The Commonwealth Assembly

Membership

Eligibility for Membership
Membership in the Commonwealth Assembly is open to men and women aged 16 or older who can document lineal descent from an ancestor who served the Colony of Virginia between 1607 and 10 June 1776. Eligible ancestors include those who held one or more of the following offices:

Governor (Acting, Deputy, Lieutenant, or President of the Council)
Secretary of State (Recorder)
Auditor General (including Deputy)
Receiver General
Treasurer (including Keeper of the Store / Cape Merchant)
Attorney General
Surveyor General
Councillor
Burgess

These officials formed the backbone of Virginia’s early representative government, and the Assembly honors their enduring legacy.

How to Apply
Inquiries into membership are warmly welcomed. Prospective applicants may contact the Registrar to begin the process or to confirm eligibility. Record copies from other lineage or hereditary societies may be accepted as supporting documentation, though all proofs are subject to review and approval by the Registrar. A personalized membership certificate is included in the lifetime membership fee.

Contact the Registrar
For membership inquiries, documentation guidance, or general questions, please contact: CommonwealthAssembly@aol.com

Research Tools for Applicants
To assist prospective members in documenting their lineage, the Assembly recommends the following trusted research resources:

Adventurers of Purse and Person by J. Frederick Dorman (3 volumes)
The Colonial Virginia Register, compiled by William G. Stanard and Mary Newton Stanard (available on Google Books)
A History of the Virginia House of Delegates https://history.house.virginia.gov/
Encyclopedia Virginia — House of Burgesses https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/house-of-burgesses/ (encyclopediavirginia.org in Bing) (Includes biographies of many Virginians and historical context)
Library of Virginia Catalog Search https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA&lang=en (lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com in Bing)

These resources provide biographical information, officeholder lists, and historical context that can help applicants verify service and establish lineage.