Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Transcribe and/or Translate a Record on MyHeritage Scribe AI Tool

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):

1)  MyHeritage introduced the Scribe AI tool to analyze, transcribe, translate, ad provide historical contrext to a record or photographic image in the past year.  Have you used it?

2)  Pick one record image or photograph image from your collection and ask Scribe AI to do its' task list for you. How did it do?

NOTE: If you cannot access Scribe AI< please access another AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Transkribus) that can transcribe, translate or analyze a record or photograph image.

3)  Share your selected record or photo image, plus what Scribe AI told you about the image, in your own blog post, or in a comment on this blog post, or write a Substack post, Facebook Note, or in some other social media system.  Please leave a comment with a link on this post so others can find it.

Here's mine:

I chose a Danish record for ancestors of my two grandsons.  This is an 1830 marriage record for their 4th great-grandparents Lauritz Pedersen Hede and Mette Chatrina Poulsdatter who married on 17 October 1830 in Øster Lindet, Frøs, Haderslev, Denmark:

The marriage of Lauritz and Mette is the 4th entry on the page above.  I uploaded this image to Scribe AI, and it told me:

1)  Historical context:

This document is a page from a Danish parish register (Kirkebog) recording marriages (Copulerede) between 1830 and 1833. It originates from Østerlinnet parish in Haderslev county, Denmark. You will notice that the register is laid out in a tabular format, capturing the names, ages, occupations, and residences of the bride and groom, along with their sponsors (forlovere), the marriage date, and the location. A significant historical detail in the 'Remarks' (Anmærkninger) column is the notation of smallpox vaccination or natural immunity. In 19th-century Denmark, proof of smallpox vaccination or having survived the natural disease was a strict legal requirement for marriage, which is why you see these medical notes meticulously recorded by the parish priest.

2)  Details mentioned:

The document contains multiple marriage records. Based on your request, here is the detailed extraction for entry number 4 from 1830:

     a)  Principal Individuals:

• Lauritz Pedersen Hede
• Role in Document: Groom
• Biographical Details: Bachelor (Ungkarl), 31 years old. Residing in Østerlinnet. He had natural smallpox, certified by Pastor Møhl.

• Mette Catharine Roibøll
• Role in Document: Bride
• Biographical Details: Maiden (Pigen), 28 years old. Residing in Roibøll. She was vaccinated against smallpox by Glerup.

    b)   Associated Individuals:

Samuel Nielsen: Sponsor/Best man, residing in Østerlinnet.

Jens Johansen: Sponsor/Best man, residing in Østerlinnet.

     c)  Key Events:

Event Type: Marriage

Date: October 16, 1830

Location: Østerlinnet Church, Haderslev, Denmark

     d)  Geographical Locations:

Østerlinnet: Residence of the groom and sponsors, and location of the church.

Roibøll: Residence of the bride.

3)  Key Findings

Based on the analysis of this document, your key findings are:

• Marriage Confirmation: Lauritz Pedersen Hede (age 31) and Mette Catharine Roibøll (age 28) were married on October 16, 1830, in the Østerlinnet church.
• Local Roots: Both individuals were from the local area, with the groom residing in Østerlinnet and the bride in Roibøll.
• Medical History: The record confirms that Lauritz had survived natural smallpox, while Mette Catharine had been vaccinated against it, fulfilling the legal requirements for marriage in Denmark at the time.

4)  Suggested Next Steps:

To further your genealogical research on this couple, you should consider the following steps:

• Search the Østerlinnet parish registers for the birth and baptism records of Lauritz Pedersen Hede (born around 1799) and Mette Catharine Roibøll (born around 1802) to identify their parents.
• Look for the couple in the Danish censuses (Folketælling) for 1834, 1840, and 1845 in Østerlinnet, Haderslev. This will help you find their children and understand their household structure.
• Check MyHeritage for existing family trees, census matches, or other vital records related to Lauritz and Mette Catharine.
• Explore Arkivalieronline (the Danish National Archives online portal) to view original scanned census and parish records for free.
• Investigate the sponsors, Samuel Nielsen and Jens Johansen, as they may be close relatives or neighbors who can provide more context about your ancestors' social circle.

5)  Full-Text Transcription (of the specific item 4 on left page and on the right page):

• Ungkarl Lauritz Pedersen Hede af Østerlinnet, 31 Aar gl. Pigen Mette Catharine Roibøll af Roibøll, 28 Aar gl. Samuel Nielsen, Jens Johansen, begge af Østerlinnet d. 16 Octbr 1830 i Kirken pag 570 Brudg. havt de naturlige Kopper att. af Pastor Møhl. Bruden vacc. af Glerup.
• Enkemand Rasmus Jacobsen af Østerlinnet, 48 Aar gl. Enken Maren Hans Datter Slot af Vesterlinnet, 42 Aar gl. C. F. Ehnsted, Ingmar Pedersen d. 10 Novbr 1832 i Østerlinnet Kirke 579 Begge havt de naturlige Kopper.

