Welcome to the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program
Applications are now open!
In partnership with the American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is pleased to announce the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program.
As a part of our programming for the commemorative year leading up to the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 2023, the goal of the program is to offer research information pertaining to the participants of the Boston Tea Party and their descendants. Using AM Quartex software, created for AM Explorer to house their extensive digital collections and assets. By using Quartex software, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum aims to build a collective digital asset online portal as resources become available. Stay tuned to this page for updates about the Quartex online portal!
The mission of the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program is to foster interest in genealogical connections to participants in the Boston Tea Party, their families, and those involved in the making of colonial rebellion in Boston. Through access to historical documents, aid from genealogists at the American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), lesson plans, secondary resources, oral histories, newsletters etc., the Boston Tea Party Descendants online portal will continue to grow into a resource for descendants, their families, researchers and organizations to bring a further personal and cultural understanding to the revolutionary event known as the Boston Tea Party. By connecting people to their personal, familial, and shared histories with the people involved in, and the events surrounding the Boston Tea Party, the online portal will aim to be a resource and connection to shared local history, national history, and international history. This will be a unique program, in that it will be a collaborative genealogical online portal that our members will help to build through their contributions in the form of family papers, and documents from other such genealogical applications that they wish to make available.
How to apply for Membership
Below you will find a list of member tiers and benefits, and all the materials you will need to apply to the program, as well as a manual with information about the proper documentation to submit, and where to submit it. Please read this page, and the manual in its entirety before sending your application materials.
Once you have downloaded your materials, please click here to pay your application fee. The fee for applying to the program is $400 which includes processing and vetting by genealogists at the American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS). Founded in 1845, NEHGS is the country’s leading resource for historical family research. The process for acceptance and vetting of application materials and lineage items will take at least 6-8 weeks. During this time, we may contact you if more information is needed from the genealogists before a determination is made. You can find more information about hiring genealogists for additional work in the Application Manual downloadable PDF at the bottom of this page. Upon acceptance to the program, you will receive an email from administrators with next steps, and should expect your welcome package in the mail.
When sending your materials, there are two options (please do not mail original documents unless arranged prior to sending, only send copies):
- Mail hard copies of all application materials and documents to:
Boston Tea Party Descendants Program
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
306 Congress St.
Boston, MA 02210 - Email digital scans of all application materials and documents to descendants@bostonteapartyships.com
Membership Tiers & Benefits
If you are accepted to the program, member tiers and benefits are categorized as follows:
The Boston Tea Party Descendants Program aims to offer a genealogical application process to descendants of participants in the Boston Tea Party, through a vetted application process filtered through the American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) that will lead to a yearly membership status that will offer the following (final membership prices pending):
- For those in the Lineage Member category:
- NEHGS defines this field as anyone who is a descendant with documented lineage to any of the following groups:
Boston Tea Party Participants, Loyal Nine, Boston Sons of Liberty, North End Caucus, St. Andrew’s Lodge, Ship guard volunteers, Signers of November 1773 petitions to town selectmen - $400 application fee/$125 annually for members will include:
Access to genealogical resources via the Boston Tea Party Descendant website, vetted lineage information from NEHGS, Coupon code to sign up for American Ancestors (upon acceptance) with access to NEHGS online portal etc., Complimentary copy of Defiance of the Patriots by Benjamin Carp upon sign up, Complimentary packet of 5 teas in Robinson Tea Chest upon sign-up, 15% discount to the museum/gift shop/tea room, Commemorative pin, 15% discount on merchandise specific to descendants program, Decorative Membership Certificate and wallet card (used for in-person discounts), Access to webinars, members-only events, other public events, quarterly newsletters, and special content throughout the year.
Click here to go to application process next steps >
- NEHGS defines this field as anyone who is a descendant with documented lineage to any of the following groups:
- For those in the Eyewitness to History category:
- NEHGS defines this field as descendants with documented lineages to the following groups:
Inhabitants of Boston in 1773, Eyewitnesses to history (family lore etc.) - $400 application fee/$100 annually for associate members will include: Access to genealogical resources via Quartex, vetted lineage information from NEHGS, Coupon code to sign up for American Ancestors, with access to NEHGS online portal etc., 10% discount to the museum/gift shop/tea room, Commemorative pin, 10% discount on merchandise specific to descendants program, Decorative Membership Certificate and wallet card (used for in-person discounts), Access to webinars, members-only events, other public events, quarterly newsletters, and special content throughout the year.
Click here to go to application process next steps >
- NEHGS defines this field as descendants with documented lineages to the following groups:
- For those in the Co-Conspirators category:
- A yearly fee for researchers, educators, or the general public that would like to support the program, with access to the Boston Tea Party Descendants landing website, as well as the following:
- 10% discount to the museum/gift shop/tea room, Commemorative pin, 10% discount on merchandise specific to descendants program, Decorative Membership Certificate and wallet card (used for in-person discounts), Access to webinars, members-only events, other public events, quarterly newsletters, and special content throughout the year. $75 annually.
Click here to start your membership (no application or application fee required for this membership tier) >