Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Genealogy Education Bytes - Week of 30 October to 5 November 2025

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


1) Upcoming Conferences and  Institutes 

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

*  2025 Texas State Family History Conference (TxSGS) ($$) -- 7-8 November 2025 - Virtual.

*  RootsTech 2026 ($$, In-person in Salt Lake City, Free Virtual) -- 5 to 7 March 2026.

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

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

*  FamilySearch MonthlyWebinars (Free)

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Wednesday, 5 November, 11 a.m.:   Informed Consent: DNA’s Essential Ethical Underpinning by Judy G. Russell.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Friday, 7 November, 11 a.m.: Stump Craig: U.S. Revolutionary War by Craig R. Scott.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Tuesday, 11 November, 11 a.m.:  Unlocking French Archives: a guide on how archives are organized and what you may find on MyHeritage by Marine Soulas.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Wednesday, 12 November, 11 a.m.:  Private Gandolfo Scarnici: Case Study of a Veteran of World War I by Michael L. Strauss.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Wednesday, 12 November, 5 p.m.:  Researching Your Colonial War Ancestors by Michael L. Strauss.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Friday, 14 November, 11 a.m.:  Researching Your Norfolk Ancestors by Nicholas Dixon.

3) Recent Podcasts:



*  Family Tree Talk:  Tracing my (probable) WWI relation

*  Research Like a Pro:  RLP 382: Interview with Linda Broenniman


4) Recent YouTube Videos 

*  Allen County Public Library:  Tracing Family Roots Through German Words






*  Crista Cowan | The Barefoot Genealogist:  Nevada: The Well-Worn Path | Stories That Live in Us | Episode 83



*  Family Tree Support: Which DNA Test Kit Is Better in 2025?







*  Italian Roots and Genealogy:  How the Johnson-Reed Act Destroyed Italian America
*  Italian Roots and Genealogy:  Is Carlentini Sicily the Hidden Gem of Italy?


*  Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems:  Search Thousands of Newspaper Records with this Powerful Tool

*  Marcia Philbrick:  Leon Crawford Overview
*  Marcia Philbrick:  Leon Crawford SOng2

*  Projectkin:  Projectkin Live: Follow-up to GIS Mapping Project with Crystal Lorimor

*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver's Life Memoir
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Betty's Story: Bettys Elephant Ride
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Benjamin Seaver's (1757-1816) Life Story
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Fred's Story: The Three Day Cross-Country Escape
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Betty's Story: An Art Teacher's Day in 1940
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Captain Norman Seaver (1734-1787) Biography




5) Did you miss the last post in this series - Genealogy Education Bytes -  Week of 23 to 29 October 2025?


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NOTE:  If  I missed an upcoming conference or webinar, or a useful podcast or video, in this time period, please let me know in a comment or an email. 

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share your comment on 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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Veterans Day: Free Military Records on Findmypast

I received this information today from Findmypast:

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Find forgotten heroes with free access to Findmypast’s military records this Veterans Day
  • To mark Veterans Day, Findmypast is offering free access to military records* over the period November 7-13
  • Delve into ancestors’ wartime experiences in millions of military records and ensure that no
  • story is left behind
  •  Explore conflicts ranging from the American Revolutionary War to the Napoleonic Wars and more modern action in the First and Second World Wars.
  •  Delve deeper into your ancestors’ lives within historical newspapers and understand the
  • effects of conflict on communities, families and individuals
To mark Veterans Day and honor all military ancestors, Findmypast is offering free access to millions of military records from November 7–13.

This special access gives family historians and researchers the opportunity to explore detail-rich 
records, uncover personal stories, and truly understand their ancestors’ lives. Whether they served on the front lines, became a prisoner of war, gained military honors, or offered medical aid, Findmypast’s military records can paint a vivid picture of your family's wartime  experiences and offer a powerful way to remember those who served.

Discover ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War within 16 dedicated record  sets. Explore more modern conflicts, such as enlistments, casualties and POWs in World War II  and Vietnam. For those with British & Irish roots, explore the largest collection of British Army  records anywhere online, including regimental records, army lists, roll calls and the details  of  those who served with particular regiments, military nurses, volunteer soldiers and army  deserters, as well as the British in India collection, covering nearly 350 years from 1656 right up
to 1993.

Then delve deeper to understand what life was really like for those who experienced war within
Findmypast’s unrivalled collection of historical newspapers. Trace major milestones of the war as they happened – and spot those that were left out by the press.