6)  Translation (of the specific Item 4 on the left page and on right page):

• Bachelor Lauritz Pedersen Hede from Østerlinnet, 31 years old; Maiden Mette Catharine Roibøll from Roibøll, 28 years old; Samuel Nielsen, Jens Johansen, both from Østerlinnet; the 16th of Oct 1830; in church; page 570; Groom had natural smallpox cert. by Pastor Møhl. Bride vacc. by Glerup.
• Widower Jens Johansen from Østerlinnet; Widow Anne Ebsen from Østerlinnet; Anders Kjer, Peder Johansen Søndergaard; the 16th of Nov 1832; in Østerlinnet Church; 579;  The man had natural smallpox. The woman vacc. by Pastor Møhl

Note that since I had identified the couple to be married in my file name, Scribe AI provided only that item in the Details mentioned section.  Scribe AI provided the transcription and translation for all of the items on the page and I selected the item of interest in the Transcription and Tranlation section. 

It would have taken me a lifetime, or significant money, to figure this out.  Scribe AI did it in about two minutes. I can't comment on the transcription or translation because I don't know the Danish forms and vocabulary. I assume it is "almost" correct.

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/10/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-transcribe.html

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 X, 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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The Life Of the Jonathan White Family of East Killingly, Connecticut in 1845

 I asked my AI Assistant Anthropic Claude to provide information about my ancestral family's life in 1845 in Windham County, Connecitcut.  My 3rd great-grandparents Jonathan and Miranda (Wade) White had married in 1823, and by 1845 had three living children, including my 2nd great-grandfather, Henry Arnold White (1824-1885). I posted ABC Biographies for Jonathan and Miranda (Wade) White in ABC Biography of #44 Jonathan White (1804-1850) of Rhode Island and Connecticut and ABC Biography of #45 Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850) of Rhode Island and Connecticut. 

I asked Anthropic Claude to create a description of the family life, work, education, community affairs and entertainment for the Jonathan and Miranda (Wade) White family in East Killingly, Connecticut in 1845 based on the biographies and social history.

(AI NotebookLM infographic -- Life of the Jonathan White Family in 1845)

Here is the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 5 response:  

Life of the Jonathan White Family in East Killingly, 1845

The Household

• Jonathan White was about 41 and a farmer. The family lived on Chestnut Hill in East Killingly, and had been in Connecticut since at least 1839 when they moved from Glocester, Rhode Island.

• Miranda (Wade) White turned 41 that January. Her father, Simon Wade of Foster, Rhode Island, had witnessed the 1839 sale of Jonathan's Glocester land, which suggests the Rhode Island families stayed in touch.

• Albert Henry White was 18, born 1 April 1827, and was the son who later appears on the farm in the 1850 census.

• Harriet A. White was about 9, the youngest and the only daughter in the household.

• Henry Arnold White, about 21, had married Amy Frances Oatley of East Killingly in Thompson, Connecticut, on 30 June 1844. It is not known where they resided in 1845, but it may have been in East Killingly.

Jonathan's mother, Sibel, was still alive in Glocester, and his Rhode Island siblings were within reach. Jonathan had deeds to the Glocester land and would later pay on a note to her estate, so the Rhode Island ties were never fully broken.

Work on the Farm

The one documented event of 1845 is a land purchase. On 12 September 1845 Jonathan bought land from Alvin Cutler. That followed his 1839 purchase from Joseph Arnold, and another from Reuben Robinson came in October 1846. He was steadily adding to the farm, and by 1850 his real estate was valued at $900.

Mid-1840s New England farms like this one typically ran on mixed farming:

• Crops: corn, rye, oats, potatoes and hay.

• Livestock: a few cows, oxen or horses, pigs and poultry.

• Household goods: butter and cheese, and wool for the family's own clothing.

September was a busy month, with the corn and potato harvests approaching and hay put up for winter. Albert, at 18, would have done a man's share of the labor. Miranda and Harriet would have handled dairying, gardening, preserving food, spinning, sewing and cooking.

Killingly was also one of Connecticut's leading cotton-manufacturing towns, with mills along the Quinebaug River and its tributaries. Farm families nearby sold produce, wood and labor into that mill economy, though nothing in the records shows the Whites working in a mill.

Community Affairs

The records point to a family well-established in the community. Jonathan was in the 1840 census in District No. 6 of Killingly, the local school district, which was also a unit of neighborhood organization. A few years later he chose Deacon Samson B. Covill as his executor, a sign of trust in a church-connected neighbor.

