You can download the Forefather Application (PDF Link) and the Supplemental Application (PDF Link) print, fill out and mail it with a check, made payable to “Swedish Colonial Society”

Mail to the attention of the Curator:

The Swedish Colonial Society
The Lazaretto
97 Wanamaker Avenue
Essington PA 19029

Be sure to Save a Copy for your records.

The one time application fee for Forefather membership is $60.

Supplemental memberships may be granted to the applicant’s siblings, children and/or grandchildren for $30 each. Both forefather and supplemental forefather members must first be currently paid members of the Society. If not currently paid, a dues payment should accompany the forefather application. A non-member may submit an application with dues concurrently with an application for forefather membership.

Forefather Applications & Instructions Below

Click on the PDF link below to download the appropriate Forefather Membership Application

Please be sure to view our Defining Membership Roles page first.

DOWNLOAD Swedish-Forefather Application (PDF)
DOWNLOAD Supplemental-Forefather Application (PDF)

If you have any questions, please email: Registrar email link

Directions

List your name as the 1st generation followed by the name of your parent in the 2nd generation through whom you trace your ancestry. Then trace your ancestry by generation back to your Swedish Forefather. Fill in as much as possible. All information for each generation must be documented with a copy of the page and title page from each source. Underline the ancestor’s name and write his/her generation number on each source.

Note: If you are filling out the supplemental forefather membership form for a family member, please enter their email address in the Member Email Field on the first page. Supplemental applications need only to fill out pages 1 and 2 then follow the directions at the end.

If you are filling out the forms to mail in and wish to pay for your application ahead of time you may do so, here.

Documentation:

The Swedish Colonial Society Forefather Member Application

Suggested Sources for Documenting Generations

BIRTH: Complete Birth Certificate, Delayed Birth Certificate, Doctor/Midwife Record, Church Record, Social Security Record, Family Bible

MARRIAGE: Complete Marriage Record, Marriage Bond Bann, Divorce Record, Cemetery Record.

DEATH: Complete Death Record, Cemetery Tombstone (Photo), Church Record, Funeral Home Record, Insurance Policy, Family Bible.

CLASSIC SOURCES :
Census – State, Federal Land/Deed Records, Military/Pension Records, Tax Records, Wills -County/State, Tombstone Record (Photo), Newspaper Announcement, School Record, Baptismal Certificate, Census Record, Church Marriage Certificate, Newspaper Announcement, Tombstone (Photograph), Family Bible, Church Record, Notice of Obituary, Mourning/Funeral Card, Professional Organizations, Fraternal Organization Records, Probate Records, Bible and Family Records, Church Registers/Records or Encounters with the Law Histories (use with caution)

DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL PAPERS.

Copies of all documented sources are required and will not be returned. If you send copies of pages from a published book be sure to submit a copy of the title page as further proof of your reference. On the reverse side of each paper submitted for documentation, please write your full name and that of your Forefather with the generation number for which it is intended. Upon acceptance, all papers will be attached to your application and stored in our files for future reference. The general public does not have open access to any of the applications or attachments.

**The official registration and financial information of The Swedish Colonial Society may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.