Sunday, February 1, 2026

Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County (GSSCC) Program on Tuesday, 3 February 2026 Features Cathy Andrews

 I received this information from my friend and society colleague Gail Burk:

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Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County (GSSCC) 
Lecture Series 

 Co-hosted Online by GSSCC and the Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) 

View meeting on Zoom or View In-person at Downtown Library (224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060)
 
 To register for the Zoom meeting, please type in or click  

Tuesday, 3 February 2026 1:00 PM PST 

Guest Speaker:  Cathy Andrews

"Researching Early American Ancestors"

Settlers in early American colonies may have lived under more than one colonial power, and even  after the United States was founded, areas that would become part of America were still held by  rival powers. In the period stretching from the early 1600s to the early 1800s, records kept at  local, state, colonial and federal levels vary from few-and-scattered to many-and-detailed.  Understanding who kept records, and what kind they were keeping, can help make your search  fruitful.

Cathy Andrews is the Senior Librarian for Adult Services with the Salinas Public Library, where  she teaches the “Genealogy Basics” series and oversees genealogy resources, services, and  programming. Growing up in a family where stories and details about ancestors were woven into  every family gathering, she has a deep appreciation for genealogy’s challenges and rewards.

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Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

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Betty and Fred's Story: "Home and Planning Ahead"

 The AI-assisted ABC Biography of my mother, Betty Virginia (Carringer) Seaver, is in ABC Biography of #3 Betty Virginia (Carringer) Seaver (1919-2002) of San Diego, California. I also  wrote Betty's Story: The First-Year Art Teacher about the start of her teaching career.

The AI-assisted ABC Biography of my father, Frederick Walton Seaver, is in ABC Biography of #2 Frederick Walton Seaver Jr. (1911-1983) of Massachusetts and San Diego, California.  I also wrote Fred's Story: The Three-Day Cross-Country Escape  and Fred's Story: "I Need A Girl" about him coming to San Diego, and then wanting for a girlfriend.

Then I wrote:


And now:

                (AI NotebookLM Infographic - Betty and Fred's Story - Home and Planning Ahead) 

1)  Based on the biographies and the earlier stories, I asked Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 to tell another story - what happened next (I offered some suggestions!)?  Here is the next story (edited for more detail and accuracy):


Betty and Fred’s Story: “Home and Planning

 Ahead”


Saturday, July 18, 1942 - First Weekend Home

After their first night in their home, on Saturday morning they drove to Fern Street to visit the Carringer family. Emily and Lyle were eager to hear about the honeymoon, and Georgianna wanted details about everything.

"Did you like Laguna Beach?" Emily asked as they sat in the living room.

"It was beautiful," Betty said. "We went to the beach, drove up to Hollywood, ate amazing food. It was perfect."

"And the hotel was nice?" Georgianna asked with a knowing look.

Betty blushed but smiled. "Very nice, Grandma. Very nice indeed."

Lyle had been quiet, studying Fred carefully. Finally, he spoke. "You taking good care of my girl?"

"Yes, sir. The best care I know how."

"Good. See that you continue to."

Emily served lunch—pot roast with all the fixings, Betty's favorite meal. Over lunch, they talked about the wedding, about Bessie and Gerry's visit (they'd left on the train back to Massachusetts on Wednesday), about the house in Chula Vista.

"When can we come see it?" Emily asked.

"Anytime. It's small, but it's ours."

After lunch, Betty helped her mother with dishes while Fred and Lyle sat on the porch.

"Are you happy, sweetheart?" Emily asked quietly.

"So happy, Mama. Fred is wonderful. Marriage is wonderful. Everything is wonderful."

"Good. That's what I prayed for—that you'd find a man who would cherish you and make you happy."

"Your prayers were answered."

They stayed at Fern Street until early evening, then drove back to Chula Vista. On the way, they stopped at a market and bought groceries—basics like bread, milk, eggs, vegetables, and meat for the week ahead.

"This is so domestic," Betty said, pushing the shopping cart while Fred consulted a list. "We're like an old married couple."

"We are a married couple. Just a very new one."

At home, they put away the groceries together, Fred showing Betty where he'd organized things in the kitchen. They made dinner together—scrambled eggs and toast, simple but satisfying—and ate at their table.

"Tomorrow, Fred goes back to work," Betty said. "Back to reality."

"Tomorrow, we start building our real life. I'm looking forward to it."

Monday, July 20, 1942 - Back to Work

Fred woke at 5:30 Monday morning, trying not to disturb Betty. But she stirred anyway, reaching for him in the darkness.

"Time to get up already?"

"I'm afraid so. I need to be at Rohr by 7:00."

Betty got up with him, insisting on making his breakfast and packing his lunch despite his protests.

"I'm your wife now," she said firmly. "Let me take care of you."

They ate breakfast together in the pre-dawn darkness, both quiet, adjusting to this new routine. At 6:30, Fred kissed Betty goodbye and headed out to his car.

"I'll be home around 5:30," he said. "What will you do all day?"

"Unpack more boxes. Maybe explore Chula Vista a bit. Figure out where everything is."

After Fred left, Betty stood in the kitchen of their quiet house, suddenly unsure what to do with herself. For the first time in her adult life, she had no job to go to because it was summer, no students waiting for her, no lesson plans to prepare.

She spent the morning unpacking wedding gifts and finding places for them in the house. Crystal vases went on the mantle. The quilt from Georgianna went on their bed. Dishes and cookware filled the kitchen cabinets.

Around 10 o'clock, Betty decided to explore Chula Vista. She walked downtown—about half a mile from their house—and discovered the main shopping district on Third Avenue. There was a market, a pharmacy, a five-and-dime, a bakery. Nothing as extensive as San Diego, but adequate for daily needs.

She bought bread from the bakery and a few items from the market, then walked home. The whole expedition took less than two hours. Back at the house, Betty looked around at the unpacked boxes and realized she'd run out of things to do.

This was going to be a problem.

Monday Evening - A Discussion

Fred came home at 5:45, tired but happy. Betty had dinner ready—pot roast, using Emily's recipe. It was slightly overcooked, but Fred ate enthusiastically anyway.

"How was your first day back?" Betty asked.

"Busy. Everyone wanted to know about the wedding and honeymoon. My supervisor asked if marriage had made me lazy yet." Fred grinned. "I assured him it had made me more productive because I have someone to come home to now."

"What about you? How was your day?"

Betty hesitated. "I unpacked boxes. Explored downtown Chula Vista. Made dinner."

"That sounds nice."