Typical community life included:

• Sunday church attendance

• Town meetings and local elections

• Helping neighbors with barn-raisings, harvests and wood-cutting

• Buying and selling land and goods among local families

The land deeds themselves are the clearest community evidence. Each one shows a transaction with a neighbor, witnessed and recorded at the town clerk's office.

Education

Connecticut's common schools were organized by district, and Harriet, at about 9, would typically have attended the district school. Terms were usually split into summer and winter sessions, with older boys more likely to attend in winter when farm work slowed. Teaching centered on reading, writing, arithmetic and spelling.

The records don't say how much schooling Jonathan, Henry or Albert had. Jonathan signed his 1850 will with his mark, which could reflect limited writing ability or simply the weakness of his final illness. The records do not indicate which.

Entertainment and Fun

Again, this is typical of the time and place, not documented for the Whites:

• Social gatherings: husking bees, apple-paring parties and quilting bees combined work with socializing.

• Seasonal holidays: Thanksgiving was the major autumn family holiday, and the Fourth of July brought local celebrations.

• Music and singing: hymns and singing schools were popular rural entertainments.

• Reading and talk: almanacs, newspapers, the Bible and visiting neighbors filled evenings.

• Skating, sledding and fishing: these were the everyday pleasures for children, especially Harriet's age.

• Fairs and lyceums: agricultural fairs and lecture societies were gaining popularity in New England in this period.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note:  This sketch of the family's life in 1845 keeps what the records document separate from what was typical of rural eastern Connecticut in the mid-1840s. The records say nothing about daily routines, so those parts are historical context, not family fact.

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

The AI Google NotebookLM Video Overview of this story is below and on my YouTube channel:

This is historical fiction based on known events in the lives of my ancestors -- it might have been this way. Jonathan and Miranda (Wade) White are my 3rd great-grandparents, and I have significant information about theor family from the available records, but I know nothing about their day-to-day lives.

I am always amazed at what life was like in any place over 180 years ago. This description of their family life in 1845 Connecticut is interesting and so different from our current daily activities.  I'm glad that the general lifestyles and occupations are known from historical records and witness accounts.

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

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.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/10/the-life-of-jonathan-white-family-of.html

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 X, 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.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.

Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 10 to 16 October 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 16 October 2026, there are now 6,738 searchable and full-text transcribed image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, a decrease of 4 from last week. There are over 2 BILLION "results" in the collections.  It is not possible to see which collections are new, although a clue would be the Last Updated column. 

 2)  As of 16 October 2026 there are now 26,430 browsable (some indexed, none transcribed) image collections on FamilySearch Images this week, an increase of 111 from last week. There are over 6.209 BILLION images in these collections.  There are 2,246 collections from the United States, 7,338 from Europe and 222 from Canada.  It is not possible to see which collections are new. Note that the listing now indicates the indexed percentage of some collections.  

3)  As of 16 October 2026, there are 3,507 Historical Record Collections (many indexed, many browsable) on FamilySearch (an increase of 0 from last week): 

The Deleted, Added and Updated Historical Record Collections for the past two weeks include:

--- Collections Deleted ---

--- Collections Added ---

--- Collections Updated ---

Bahamas, Births, 1850-1891 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520621); 52,700 indexed records with 4,286 record images (was 52,700 records with 52,700 images), UPDATED 13-Oct-2026
Belgium, Births and Baptisms, 1560-1890 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520562); 358,328 indexed records with 20,368 record images (was 358,328 records with 17,110 images), UPDATED 13-Oct-2026
California, Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674703); 195,340 indexed records with 20,415 record images (was 195,340 records with 16,943 images), UPDATED 13-Oct-2026
Canada, Births and Baptisms, 1661-1959 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520604); 165,363 indexed records with 14,380 record images (was 165,363 records with 4,563 images), UPDATED 13-Oct-2026
Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674736); 719,358 indexed records with 18,239 record images (was 719,358 records with 15,461 images), UPDATED 13-Oct-2026
Dominican Republic, Baptisms, 1726-1924 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520622); 144,381 indexed records with 11,380 record images (was 144,381 records with 2,925 images), UPDATED 13-Oct-2026

Ecuador, Baptisms, 1680-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520610); 399,934 indexed records with 29,275 record images (was 399,934 records with 24,478 images), UPDATED 13-Oct-2026
France, Deaths and Burials, 1546-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500691); 313,483 indexed records with 9,680 record images (was 332,061 records with 341,046 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026
France, Marriages, 1546-1924 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500690); 1,177,909 indexed records with 12,262 record images (was 1,178,188 records with 1,209,668 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026
Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675351); 128,728 indexed records with 1,719 record images (was 128,728 records with 1,719 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026
Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675197); 2,538,593 indexed records with 30,587 record images (was 2,528,553 records with 16,627 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026

Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675350); 368,497 indexed records with 27,960 record images (was 366,544 records with 23,078 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026
Massachusetts, Marriages, 1841-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469062); 1,611 indexed records with 108,296 record images (was 0 records with 108,296 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026
Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928860); 12,026,254 indexed records with 742,594 record images (was 11,820,836 records with 742,594 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026
Netherlands, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1778468); Index only (1,572,754 records), no images (was 1,572,754 records with 0 images), UPDATED 14-Oct-2026
New Hampshire, Marriages, 1720-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1680841); Index only (134,700 records), no images (was 134,698 records with 0 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026

Philippines Civil Registration (National), 1945-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1852584); 8,443,714 indexed records with 20,274,621 record images (was 7,672,108 records with 20,274,621 images), UPDATED 15-Oct-2026
South Africa Department of Defence, Military Records, 1914-1954 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000520); 109,687 indexed records with 108,182 record images (was 109,687 records with 108,182 images), UPDATED 12-Oct-2026
Spain, Catholic Church Records, 1307-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1784529); 18,497,566 indexed records with 3,008,340 record images (was 18,497,566 records with 3,008,340 images), UPDATED 13-Oct-2026
West Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708695); Index only (737,099 records), no images (was 737,099 records with 0 images), UPDATED 14-Oct-2026

--- Collections with new images ---

Alabama, Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661470); 164,600 indexed records with 7,361 record images (was 164,600 records with 6,902 images), last updated 25-Sep-2026
Alabama, Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674670); 71,989 indexed records with 12,729 record images (was 71,989 records with 11,359 images), last updated 25-Sep-2026
Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674672); 797,938 indexed records with 133,106 record images (was 797,938 records with 129,172 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021
Argentina, Baptisms, 1645-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520570); 2,273,891 indexed records with 341,375 record images (was 2,273,891 records with 321,156 images), last updated 18-Jan-2026
Argentina, Marriages, 1722-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520572); 104,450 indexed records with 9,029 record images (was 104,450 records with 9,024 images), last updated 18-Jan-2026

Arizona, Marriages, 1865-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674679); 66,550 indexed records with 47,115 record images (was 66,550 records with 44,574 images), last updated 10-Mar-2020
Arkansas, Deaths and Burials, 1882-1929; 1945-1963 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674710); 10,228 indexed records with 308 record images (was 10,228 records with 7 images), last updated 17-Nov-2023
Arkansas, Marriages, 1837-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674711); 873,559 indexed records with 73,193 record images (was 873,559 records with 71,921 images), last updated 03-Nov-2021
Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770729); 326,242 indexed records with 33,632 record images (was 326,242 records with 30,658 images), last updated 17-Sep-2026
Australia, Deaths and Burials, 1816-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770857); 81,876 indexed records with 19,399 record images (was 81,876 records with 18,391 images), last updated 17-Sep-2026

Australia, Marriages, 1810-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770858); 112,813 indexed records with 21,864 record images (was 112,813 records with 20,228 images), last updated 17-Sep-2026
Austria, Births and Baptisms, 1651-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520584); 57,126 indexed records with 4,235 record images (was 57,126 records with 3,829 images), last updated 07-Oct-2026
Austria, Burials, 1768-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520587); 27,242 indexed records with 1,193 record images (was 27,242 records with 963 images), last updated 12-Nov-2025
Austria, Marriages, 1722-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520586); 22,385 indexed records with 2,165 record images (was 22,385 records with 1,956 images), last updated 24-Dec-2025
Barbados, Baptisms, 1739-1891 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520591); 451,676 indexed records with 19,728 record images (was 451,676 records with 13,064 images), last updated 29-Jan-2020

Barbados, Burials, 1854-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520600); 91,217 indexed records with 4,793 record images (was 91,217 records with 2,845 images), last updated 29-Jan-2020
Barbados, Marriages, 1854-1879 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520599); 64,288 indexed records with 6,552 record images (was 64,288 records with 4,554 images), last updated 19-Jun-2020
Belgium, Deaths and Burials, 1564-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520580); 66,440 indexed records with 4,761 record images (was 66,440 records with 4,002 images), last updated 30-Jan-2020
Belgium, Marriages, 1563-1890 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520579); 56,180 indexed records with 4,960 record images (was 56,180 records with 4,239 images), last updated 11-Mar-2020
Bolivia, Baptisms, 1560-1938 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520550); 1,876,624 indexed records with 200,876 record images (was 1,876,624 records with 169,372 images), last updated 19-Jun-2020

