Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Genealogy Education Bytes - Week of 14 to 20 November 2024

  Welcome to Genealogy Education Bytes, posted on Wednesday afternoon for the past week, where we try to highlight the most important genealogy and family history education items that came across our desktop since the last issue.


1) Upcoming Conferences and  Institutes 

* Conference Keeper Calendar

*  RootsTech 2025 (Free/$$) - 6-8 March 2025 - Virtual (Free) and In-Person ($$) (Salt Lake City, Utah)

*  Australasian Conference 2025 - Connections: Past, Present, Future ($$) - 21-24 March 2025 - In-Person (Brisbane, Australia)

*   OGS 2025 Conference "Light Up Your Genealogy" ($$) - 30 April to 3 May 2025 - In-Person (Sandusky, Ohio)

*  NGS 2025 Family History Conference "Tales & Trails" ($$) - 23-25 May 2025 - Hybrid (Louisville, Ky.)

2 ) Upcoming Seminars, Webinars and Online Classes (times are US Pacific):

* Conference Keeper Calendar - has many links to register for and/or view webinars and classes.

*  FamilySearch Library Classes and Webinars (Free)

*  GenWebinars ($$)

*  THE Family History Show ($$) - 8 Februry 2025 - Online

*  Family Tree Webinars (Free for a week) - Wednesday, 20 November, 11 a.m.:  Top Ten AI Genealogy Breakthroughs of 2024 by Steve Little.

*  Family Tree Webinars (requires membership) - Friday, 22 November, 11 a.m.:   Information Overload? Effective Project Planning, Research, Data Management & Analysis by Elizabeth Shown Mills.

*  Family Tree Webinars (Free for a week) - Tuesday, 3 December, 5 p.m.:  Finding Your British WWI Soldier – Dead or Alive by Paul Milner.

*  Family Tree Webinars (Free for a week) - Wednesday, 4 December, 11 a.m.:  DNA Case Study: Reconstructing A Family Tree Using DNA by Michelle Leonard.

*  Family Tree Webinars (Free for a week) - Friday, 6 December, 11 a.m.:  The Trifecta: Giving Light to the Lives of the Formerly Enslaved by Nicka Smith.

3) Recent Podcasts:



*  Weekly Genealogy Toolkit:  Audit your tree

4) Recent YouTube Videos:






*  DearMYRTLE's Archive:  Mondays with Myrt - 18 Nov 2024

*  Ellen Thompson-Jennings- Family History Hound:  Unlock Ancestry's ProTools - Smart Filter




*  FamilySearch:  Using the FamilySearch Wiki
*  FamilySearch:  Ancestry x RootsTech 2025!


*  Genealogy TV:  In Legal Terms

*  Int'l Institute of Genealogical Studies:  Little Known English Records Research site—LondonLives
*  Int'l Institute of Genealogical Studies:  Irish Records: Catholic Church Dispensations
*  Int'l Institute of Genealogical Studies:  Internet Tools: Microsoft Word for Genealogists





*  National Genealogical Society:  10 October 2024 OrgConnects! on The Family History Guide




*  Write Your Family History With Devon Noel Lee: The CHALLENGE of Using ROOTSMAGIC Narrative Reports to Write a Genealogy Story
*  Write Your Family History With Devon Noel Lee:  THINK TWICE Before Writing Your Family History in the FIRST PERSON

5) Did you miss the last post in this series - Genealogy Education Bytes -  7 to 13 November 2024?

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/11/genealogy-education-bytes-week-of-14-to.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share your comment on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at   randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. 

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My Father, Frederick Walton Seaver at Age 70 -- (Not So) Wordless Wednesday #847

I can't help it, I can't do a wordless post! This is one of my favorite and most priceless family  photograph collections: 


This is a photograph of my father, Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) taken in 1982 at the Point Loma house, probably when his brother Edward came to visit.  

This photograph is a part of my family history.   

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Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.    I moderate all comments and they may not appear immediately - please write only one comment.

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Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 13 to 19 November 2024

 Welcome to Genealogy News Bytes, posted on Tuesday afternoon for the past week, where we try to highlight the most important genealogy and family history news  items that came across our desktop since the last issue.    


1)  Genealogy and Family History News Articles:




2)  DNA-Related News Articles





4)  Genealogy Software/App News




5)  New or Updated Genealogy Digital Record Collections:








6)  Did you miss the last post in this series?  See Genealogy News Bytes - 6 to 12 November 2024.