"It was... fine. But Fred, I'm going to need something more to do. I can't just keep house all day. I'll go crazy."

Fred set down his fork. "What are you thinking?"

"Well, school starts in about six weeks. I could go back to teaching."

"That's a long commute from Chula Vista. Woodrow Wilson Junior High is what, twelve miles from here? And we only have one car."

"I know. I'd have to take the bus, which would mean leaving very early and getting home late."

They were both quiet, thinking about the logistics. Finally, Fred spoke.

"Actually, I heard something at work today. Rohr is looking for secretaries in the engineering department. The war has created so much paperwork that the engineers are drowning in it. They need people who can type, file, take dictation—basically keep everything organized."

"You think I could do that?"

"Betty, you're one of the most organized people I know. And you can type—I've seen you typing lesson plans. The pay is good—better than teaching, probably. War work pays well. And you'd be right there at Rohr with me. We could drive to work together."

Betty considered this. She loved teaching, but the idea of working at Rohr had merit. She'd be contributing to the war effort. She'd have a shorter commute. She'd be near Fred during the day.

"Who would I talk to about this?"

"I can get you an interview. Let me ask my supervisor tomorrow."

Wednesday, July 22, 1942 - The Interview

Fred arranged an interview for Betty with Frank McCreery, the Vice President of Engineering at Rohr. Fred drove Betty to the plant Wednesday morning, both of them nervous.

"You're going to do great," Fred assured her as they parked. "Just be yourself. Be professional. Show them how organized and capable you are."

Betty had dressed carefully—her best suit, her hair styled neatly, her teacher's bearing on full display. She carried a typed resume that listed her education at San Diego State, her teaching experience, and her organizational skills.

Frank McCreery's office was in the administrative building, separate from the production floor. He was a middle-aged man with graying hair and a harried expression, clearly overwhelmed with work.

"Mrs. Seaver," he said, shaking her hand. "Fred speaks highly of you. Please, sit down."

The interview lasted thirty minutes. McCreery asked about her education, her work experience, her typing speed (Betty estimated 60 words per minute), her organizational abilities.

"My last secretary had to move back home when her husband went onto the U.S. Navy. The job would involve managing my calendar, typing reports and correspondence, filing technical documents, and generally keeping the engineering department running smoothly. It's a lot of paper, Mrs. Seaver. Mountains of it. Can you handle that?"

"Mr. McCreery, I taught junior high school art classes to thirty students at a time while grading papers, maintaining student records, and organizing art shows. I can handle paperwork."

McCreery smiled. "I like you. You're hired. Can you start Monday?"

"Monday?" Betty's eyes widened. "That soon?"

"The war doesn't wait, Mrs. Seaver. We need competent people immediately. The pay is fifty dollars a week to start, with the possibility of raises based on performance. Hours are 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. Does that work for you?"

Fifty dollars a week was more than Betty had made teaching. And she'd be working near Fred, contributing to the war effort, doing something important.

"Yes, Mr. McCreery. That works perfectly."

"Excellent. Report to my office at 7:00 AM Monday. We'll get you set up with a desk and show you the ropes. Welcome to Rohr Aircraft, Mrs. Seaver."

Betty floated out of the office, hardly believing what had just happened. She found Fred waiting anxiously in the hallway.

"Well?"

"I got the job! I start Monday!"

Fred swept her into his arms, spinning her around, both of them laughing. Several Rohr employees passing by smiled at the happy couple.

"This is perfect," Fred said. "We'll drive to work together, eat lunch together, drive home together. We'll be a team."

"We already are a team. This just makes it official."

Friday, July 24, 1942 - Settling In

The rest of the week passed in a blur of preparation. Betty shopped for appropriate work clothes—simple dresses and suits suitable for an office. She practiced her typing to make sure her speed was up to par. She organized the house so it could function with both of them working full-time.

"We'll need a system," Betty said Friday evening as they ate dinner. "I can't come home at 4:30 and immediately start cooking. We'll both be tired."

"We'll figure it out. Maybe we cook together. Or we alternate nights. Or we keep some meals simple—sandwiches, soup, things that don't take much time."

"We could cook big meals on Sunday and eat leftovers during the week."

"That works too. Betty, we're going to make mistakes. We're going to burn dinner and forget to do laundry and get frustrated with each other. But we'll learn. That's what the first year of marriage is for—learning how to be married."

Betty reached across the table and took his hand. "I'm glad I'm learning with you."

That weekend, they fell into their first real married routine. Saturday morning, they did laundry together—Fred had put a wringer washing machine in a small room off the kitchen, and Betty was learning how to use it. They hung clothes on a line in the backyard to dry in the California sun.

Saturday afternoon, they drove to a furniture store and bought a few more pieces they needed—a proper kitchen table to replace Fred's rickety one, a bookshelf for the living room, a dresser for Betty's clothes.

"We're really doing this," Betty said as they arranged the new furniture. "We're building a home together."

"We are. And in a few years, maybe we'll have children running through these rooms. A whole family to fill this house."

Betty felt a flutter of excitement and nervousness at the thought. Children. A family. It was all ahead of them, all part of the future they were building.

Sunday, they visited the Carringers again, bringing Emily and Lyle to see the Chula Vista house. Emily walked through, examining everything, offering suggestions for curtains and rugs.

"It's a good house," she finally pronounced. "Small, but perfect for a young couple starting out. You've made it very homey, Betty."

"Fred did most of the work before the wedding. He wanted it ready for us."

Lyle pulled Fred aside while Betty and Emily talked in the kitchen. "You taking good care of her?"

"Yes, sir. Always."

"She's happy?"

"I think so. I hope so. I'm trying my best to make her happy."

"That's all a man can do. Keep trying. Every day, keep trying."

Monday, July 27, 1942 - Betty's First Day

Betty woke at 5:30 Monday morning, nervous and excited for her first day of work at Rohr. She dressed carefully in a navy blue suit, pinned her hair up neatly, and tried to eat the breakfast Fred made.

"I'm too nervous to eat."

"Try anyway. You need energy for your first day."

They drove to Rohr together, Fred pointing out landmarks along the way. The plant was enormous—multiple buildings sprawling across acres, workers streaming through the gates at shift change, the smell of metal and grease heavy in the air.

Fred walked Betty to the administrative building and kissed her cheek. "You're going to be wonderful. I'll see you at lunch."

Betty reported to Frank McCreery's office at exactly 7:00 AM. He was already there, surrounded by stacks of paper.

