Best of the Genea-Blogs - Week of 22 to 28 June 2025

 Scores of genealogy and family history bloggers write hundreds of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.

My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for most daily blog prompts or meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.

Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week: 

*  "The More I Search, the Less I Know" by Jacqi Stevens on A Family Tapestry.

*  Why becoming a storyteller isn’t about skill — it’s about identity and Why your AI prompts aren’t working (and how to fix them) by Denyse Allen on Chronicle Makers.

*  Top 5 Reasons for Genealogy by Diane Henriks on Know Who Wears the Genes In Your Family.

*  What are Ancestral Journeys on Ancestry? by Mercedes Brons on Who Are You Made Of?

*  When the Railway Came; Sundays in St Saviour’s; The Language of Loss; Secrets of the Kitchen Table; and The Sewing Basket by Carole McCulloch on NextGen Genealogy.

*  8 Ninja-Level Methods to Unmask Mystery DNA Matches by Marc McDermott on GenealogyExplained.

*  I Tried the "One Good Prompt" by Nancy G. Carver on Legacy Carvers.

*  George Lowe: Ex Convict, Entrepreneur, Innkeeper and Innovator by Jennifer Jones on Tracking Down the Family.

*  What Will Happen to Once-Treasured Silverware and China? by Marian B. Wood on Climbing My Family Tree.

*  It Took Over 30 Years to Find My Great Grandfather by Melody Lassalle on Mel's Genealogy Research Journal.

*  No Descendants? No Problem! Where to Donate Your Genealogical Materials by Nancy Gilbride Casey on Leaves On the Tree.

*  Library and Archives Canada: A Quick Website Tour by Sunny Morton on Family Tree Magazine.

*  Arrested Development  by Jeff Record on The Last Aha...

*  Under The Watchful Tree and The Tree On The Green by Paul Chiddicks on Paul Chiddicks.

*  A Day in the Life of Sarah Jane Purvis - August 1885 by Charlie Purvis on Carolina Family Roots.

*  The Day Everything Changed by Jenny Mackey on Jenny's Scrapbook of Family History Stories.

Here are pick posts by other geneabloggers this week:

*  Friday’s Family History Finds by Linda Stufflebean on Empty Branches on the Family Tree.

*  This week’s crème de la crème — June 28, 2025 by Gail Dever on Genealogy a la Carte.

*  GenStack [28 June 2025] by Robin Stewart on Genealogy Matters.

*  The Chiddicks Observer Edition 18 [23 June 2025] by Paul Chiddicks on Paul Chiddicks.

Readers are encouraged to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blogs to your Favorites, Feedly, another RSS feed, or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.

Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I currently am reading posts from over 900 genealogy bloggers using Feedly, but I still miss quite a few it seems.

Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.

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Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/06/best-of-genea-blogs-week-of-22-to-28.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 X, 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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ABC Biography of James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902) of Ontario

 The Claude (now Sonnet 4) artificial intelligence tool can be used to write family-friendly biographies of my ancestors that might interest and engage my relatives and descendants to help them learn about and understand their ancestry. Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is one ancestor biography.

1) I have written genealogical sketches for almost every known ancestor back 9 generations in blog posts based on 35 years of genealogical research in my 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies series. The genealogical sketch for my 2nd great-grandfather, James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902), #30 on my Ahnentafel List), including record abstracts and sources, is 52 Ancestors - Week 23: #30, James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902).

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. Please create a draft biography from the attached file, including parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places), summarize life events, and add historical facts 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."

(image created by ChatGPT4)

The Claude Sonnet 4 AI-assisted biography is:

     James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902)

       A Life Shaped by Pioneer Spirit and Family Devotion

Early Life and Family Origins

James Abraham Kemp was born on May 22, 1831, in the rural community of Hillier, Prince Edward County, Upper Canada (now Ontario). He entered the world during a time of great change and growth in what would become Canada, born to Abraham James Kemp and Sarah Fletcher Kemp, who had made their home in this farming community along the shores of Lake Ontario.

James was the fifth child in what would become a large family of eleven children. His parents, Abraham and Sarah, were building their lives in the emerging Canadian frontier, where families were large and every child was needed to help with the demanding work of pioneer life. James grew up alongside his siblings: his older sisters Waity Catherine (1820-1899) and Mary Ann (1823-1903), older brothers Stephen J. (1826) and William Henry (1829-1886), and younger siblings John L. (1834-1920), Peter Evans (1837-1921), Andrew Hait (1840-1915), Sarah Jane (1843-1891), Charles W. (1845-1851), and Wesley (1847-1891).