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Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Ask AI: "What Process and Evidence Comprises a Proof Argument That Meets the Genealogical Proof Standard?"

The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Meta, CoPilot and Claude) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.

I wondered if the FREE AI tools could provide me with information about creating a genealogical proof argument that meets the Genealogical Proof Standard.

1)  My first Prompt was: "You are a professional genealogist experienced with the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS).  What process and evidence comprises a proof argument that meets the Genealogical Proof Standard?"

ChatGPT4 provided this response:

A proof argument that meets the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) must involve a structured process and a combination of evidence that collectively addresses all aspects of a genealogical question. Here are the key steps and components needed to create a GPS-compliant proof argument:

1. Conduct a Reasonably Exhaustive Search

  • Process: Gather as much information as possible, including all relevant records, to ensure that the research is thorough and no significant sources are overlooked. This may involve a variety of sources: vital records, census records, wills, deeds, court documents, church records, and other historical documents.
  • Evidence: Collect direct, indirect, and negative evidence from diverse and relevant sources that pertain to the question at hand. A broad array of evidence reduces the risk of missing contradictory or corroborative details.

2. Ensure Complete and Accurate Source Citations

  • Process: Document each source used in the research process with precise citations, following a standard citation format. Each citation should allow another researcher to locate the same source independently and verify its contents.
  • Evidence: Citations should detail the author, title, publication information, location, and specific page or record number within each source. Digital sources should include a permanent URL or repository information.

3. Analyze and Correlate the Evidence

  • Process: Carefully examine each piece of evidence in context, understanding its reliability, credibility, and relevance. This includes evaluating the source’s original purpose, assessing its accuracy, and noting any biases or limitations.
  • Correlation: Compare and contrast evidence from multiple sources, identifying patterns, contradictions, and supportive details that either strengthen or weaken the argument. Consider factors like proximity to the event, primary vs. secondary nature, and internal consistency.

4. Resolve Conflicting Evidence

  • Process: Identify and address any contradictions in the evidence, analyzing the sources’ reliability and the probable cause of discrepancies. This may involve weighing evidence based on the quality of the source or the strength of each piece within the body of evidence.
  • Resolution: Provide a reasoned explanation for any conflicts, demonstrating why one interpretation of evidence is more likely correct than others. Without this step, any unresolved conflict weakens the proof.

5. Write a Clear and Convincing Conclusion

  • Process: Assemble the findings into a clear, logically reasoned argument. The conclusion should explain the basis of the final determination, detailing how each piece of evidence contributes to answering the research question.
  • Argument: Present a coherent narrative or report that leads the reader through the steps of research, analysis, and reasoning used to reach the conclusion. Avoid assumptions not supported by evidence and address any remaining limitations of the argument.

Summary: Building a GPS-Compliant Proof Argument

In sum, a GPS-compliant proof argument requires thorough, well-documented research, critical analysis of all relevant sources, and a logical, evidence-supported resolution. By following these steps, a genealogist can create a defensible and transparent argument that meets the rigorous standards of genealogical proof.

2)  My second prompt:  "can you provide an example of a successful proof argument using a fictional person, say Frank Seaver (1852-1922), born and lived in Massachusetts, who married, had three sons, and was a combmaker?"

The ChatGPT4 response was:

Certainly! Here’s a fictional example of a successful proof argument for Frank Seaver (1852–1922) that follows the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS).

Research Question

Who were the parents of Frank Seaver, born in 1852 in Massachusetts, who was a combmaker and died in 1922?

Summary of Known Facts

  • Name: Frank Seaver
  • Birth Year: 1852
  • Birth Place: Massachusetts
  • Occupation: Combmaker
  • Death Year: 1922
  • Residence: Massachusetts
  • Family: Married with three sons

Step 1: Conducting a Reasonably Exhaustive Search

To identify Frank Seaver’s parents, I searched multiple sources that could include his parents' names. The research plan included:

  1. Vital Records: Birth, marriage, and death records in Massachusetts.
  2. Census Records: U.S. Federal Census records from 1850 to 1920 to track Frank through his life and potentially identify family members.
  3. Local Histories: Histories of Massachusetts towns known for comb-making, looking for references to Frank and potentially his family.
  4. Occupational Records: Records of the comb-making industry, as Frank's occupation was specific and could connect him to family members in the same trade.
  5. Probate and Land Records: Records in Massachusetts for property ownership or inheritance, which might link Frank to family members.

