Society of Descendants of Scotland
The Society of Descendants of Scotland (SDS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Augustan Society, Inc. Online data is here.
The SDS was organized to further interest in the study of Scotland and Scottish emigrants. This has, at times, involved sponsorship of Scottish-American Genealogist. Today the scholarly and genealogical data gathered are submitted to The Augustan Omnibus, the Family of Augustans project, and the Books Editor for inclusion in the Augustan Lineages series.
The SDS is governed by the Dean of the SDS, appointed by and answerable to the President of the Augustan Society. Administrative tasks are assigned to the SDS Clerk.
Membership in the SDS is open to those who meet the following qualifications for each class of membership:
Membership Classes
Membership in the SDS is available in two exclusive classes:
Royal Class is available to persons who can prove descent from any King of Scotland; or
Hereditary Class is available to persons who cannot qualify for Royal Class, but who can prove descent from a Scottish family who lived in Scotland a minimum of three generations.
Note: The definition of "Scotland" for purposes of qualification is the current borders of that nation. Thus Ulster is specifically excluded, save for the colonial period of 1609–90.
The entry fee is $100; $50 for converting from Hereditary to Royal Class at a later date; plus a Genealogist Fee for each lineage submitted, including corrections and extensions. No fees need attach for lineages or portions of lineages already recognized by The Augustan Society, and a credit will be issued for any such duplication.
Insignia
 | The arms of the SDS is an inescutcheon Argent a thistle Proper, upon the shield of The Augustan Society, as shown to the left. |
 | The insignia of the SDS is a lapel pin showing the inescutcheon above, as shown to the left. Informally, this may be worn on the left lapel. Augustan Society members may wear the pin on the ribbon of the Medal of Membership when appropriate. |
All members, in whichever category, must submit the Entry Fee, and will receive the certificate of membership and the insignia of the SDS. Members may not belong to more than one class.
Induction Process
- Petitioners must submit to Headquarters a completed petition, proven lineage, payment of the Entry Fee, payment of the Genealogist Fee, and such other evidence of qualification as may be needed. The Headquarters staff may complete the paper petition form if all data is supplied in another format.
- The SDS Clerk will confirm that the lineage is in standard form and appears complete. Failing this, they will remand the lineage to the petitioner for additional information.
- The SDS Clerk will forward the lineage to the Genealogy Committee for review. That Committee will convert the lineage into standard format and a GED file, if needed.
- The SDS Clerk, being informed by the Genealogy Committee that the lineage is acceptable, will create a letter of welcome and a certificate of membership, these may be signed by the Dean of the SDS either physically or electronically at his discretion. If there is no Dean or they are unresponsive, the Assistant Secretary will sign and apply the corporate seal to the certificate before it is sent.
- The SDS Clerk will notify the Augustæum Editor of the induction if the petitioner is an Augustan Member.
- The SDS Clerk will notify the Custodian of Insignia of the induction that they may send the appropriate insignia with a cover letter.
The entry fee is $100; $50 for changing from Hereditary to Royal Class at a later date; plus the Genealogist Fee for each lineage submitted, including corrections and extensions. No fees need attach for lineages or portions of lineages already recognized by The Augustan Society, and a credit will be issued for any such duplication.