"Mrs. Seaver, excellent. Let me show you your desk."

He led her to a desk just outside his office—prime real estate, Betty realized, close to the boss but with a view of the larger engineering department. Her desk had a typewriter, filing cabinets, a telephone, and the same mountains of paper that plagued McCreery's office.

"Your primary job is to keep me organized," McCreery explained. "I need you to manage my calendar, type my correspondence, file reports, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Can you do that?"

Betty looked at the chaos and felt something settle in her chest—the same feeling she got when facing a classroom full of unruly students or a blank canvas. This was a challenge, and Betty had never backed down from a challenge.

"Yes, Mr. McCreery. I can do that."

"Good. Let's get started."

The morning flew by. Betty typed reports, filed documents, answered the phone, and began creating a system for managing McCreery's calendar. It was overwhelming but exhilarating—she was using her brain, solving problems, contributing something meaningful.

At noon, Fred appeared at her desk. "Ready for lunch?"

They ate in the employee cafeteria, comparing notes about their mornings. All around them, Rohr employees ate quickly, talking about production quotas and material shortages and the latest war news.

"How's it going?" Fred asked.

"It's chaotic, but I love it. Mr. McCreery is brilliant but completely disorganized. I'm going to fix that."

Fred grinned. "That's my wife. Always improving things."

Betty's afternoon was more of the same—a constant stream of tasks, interruptions, problems to solve. By 4:00 PM, she was exhausted but satisfied. She'd made a dent in the chaos. It would take time, but she could see the path forward.

In the car on the way home, Fred reached over and squeezed her hand. "Proud of you, Mrs. Seaver. First day done."

"First day of many. This is going to work, Fred. We're going to make this work."

And they did.

Epilogue to the Honeymoon

Over the next weeks, Fred and Betty settled into married life. They developed routines—Fred made breakfast while Betty packed lunches; they drove to work together listening to the radio; Betty cooked dinner while Fred cleaned up afterward; they spent evenings reading or listening to music or just talking.

They celebrated Betty's birthday on July 30th with a dinner out and a drive to Coronado up the Silver Strand and walked on the beach near the Hotel del Coronado.  

They learned each other's rhythms and quirks. Fred was a morning person; Betty was not. Betty liked things orderly; Fred was more relaxed about clutter. They had their first married argument about dirty socks left on the bathroom floor (Fred's) and were surprised to discover that making up was almost as sweet as the honeymoon.

Betty excelled at her job at Rohr, quickly becoming indispensable to Frank McCreery and the engineering department. The teaching skills she'd developed—organization, patience, clear communication—translated perfectly to office work. And being near Fred during the day made the wartime separation more bearable.

Their physical relationship continued to deepen and evolve. The initial awkwardness gave way to confidence and playfulness. Betty discovered that the intimacy her grandmothers had hinted at was indeed wonderful—a source of connection, pleasure, and joy.

By the end of summer 1942, they'd created a life together. Not perfect—there were challenges, adjustments, growing pains. But good. Real. Theirs.

The honeymoon in Laguna Beach had been four days of magic. But the real magic was what came after—the ordinary miracle of building a marriage, day by day, choice by choice, through the small acts of love and commitment that would sustain them through forty-one years together.

Betty Virginia Seaver had found her place in the world—as Fred's wife, as a valuable employee contributing to the war effort, as a woman building her own life on her own terms.

And Fred Walton Seaver Jr. had found his home—not just the house on Twin Oaks Avenue in Chula Vista, but in Betty herself. She was his home, his anchor, his partner in everything.

Together, they faced an uncertain future—a war that would soon separate them, challenges they couldn't yet imagine, joys they couldn't yet foresee.

But they faced it together.

And that made all the difference.

… to be continued!

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2) Here is the Google NotebookLM Video Overview about Fred and Betty's two weeks after the honeymoon in Laguna Beach: 

3)  This story is historical fiction based on real people -- my parents -- and a real event in a real place. I only know that Betty got a job at Rohr for the VP of Engineering (he was still there when I got a job there in 1967!). I don't know the full story of these events -- but this is how it might have been. I hope that it was at least this good! Claude is such a good story writer!  I added some details and corrected some errors in Claude's initial version.

Stay tuned for the next episode in this family story.

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  

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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Saturday, January 31, 2026

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- What Are Your Genealogy Highlights For the Last Month?

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!


Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)  1) What genealogy fun have you had this past month?  What is your genealogy research highlight of the past month?  It could be attending or watching a webinar or local genealogy society meeting,  it could be finding a new ancestor, or it could be reading a new genealogy book, or anything else that you have enjoyed.

23)  Share your January genealogy fun in your own blog post or in a Facebook, SubStack, BlueSky or other social media post.  Leave a link to your post on this blog post to help us find your post.

Here's mine:

The most genealogy FUN every day is asking AI Anthropic Claude and other LLMs to tell me a story, based on my genealogical research, or "a day in the life" or a "life memoir" about an ancestor or ancestral couple, and then getting an audio overview, a video overview, an infographic and a slide deck using Google NotebookLM.  It never disappoints me, and the insight, perspective and engagement.  For some of my "series" like the "Betty and Fred" series or the "Watchful House" series, I always receive new thoughts and feelings that I would never think of in my engineer-head.  I'm gradually getting enough stories to put together short books for each ancestral couple back to at least 2nd great-grandparents. 

I think the genealogy research highlight in January 2026 was to find information about my 6th cousin George Wakeman (1740-1815) using FamilySearch Full-Text Search - I found deeds in Albany County, New York and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania before he went to Ashtabula County, Ohio.  The last three Amanuensis Monday posts have featured George's deeds and mortgages. I also found out that this bad boy defaulted on a mortgage in Albany Countyafter the Revolutionary War.

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Copyright (c) 2026, 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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ABC Biography of the Zachariah Hildreth (1728-1784) and Elizabeth Prescott (1734-1812) Family of Massachusetts

 Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is another ancestor couple biography using the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 AI tool.

1) The genealogical sketches for my fifth great-grandparents, Zachariah Hildreth (a Revolutionary War soldier) and Elizabeth Prescott, including family members, record abstracts and sources, are in 52 Ancestors - Week 121: #144 Zachariah Hildreth (1728-1784)
and  52 Ancestors - Week 122: #145 Elizabeth (Prescott) Hildreth (1734-1812).