Tragedy struck the family when James was still a teenager. His mother Sarah likely died shortly after giving birth to Wesley in 1847, leaving Abraham to raise the large family alone. Within a few years, by 1851, Abraham had remarried to Sephrona (Goddard) Sheltraw, a French-born Catholic woman who helped care for the younger children still at home.

Coming of Age in Pioneer Ontario

The 1851 census found the Kemp family living in Ameliasburg, Prince Edward County, where Abraham worked as a farmer. At age 21, James was listed as a laborer, learning the skills that would serve him throughout his life. The household reflected the multicultural nature of early Canadian communities, with Abraham's Methodist faith, Sephrona's Catholic background, and the practical need for different religious and cultural traditions to coexist on the frontier.

By the mid-1850s, James had struck out on his own, settling in Fredericksburg (now Delhi) in Norfolk County around 1855. This move represented a significant step in his independence, as he established himself in a new community where he would spend the rest of his life. The Hagan Papers note that he worked as a farmer, carpenter, and joiner – the versatile skills essential for survival and success in 19th-century rural Ontario.

Building a Trade and Finding Love

James apprenticed as a carpenter, a valuable trade in the rapidly growing communities of southwestern Ontario. The 1861 census found him still single at age 28, living in Middleton Township, Norfolk County, and working as a carpenter. He was building both his skills and his reputation in the Delhi area, where opportunity beckoned for a hardworking young tradesman.

On March 10, 1861, James married Mary Jane Sovereen in what must have been a joyful celebration for both families. Mary Jane, born December 29, 1840, in Windham, Norfolk County, was twenty-one years old and the daughter of Alexander and Eliza (Putman) Sovereen. The wedding took place in Delhi, officiated by G. Brown, with Ridley Teeple serving as witness. This union joined two established Norfolk County families and marked the beginning of James's transition from bachelor craftsman to family man.

Family Life and Growing Success

James and Mary Jane quickly began building their family. They had the following children:

• Sarah Elizabeth Kemp, born June 1862, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario; married Andrew John Cropp, 14 August 1889, Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario; died 3 February 1946, Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

• Seymour Kemp was born about 1864 in Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario He appeared in the census on 1 April 1871 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario He died in 1877 at the age of 13 in probably Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario.

• Melvina Marylis "Minnie" Kemp, born 28 November 1866, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario; married James Henry Trembley, 23 September 1885, St. Thomas, Elgin, Ontario; died 23 December 1929, Welland, Ontario.

• Georgianna "Georgia" Kemp, born 4 August 1868, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario; married Charles Auble, 19 June  1898, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; died 8 November  1952, San Diego, San Diego, California.

• James Alexander Kemp, born 12 July 1872, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario; married Bertha Anice Fuller, 26 August 1892; died 12 September 1934, Los Angeles, California.

The family lived in Middleton Township (which includes Fredericksburg and Delhi), where James combined his carpentry skills with farming and eventually expanded into the hospitality business.

The 1867 County Directory lists James as a carpenter in Windham Township, but by 1870, he had become an innkeeper in Fredericksburg (now Delhi). This career evolution reflected both his entrepreneurial spirit and the growing prosperity of the Delhi area. Legal documents from this period show James actively buying and selling property, including operating "Kemp's Hotel" in Fredericksburg, though he faced some legal challenges with property disputes.

The 1871 census provides a snapshot of the family at their peak happiness. James, age 40, was listed as a carpenter, while Mary Jane, 30, cared for their five children. The family had achieved a comfortable middle-class life, with James's diverse skills as carpenter, farmer, and innkeeper providing steady income.

Tragedy and Resilience

James's world was shattered on May 20, 1874, when Mary Jane died in Middleton Township, leaving him a widower at age 43 with five children ranging from 2 to 12 years old. This devastating loss would have tested any man's resolve, but James faced the challenge of single parenthood with the same determination he had shown in building his career.

For over two years, James managed his household and business affairs while caring for his young children. This period must have been extraordinarily difficult, requiring him to balance his work as a tradesman and innkeeper with the daily needs of five grieving children who had lost their mother.

