Any male person of good character, and lineal descendant of one who, as a military, naval or marine officer, soldier, sailor, or marine, in actual service, under the authority of any of the thirteen Colonies or States or of the Continental Congress, and remaining always loyal to such authority, or a lineal descendant of one who signed the Declaration of Independence, or of one who, as a member of the Continental Congress, or of the Congress of any of the Colonies or States, or as an official appointed by or under the authority of any such legislative bodies, actually assisted in the establishment of American Independence by services rendered during the War of the Revolution, becoming thereby liable to conviction of treason against the Government of Great Britain, but remaining always loyal to the authority of the Colonies or States, or, who served honorably in a military or naval expedition against the British during the War of the Revolution under the authority of the French or Spanish Governments shall be eligible to membership in the Society. The period of service must have occurred between April 19, 1775 - April 19, 1783, inclusive.

Provided, that when the claim of eligibility is based on the service of an ancestor in the "minute-men" or "militia," it must be satisfactorily shown that such an ancestor was called into service of the State or the United States, and performed garrison or field duty.

Further, when the claim of eligibility is based on the service of an ancestor as a "sailor" or "marine", it must in like manner be shown that such service was other than shore duty and regularly performed in the Continental Navy, or the navy of one of the original thirteen states, or on an armed vessel, other than a merchant ship, which sailed under letters of marque and reprisal, and that such ancestor of the applicant was duly enrolled in the ship's company, either as an officer, seaman or otherwise than as a passenger;.

When the claim of eligibility is based on the service of an ancestor as an "official," such service must have been performed in the civil service of the United States, or one of the thirteen original States, and must have been sufficiently important in character to have rendered the official liable to arrest and imprisonment, the same as a combatant, if captured by the enemy, as well as liable to conviction of treason against the Government of Great Britain.

In the construction of this article, the volunteer Aides-de-Camp of General Officers in Continental Service, who was duly announced as such and who served in the field during a campaign, shall be comprehended as having performed qualifying service. The civil officials and military forces of the State of Vermont, during the War of the Revolution, shall also be understood in the same manner as if they had belonged to one of the thirteen original States.

No service of an ancestor shall be deemed as qualifying service for membership in the "Sons of the Revolution" where such ancestor, after assisting in the cause of American Independence, shall have subsequently either adhered to the enemy or failed to maintain an honorable record throughout the War of the Revolution.