Step 2: Source Citations

Each piece of evidence is fully cited here to ensure traceability:

  1. 1852 Birth Record: Massachusetts Vital Records, Births, 1852, “Frank Seaver,” Middlesex County; Massachusetts State Archives.
  2. Marriage Record: Massachusetts Vital Records, Marriages, 1876, “Frank Seaver and Mary Ellis,” Middlesex County; Massachusetts State Archives.
  3. Death Record: Massachusetts Vital Records, Deaths, 1922, “Frank Seaver,” Middlesex County; Massachusetts State Archives.
  4. Federal Census Records: U.S. Federal Census, 1860–1920, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
  5. Probate Records: Middlesex County Probate Court, Will and Inventory of Nathaniel Seaver (potential father), 1875.
  6. Land Deed: Middlesex County Deeds, 1870, property transfer from Nathaniel Seaver to Frank Seaver; Middlesex County Registry of Deeds.

Step 3: Analysis and Correlation of Evidence

  1. Birth Record: The 1852 birth record in Middlesex County lists Frank Seaver, born to Nathaniel Seaver and Rebecca (Jones) Seaver. His birth year and county match the known information about Frank.
  2. Marriage Record: Frank Seaver’s marriage record from 1876 lists his parents as Nathaniel Seaver and Rebecca Jones, aligning with the birth record.
  3. Death Record: The 1922 death record for Frank Seaver includes his occupation (combmaker) and spouse (Mary Ellis), confirming the identity match. His parents are also listed as Nathaniel Seaver and Rebecca Jones.
  4. Census Records:
    • In the 1860 census, Frank Seaver, age 8, appears in Middlesex County with parents Nathaniel and Rebecca Seaver, confirming the family grouping.
    • In the 1870 census, Frank, age 18, lives in the same county, working as an apprentice combmaker.
    • Subsequent census records (1880–1920) show Frank as a combmaker, married to Mary, with three sons, confirming continuity of identity and occupation.
  5. Probate Record: Nathaniel Seaver’s 1875 probate file names “Frank Seaver, my son,” providing further direct evidence of the relationship.
  6. Land Record: A deed from 1870 shows Nathaniel transferring property to Frank, suggesting a familial relationship and possible early support in establishing Frank’s career.

Step 4: Resolving Conflicting Evidence

In this case, all records consistently point to Nathaniel and Rebecca (Jones) Seaver as Frank’s parents. No conflicting evidence appears in the search—no other Frank Seaver with a different parentage, birth location, or birth date was found in Massachusetts records during this period.

Step 5: Conclusion

The combined evidence supports that Frank Seaver, born in 1852 in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, who died in 1922, was indeed the son of Nathaniel Seaver and Rebecca Jones. This conclusion rests on:

  1. Corroborating information from Frank’s birth, marriage, and death records.
  2. Consistent census records that trace him through life stages and confirm his occupation.
  3. Direct statements from Nathaniel Seaver’s probate and land records linking Frank as a son.

All sources were analyzed for reliability, correlation, and consistency, satisfying the Genealogical Proof Standard. This proof argument firmly establishes Frank Seaver’s parentage through a well-supported, documented, and reasoned conclusion.

3)  My third prompt was:  "What information is most important in selecting a research question?"

The ChatGPT4 response was: 

Selecting an effective research question in genealogy is crucial to achieving a focused and productive investigation. The following key considerations will help you identify the most important aspects of choosing a research question:

1. Specificity

  • A good research question is clear and specific, targeting a single fact or relationship.
  • Avoid overly broad questions like “Who were all of my ancestors in the 1800s?” Instead, ask, “Who were the parents of Henry Carringer, born in 1800 in Pennsylvania?”

2. Relevance

  • Choose a question that aligns with your broader research goals, such as tracing a direct line, uncovering unknown ancestors, or solving a family mystery.
  • Example: If your goal is to verify eligibility for a lineage society, focus on proving a specific ancestor’s parentage or military service.

3. Time and Place

  • Incorporate known details about the time period and location relevant to the individual or event.
  • Example: “Where was Sarah Feather born in 1804, and who were her parents?” reflects her birth year and place, guiding the search to relevant records.

4. Availability of Records

  • Consider whether sources exist to answer the question. Research in areas with sparse records may require broadening the scope or refining the question.
  • Example: If local records for a specific town are missing, expand the geographic scope to neighboring counties or regions.