Bolivia, Deaths, 1750-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520566); 44,117 indexed records with 4,979 record images (was 44,117 records with 3,894 images), last updated 10-Mar-2020
Bolivia, Marriages, 1630-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520564); 339,380 indexed records with 35,654 record images (was 339,380 records with 29,981 images), last updated 30-Jan-2020
Brazil, Baptisms, 1688-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500708); 2,389,736 indexed records with 166,356 record images (was 2,389,736 records with 128,677 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026
Brazil, Deaths, 1750-1890 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500710); 43,570 indexed records with 2,651 record images (was 43,570 records with 2,254 images), last updated 08-Jan-2026
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 906,277 record images (was 1 records with 906,274 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024

Brazil, Marriages, 1730-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500709); 318,295 indexed records with 34,909 record images (was 318,295 records with 31,833 images), last updated 08-Jan-2026
Brazil, Sergipe, Civil Registration, 1866-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4470324); 1 indexed records with 268,961 record images (was 1 records with 268,955 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
California, Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3518938); 585,672 indexed records with 77,463 record images (was 585,672 records with 75,273 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
California, Marriages, 1850-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674735); 536,518 indexed records with 166,287 record images (was 536,518 records with 128,980 images), last updated 22-Sep-2025
Canada, Deaths and Burials, 1664-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520609); 43,249 indexed records with 2,174 record images (was 43,249 records with 1,316 images), last updated 01-Apr-2021

Canada, Marriages, 1661-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520608); 228,597 indexed records with 6,077 record images (was 228,597 records with 1,693 images), last updated 01-Apr-2021
Chile, Baptisms, 1585-1932 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520549); 1,539,058 indexed records with 153,387 record images (was 1,539,058 records with 148,287 images), last updated 22-Sep-2025
Chile, Marriages, 1579-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520558); 263,665 indexed records with 38,721 record images (was 263,665 records with 37,926 images), last updated 22-Sep-2025
Colombia, Baptisms, 1630-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520607); 449,521 indexed records with 61,641 record images (was 449,521 records with 14,581 images), last updated 06-Aug-2025
Colombia, Deaths, 1770-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520612); 24,940 indexed records with 3,276 record images (was 24,940 records with 329 images), last updated 06-Aug-2025

Colombia, Marriages, 1750-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520611); 77,815 indexed records with 14,417 record images (was 77,815 records with 4,006 images), last updated 06-Aug-2025
Connecticut, Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674748); 711,947 indexed records with 222,338 record images (was 711,947 records with 97,789 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021
Costa Rica, Baptisms, 1700-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520624); 110,127 indexed records with 13,087 record images (was 110,127 records with 12,899 images), last updated 08-Oct-2026
Delaware, Births and Christenings, 1710-1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674747); 32,119 indexed records with 9,288 record images (was 32,119 records with 7,379 images), last updated 12-Mar-2020
Denmark, Baptisms, 1618-1923 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1778463); 5,014,769 indexed records with 261,238 record images (was 5,014,769 records with 225,250 images), last updated 28-Jan-2026

Denmark, Burials, 1640-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520593); 596,238 indexed records with 27,747 record images (was 596,238 records with 22,999 images), last updated 28-Jan-2026
Denmark, Marriages, 1635-1916 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520592); 1,253,965 indexed records with 59,827 record images (was 1,253,965 records with 49,970 images), last updated 28-Jan-2026
District of Columbia, Marriages, 1830-1921 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674801); 201,871 indexed records with 130,106 record images (was 201,871 records with 109,520 images), last updated 06-Oct-2020
Ecuador, Deaths, 1800-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520615); 43,785 indexed records with 4,144 record images (was 43,785 records with 3,799 images), last updated 15-Sep-2025
Ecuador, Marriages, 1680-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520614); 106,660 indexed records with 10,088 record images (was 106,660 records with 9,360 images), last updated 20-Jan-2026

El Salvador, Baptisms, 1750-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584970); 145,495 indexed records with 14,158 record images (was 145,495 records with 10,947 images), last updated 16-Sep-2025
El Salvador, Marriages, 1810-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584975); 22,778 indexed records with 3,126 record images (was 22,778 records with 1,900 images), last updated 16-Sep-2025
England Marriages, 1538–1973 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473015); 10,303,395 indexed records with 3,192 record images (was 10,303,395 records with 2,429 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026
England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473014); 39,144,796 indexed records with 2,516,856 record images (was 39,144,796 records with 2,476,211 images), last updated 25-Sep-2026
Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 274,118,435 indexed records with 305,318,643 record images (was 274,118,435 records with 303,178,852 images), last updated 13-Aug-2026