A Second Chance at Love

On November 16, 1876, James found love again when he married Melissa Wilson at her family's residence in Bell Ewart Innisfil, Simcoe County. Melissa, born May 22, 1840 (sharing the same birthday as James), was 35 years old and the daughter of Alfred Wilson and Martha Pollock. The wedding brought together James's Methodist faith and Melissa's Baptist background, officiated by Reverend William McConnell.

However, tragedy struck again when 13 year old Seymour Kemp died in 1877, probably in Delhi.

Melissa proved to be a devoted stepmother to James's four remaining children and brought stability back to the household. On February 27, 1880, she gave James another son completing their blended family of six children:

• Alfred Francis Edward Kemp, born 27 February 1880, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario; married Ellen Elliott, 23 October 1909, Los Angeles, California; died 25 November 1953, Los Angeles, California.

The Later Years

James continued to prosper in Delhi, working as a mechanic and maintaining his property interests. The 1878 Historical Atlas noted him as an established resident who had settled in 1855, working as a farmer, carpenter, and joiner. Various census records through the 1880s and 1890s show the family's continued stability, with James maintaining his carpentry business and property holdings.

By 1891, James was listed as a freeholder in Delhi, owning property on Concession D, Lot 2. The family had achieved the security and respectability that James had worked toward throughout his life. His children were growing up and beginning their own families, with several eventually moving to the United States in search of new opportunities.

Final Years and Legacy

The 1901 census found James, now 69, living comfortably in Delhi Village with Melissa and their son Alfred (listed as "A.E. Franklin"). James was still working as a farmer, maintaining his independence and productivity well into his later years.

James Abraham Kemp died on September 19, 1902, at age 70, after a brief illness of acute indigestion and heart failure lasting only ten hours. His death certificate listed his occupation as farmer, reflecting the agricultural roots that had sustained him throughout his life. He was buried in Delhi Cemetery with his two wives.

( James A. Kemp, Melissa Kemp and Mary Jane Kemp gravestone, Delhi, Cemetery, Delhi, Ontatrio, courtesy of Find A Grave )

In his will, dated May 25, 1902, James demonstrated both his practical nature and his deep love for his family. He left modest bequests of five dollars each to his daughters Sarah Elizabeth, Minnie, and Georgianna, and to his son James Alexander. The bulk of his estate went to his youngest son, Alfred Francis Edward (whom he called "Ernest Frank" in the will), with the provision that Alfred care for Melissa "comfortable while she remains my widow."

Historical Context

James Abraham Kemp's life spanned a remarkable period in Canadian history. Born when Upper Canada was still a British colony with fewer than 400,000 residents, he lived to see the confederation of Canada in 1867 and the country's growth into a modern nation. His move from Prince Edward County to Norfolk County reflected the westward migration patterns of the mid-19th century, as families sought better farmland and economic opportunities.

His career evolution from farm laborer to skilled carpenter to business owner exemplified the opportunities available to hardworking individuals in 19th-century Ontario. The combination of farming, skilled trades, and hospitality business that James pursued was typical of successful rural entrepreneurs of his era.

Family Continuation

James's children carried on his legacy of hard work and family devotion. Sarah Elizabeth married Andrew John Cropp and eventually moved to Chicago. Minnie married James Henry Trembley and remained in Ontario. Georgianna married Charles Auble and moved to Chicago and later San Diego. James Alexander married Bertha Anice Fuller and relocated to Los Angeles. Alfred Francis Edward married Ellen Elliott and also settled in Los Angeles.

The family's geographic dispersion reflected the broader patterns of Canadian-American migration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as economic opportunities drew many Canadians south of the border.

James Abraham Kemp's life is a testament to a life well-lived in service to family and community. His story represents the experiences of countless Canadian pioneers who built their lives through determination, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to family—values that continue to resonate with his descendants today.

3)  A poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902) can be found in "The Carpenter's Hands" --- A Family History Poem and Song Created by Artificial Intelligence. The song created from the song lyrics can be heard in that blog post, and below: 

 

4) An audio overview (essentially a podcast created by the Google ContentLM AI tool) discussing the life of James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902) can be heard in:   https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/d5560275-e9c6-4921-ae20-45972f9ec738/audio.

5)  I edited the Claude biography text to add more family detail and correct minor 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.   

