Please note, that some family surname spellings may appear incorrect in the DAR GRS (Genealogical Research System) database.
Why? Because DAR says they use an algorithm (Sonix) to spell the surname as is sounds, but this is not to say that that was really the true historical surname spelling held by the Revolutionary War ancestors. Pasting the DAR logo with a surname does not mean it is accurate historically or correctly spelled, especially when there are spelling variations (wrong or right) involved.
Albeit, there are numerous surname misspellings/spelling variations of some surnames by others --other than actual family, who maybe couldn't pronounce or accurately spell the surname, and came up with numerous spelling variations. This, of course, does not include some surnames that evolved or were changed into other surname spelling variations by later generations.
One can find that the DAR archives (their GRC (Genealogical Records) database) in most cases, let's hope, likely have the correct, and historically documented surname spellings. Ask them about this, and they will say: they use Sonix, an algorithm that spells the name like it sounds, and that is usually what one will see when going to their website.
And, if upon not finding your ancestor in the first database shown (GRS) , upon researching further, it is then likely found in their archives, and in old membership applications, or archives, where the earlier generations applied for membership into DAR or SAR and used the properly spelled,historical,authentic family surname.
SAR, Sons of the American Revolution, likewise has some surname spelling mistakes, and some patriots have attached sources for the correct surname spelling yet the wrong spelling is used in the SAR database. For the most part, SAR collaborates with DAR, Daughters of the America Revolution, and it appears sometimes mistakes (in surname spellings), are copied from one database to another.
I have researched this, and talked to both DAR ( have family in DAR!), and SAR about this. So, please don't just assume surname spellings are correct or absolute for geni database input, especially when looking at only one source or one database of these wonderful societies who are supposed to be preserving history and those who made history during the Revolutionary War. Comments? Thanks!
links: http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/?tab_id=0
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