Plus, Findmypast has created a helpful set of resources and features to help you get further with your military research, faster. Use powerful research tools like Collections to clip and file your favorite newspaper articles, and Workspaces to collate your research on individual ancestors in one place and preserve the stories that matter most. Within the family tree builder, you’ll discover helpful information giving you the context around your ancestor’s military service, including details of regiments and battles.

Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast said: “We believe that uncovering and  understanding the stories of all those who served is a powerful act of Remembrance. This year, we’re encouraging our genealogy community to help shed light on one of the darkest wartime chapters: the Pals regiments of the First World War. Research military ancestors for free this weekend and help to ensure that no story is left behind.”

*Exclusions apply. Free access to selected military records runs from 10:00 on November 7 to 23:59 on November 13 2025. After the free access ends, you can only view most records and features with a valid subscription. For more information, including our fair usage policy, read our free access terms and conditions.

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See all of my posts about Findmypast at   https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FindMyPast

Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador. This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/11/veterans-day-free-military-records-on.html

Copyright (c) 2025, 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 Norman Seaver (1734-1787) of Massachusetts

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

1) I wrote genealogical sketches for almost every known ancestor back through 9 generations in blog posts based on 38 years of genealogical research in my 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies series. The genealogical sketch for my 5th great-grandfather, Norman Seaver, including family members, record abstracts and sources, is in 52 Ancestors - Week 105: #128 Norman Seaver (1734-1787).


(AI ChatGPT5 image of Norman Seaver family in 1785)

2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached the PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestor 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 file for Norman Seaver. Including 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) is:


Norman Seaver (1734-1787)

A Life Cut Short in Service to His Community

Norman Seaver lived during one of the most transformative periods in American history, witnessing the birth of a nation through his service in the Revolutionary War and his contributions to his Massachusetts communities. His life, though tragically cut short at age 52, was marked by hard work, dedication to family, and commitment to the patriot cause.

Early Life and Family Origins

Norman Seaver was born in 1734 or 1735, likely in either Framingham or Sudbury, Massachusetts. He was the fourth child and third son of Robert Seaver and Eunice Rayment Seaver. Growing up in colonial Massachusetts, Norman was part of a large family that would scatter across the region as each sibling reached adulthood.

His Siblings

Norman's brothers and sisters included:

  • Joseph Seaver (born June 10, 1727, in Sudbury), who was christened the day after his birth but left no further records

  • Benjamin Seaver (born October 8, 1728, in Framingham), who also disappeared from historical records, though family tradition suggests either he or Joseph may have died at the Siege of Louisbourg in 1745

  • Thankful Seaver (born October 6, 1731, in Framingham), who married three times and lived until at least 1811 in Leominster

  • Hannah Seaver (born about 1736 in Framingham), about whom little is known

  • Moses Seaver (born about 1738 in Framingham), who married Lucy Carril and died in Shrewsbury in 1809

  • Robert Seaver (born about 1743 in Framingham), who married Joanna Parmenter and eventually settled in Brookline, New Hampshire, where he died in 1828

  • Samuel Seaver (born April 8, 1747, in Sudbury), who married Sarah Cutter and moved to Crown Point, New York, where he died in 1830

  • John Seaver (born about 1752 in Framingham and christened in November 1754)

Early Adulthood in Narragansett No. 2

As a young man, Norman followed his father to Narragansett No. 2 (later renamed Westminster), where he worked for the proprietors as early as 1751, when he was only about seventeen years old. This frontier settlement in Worcester County offered opportunities for ambitious young men willing to work the land and help build a new community.

Marriage and Growing Family

On March 14, 1755, Norman married Sarah Read (1736-1808) in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Sarah was the daughter of Isaac Reed and Experience Read, though early genealogical sources incorrectly identified her father as Jacob Reed. Norman was about twenty-one years old at the time of his marriage, and Sarah became his lifelong partner and the mother of his thirteen children.

