Anybody who:
- Was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Mecklenburg or Albemarle declarations, or the Cumberland Contract.
- Was a member of any Continental Congress
- Rendered material aid: supplies without renumeration, lent money to the Colonies, munitions or gunsmiths, food, clothing, etc.
- Served in military or navy 19 April 1775 to 25 November 1783, or furnished a substitute for military service.
- Participated in the Boston Tea Party, Kaskaskia Campaign, Galvez Expedition, Cherokee Expedition, or Edenton Tea Party.
- Was a Defender of forts and frontiers, or a ranger.
- Had been a prisoner of war.
- Was a physician, surgeon, nurse, or otherwise tended to the wounded.
- Rendered civil service under the Colonies 19 April 1775 to 25 November 1783.
- Was a member of such committees as safety, observation, inspection and correspondence.
- Pledged support to the cause of the Colonies, such as Oath of Fidelity and Support, Oath of Allegiance, or the Articles of Association or Association Test.
- Was a signer of petitions addressed to, and recognizing authority of, the provisional and new state governments.
- Acted under direction of provisional and new state governments.
- Was a member of clergy or other recognized leader of religion performing overt acts of resistance to authority of Great Britain.