5. Complexity

  • Balance the complexity of the question with the time, resources, and skills available. Simple questions (e.g., finding a marriage date) are easier to address than complex ones (e.g., resolving conflicting evidence of parentage).
  • Example: Beginners might focus on confirming vital records, while experienced genealogists may tackle multi-generational puzzles.

6. Known Information

  • Use what you already know as a foundation. Formulate the question to fill gaps in your research or clarify ambiguous details.
  • Example: If you know a couple’s children but not their marriage date, ask, “When and where did Henry Carringer and Sarah Feather marry?”

7. Feasibility

  • Ensure the question is answerable with existing resources, considering access to online databases, libraries, or archives.
  • Example: A question like “What were the names of John Doe’s grandparents?” may require expanding to indirect evidence if no direct records survive.

8. Avoiding Assumptions

  • Phrase the question neutrally, avoiding assumptions that might bias your research.
  • Example: Instead of “Was Henry Carringer’s father named John?” ask, “Who were the parents of Henry Carringer, born in 1800 in Pennsylvania?”

9. End Goal

  • Think about how answering the question will advance your research. Will it:
    • Break through a brick wall?
    • Connect generations?
    • Clarify a conflicting relationship?
    • Verify eligibility for a society or legal claim?

By carefully considering these factors, you can frame a research question that is specific, relevant, and actionable, setting the stage for a successful genealogical investigation.

5)  I asked the same questions on Perplexity, and received similar answers.  I recommend doing several AI tools because they may have been trained on different reference materials.

Perplexity also provides links and summary information from the Internet.  In this case, their answers were informed by:

6)  Is this information complete and accurate?  We always have to confirm information that has been summarized, analyzed and presented by the AI Tools, and they may not be complete or accurate.  This information looks pretty good to me, and appears to be derived from resources that experienced genealogists know to use for the GP S and crafting a genealogical proof argument. 

 I like that the AI tools created a "Research Question" to answer in the second Prompt - I intentionally didn't ask it to do that.  Note that I gave the AI tool very limited information.  Although the details of the Frank Seaver answer are intentionally wrong, it's an excellent example.  The third prompt asked about the best features of a Research Question.  I was surprised that ChatGPT4 used names and dates of my own ancestors as the examples in forming a Research Question.

There is one book reference and seven online references, including a YouTube video) in the list of sources from Perplexity.  I don't know why it didn't reference Elizabeth Shown Mills book and/or website, Evidence Explained.  It may be as simple as it wasn't pre-trained on the book.

7)  See all of my Artificial Intelligence-related posts at https://www.geneamusings.com/p/artificial-intelligence-posts.html

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Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver


Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Seavers in the News -- 1980 Obituary of James W. Seaver of Olathe, Kansas

Here is this week's edition of "Seavers in the News" - a weekly feature from the historical newspapers about persons with the surname Seaver that are interesting, useful, mysterious, fun, macabre, or add information to my family tree database.

This week's entry is from The Kansas City [Mo.] Times newspaper dated Tuesday, 28 October 1980, Page 29, Column 4:


The transcription of the article is:

"James W. Seaver

"James William Seaver, 89, Olathe, died Monday at a nursing home in Olathe.  He was born in Willow Springs, Mo., and had lived in this area since 1982.  Mr. Seaver was a farmer and a carpenter before he retired in 1958.  He was a member of the Stanwood Friends Church, McLouth, Kan.  He leaves his wife, Mrs. Sadie Seaver of the home; two sons, Clarence Seaver, McLouth, and Billy Seaver, Aguanga, Calif.; four daughters, Mrs. Frances Sink, Spring Hillin Johnson County, Mrs. Lena Thompson, Summersville, Mo., Mrs. Darlene Overbaugh, Tonganoxier, Kan., and Mrs. Charlene Snell, McLouth; a brother, Paul Seaver, Calimesa, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.  Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church; burial in Wild Horse Cemetery, McLouth.  Friends may call from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the Frye Chapel, Olathe.  The family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association."

The source citation is:

"James W. Seaver," The Kansas City [Mo.] Times newspaper, Tuesday, 28 October 1980, page 29, column 4, James W. Seaver obituary; imaged,  Newspapers.com   (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 18 November 2024).

This obituary provides a summary of the family of James W. Seaver, with information about his age, place of death, birthplace, residence, employment, church membership, and names and residences of his wife, children and brother, and services. 