Their Children

Norman and Sarah's family grew steadily over the next twenty-five years, with their children born in three different communities as the family moved seeking better opportunities:

Born in Sudbury:

  • Eunice (May 3, 1755), who married Elisha Whitney and likely moved to Peru, Vermont

  • Benjamin (April 21, 1757), who married Martha Whitney and died in Westminster in 1816

  • Sarah "Sally" (January 1759), who married Josiah Cutter and died in Watertown in 1833

Born in Shrewsbury:

  • Joseph (May 13, 1761), who left no further records and likely died young

  • Isaac (February 18, 1763)

  • Ethan (September 24, 1765), who married twice and died in Gardner in 1823

  • Daniel (June 28, 1767), who moved to New York and died in Schenevus in 1851

  • Heman (May 6, 1769), who married twice and died in Marlborough in 1835

  • Luther (April 13, 1771)

Born in Westminster:

  • Relief "Leafe" (September 25, 1774), who died tragically young at age 20 in 1795

  • Asahel Read (October 2, 1775), named for Sarah's brother, who married Hannah Gager and died in Westminster in 1849

  • Faitha (August 2, 1777), who married Isaac Brooks and lived to 1864 in Townsend

  • Lucinda (March 23, 1780), who married Samuel Frost and eventually died in Montreal, Canada, in 1844

All but Joseph survived to adulthood—a remarkable achievement in an era when childhood mortality was common.

A Life of Movement and Opportunity

Norman's adult life was characterized by frequent moves as he sought to provide for his growing family and take advantage of economic opportunities in central Massachusetts.

Return to Sudbury

After his father Robert's death, Norman returned to Sudbury with his young family. It was here that his first three children were born between 1755 and 1759.

The Shrewsbury Years (1760-1773)

On September 15, 1760, Norman—now identified as a husbandman of Sudbury—made a significant investment in his family's future, purchasing 100 acres of land in Shrewsbury for 120 pounds from Edward Raymond. This substantial property became the family homestead where six more children were born between 1761 and 1771.

During his time in Shrewsbury, Norman proved himself a shrewd land manager, buying and selling parcels to maximize his holdings. In January 1769, he sold 15 acres at the northeast corner of Maldin farm to Isaac Temple for 15 pounds. In April 1772, he purchased a small triangular acre of land for 2 pounds from Thomas Andrews. Just days later, on April 22, 1772, he sold a larger parcel to Abel Osgood of Rutland for 200 pounds, 13 shillings, and 4 pence—a substantial sum that likely provided capital for his next move.

Return to Westminster (1773-1787)

In May 1773, Norman returned to Westminster, where he had worked as a young man. Now a mature landowner and father, he purchased an impressive 127 acres in the northerly part of Westminster from Heman Kendall of Lancaster. This property included two-thirds of lot 76, lot 125, part of lot 65, and another third division lot. His final four children were born here between 1774 and 1780. The house still stands today on Overlook Road in Westminster.

Norman continued his pattern of land transactions in Westminster, buying and selling parcels in 1776, 1782, and 1784, always working to improve his family's position. By 1784, he had risen in social standing and was identified as a "gentleman" rather than a yeoman—a significant marker of respect in colonial society.

Service in the Revolutionary War

When the alarm sounded on April 19, 1775, announcing that British troops were marching toward Lexington and Concord, Norman Seaver answered the call. At age forty-one, with a wife and at least ten children at home, he nevertheless left his farm to defend the patriot cause.

Early Service

Norman served as a Sergeant in Captain Noah Miles's company, which marched on the Lexington alarm to Cambridge and joined Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment. He served for eleven and a half days before returning home, noted in records as not having enlisted into the regular army.

Rising Through the Ranks

Norman's military service continued and advanced throughout the war:

  • In 1777, he served as an Ensign in Captain Francis Willson's company in Colonel Danforth Keyes's regiment, with two separate terms of service (June 27 to July 27, and December 1, 1777, to January 3, 1778), both with rolls dated at Providence

  • From 1778 to 1779, he achieved the rank of First Lieutenant in Captain Ebenezer Belknap's company in Colonel Nathaniel Wade's regiment, serving in Rhode Island from April 1, 1778, to January 3, 1779

During this final term of service, muster rolls were taken at North Kingston and East Greenwich, Rhode Island, documenting his presence on multiple dates throughout the fall and winter of 1778.

Norman's military service was a family affair. Several of his sons—Benjamin, Joseph, and Isaac—also served in the Revolutionary War, as did his brothers Moses and Samuel Seaver. After the war ended, Norman may have been commissioned as a Captain in the militia, as he was styled "Captain" on both his death record and gravestone.

Life as a Carpenter and Community Leader

Beyond his military service, Norman Seaver was known throughout Westminster as a skilled carpenter. This trade provided income for his large family and contributed to the development of his community.

The Second Meetinghouse Project

Norman took a contract for significant work on Westminster's second meetinghouse—enclosing and shingling the building. This was an important commission that demonstrated both his skill and the trust the community placed in him. The meetinghouse was the center of colonial New England life, serving as both a place of worship and a gathering space for town meetings.