Finland, Baptisms, 1657-1890 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1778464); 4,555,893 indexed records with 62,523 record images (was 4,577,338 records with 54,275 images), last updated 03-Nov-2025
Finland, Burials, 1725-1909 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1676971); 92,367 indexed records with 2,142 record images (was 92,367 records with 1,912 images), last updated 03-Feb-2020
Finland, Marriages, 1682-1892 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1676970); 474,628 indexed records with 9,908 record images (was 477,316 records with 9,026 images), last updated 03-Nov-2025
Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674804); 596,041 indexed records with 47,385 record images (was 596,041 records with 40,796 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021
Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473000); 22,973,482 indexed records with 520,170 record images (was 23,070,558 records with 308,435 images), last updated 02-Apr-2026

Germany, Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1494474); 2,640,000 indexed records with 70,791 record images (was 2,656,554 records with 28,288 images), last updated 05-Feb-2026
Germany, Marriages, 1558-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473009); 5,155,533 indexed records with 97,865 record images (was 5,182,396 records with 54,341 images), last updated 05-Feb-2026
Guatemala, Baptisms, 1730-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520627); 333,904 indexed records with 26,649 record images (was 333,904 records with 20,366 images), last updated 07-Dec-2025
Honduras, Baptisms, 1730-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520634); 160,997 indexed records with 13,894 record images (was 160,997 records with 12,654 images), last updated 20-Nov-2025
Honduras, Marriages, 1800-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520638); 30,938 indexed records with 662 record images (was 30,938 records with 652 images), last updated 15-Sep-2025

Iceland, Baptisms, 1730-1905 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584974); 145,044 indexed records with 538 record images (was 145,044 records with 370 images), last updated 01-Feb-2026
Iceland, Marriages, 1770-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584978); 30,905 indexed records with 189 record images (was 30,905 records with 140 images), last updated 01-Feb-2026
Idaho, Births and Christenings, 1856-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674809); 70,730 indexed records with 3,761 record images (was 70,730 records with 3,072 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021
Idaho, Deaths and Burials, 1907-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674815); 30,207 indexed records with 1,449 record images (was 30,207 records with 1,093 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021
Idaho, Marriages, 1878-1898; 1903-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674817); 76,651 indexed records with 4,530 record images (was 76,651 records with 3,330 images), last updated 13-Jun-2024

Illinois, Births and Christenings, 1824-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1676968); 1,124,902 indexed records with 185,275 record images (was 1,124,902 records with 27,508 images), last updated 08-May-2026
Illinois, Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3541609); 568,478 indexed records with 201,530 record images (was 568,478 records with 191,816 images), last updated 08-May-2026
Illinois, Marriages, 1815-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1680829); 998,463 indexed records with 141,941 record images (was 998,463 records with 102,463 images), last updated 08-May-2026
India, Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584960); 432,831 indexed records with 37,995 record images (was 432,831 records with 36,619 images), last updated 25-Jan-2026
India, Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584968); 372,980 indexed records with 31,247 record images (was 372,980 records with 30,282 images), last updated 25-Jan-2026
India, Marriages, 1792-1948 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584967); 119,671 indexed records with 22,768 record images (was 119,671 records with 22,092 images), last updated 25-Jan-2026

Indiana, Births and Christenings, 1773-1933 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674814); 230,558 indexed records with 13,482 record images (was 230,558 records with 10,112 images), last updated 16-Jan-2026
Indiana, Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3559081); 145,186 indexed records with 9,388 record images (was 145,186 records with 9,285 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Indiana, Marriages, 1780-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674830); 892,895 indexed records with 212,326 record images (was 892,895 records with 101,468 images), last updated 03-Nov-2021
Iowa, Births and Christenings, 1830-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674820); 386,750 indexed records with 25,640 record images (was 386,750 records with 17,420 images), last updated 07-Apr-2026
Iowa, Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674841); 321,781 indexed records with 15,439 record images (was 321,781 records with 15,204 images), last updated 30-Oct-2020

Ireland, Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584963); 3,628,796 indexed records with 137,835 record images (was 3,628,796 records with 129,439 images), last updated 03-Nov-2025
Ireland, Deaths, 1864-1870 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584965); 182,377 indexed records with 29,280 record images (was 182,377 records with 21,080 images), last updated 05-Feb-2020
Ireland, Marriages, 1619-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584964); 381,057 indexed records with 71,241 record images (was 381,057 records with 69,291 images), last updated 03-Nov-2025
Isle of Man, Births and Baptisms, 1607-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708663); 221,922 indexed records with 9,543 record images (was 221,922 records with 8,449 images), last updated 18-Mar-2020
Isle of Man, Deaths and Burials, 1844-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708590); 42,006 indexed records with 3,008 record images (was 42,006 records with 1,706 images), last updated 05-Feb-2020