(AI NotebookLM Infographic - Zachariah and Elizabeth (Prescott) Family)

2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached a PDF of the two  genealogical sketches for the specific ancestors using the plus (+) icon, and then prompted the AI tool with:  "You are an expert genealogist and family historian. Please create a biography based on information in the attached files for the Zachariah and Elizabewth (Prescott) Hildreth family. Include parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places). Summarize life events, add historical events as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members."

3)  The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 biography (lightly edited for accuracy) is: 

The Story of Zachariah and Elizabeth Hildreth

A Revolutionary War Family of Westford, Massachusetts


Zachariah Hildreth and Elizabeth Prescott were part of the fabric of colonial Massachusetts, living through the Revolutionary War era in the small town of Westford. Their story is one of hard work, faith, community service, and a growing family that would help shape the region for generations to come. This is their story, pieced together from town records, probate documents, and family histories.

Zachariah’s Early Years

Zachariah Hildreth was born on December 28, 1728, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts Bay Colony, to James Hildreth and Dorothy Prescott. His birth was carefully recorded in the Chelmsford town records, as was the custom of the time. James and Dorothy had married in 1721 and went on to have a large family of nine children who survived infancy.

Zachariah grew up in a bustling household with eight siblings. His older brother Oliver, born in 1723, would eventually settle in Townsend. His older sister Rebecca married James Dutton in 1750. Among his younger siblings were Anna, two sisters named Dorothy (the first died as a toddler), Amos, Lucy, and Samuel, though young Samuel died at just three years old in 1748.

As a young man, Zachariah began to make his own way in the world. In February 1753, just before his marriage, the Westford selectmen paid him one pound and two shillings for delivering eleven loads of wood to Mr. Craft—likely a minister or town official—for his “support and comfort the winter past.” It was honest work, the kind that built character and reputation in a small colonial town.

Elizabeth’s Beginnings

Elizabeth Prescott was born on September 15, 1734, in Westford, Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was the third child of Jonas Prescott and his second wife, Elizabeth Harwood. Her father Jonas served as the town clerk and carefully recorded his daughter’s birth in his own hand in the town records.

Elizabeth’s early childhood was marked by tragedy. She had an older brother, Elijah, who died within days of his birth in 1732. Her mother Elizabeth Harwood bore another son, Isaac, in 1738, but he too died in infancy. A younger brother Benjamin was born in 1739 but lived only sixteen months. These losses were heartbreakingly common in colonial New England, where childhood mortality was a constant shadow over family life.

When Elizabeth was just five years old, her mother died in 1739. Jonas Prescott remarried the following year to Rebecca Jones, and they would have two more children. Elizabeth grew up in this blended family, learning the skills she would need as a wife and mother in colonial Massachusetts—spinning, weaving, cooking, preserving food, and managing a household.

Building a Life Together

Zachariah and Elizabeth were married on April 12, 1753, in Westford. He was 24 years old, and she was 18. The marriage was recorded simply in the town records: “Zechariah Hildreth to Elizabeth Prescott both of Westford.” That December, just eight months after their wedding, they joined the Second Church in Chelmsford as members together, declaring their faith publicly as a married couple.

The couple settled into life in Westford and began raising what would become a remarkably large family. Their first child, a son they named Zachariah after his father, was born on January 13, 1754. Over the next twenty-one years, Elizabeth would give birth to eleven more children: Elizabeth (1755), Hannah (1758), and then twins Timothy and Esther in 1760, followed by James (1762), Lucy (1764), Jonas (1766), Ruth (1768), Edy (1771), Jesse (1773), and finally Mehitable in 1775.

Remarkably, all twelve children survived infancy and most lived to adulthood—a testament to Elizabeth’s care and perhaps a bit of good fortune in an era of high childhood mortality. The household must have been lively and loud, with children of all ages learning their trades, doing chores, and growing up together in their Westford home.

Making a Living in Colonial Massachusetts

The town records paint a picture of Zachariah as a hardworking man who contributed regularly to the community. Year after year, he appears in the selectmen’s orders for payment—usually for working on the highways (the roads that connected the town) or for delivering wood to Mr. Craft.

In January 1755, he received two pounds and two pence for highway work. In February of that year, he was paid one pound, four shillings, and eight pence for wood and pine delivered to Mr. Craft. The payments continued through the years: in 1757, one pound and ten shillings for highway work; in 1758, four shillings for wood; in 1759, multiple payments totaling several pounds for wood, corn, and “sundry other articles.”

These weren’t large sums, but they were steady. Zachariah was providing essential services—maintaining the roads that everyone used and supplying firewood to keep homes warm through brutal New England winters. In 1773, he took on the role of town constable, a position of trust and authority. That year he collected sixty-one pounds, fifteen shillings, and six pence in five payments—substantial money for the time.

Service in the Revolution

When tensions with Britain erupted into war in 1775, Zachariah stepped up to serve. By April 1776, he had been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Captain Zachariah Wright’s 8th Company, which was also known as the 2nd Westford Company, part of the 6th Middlesex County Regiment of the Massachusetts militia.

This was the height of the Revolutionary War. The battles of Lexington and Concord had been fought just a year earlier, less than ten miles from Westford. The siege of Boston was ending, and the Declaration of Independence would be signed just a few months later. Zachariah was 47 years old at the time of his commission, with a wife and nine children at home (the youngest, Jesse, was just two years old, and Elizabeth was pregnant with their last child, Mehitable).

The records don’t tell us what Lieutenant Hildreth did during the war years, but the militia companies were called up regularly to defend against British raids, guard prisoners, and support the Continental Army. It was dangerous work, and it took him away from his farm and family during crucial planting and harvest seasons.

Final Years

By 1781, Zachariah’s health was failing. On May 9 of that year, feeling “sick and weak in body but of a sound disposing mind,” he drafted his will. It’s a remarkable document that gives us a window into his character and concerns.

He began with the traditional religious language of the era, commending his soul to God and expressing his hope for “full and free pardon of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life.” Then he got down to the practical business of providing for his family.

To his “beloved wife Elizabeth,” he left considerable property: two cows and a heifer of her choosing, one pig, two sheep and two lambs, two feather beds with bedding, half the household furniture, and a third of all his possessions. She would have the use of half the house, half the cellar, the well, half the barn, his clock and case of drawers, and specific pieces of land. He also left her use of a pair of oxen and farming tools so she could work the land and support herself.

Interestingly, he left his oldest son Zachariah only five shillings, and his daughter Hannah only five pounds, explaining that “I have given them portions out of my estate already.” This suggests he had already helped them get established in their own homes—young Zachariah had married Elizabeth Keyes in 1777, and Hannah had married Timothy Hildreth (a cousin) that same year.

