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| Application Fee $25  | Application Fee (student) $10 |
Heritage Certificate Application
Welcome to the Wise County Genealogy Society Program for the administration of certificates honoring pioneer citizens of Wise County, Texas. Without their efforts and endurance Wise County, would be much different than it is today. Our appreciation of them and their endeavors, in sometime dangerous situations, should be most appreciated. By honoring them with these certificates, it is hoped that their efforts will not go unnoticed andwill be remembered and appreciated by their descendants in future generations.
The Wise County Genealogical Society is proud to offer family historians a pioneer certificate program to recognize those with direct descent from Wise County, Texas first families and by doing so honor those individuals as well as their current descendants.
Certificate Descriptions
Wise County Frontier Certificate:
The successful applicant for this certificate must prove, by genealogical accepted standards, that his/her direct line ancestor(s), grandparent(s), great-grandparent(s) 2X great-grandparent(s) etc. were residents of what is now Wise County, Texas for a minimum of ten years up to and including 1870. Secondly, the applicant must prove his/her relationship through each previous generation to the qualifying ancestor(s). Applicants must complete the necessary forms for the awarding of this certificate and in doing so the applicant certifies that the information is accurate to the best of his /her ability and knowledge. All documents submitted for proof of residence and lineage, along with the application, will become the property of the Wise County Genealogical Society with none to be returned to applicant.
They Were Here Certificate:
The successful applicant for this certificate must prove, by genealogical accepted standards, that his/her direct line ancestor(s), grandparent(s), great-grandparent(s) 2X great-grandparent(s) etc. were residents of Wise County, Texas for a minimum of ten years from 1 Jan 1870 up to and including 1900. Secondly, the applicant must prove his/her relationship through each previous generation to the qualifying ancestor(s). Applicants must complete the necessary forms for the awarding of this certificate and in doing so the applicant certifies that the information is accurate to the best of his /her ability and knowledge. All documents submitted for proof of residence and lineage, along with the application, will become the property of the Wise County Genealogical Society with none to be returned to applicant.
Wise County Frontier, They Were Here Combination Certificate:
The successful applicant for this certificate must prove, by genealogical accepted standards, that his/her direct line ancestor(s), grandparent(s), great-grandparent(s) 2X great-grandparent(s) etc. were residents of what is now Wise County, Texas for a minimum of ten years up to and including 1870 and that they maintained a residence in Wise County for a minimum of 10 years during the period of 1870 through 1900. Secondly, the applicant must prove his/her relationship through each previous generation to the qualifying ancestor(s). Applicants must complete the necessary forms for the awarding of this certificate and in doing so the applicant certifies that the information is accurate to the best of his /her ability and knowledge. All documents submitted for proof of residence and lineage, along with the application, will become the property of the Wise County Genealogical Society with none to be returned to applicant.
Application addendum
- The same application form can be used for all Wise County Genealogical Society certificates by indicating which certificate you believe your ancestor(s) qualify.
- A new application form must be filled out for each qualifying ancestor.
- A $25 fee must be submitted with each original application and will not be refunded; $10 for students.
- Please do not submit original documents but copies thereof.
- A copy of all documents cited on the application must be submitted.
- In the case of married pioneers who both qualify as residents, one certificate will be awarded with both names affixed to the certificate.
- Any additional applicants (siblings, cousins, etc.) using the same qualifying person(s) must complete the application and submit the necessary proof of residence and lineage in its entirety.
- Applicants do not need to reside in Wise County, Texas or be members of the Wise County Genealogical Society, but we do encourage membership. Applicants interested in becoming a member can go to the Wise County Genealogical Society web site at wisegenealogy.org.
- Any incomplete application will be held for a maximum of one year. Any further action on an application after one year will necessitate a new application with another processing fee.
- All completed and processed applications will be turned over to the Wise County Historical Society for inclusion in the Family Files held at the Wise County Heritage Museum; all files are available for public research.Send application for evaluation to:
WCGS First Families Heritage Application
℅ Ronald Womack
4590 South FM 51
Decatur, Texas 76234