Isle of Man, Marriages, 1606–1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1711668); 43,536 indexed records with 5,330 record images (was 43,536 records with 4,377 images), last updated 11-Mar-2020
Italy, Births and Baptisms, 1806-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708706); 205,484 indexed records with 107,371 record images (was 205,484 records with 92,502 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026
Italy, Deaths and Burials, 1806-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708705); 76,671 indexed records with 18,720 record images (was 76,671 records with 13,544 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026
Italy, Marriages, 1809-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1711678); 76,565 indexed records with 11,285 record images (was 76,565 records with 7,955 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026
Jamaica Births and Baptisms, 1752-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520598); 280,346 indexed records with 120,110 record images (was 280,346 records with 90,202 images), last updated 03-Nov-2025

Kansas, Births and Christenings, 1818-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674839); 24,405 indexed records with 914 record images (was 24,405 records with 860 images), last updated 05-Jan-2021
Kansas, Deaths and Burials, 1885-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674844); 16,588 indexed records with 624 record images (was 16,588 records with 589 images), last updated 05-Jan-2021
Kansas, Marriages, 1840-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674845); 304,636 indexed records with 57,827 record images (was 304,636 records with 54,289 images), last updated 16-Nov-2023
Kentucky, Births and Christenings, 1839-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674843); 381,231 indexed records with 8,984 record images (was 381,231 records with 6,688 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021
Kentucky, Deaths and Burials, 1843-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674848); 588,708 indexed records with 36,929 record images (was 588,708 records with 35,691 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021

Kentucky, Marriages, 1785-1979 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674849); 1,175,936 indexed records with 291,328 record images (was 1,175,936 records with 127,400 images), last updated 29-May-2024
Louisiana, Marriages, 1816-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674881); 104,590 indexed records with 18,643 record images (was 104,590 records with 9,388 images), last updated 19-Jun-2020
Maine, Births and Christenings, 1739-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674856); 701,296 indexed records with 53,133 record images (was 701,296 records with 23,768 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026
Maine, Deaths and Burials, 1841-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674914); 158,768 indexed records with 23,892 record images (was 158,768 records with 10,444 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021
Maine, Marriages, 1771-1907 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674915); 466,473 indexed records with 32,633 record images (was 466,473 records with 17,973 images), last updated 22-Jul-2021

Maryland, Births and Christenings, 1650-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674912); 150,035 indexed records with 3,091 record images (was 150,035 records with 2,311 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026
Maryland, Deaths and Burials, 1877-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675198); 10,408 indexed records with 3,715 record images (was 10,408 records with 3,666 images), last updated 16-Jan-2020
Maryland, Marriages, 1666-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675199); 178,981 indexed records with 3,657 record images (was 178,981 records with 2,836 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026
Pennsylvania, Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3535178); 1,132,926 indexed records with 124,048 record images (was 1,132,926 records with 115,784 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
South Carolina, Deaths and Burials, 1816-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3518732); 84,148 indexed records with 6,246 record images (was 84,148 records with 4,958 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,759,862 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,758,132 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,207,245 record images (was 1 records with 28,207,234 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024
Washington, Deaths and Burials, 1810-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3518729); 650,057 indexed records with 16,685 record images (was 650,057 records with 12,815 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024

--- Collections with images removed ---

Costa Rica, Marriages, 1750-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520628); 35,512 indexed records with 36,722 record images (was 35,512 records with 41,313 images), last updated 22-Jan-2026
Dominican Republic, Burials, 1666-1862 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520626); 14,474 indexed records with 1,144 record images (was 14,474 records with 14,571 images), last updated 23-Sep-2025
Dominican Republic, Marriages, 1743-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520625); 50,462 indexed records with 208 record images (was 50,462 records with 54,683 images), last updated 01-Oct-2025
France, Births and Baptisms, 1546-1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1782519); 5,313,811 indexed records with 52,898 record images (was 5,313,811 records with 5,484,504 images), last updated 17-Jan-2026
Georgia, Marriages, 1808-1967 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674807); 664,154 indexed records with 971 record images (was 664,154 records with 665,103 images), last updated 11-Sep-2026

Philippines, Calabarzon, Church Records 1710-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000323); 1,478,024 indexed records with 232,605 record images (was 1,478,024 records with 236,829 images), last updated 12-Mar-2026