The rest of his estate was to be divided among his other four sons (Timothy, James, Jonas, and Jesse) and six daughters (Elizabeth, Esther, Lucy, Ruth, Edy, and Mehitable), with sons receiving double shares compared to daughters—a common practice that reflected the greater financial burdens men faced in that era. He appointed his son Timothy and a local physician, Dr. Asaph Fletcher, as executors.

Lieutenant Zachariah Hildreth died on April 18, 1784, just shy of his 58th birthday (though his gravestone mistakenly gives his birth year as 1754). He was buried in Westlawn Cemetery in Westford, where his gravestone still stands today.

The inventory of his estate, taken in July 1785, valued his personal property at 181 pounds, 7 shillings, and 1 pence, with real estate worth 582 pounds, 13 shillings—a substantial estate that reflected a lifetime of hard work. His son Timothy, as executor, carefully paid out the legacies to each sibling over the following years.

Elizabeth’s Widowhood

After Zachariah’s death, Elizabeth lived for another 28 years. She was just 49 years old when she was widowed, still vigorous enough to manage property and maintain relationships with her large, extended family. She likely lived with one or more of her children during these years, moving between households as was common for widows.

Elizabeth drafted her own will on August 1, 1808, when she was 73 years old. By this time, two of her sons had died—James in 1789 at just 26 years old, and Jonas in 1808. Her will reveals her continued closeness to her daughters. She left all her clothing to be divided among her six daughters: Hannah, Esther, Lucy, Ruth, Edy, and Mehitable. To Edy, who apparently never married and may have been caring for her, she left two cows, two beds with bedding, and all the household furniture.

She gave four acres of woodland to her son-in-law William Whiting, who had married her daughter Lucy. She forgave debts that her son Timothy and the children of her late son Jonas owed her—notes totaling 188 dollars, which represented significant sums. To her sons Zachariah and “John” (there’s no John in the birth records, so this is likely Jesse or a recording error), she left one dollar each, they likely having had their portion of Zachariah's estate.

Elizabeth died on May 1, 1812, at the age of 77, in Westford. She was buried beside Zachariah in Westlawn Cemetery. Her gravestone reads simply: “In memory of Elizabeth Hildreth wife of Zachariah Hildreth, who died May 1, 1812 AE 77.”

Their Children and Descendants

The twelve children of Zachariah and Elizabeth grew up to scatter across Massachusetts, raising their own families and continuing the Hildreth and Prescott lines.

  • Zachariah Jr. (1754–1829) married twice (first to Elizabeth Keyes who died in 1793, and then to Abigail Hart) and had sixteen children between his two wives. He eventually settled in Townsend, Massachusetts, where he died at age 75
  • Elizabeth (1755–1803) married Samuel Richardson in 1784. They had no children, and she died at 47 in Westford.
  • Hannah (1758–1826) married her cousin Timothy Hildreth in 1777 when she was just 19. They had ten children and moved to Sterling, Massachusetts, where she died at 67.
  • Esther (1760–?) was one of the twins. She married Thomas Brown in 1791 and had three children. Her death date is not recorded.
  • Timothy (1760–?), Esther’s twin, left no further records after his birth. He may have died young or moved away.
  • James (1762–1789) died unmarried at just 26 in Townsend, perhaps working with his older brother Zachariah there.
  • Lucy (1764–1845) married William Whiting in 1786 and had five children. She lived the longest of all the siblings, dying at age 81 in Westford.
  • Jonas (1766–1808) married Deliverance Johnson in 1794 but died young at 41, leaving behind the debt his mother later forgave in her will.
  • Ruth (1768–1829) married Abel Hildreth in 1802 when she was 34—quite late for a colonial marriage. They had ten children, and she died at 60 in Westford.
  • Edy (1771–1819) apparently never married and seems to have cared for her mother in old age, which is why Elizabeth left her the bulk of her estate. She died at 47 in Westford.
  • Jesse (1773–1840) married Olive Fletcher in 1801 and had ten children. He lived to 66, dying in Westford.
  • Mehitable (1775–1819), the youngest, married twice—first to Seth Hildreth in 1797 (with whom she had two children) and then to Joseph Adams in 1805 (with whom she had three more). She died at 43 in Westford.
Living Through Revolutionary Times

The Hildreth family lived through extraordinary times. When Zachariah was born in 1728, Massachusetts was still a British colony under King George II. When he died in 1784, the American Revolution had been won, and the Constitution was just a few years from being ratified.

Life in Westford would have been shaped by agriculture and the changing seasons. The town, incorporated in 1729, was still relatively young and small—probably no more than a few hundred families. Everyone knew everyone else. The church was the center of social life, and town meetings decided matters of common concern.

The family would have experienced the growing tensions with Britain firsthand. The Stamp Act of 1765 affected everyone. The Boston Massacre in 1770 would have been hotly discussed. The Boston Tea Party in 1773 happened the same year Zachariah served as constable. And then came April 19, 1775—the day British soldiers marched through nearby towns on their way to Concord, sparking the war that would consume the next eight years.

Through it all, Zachariah and Elizabeth kept their household running, raised their children, and contributed to their community. They weren’t famous figures or wealthy landowners, but they were exactly the kind of people who made the American Revolution possible and built the foundation of the new nation.

Legacy

Today, Zachariah and Elizabeth Hildreth rest side by side in Westlawn Cemetery in Westford, their gravestones weathered by more than two centuries of New England winters. Their descendants spread across America, carrying forward the Hildreth and Prescott names.

What they left behind was more than property and genealogical records. They left a legacy of service, faith, hard work, and family. They witnessed the birth of a nation and helped build a community. They raised twelve children in an era when simply surviving childhood was an achievement.

This is the story of our ancestors—ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives during revolutionary times. May we remember them well.

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

4) An Audio Overview (essentially a podcast) created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool) describing and celebrating the lives of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Prescott) Hildreth can be heard here (click on "Audio Overview" and wait for it to load).

5)  The Video Overview discussing the lives of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Prescott) Hildreth   created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool is: 

6)  I edited the Claude biography text to correct minor inconsistencies and errors. Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write. I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts gleaned from my research." The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including local and national historical events and social history detail when requested.

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

Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/01/abc-biography-of-zachariah-hildreth.html

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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Friday, January 30, 2026

Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 24 to 30 January 2026

 Each week, I try to keep track of the number of Full-Text Search collections (indexed, searchable) and the Images collections (browsable but not searchable) -- see Sections 1) and 2) below. In addition, I list the genealogy historical record collections (often name-indexed) that are added, removed, and/or updated on FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list  --  See Section 3.

