Success is measured by what the goal of the work was. Sometimes a client simply wants to uncover evidence to prove or disprove an old family story.
More commonly, clients wish to establish their lineage to apply for a hereditary society (see the Society Links tab). These are easier for me to track as successes. Even though I haven't really worried about maintaining a list of my work, a rough count of successful applications I have prepared is:
10 - Sons of the American Revolution
5 - Daughters of the American Revolution
1 - Children of the American Revolution
3 - The Jamestowne Society
3 - The Society of Indiana Pioneers
8 - The General Society of Mayflower Descendants (The Mayflower Society)
2 - Military Order of the Southern Cross in the Pacific Theater (WWII lineage)
2 - Guild of Colonial of Artisans and Craftsmen 1607-1783
1 - Flagon and Trencher
1 - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
1 - Daughters of '98
1 - Descendants of Early Postmasters 1607-1900
2 - Descendants of Early Farmers
1 - Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Churgeons
Several others are in preparation or have been submitted to a society. I need to note that some attempts to establish lineages have stalled due to not being able to find acceptable sources; I don't count those as failures. They simply get set aside for a while until new evidence becomes available and then I work on them again with fresh eyes. But that has happened only twice. I think it's a fair record!
More commonly, clients wish to establish their lineage to apply for a hereditary society (see the Society Links tab). These are easier for me to track as successes. Even though I haven't really worried about maintaining a list of my work, a rough count of successful applications I have prepared is:
10 - Sons of the American Revolution
5 - Daughters of the American Revolution
1 - Children of the American Revolution
3 - The Jamestowne Society
3 - The Society of Indiana Pioneers
8 - The General Society of Mayflower Descendants (The Mayflower Society)
2 - Military Order of the Southern Cross in the Pacific Theater (WWII lineage)
2 - Guild of Colonial of Artisans and Craftsmen 1607-1783
1 - Flagon and Trencher
1 - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
1 - Daughters of '98
1 - Descendants of Early Postmasters 1607-1900
2 - Descendants of Early Farmers
1 - Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Churgeons
Several others are in preparation or have been submitted to a society. I need to note that some attempts to establish lineages have stalled due to not being able to find acceptable sources; I don't count those as failures. They simply get set aside for a while until new evidence becomes available and then I work on them again with fresh eyes. But that has happened only twice. I think it's a fair record!