Does WikiTree record the number of Revolutionary War Patriot ancestors per member?

Question

I was wondering if WikiTree recorded our Revolutionary War Patriot ancestors and if so, is there an average number per WikiTree members?

Comments

Fun question Billy,

Of course people's numbers would depend on if they are American, and how old they are.  My son has twice the Patriot ancestors I do with well over 50.

WikiTree does not collect and group the information as you asked.

I'm sure people will chime in with their numbers :)

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Keith, I reckon that makes sense, your son's ancestor pool being larger due to the addition of your wife's ancestors. It is a fun question! BTW, I've only got a dozen or so thus far.

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One question is - Have you worked ALL your family lines back to that era?  Since it seems to be only men answering this post I'll ask specifically have you followed your maternal lines?  There are so many Rev War patriots who are not yet on WikiTree, we should all stop talking and get to work!

Just kidding with the orders.  It sure is fun when I get a new connection. Hooray for the 1776 Project.  -NGP

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The numbers would also depend on how many such ancestors one has identified. I know I have a few, but I haven't really tracked them yet. It's so easy to get sidetracked!

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Haha Nanette! I am still working on my lines but what you say is true.

I just saw a few days ago that I have a Lady Patriot ancestor on DAR!

She is listed under Racine but she was a Messager, she paid for services rendered in New France.

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I have lost count on how many of my ancestors were Revolutionary War Patriot Ancestors. I have found only three loyalists.

Answer 1

Yeppe'r just fount one today, I think he'ell need a little gussieing-up ;)

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Orme-319 

Answer 2

No wikitree does not record this data, sure anyone can count up how many you have, but it isnt recorded at all.

Comments

Davian is correct.  

The only recording of Revolutionary War Patriots is through the 1776 Project.  This, of course, depends upon individuals and volunteers who add the 1776 template to a profile.  That profile is then included in the appropriate Category.

I have seen no stats on the average number of Patriot Ancestors one might have on WikiTree.  As we are an international site (though heavily US centric) I would surmise that we have a wide range.

I have about 20, similar it would seem to Keith.  My daughter would have twice as much, like Kieth's son, if I had married a deeply rooted American.  However, I fell for a second generation Irish-American.  All her grandparents are from Ireland and came to the US between 1926-28.  So my daughter shares my Patriot Ancestors.

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By the way, Billy.  We are 15th Cousins 2x removed, through Sir Robert Throckmorton, Knight.  My line passes through my Moses Benedict and his Father Lt. John Benedict, Patriots both.

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That is some good stuff! And it also gives me some other leads. Isn't it interesting how we are all connected? LOL!

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Wow Michael, the relationship finder shows that you and I share 217 common ancestors within 25 generations, that's a bunch, haha

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Hey Billy, sorry for the delayed response.  WikiTree relationship tool is cool.  I has been said, but I have not read any statistics, that if you can find a Colonial Ancestor, then you chances of finding a common ancestor with someone increased dramatically.  The reason being was that the Colonial population was comparatively small and so a lot of intermarriage happened through which we Colonial ancestors descend.

Answer 3

Keep in mind that they are not all recorded in WikiTree either.

Comments

They are not all recorded in lots of places also.  I'll never forget the shock my sister and I both felt when we found a tombstone for one of our ancestors.  It clearly stated that he was a Revolutionary War Veteran and we had no idea!  We were more concerned about getting his name right.  It is Benejah Benedict, not as is often recorded, Benjamin Benedict.  I'll have to go see if he's made it to WikiTree or if he is waiting for me to add him!

Answer 4

Hi,  I have been researching Lieut. James Gould Gould-311 and his son James Gould; both New Hampshire men fought at the Battle of Saratoga.  My ancestor Noah Griswold served from Connecticut.  Being accurate takes time and collaboration.  Only this week, I verified New Hampshire Cemetery records, thanks to many helpers.  

BTW, James Gould Jr's feisty granddaughter snared 10 - 15 rabbits in a day in Nova Scotia and lived to 104.  Here's to the ladies!

Answer 5

I know exactly how much work it takes to track down all ancestors 3 generations back. 6 makes me want to let someone else do it. I do know of some found along the way in looking for "Mr and Mrs Gateway". My ancestors go back over a hundred years into the Colonial period. That is all I need to know. I will admit it is fun to find one. Regards

Answer 6

SAR members also count their Patriot Ancestors. Sons of the American Revolution is a Lineal Society, just as is DAR which was founded earlier to engage Patriot Minded people.

Answer 7

I have to ask, why is this relavant to genealogy? Someone having over 100 patriots while another person may only have 2 or 3 is not better than the other. The accomplishmebts of our ancestors belong to our ancestors, we did not perform those acts of bravery or cowardice. The only reason I can think of for wanting to state I'm related to 'x' number of patriots could be to claim some type of status. How would that assist genealogy?

Comments

Your point is well made but also consider that the more information about an ancestor we can piece together the richer our understanding of our own history. Knowing if someone fought in a war can allow you to also follow allied families and see how different events intertwine. 

Knowing your particular number of patriot ancestors, or even a Tory or two, to me is rewarding in a statistical way. The richness of our shared genealogical history is the reason we all keep coming back.

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I can see where knowing who they are and their descendants would enrich our knowledge and assist our understanding.. but just a number stated on a profile, I don't see the value added. For instance, someone seeing that I'm related to 25 patriots would not really mean anything, but knowing I was related to patriots from Virginia or knowing one of them was Adam Cunningham and another was Daniel Bliss could provide a missing link for someone. I guess I'm still not seeing the relavance of a stated number on a profile...

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Maybe if the wizarding WikiTree coders were feeling particularly nice they could have the number of patriot ancestors on a profile link to a unique source page that included such information as the individuals referenced and where they were from. As well this information might be expounded upon with how these lines of decent cross or even each patriot’s actual or predicted number of decedents.

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Terri, I agree, a stated number by itself is pretty meaningless.

But having one of those minds that gets lost in the weeds pondering meaningless statistics, I was wonder if there is something useful in there.

I noticed that Keith and I have around the same number of Known patriots and that we are of the same generation.  His son, has twice the number because he married someone who also has about the same number from his generation, whereas I married an Irish woman.  So his son and my daughter do not have about the same number because of who we married.  

So, pondering, could that number be a guide to what generation you are from or if your ancestors married outside of their Colonial roots?  Probably not, but fun to think about.  

It does get me thinking about this stuff but as an arbitrary number, I can see no practical use.

Answer 8

I've tracked down 14 that are confirmed and several more that are unconfirmed. I'm proud to say that there were no Loyalist!