Posted on Feb 20, 2017
Sgt William Biggs
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How did you do the research?

I am a current member of the Sons of the American Revolution and have also traced my family through almost every engagement our country has had (all the way back to 1648)

Do you have any special veteran members or members of prominence in your lineage?

Also, if you need help I can point you in the right direction for research.

https://www.sar.org/
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Responses: 32
LTC Stephen C.
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Edited 7 y ago
Sure, Sgt William Biggs. I've been a member of the SAR since 1981. My mother's family can be traced back to Anthony Holland who migrated from northern Ireland and arrived in the Maryland area in the 1650s. I have a genealogical chart somewhere with the exact year.
At least six of my eight great, great grandfathers served in the CSA during the War of Northern Aggression.
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LTC Stephen C.
LTC Stephen C.
7 y
Sgt William Biggs, I don't have much more to add except that Abraham Holland and Reason (Reezin) Holland are both credited with Revolutionary War service and all eight great, great grandfathers are buried in AL and all are memorialized on Find A Grave.
I could also claim SAR membership on my father's side via the Putnam family, but I had already utilized the Holland family so I didn't pursue it.
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Sgt William Biggs
Sgt William Biggs
7 y
LTC Stephen C. - I did that as well. I used the Gardenhire side of mine because it was better documented.
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LTC Stephen C.
LTC Stephen C.
7 y
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Sgt William Biggs, still have my original SAR lapel rosette from 1981!
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CWO3 Dennis M.
CWO3 Dennis M.
7 y
I too am a Proud owner of that Rosette! VTSSAR.
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SGT Aaron Atwood
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Edited 7 y ago
Both sides of the Civil War, War of 1812, Revolutionary War. Unsure about the French and Indian War, but two ancestors were part of one of the first artillery companies in Massachusetts. Five-greats grandfather was one of GW's drummer boys and played Major John Andre's funeral march in 1780. That bit in particular I learned from one of my great grandfather's numerous documents.
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PO2 Robert M.
PO2 Robert M.
7 y
Wow, that is great you have such a strong knowledge of your heritage!
IMPRESSIVE!.
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SGT Aaron Atwood
SGT Aaron Atwood
7 y
PO2 Robert M. - My family history knowledge spans far more than what I said in the comment. I can name ancestors generation to generation w/o skips up to the late 12th century (something I find most Charlemagne chimers can't do), and I also rely on the research/records of historical churches (Sanderstead Parish was a big help for my pre-American ancestors) and independent folks like R. Potts. Between all the knowledge the significance still lies with that drummer boy ancestor because what he did is what got me interested in my family history in the first place, and also had a major influence in me joining the Marine Corps as a musician.
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SGT Aaron Atwood
SGT Aaron Atwood
>1 y
UPDATE: I found out a little over a year ago that the same Revolutionary War drummer boy was also one of two drummers present at the Battle of Bunker Hill on the American side. According to an ancestor who was a combat correspondent during the Spanish-American War: Isaac Orgin (name of the drummer) learned how to play the drum by watching closely the rudiments performed by the drummers of the British garrison in Boston. After the war he turned to life as a tavern cook, and had an Irish temper to match his height; as witnessed by locals when his cows refused to cooperate while walking them home through a muddy path.

At some point he applied for a pension that all Revolutionary War-era soldiers rated, but I have no idea if he ever received it. Under that application his billet was labeled as "Drum Major" so either by the time of Maj Andre's death or before war's end he got a promotion.
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PO1 Cryptologic Technician Collection
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Edited 7 y ago
My family has been here since the 1600s. My family consists of veterans of the French and Indian Wars, Revolutionary War, Civil War, 1812, WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and OEF.

Loose connections to Desert Storm (cousins of cousins)

This is my great-great...great uncle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Caswell

Also several other members (great grandfathers and great uncles) in the Revolutionary and Civil War.
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Sgt William Biggs
Sgt William Biggs
7 y
You have a member with a Wikipedia? That's awesome!
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PO1 Cryptologic Technician Collection
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7 y
Sgt William Biggs - Thanks man! It was pretty neat finding that one.
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