His status in the community was further reflected in his ownership of Pew No. 2 on the lower floor near the wall of the meetinghouse—a valuable property that cost between $31 and $66.

Tragic Death

On July 31, 1787, tragedy struck during the raising of the second meetinghouse. As Norman worked on the frame of the building he had contracted to finish, he fell and received fatal injuries. He died almost immediately at age 52 or 53.

The sudden loss shocked the Westminster community. Here was a Revolutionary War veteran, a skilled craftsman, a father of thirteen, and a respected community leader—struck down in an instant while serving his town.

Estate and Legacy

Norman died intestate (without a will), and his widow Sarah was appointed administratrix of his estate on September 25, 1787, with a bond of 2,000 pounds.

Property Holdings

An inventory revealed that Norman had built a substantial estate:

  • A home place with buildings and 106 acres in Westminster, valued at 212 pounds

  • An additional 3 acres held in common with Timothy Heywood, Samuel Miller, and William Murdock, valued at 3 pounds

  • Personal estate worth 159 pounds, 19 shillings, and 9 pence

The total estate of 375 pounds represented considerable wealth for a carpenter and farmer in late 18th-century Massachusetts.

Distribution to Heirs

On January 3, 1792, the estate was distributed among Norman's widow and children:

  • Sarah Seaver received her one-third dower right of the real and peresonal property

  • Benjamin Seaver, as the eldest surviving son, received two-thirds of the real estate plus a double portion totaling 22 pounds. He was ordered to pay his siblings their equal shares of 11 pounds each

  • Equal portions went to sons Isaac, Ethan, Daniel, Heman, Luther, and Asahel

  • Equal portions went to daughters Eunice Whitney (wife of Elisha), Sarah Cutter (wife of Josiah), Relief, Faithfull, and Lucinda

Sarah was appointed guardian for the youngest daughters, Faitha and Lucinda, while Samuel Gerrish was appointed guardian for Asahel and Relief.

Final Rest

Norman Seaver was laid to rest in Woodside Cemetery in Westminster, on the far west edge of the burial ground. His slate gravestone bears a simple inscription:

In memory
Cap. Norman Seaver
who Deceased July
31st 1787
in the 53rd year
of his age

A Sons of the American Revolution emblem and American flag mark his grave today, honoring his service to the patriot cause. His widow Sarah survived him by twenty-one years, dying in 1808.

Remembering Norman Seaver

Norman Seaver's life embodied the spirit of his generation—hardworking, mobile, willing to fight for independence, and devoted to family and community. Though his life ended suddenly and tragically, he left behind a large family that spread across New England and beyond, carrying his legacy into the 19th century. His service in the Revolution, his skilled craftsmanship, and his role in building communities in central Massachusetts make him a worthy ancestor to remember and honor.

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

5)  The Video Overview discussing Norman Seaver's life 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.

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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) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/11/abc-biography-of-norman-seaver-1734.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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Four Women At a House In About 1910 -- (Not So) Wordless Wednesday #893

This is one of the priceless (to me) images in my computer file folders:

My cousin Laura sent me this photograph several years in a sepia tone.  I straightened, enhanced, sharpened and colorized it using Google Gemini 2.5 Flash.  It is not very colorized!

Here is the OpenAI ChatGPT5 colorized image of the above photo: 


At least that is better colorized, but it cut off the woman on the right!

There are four women in this photograph.  I don't know who three of them are.  The second woman from the left is, I think and Laura thinks, my great-grandmother, Juliet E. (White) Richmond (1848-1913), the wife of Thomas Richmond, and mother of my paternal grandmother, Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver. The photograph may have been taken in Massachusetts around 1900, or in Putnam, Connecticut around 1910.  I think it was probably taken in Putnam, Connecticut in around 1910, probably on the Richmond dairy farm.

Who are the other women?  They may be daughters of Juliet and Thomas Richmond, sisters of Thomas Richmond, the wives of Thomas Richmond's brothers. or the wives of Juliet's sons. I don't have any other photographs to compare them to.

This photograph is a part of my family history.  

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Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

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

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Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 29 October to 4 November 2025

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


1)  Genealogy and Family History News Articles:









2)  DNA/IGG-Related News Articles






4)  Genealogy Software/Apps/Extensions


5)  New or Updated Genealogy Digital Record Collections:

















6)  Did you miss the last post in this series?  See Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 22 to 28 October 2025.


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Copyright (c) 2025, 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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