James William Seaver (1891-1980) was born 27 December 1891 in Willow Springs, Missouri, the son of John Franklin and Anne M. (Edwards) Seaver; he died 27 October 1980 in Olathe, Kansas.  He married Sadie Beatrice Glover (1900-1987) on 16 October 1916 in Independence, Mo.  They had seven children:
  • Lena Alice Seaver (1918-2012), married Calvin Chester Thompson (1915-1995).
  • Clarence Paul Seaver (1920-2010), married 1940 Lucy Elizabeth Kell (1920-2014)
  • William Allen Seaver (1927-2017), married 1954 Mary E. Coleman (1917-????).
  • Frances Irene Seaver (1930-2023), married 1954 George Reed Sink (1926-2020).
  • John Franklin Seaver (1932-1932).
  • Charlene Mae Seaver (1935-2015), married William Glenn Snell (1929-1994).
  • Darlene Seaver (1935-2014), married 1953 Robert Eugene Overbaugh (1926-2004).
I am not related to James William Seaver (1891-1980) in the Seaver line.  he is descended from Henry and Elizabeth (--?--) Seaver who married in 1770 in Virginia.

There are over 10,000 Seaver "stories" in my family tree - and this is one of them.   Life happens, accidentally and intentionally, and sometimes a person has a great obituary with complete family information.  I am glad that I can honor James William Seaver today.  

You never know when a descendant or relative will find this blog post and learn something about their ancestors or relatives, or will provide more information about them to me.

                                  =============================================

Disclosure:  I have a paid subscription to Newspapers.com and have used it extensively to find articles about my ancestral and one-name families.


Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.    Share it on Twitter, Facebook,  or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Please note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Monday, November 18, 2024

Changes Are Coming To the FamilySearch Catalog

Noted genealogist and genea-blogger  James Tanner posted two blog posts in the last month about Changes to the FamilySearch Catalog - see them at The Beginning of the End of the FamilySearch Catalog or another Beginning? (posted 25 October 2024) and Update on the end of the FamilySearch.org Catalog (posted 6 November 2024).  

The existing FamilySearch Catalog is at https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog.

There is also a FamilySearch News item dated 17 October 2024, What's New with the FamilySearch Catalog, which has information about the FamilySearch Catalog.  That article notes that

The most noticeable change with this update is that the Catalog uses the newest FamilySearch place standards. Place standards provide a consistent experience for how place information is organized and presented. Standards must be updated regularly since place names around the world are changing.

It goes on to describe what the changes entail, and how the changes might affect our Catalog searches. 

1)  In the first article, James said:  "Now, there is a new FamilySearch.org Catalog. See https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/our-catalogs."


That page says:

Either catalog can be searched, however it's best to use the new Library Catalog because it's continually being updated. The existing Catalog on FamilySearch.org was last updated September 2022. 

Looking for a microfilm or microfiche? 

Either catalog can be searched, however it's best to use the existing FamilySearch.org Catalog because it includes access to many of the microfilms and microfiche physically located in either the FamilySearch Library or the FamilySearch Archives, along with links to their digital images, if accessible digitally.

2)  The link to "Access the New Catalog" is https://libcat.familysearch.org/?browseCategory=familysearch_new_books which takes you to the New Books page.


There is a Search field at the top of that screen.  On the screen above, I input "Albany County, New York" into the search field and clicked on "Subject" in the Keyword field, kept "in Library Catalog" next to the Keyword field, and clicked on the "Search" button on the far right.  The result was:


There were five items listed, all from microfilm and microfiche. 

I know that the "Old" Catalog had many more entries for Albany County, New York.  So I clicked on the field with "In Library Catalog" and saw more entries in the dropdown menu, and selected "in Library Website."  I clicked "Search" again and saw:


The results show 782 "All Results," of which 703 are "Available at the FamilySearch Library"  and 350 are "Available Online."  Here is the list for "Available at the FamilySearch Library":


I chose the "Best Match" from the drop down list, but there are 9 different options there.  

On the left side of the screen is an opportunity to "Narrow Your Results."

The database entries on the list have links to "Microfilm" and "Online Content."  For the first item on the list above, the "Online Content" link takes me to the search page for the "United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975" database on FamilySearch.

The Results page has 40 entries at most, so the user needs to click "Next" to see them all (20 pages for the search above).

4)  This "New Catalog" system is much different from the "Old Catalog" system.  The search results are different also.  Note that the results for a locality are NOT in alphabetical subject order.  I'm sure there are many other differences!!

5)  I anticipate that, at some time in the maybe not-too-distant future, that the "Old Catalog" will be retired and the "New Catalog" will be the only option that researchers have to find the "needles in the FamilySearch Catalog" haystack.  