1)  As of 30 January 2026, there are now 6,633 searchable and full-text transcribed image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, an increase of 9 from last week. There are over 2.403 BILLION "results" in the collections.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.  

2)  As of 30 January 2026, there are now 24,532 browsable (some indexed, none transcribed) image collections on FamilySearch Images this week, a decrease of 11 from last week. There are over 5.894 BILLION images in these collections.  There are 2,101 collections from the United States, 6,943 from Europe and 221 from Canada.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.  



3)  As of 30 January 2026, there are 3,432 Historical Record Collections (many indexed, browsable) on FamilySearch (an increase of 1 from last week) on the Signed In screen (and 3,432 on the Signed Out screen). 

 The added, deleted, and updated collections this week from FamilySearch (from a list supplied by Marshall Clow):

--- Collections Deleted ---

--- Collections Added ---

*  Italy, Potenza, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1864-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000546); 15,644 indexed records with 5,060 record images, ADDED 30-Oct-2025

--- Collections Updated ---

Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration and Church Records, 1798-1909 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4496124); 250,806 indexed records with 192,768 record images (was 169,771 records with 149,173 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration and Church Records, 1704-1916 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4496123); 1,638,075 indexed records with 893,752 record images (was 1,568,969 records with 867,710 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Belgium, East Flanders, Church and Civil Registration, 1541-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000027); 283,911 indexed records with 84,695 record images (was 93,648 records with 24,630 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, 1541-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138513); 922,612 indexed records with 2,944,655 record images (was 922,559 records with 2,944,655 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Belgium, Flemish Brabant, Civil Registration and Church Records, 1797-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000062); 38,340 indexed records with 17,453 record images (was 32,911 records with 14,468 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026

Belgium, Limburg, Civil Registration, 1798-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138507); 81,944 indexed records with 842,559 record images (was 81,943 records with 842,559 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
Belgium, Luxembourg, Civil Registration, 1580-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138510); Browse 1,124,415 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 1,124,415 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Belgium, West Flanders, Civil Registration and Church Records, 1582-1932 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000063); 181,251 indexed records with 74,073 record images (was 146,112 records with 60,818 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Belgium, West Flanders, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2139860); 305,201 indexed records with 2,612,466 record images (was 297,725 records with 2,612,466 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Benin, Civil Registration of Deaths, 1891-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2534492); 75,592 indexed records with 21,173 record images (was 75,415 records with 21,173 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026

Brazil, Foreigner Files, 1653-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000160); 134,960 indexed records with 2,579,875 record images (was 134,960 records with 2,444,925 images), UPDATED 30-Jan-2026
British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2562514); 4,037,798 indexed records with 271,979 record images (was 4,015,477 records with 271,979 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
British Newspaper Archives, Obituaries (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2562508); 723,394 indexed records with 237,537 record images (was 717,216 records with 237,537 images), UPDATED 26-Jan-2026
Delaware, Vital Records, 1650-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1447341); 2,513,715 indexed records with 3,133,093 record images (was 1,620,702 records with 3,133,093 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Denmark, Baptisms, 1618-1923 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1778463); Index only (5,014,769 records), no images (was 5,168,807 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026

Denmark, Burials, 1640-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520593); Index only (596,238 records), no images (was 627,187 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Denmark, Census, 1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2691890); 12,286 indexed records with 251,268 record images (was 83,659 records with 251,268 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Denmark, Church Records, 1484-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2078555); 17,803,602 indexed records with 2,399,826 record images (was 18,269,711 records with 2,399,826 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages, 1739-1965, Index 1877-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2341913); 14,015 indexed records with 112,568 record images (was 12,816 records with 112,568 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Denmark, Deeds and Mortgages, 1572-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2421847); Browse 4,364,468 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 4,364,468 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026

Denmark, Estate Records, 1436-1964 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2015318); Browse 2,608,645 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,608,645 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Denmark, Marriages, 1635-1916 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520592); Index only (1,253,965 records), no images (was 1,293,766 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Denmark, Probate Indexes, 1674-1851 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2026233); 132,940 indexed records with 234,543 record images (was 57,123 records with 234,543 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
England Marriages, 1538–1973 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473015); Index only (10,305,628 records), no images (was 10,303,580 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451051); Index only (8,412,182 records), no images (was 8,379,884 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026

England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473014); Index only (39,150,293 records), no images (was 39,135,391 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473000); 23,511,149 indexed records with 29,147,064 record images (was 23,518,081 records with 29,147,064 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1971 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3015626); 71,449,825 indexed records with 13,806,705 record images (was 71,447,594 records with 13,806,705 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Germany, Marriages, 1558-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473009); Index only (5,284,334 records), no images (was 5,285,690 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Germany, Prussia, East Prussia, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1551-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4110912); 4,770,280 indexed records with 874,059 record images (was 4,705,840 records with 874,059 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026

Germany, Prussia, Pomerania, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1544-1966 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3665083); 2,167,743 indexed records with 749,943 record images (was 2,151,798 records with 749,943 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Germany, Prussia, Posen, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1430-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4116415); 11,921,853 indexed records with 1,872,814 record images (was 12,543,071 records with 1,872,814 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Germany, Prussia, West Prussia, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1537-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4111605); 9,800,500 indexed records with 1,067,888 record images (was 9,831,321 records with 1,067,888 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Honduras, Civil Registration, 1841-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135627); 12,302,978 indexed records with 337,976 record images (was 12,302,981 records with 337,976 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
India, Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584960); Index only (432,831 records), no images (was 431,599 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026

India, Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584968); Index only (372,980 records), no images (was 372,306 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
India, Marriages, 1792-1948 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584967); Index only (119,671 records), no images (was 119,404 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
Italy, Alessandria, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1800-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2197595); 12,477 indexed records with 12,025 record images (was 12,477 records with 7,197 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Bari, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1908 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968511); 7,599,648 indexed records with 2,870,392 record images (was 7,593,992 records with 2,870,392 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Benevento, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1810-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2475030); 617,591 indexed records with 1,827,400 record images (was 511,982 records with 1,827,400 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026

