Membership is open to any American man, of eighteen years of age and of good moral character and reputation. He must provide proof of lineal descendant from an ancestor who rendered civil or military service in any of the Colonies in America before 4 July 1776, including service in any of the following capacities:
- in a battle under colonial authority,
- under the banner of Great Britain in North America in any of the wars in which the Colonists participated,
- all Military and Naval service of the Colonies,
- filled office of Governor, Lt. Governor or Deputy Governor,
- member or delegate to Council or Assembly,
- member of House of Burgesses,
- Deputy or Representative to General Court,
- Commissioner of the United Colonies; of Boundaries or Treaties; of Impost or Excuse; to the French or Indians,
- Secretary, Magistrate, Selectman, Justice, Judge of any Court of Law, or Equity Attorney, Advocate or Solicitor,
- Founder or Trustee of any College in North America founded prior to 1776,
- Minister of the Gospel, or Commissary of the Bishops of London,
- member of the Committee of Safety of the Continental Congress 1774-1775,
- member of Council of Safety of 1689,
- Signer of the Mayflower Compact,
- Speaker of the House of Deputies,
- physician or surgeon,
- member of Provincial Congress,
- Signer of the Declaration of Independence,
- Huguenot refugee,
- Signer of Oath of Allegiance to Great Britain,
- member of the London, Plymouth and Virginia Companies who actually came to the colonies, and descendants of the members of these companies who resided in the Colonies,
- Palatine settler,
- descendants of Coventers from Scotland,
- original land owner or proprietor, not inheritor,
- Salzburgers of Georgia.