We all need to stay tuned to this "New Catalog" way to do things.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/11/changes-to-familysearch-catalog.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Please note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

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Randy's Genealogy Pot-Pourri - Week Ending 17 November 2024

 Here are the highlights of my family history and genealogy related activities over the past week (ending 17 November 2024).  

1)  Hosted and moderated the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Research Group Meeting on Wednesday.  I reported on FamilySearch Full-Text Search additions, Kory Meerink's New York book, the WikiTree symposium, and Artificial Intelligence updates, plus my own research and blogging.

2)  Watched several longer YouTube videos, including Ancestry® Pro Tools: Taking Your Family Tree to the Next Level by Crista Cowan, Ask the Experts with Roberta Estes by Diahan Southard, and How Fear and Bullying Are Silencing Genealogists - And How to Make This Stop by Devon Noel Lee.  Also listened to Steve's and Mark's Episode 17 of The Family History AI Show podcast.

3)  Participated in Mondays With Myrt on Monday, 11 November.  The panel discussed Veterans Day remembrances, and panelists and watchers listed their veteran ancestors and relatives, etc.

4)  Transcribed the 1886 Mortgage Discharge of London Land Company to James Kemp and Malissa Kemp for Land in Middleton Township, Norfolk County, Ontario for the Amanuensis Monday theme. 

5)  Wrote a genealogical sketch for my 2nd Great-GrandAunt Clarissa Hildreth (1814-1819) of Townsend, Massachusetts for the 52 Relatives theme.

6)  Requested free AI tools to answer a genealogy research question, and posted answers in Ask AI: "Why Would a Person Not Have Their Birth Parents Surname In the 1850 To 1920 Time Frame?" and Ask AI: "Please Help Me Find All Useful Genealogy Resources Relevant To Albany and Saratoga Counties, New York Between the Years 1760 and 1800"


7)  Requested free AI tools to create a poem and song lyrics about my great-grandfather, Thomas Richmond (1848-1917) and had Suno.com create a song.  I posted the poem created by Claude AI, the song lyrics created by Claude AI, and the Suno song MP4, in  "The Weaver's Journey" -- An Ancestor's Genealogy Poem and Song Created by Artificial Intelligence.


9)  My AncestryDNA now has 47,285 DNA matches (up 45 from 10 November) with 1998 "close" matches today, with 3 new ThruLines.  I added Notes to 3 Matches, and added 3 new DNA match lines to RootsMagic.   MyHeritageDNA now has 13,017 DNA matches (up 26 from 10 November) for me.  Reviewed the new DNA matches on AncestryDNA, MyHeritageDNA, FamilyTreeDNA and 23andMe.  

10)  Created more short narrative reports in RootsMagic 10 for ancestors in New England and added the reports to their Person Notes.  The reports include the info about each person, their parents, their spouse(s), their children, short evemt notes, and sources.  Also continued editing place names in RootsMagic to reflect historical place names rather than current place names.  There are many more to do!  

11)  Occasionally matched RootsMagic 10 profiles to FamilySearch Family Tree.  I have matched 52,164 of my RootsMagic persons with FamilySearch Family Tree profiles (up 21).  FamilySearch Records has 3,388 record collections (down 2).  FamilySearch Images has 5.510 billion images (up about 15 million).  Full-Text Search now has 1,397 collections (up 75) with 394.4 million pages (up 2.6 million) transcribed and sourced.  Full-Text Search has 141,703 "+seaver" results (up 383).  

12)  Searched for more records of ancestral families on Ancestry, FamilySearch and MyHeritage, downloaded record images to my digital file folders, and added research notes, events and sources to RootsMagic profiles.  My RootsMagic family tree now has 73,886 profiles (up 33 from last week) and 147,291 source citations (up 14).

13) Wrote 19 Genea-Musings blog posts last week (Sunday through Saturday), of which one was a press release. The most viewed post last week was "The Redhead Beauty of Lancaster Street" -- An Ancestor's Genealogy Poem and Song Created by Artificial Intelligence with over 295 views.  Genea-Musings had about 184,000 page views last week and over 973,000 views over the past month.  

14)  Real life events:  Visited Linda almost every day at her memory care facility and we played Uno.  Went to the grocery store on Monday and Friday.  Called my brother Scott on his birthday and we tried to recall family stories - lots of laughs!  Finished reading Guilty Wives by James Patterson and David Ellis.  Watched the Chargers game on Sunday (they won, so now 7-3).

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