Italy, Cremona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1744-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987747); 1,373,411 indexed records with 1,325,362 record images (was 1,372,836 records with 1,325,362 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Cuneo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1795-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1392991); 120,844 indexed records with 267,978 record images (was 120,754 records with 267,978 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Genova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1796-1812, 1838-1859, 1866-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928859); 555,749 indexed records with 445,302 record images (was 554,444 records with 445,302 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Lecce, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1901-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2310702); 852,324 indexed records with 3,307,040 record images (was 837,989 records with 3,307,040 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Lecco, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1911-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3031547); 129,243 indexed records with 97,800 record images (was 13,191 records with 11,698 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026

Italy, Palermo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2608509); 1,913,991 indexed records with 4,331,932 record images (was 1,913,991 records with 4,331,932 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Pescara, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2013532); 1,232,671 indexed records with 2,022,109 record images (was 1,150,062 records with 2,022,109 images), UPDATED 26-Jan-2026
Italy, Piacenza, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1662-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4117582); 1,462,285 indexed records with 641,969 record images (was 1,458,343 records with 640,514 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Rieti, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1840-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2146202); 287,781 indexed records with 448,819 record images (was 287,284 records with 448,819 images), UPDATED 26-Jan-2026
Italy, Torino, Diocese of Torino, Catholic Church Records, 1801-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000113); 2,579,536 indexed records with 936,156 record images (was 1,986,339 records with 751,310 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026

Italy, Toscana, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1804-1874 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1932364); 6,841,697 indexed records with 3,042,917 record images (was 6,732,218 records with 3,042,917 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Italy, Trento, Diocesi di Trento, Catholic Church Records, 1548-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1430983); 1,985,100 indexed records with 86,924 record images (was 1,985,100 records with 86,924 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Italy, Udine, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1815, 1871-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939238); 696,560 indexed records with 1,262,279 record images (was 696,589 records with 1,262,279 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
Italy, Vercelli, Vercelli, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1802-1813, 1838-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939214); 77,378 indexed records with 1,506,772 record images (was 70,053 records with 1,499,389 images), UPDATED 23-Jan-2026
Liberia, Vital Records, 1912-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2100287); 113,941 indexed records with 24,406 record images (was 112,105 records with 24,406 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026

Micronesia, Civil Registration, 1883-1986 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2761211); 97,604 indexed records with 127,027 record images (was 126,101 records with 127,027 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Micronesia, Pohnpei, Civil Registration, 1948-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1886069); 75,421 indexed records with 79,408 record images (was 75,431 records with 79,408 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Micronesia, Pohnpei, Court Records, 1951-2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1979263); Browse 401,066 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 401,066 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Micronesia, Pohnpei, Land Records, 1971-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1498320); Browse 479,425 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 479,425 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Namibia, Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1904-2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2365261); 135,761 indexed records with 17,342 record images (was 135,730 records with 17,342 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026

Philippines Civil Registration (National), 1945-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1852584); 5,500,037 indexed records with 20,274,621 record images (was 5,264,264 records with 20,274,621 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Bicol, Church Records, 1738-1989 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000336); 19,273 indexed records with 23,142 record images (was 27,112 records with 23,142 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Births and Baptisms, 1642-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500711); Index only (182,665 records), no images (was 182,666 records with 0 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Camarines Sur, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres, Parish Registers, 1716-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1457939); 767,057 indexed records with 136,616 record images (was 777,556 records with 136,616 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Catholic Church Records, 1520-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2861657); 11,993,975 indexed records with 2,919,172 record images (was 12,240,955 records with 2,919,172 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026

Philippines, Civil Registration (Local), 1888-1986 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1410394); 668,432 indexed records with 6,699,351 record images (was 661,386 records with 6,699,351 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Court Records, 1838-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2094274); Browse 522,632 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 522,632 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Deaths and Burials, 1726-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500714); Index only (2,786,099 records), no images (was 2,781,591 records with 0 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Eastern Samar, Roman Catholic Diocese of Borongan, Parish Registers, 1842-1984 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2379876); 227,168 indexed records with 57,624 record images (was 233,423 records with 57,624 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Eastern Visayas, Church Records, 1716-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000329); 294,799 indexed records with 267,236 record images (was 318,586 records with 267,236 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026

Philippines, La Union, Diocese of San Fernando de La Union, 1621-1985 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2071967); 1,041,484 indexed records with 33,723 record images (was 1,009,686 records with 33,723 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Lingayen-Dagupan Catholic Archdiocese Parish Registers, 1615-1982 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1646454); 1,053,919 indexed records with 169,282 record images (was 1,030,309 records with 169,282 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899-1984 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1686086); 637,126 indexed records with 5,857,674 record images (was 637,126 records with 5,857,674 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Marriages, 1723-1957 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500713); Index only (778,630 records), no images (was 792,565 records with 0 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Negros Occidental, Roman Catholic Diocese of Bacolod, Parish Registers, 1755-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2157100); 268,199 indexed records with 163,253 record images (was 268,199 records with 163,253 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026

Philippines, Pangasinan, Civil Registration, 1945-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1989160); 47,980 indexed records with 151,466 record images (was 44,066 records with 151,466 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Philippines, Western Visayas, Church Records, 1712-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000338); 65,997 indexed records with 99,217 record images (was 79,193 records with 99,217 images), UPDATED 27-Jan-2026
Poland, Church Books, 1568-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4135958); 5,410,381 indexed records with 1,151,120 record images (was 6,709,401 records with 1,151,120 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Poland, Częstochowa Roman Catholic Church Books, 1226-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2115410); Browse 1,902,391 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 1,902,391 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Poland, Evangelical Church Books, 1700-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2564996); Browse 168,622 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 168,622 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026

Poland, Gliwice, Roman Catholic Church Books, 1599-1976 
(https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2114433); Browse 185,526 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 185,526 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Poland, Lublin, Roman Catholic Church Books, 1784-1964 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1867931); 310,044 indexed records with 397,530 record images (was 326,092 records with 397,530 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Poland, Radom, Roman Catholic Church Books, 1587-1966 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1407440); 101,352 indexed records with 1,262,022 record images (was 101,352 records with 1,262,022 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Poland, Tarnow, Roman Catholic Diocese Church Books, 1612-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1985025); Index only (715,356 records), no images (was 705,085 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
Scotland, Church Records and Kirk Session Records, 1658-1919 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2390848); Index only (235,176 records), no images (was 229,965 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026

South Africa, Cape, Probate Records of the Master of the High Court, 1822-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2517051); 2,065,946 indexed records with 1,167,010 record images (was 2,004,994 records with 1,167,010 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1468076); 1,230,219 indexed records with 355,318 record images (was 1,213,168 records with 355,318 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
South Africa, Civil Death Registration, 1953-1967 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3732506); 709,500 indexed records with 1,226,793 record images (was 706,619 records with 1,226,793 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1392488); 42,066 indexed records with 496,315 record images (was 42,066 records with 496,315 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1478678); 2,890,979 indexed records with 45,728 record images (was 2,884,069 records with 45,728 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026