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

Norway, Baptisms, 1634-1927 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1467014); Index only (5,262,978 records), no images (was 5,271,414 records with 0 images), last updated 27-Feb-2026
Norway, Marriages, 1660-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1468080); Index only (1,328,019 records), no images (was 1,330,168 records with 0 images), last updated 27-Feb-2026
Peru, Marriages, 1600-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520547); Index only (59,881 records), no images (was 59,885 records with 0 images), last updated 16-Sep-2026
Spain, Baptisms, 1502-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500692); Index only (7,962,793 records), no images (was 8,020,699 records with 0 images), last updated 10-Apr-2026
Spain, Deaths, 1600-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500694); Index only (251,965 records), no images (was 254,473 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Sep-2025

Spain, Marriages, 1565-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500693); Index only (2,237,941 records), no images (was 2,259,933 records with 0 images), last updated 12-Dec-2022
United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2860782); 31,807,548 indexed records with 4,918,255 record images (was 31,807,549 records with 4,918,255 images), last updated 13-May-2025
United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,600,530 records), no images (was 875,600,532 records with 0 images), last updated 29-Jul-2026
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,857,811 records), no images (was 413,857,812 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:

• 3,507 Historical Record Collection entries
• 0 removed entries
• 0 added entries 
• 20 updated entries
• 110 entries with more or fewer images 
• 9 entries with more or fewer records

Marshall's list shows 3,507 Historical Record Collections this week, an increase of 2 collections from last week. The website image above shows 3,507 collections, so the website number is in sync with Marshall's list number.

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

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

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/10/added-and-updated-familysearch-record_01686903753.html

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 X, 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 be posted immediately.

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Updates to RootsMagic 12

 Version 12.1.0 to RootsMagic 12 was released with a list of changes noted on the Facebook User Group and the Update History page.

The changes listed include:

12.1.0 - 15 Oct 2026

• New/Fixed: Citation Editing / Adding - Removed tabbed pages from citation edit panel. Pages are now collapsible sections in the edit panel
• New: Citation editor - free-form and notes drop down in place to edit instead of sliding
• Fixed: Adding new children, etc. could randomly crash
• Fixed: Hover bubbles over notes, links, etc. in the edit panel are back
• Fixed: Info box icons were not opening to correct view
• New: Family View adds “move to primary position” to right menu
• Fixed: Citation name is no longer required
• Fixed: Blurry text on some Macs
• Fixed: Overly pixelated thumbnails on some systems (use Build Thumbnails on main Media page to fix existing ones all at once)
• Fixed: Relationship calculator not showing relationships
• Fixed: Set Relationships working
• Fixed: Home page, On This Day showed incorrect relationship
• Fixed: DNA Matches Tree Relationship not showing
• Fixed: Report titles with a person name with double surname or suffix put nickname in wrong place
• Fixed: Ancestry Record sources were showing formatting code (like <[Footnote]>)
• Fixed: Down arrow in note editor was jumping to wrong place at paragraph breaks
• Fixed: Source templates could randomly show a URL field as a date field
• Fixed: Property editor loses focus when Alt+Tab switches between windows
• Fixed: There were two search boxes on “Find a citation” screen
• Fixed: Numerous minor issues
• Fixed: Cosmetic issues

There are a number of YouTube videos about RootsMagic 12 including A Quick Tour of RootsMagic 12.  

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

Disclosure:  I have been a RootsMagic user and paying customer since about 2008 and have downloaded and am using RootsMagic 12.  

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/10/updates-to-rootsmagic-12.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.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 10 to 16 October 2026

   The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by "Date Updated" during the period from 10 to 16 October 2026: 

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• Web: Ireland, Census, 1911; 4,537,587 indexed records without record images, Updated 10/15/2026. All data in this third-party database was obtained from the source’s website. Ancestry.com does not support or make corrections or changes to the original database. 
• Mayenne, France, Censuses 1836-1911; 5,287,802 indexed records with record images, Updated 10/15/2026. This collection contains census records from the county of Mayenne, France, between the years of 1836 and 1911. Most records are in French.
• Michigan, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current; 1,024,908,750 indexed records without record images, Updated 10/14/2026. This index allows you to search for your ancestor by name in Michigan newspapers that are available on Newspapers.com™ from the 1800s to the present.
• Pennsylvania, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current; 1,903,650,548 indexed records without record images, Updated 10/14/2026. This index allows you to search for your ancestor by name in Pennsylvania newspapers that are available on Newspapers.com™ from the 1800s to the present.

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

The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at https://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.

By my count, there are 0 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above. There are now 34,010 collections available as of 16 October, an INCREASE of 0 from last week. 

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

Disclosure: I pay for an All-Access subscription from Ancestry.com. In past years, Ancestry.com provided a complimentary All Access subscription, an autosomal DNA test, material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and hosted events and meals that I attended in Salt Lake City.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/10/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_0739649055.html

 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 Facebook, X, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.

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