Category talk:American Revolutionary War Figures

Category Definition [13 April 2011]

I would like to propose that we make the Category "American Revolutionary War Figures" be WeRelate People that fought/participated on all sides of the American Revolution. That would be WeRelate People that were Americans on both sides, Patriots, and Loyalist, American Indians on both sides Patriots and Loyalist, English, French, Germans, Canadians.

Feedback? --DFree 15:36, 28 June 2009 (EDT)

Sounds good to me. Would descendants of anyone be eligible for membership in DAR/SAR/CAR? (Maybe it doesn't matter whether they would.)--Dallan 13:05, 29 June 2009 (EDT)

There were many sides on the American Revolutionary War. So there should be organizations on both sides of the pond as they say. There could be many WeRelate People that have Pensions, etc, that are not listed on WeRelate as being in the American Revolutionary War or on the DAR list. Examples could be Germans brought over by the British, American Indians on the British side etc for instance. American Loyalist that later went to Canada.

I do not know about the SAR, maybe a WeRelate User who is a SAR member can join the discussion. In the DAR a member of the DAR had to prove she was a descendant and prove every birth, marriage, and death beginning with themselves back to the DAR Patriot. Usually the DAR Patriot, and spouse are already proved, as are some of their children. The DAR is trying to make the documentation better, so some DAR Patriots need to be proved again. You can prove a brand new DAR Patriot with documentation showing they supported the American cause.

I am beginning to come to a small problem though. I know on WeRelate we are trying to make it a better sourced wiki. Some of the WeRelate People - DAR Patriots - mentioned are a little confused. Wrong wife, documentation needs helps, etc. Should we just import these People over, or add a note they need help?

Feedback?

It would be nice to add a note if it doesn't take too much time. There are a couple of good possibilities on the WeRelate talk:Watercooler under the Proposed "Sources needed" template section, and you could also consider User:Beth's Template:Questionable template.--Dallan 18:27, 29 June 2009 (EDT)

I just came across this category, and it seems to me that if we want a category that includes everyone who has served, then it should be called something else and not be a subcategory of "Notable people." To say someone was a "figure" in the war implies that they did something other than just serve, as does placing this under the Notable people category. There should be some other category for "everyone" called something like "People who fought in the American Revolutionary War."--Amelia 18:48, 13 January 2010 (EST)

This category is in conflict with the Category:Veterans structure being established based on discussion on the Watercooler. Unless anyone objects, I'm going to start moving non-notable figures over to a new structure. If you have an opinion on a structure for American Revolutionary War veteran sub-categories, let's discuss on this talk page.--Amelia 11:31, 10 April 2011 (EDT)

Hi Amelia, Since no one seems to be using it I do not have any problem with this. Transferring it, and making it a less broad category than "American Revolutionary War Figures" was worth a try. Debbie Freeman --DFree 11:48, 10 April 2011 (EDT)

I am not involved in this and have no plans on being involved, but it seems to me the first step is to define notable/figure with a definition that is not "in the eyes of the beholder". Above a certain rank? More than a certain amount of time in the service? Wounded or killed? Participated in one of the major engagements? Not militia? In wikipedia (although is this just relying on somebody else's eyes)? --Jrich 13:21, 13 April 2011 (EDT)

I'll take a stab at defining "notable": "an individual whose involvement in <x> is likely to be of interest to people beyond that individual's descendants." Keeps it vague enough to be inclusive, yet raises it above the level of just anyone who was involved in something. -- Amy (Ajcrow) 13:39, 13 April 2011 (EDT)