South Africa, KwaZulu Natal, Vital Records, 1868-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3511741); 610,424 indexed records with 902,019 record images (was 609,926 records with 902,019 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
South Africa, Orange Free State, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1832-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3040532); 532,187 indexed records with 82,306 record images (was 521,965 records with 82,306 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
South Africa, Pietermaritzburg, Estate Files 1846-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2573604); 357,852 indexed records with 316,664 record images (was 343,581 records with 316,664 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Death, 1869-1954 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2998108); 960,655 indexed records with 1,081,282 record images (was 938,224 records with 1,081,282 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026
South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1961 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2520237); 1,870,522 indexed records with 1,516,203 record images (was 1,821,263 records with 1,516,203 images), UPDATED 29-Jan-2026

Switzerland, Fribourg, Census, 1880 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2142779); 134,384 indexed records with 48,947 record images (was 134,395 records with 48,947 images), UPDATED 26-Jan-2026
Ukraine, Kyiv, Confession Lists, 1741-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2290980); 26,342,676 indexed records with 40,448 record images (was 26,342,676 records with 40,448 images), UPDATED 28-Jan-2026
United Kingdom, British India Office, Births and Baptisms, 1712-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000023); 461,715 indexed records with 145,138 record images (was 460,458 records with 145,138 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
United Kingdom, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2125045); 4,215,127 indexed records with 43,542,691 record images (was 4,175,754 records with 43,542,691 images), UPDATED 26-Jan-2026
Wales, Brecknockshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075043); 202,792 indexed records with 22,467 record images (was 202,792 records with 22,467 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026

Wales, Caernarvonshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075045); 93,339 indexed records with 29,167 record images (was 88,066 records with 29,167 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
Wales, Carmarthenshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1403176); 464,062 indexed records with 51,516 record images (was 460,262 records with 51,516 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
Wales, Denbighshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1419318); 692,437 indexed records with 718,898 record images (was 691,721 records with 718,898 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
Wales, Flintshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1426674); 498,887 indexed records with 518,367 record images (was 498,023 records with 518,367 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026
Wales, Glamorgan, Parish Register Marriages, 1837-1923 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1392564); Index only (56,282 records), no images (was 54,302 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026

Wales, Glamorganshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075047); 734,794 indexed records with 753,761 record images (was 732,603 records with 753,761 images), UPDATED 25-Jan-2026

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Civil Registration, 1861-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000041); 1 indexed records with 111,689 record images (was 1 records with 111,688 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 2,926,841 record images (was 1 records with 2,926,835 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 454,069 record images (was 1 records with 454,034 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 905,885 record images (was 1 records with 905,871 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 262,294,375 indexed records with 95,841,026 record images (was 262,294,375 records with 88,641,494 images), last updated 19-Dec-2025

Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3155890); 74,499 indexed records with 67,077 record images (was 74,499 records with 66,952 images), last updated 18-Jan-2026
Italy, Diocesi di Piazza Armerina, Catholic Church Records, 1553-1964 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000379); 839,680 indexed records with 117,347 record images (was 839,680 records with 117,180 images), last updated 21-Nov-2025
Philippines, Central Luzon, Civil Registration, 1852-2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000349); 1 indexed records with 718,467 record images (was 1 records with 718,007 images), last updated 16-Nov-2024
Philippines, Central Visayas, Civil Registration, 1914-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000194); 1 indexed records with 884,053 record images (was 1 records with 883,913 images), last updated 16-Nov-2024

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,731,471 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,730,002 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,204,240 record images (was 1 records with 28,204,225 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024

--- Collections with images removed ---

Canada Census, 1921 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000285); 8,626,062 indexed records with 184,298 record images (was 8,626,062 records with 186,167 images), last updated 15-Jan-2026
France, Calvados, Census, 1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279960); 57,909 indexed records with 4,444 record images (was 57,909 records with 6,110 images), last updated 17-Jan-2026
France, Calvados, Census, 1876 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279948); 20,609 indexed records with 4,372 record images (was 20,609 records with 4,988 images), last updated 17-Jan-2026
France, Calvados, Census, 1891 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279959); 42,902 indexed records with 4,867 record images (was 42,902 records with 5,365 images), last updated 17-Jan-2026
Italy, Florence, Archdiocese of Florence, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Catholic Church Records, 1450-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000378); 728,802 indexed records with 50,038 record images (was 728,802 records with 50,958 images), last updated 19-Nov-2025

Italy, Potenza, Archdiocese of Potenza, Catholic Church Records, 1572-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000374); 84,153 indexed records with 5,961 record images (was 84,153 records with 6,435 images), last updated 19-Nov-2025

--- Collections with new records ---

Italy, Ragusa, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1900-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068330); 307,776 indexed records with 1,460,681 record images (was 307,775 records with 1,460,681 images), last updated 09-Dec-2025

--- Collections with records removed ---

California, Birth Index, 1905-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001879); Index only (24,589,393 records), no images (was 24,589,394 records with 0 images), last updated 01-Mar-2012
England and Wales, Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2285338); Index only (132,174,236 records), no images (was 132,174,239 records with 0 images), last updated 02-Oct-2014
England, Lancashire, Parish Registers 1538-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1465701); Index only (1,207,649 records), no images (was 1,207,650 records with 0 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Minnesota, Birth Index, 1935-2002 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1949334); Index only (4,267,572 records), no images (was 4,267,573 records with 0 images), last updated 06-May-2014
Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1949342); Index only (17,102,114 records), no images (was 17,102,115 records with 0 images), last updated 17-Feb-2012

United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages, 1980-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2333694); 28,662,188 indexed records with 46,919,022 record images (was 28,662,189 records with 46,919,022 images), last updated 06-Jan-2026
United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,600,890 records), no images (was 875,600,931 records with 0 images), last updated 23-Dec-2025
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,859,344 records), no images (was 413,859,416 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-2024

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

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

Marshall notes that there are:

  • 0 removed entries
  • 1  added entries 
  • 106 updated entries
  • 17 entries with more or fewer images 
  • 9 entries with more or fewer records

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

See previous FamilySearch-related blog posts in     https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FamilySearch

Copyright (c) 2026 Randall J. Seaver

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