) shall mean blood relative in the direct line of descent.

In applying for DAR membership, women must document their lineage back to an ancestor who aided the cause of American independence. These efforts may come through military, civil or patriotic service and must occur during the period between 19 April 1775 (Battle of Lexington) and 26 November 1783 (withdrawal of British Troops from New York).

The following criteria are used to determine whether an early settler may be included as a qualifying ancestor for purposes of membership in the Jamestowne Society. The individual:

was a stockholder in the London Company or the Virginia Company; or was a current member of one of the Guilds owning stock in the aforesaid companies during the period of investment; or was a signer of one of the three charters of the Virginia Company of London during the joint-stock company period of 10 April 1606 and 24 May 1624; 

owned land on Jamestown Island or lived on the Island prior to 1700 (owning land in a neighboring area or neighboring county does NOT of itself qualify an individual); 

was a resident in Virginia at the time of the 1624/25 Muster or earlier; 

served as Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, Clerk of the General Court, Member of the Council or House of Burgesses prior to 1700; these persons shall be conclusively presumed to have had their domiciles on Jamestown Island during their terms of office; 

was an Anglican Church (Church of England) minister in Virginia prior to 1700; or

served as an official Indian Interpreter in Virginia prior to 1700.

Any woman eighteen years of age or over of good moral character is eligible for membership, provided she has been invited by the Society, is eligible through birth parents or adopted parents if there is a blood relationship to the applicant, and is the lineal descendant of an ancestor who lived and served prior to 1701 in one of the Original Colonies in the geographical area of the present United States of America. Lineal descendant shall mean direct legal blood descendant.

Ancestor who served as a military or naval officer, or as a soldier, sailor, or

marine, or as a privateersman, 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