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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/2025/06/abc-biography-of-james-abraham-kemp.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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"Miranda's Loves" -- A Family History Poem, Song and Podcast Created by Artificial Intelligence

 I've used FREE Artificial Intelligence tools to create biographies, poems, songs and podcasts about my ancestors lives, plus my genealogy research and family history in the recent past. Every ancestor lives a unique life with unique relationships and life stories.  Today, I want to share a poem, song and podcast about my third great-grandmoher, Miranda (Wade) White (1806-1850) of Rhode Island and Connecticut

I requested ChatGPT4, Grok, Gemini, and Claude (all FREE AI LLM tools) to create a poem and song lyrics, and a podcast, about Miranda (Wade) White (1806-1850).

I uploaded a PDF of my genealogical sketch which has all of the information I have about the life of Miranda (Wade) White (1806-1850) --  see 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 38: #45 Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850) -- to the AI tools:

(image created by OpenAI ChatGPT4)

1)  The prompt I used for the poem and song lyrics was: "Please write a poem and song lyrics to celebrate the life of Jonathan White using the attached document."

2)  I chose the poem created by Google Gemini 2.5 Flash today:

                        MIRANDA'S LOVES

In Foster, Rhode Island, where the gentle breezes played,
Miranda Wade, in 1804, her life's first breath she made.
Sixth child of Simon and Phebe, a family's dear delight,
With siblings James and Catharine, and Sarah, morning bright.
Then Arnold, Olive, Fenner, and Lawton, youngest son,
A family tapestry, beautifully spun.

To Jonathan White, she pledged her loving hand,
In Foster, Rhode Island, they settled on the land.
Three children blessed their union, a precious, growing brood:
Henry Arnold, Albert Henry, and Harriet, sweet and good.
From Glocester's fields, to Killingly they came,
A farmer's life, by Chestnut Hill, upholding their good name.

Through census years they journeyed, a household full and deep,
With growing children, cherished, secrets they would keep.
In eighteen fifty, sorrow touched their door,
Jonathan, her dear husband, was with them no more.
Then Miranda, too, followed him, her time on earth complete,
In East Killingly, of pleurisy, her final, peaceful sleep.

Though gone from sight, her memory remains,
In gravestones laid, where peace and quiet reigns.
Miranda Wade White, a life well lived and true,
Remembered now, in verses, just for you.

3) Here are the AI song lyrics created by X.ai Grok 3 (used as custom lyrics on Suno.com), using a traditional American folk ballad style in an upbeat tempo - the link to the song is here: "Miranda's Loves."

                             MIRANDA'S LOVES

*Verse 1*
Born in Foster’s gentle hills, eighteen-oh-four,
Miranda Wade, with dreams to soar, walked through life’s open door.
With Simon, Phebe, siblings near, in love her heart was sown,
A New England girl, strong and clear, in a world she’d call her own.

*Verse 2*
To Jonathan White, she gave her hand, in Glocester they’d dwell,
A farmer’s life, a promised land, where their love would swell.
Henry, Albert, Harriet dear, their children’s laughter rang,
Through simple joys and fleeting fears, Miranda’s heart would sing.

*Chorus*
Oh, Miranda, shining bright, through the days and through the night,
In the fields where love took flight, you carved your name in time.
From Rhode Island to the skies, your spirit never dies,
Miranda’s love, forever bright, in our hearts you climb.

*Verse 3*
To Killingly they made their way, new roots in Chestnut Hill,
Land they bought, where dreams would stay, their hopes they’d soon fulfill.
The world was changing, railroads grew, yet family held them fast,
Miranda’s strength, her courage true, would bind them to the past.

*Bridge*
But eighteen-fifty brought the storm, took Jonathan away,
Pleurisy’s grip, her heart was worn, yet still she faced the day.
A mother’s love, a widow’s grace, she fought until the end,
In Glocester’s yard, her resting place, where memories transcend.

*Chorus*
Oh, Miranda, shining bright, through the days and through the night,
In the fields where love took flight, you carved your name in time.
From Rhode Island to the skies, your spirit never dies,
Miranda’s love, forever bright, in our hearts you climb.

*Verse 4*
Her children carried on her name, through years of joy and pain,
Henry and Albert lit the flame, her legacy remains.
Though Harriet’s path we cannot trace, Miranda’s love holds strong,
A life of faith, of grit, of grace, her story lives in song. 

*Outro*
Miranda Wade White, your tale we’ll tell, in the hills where your heart did dwell,
Through the ages, your love will shine, forever yours, forever mine.

4)  Here is the Audio Overview "podcast" file for Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850) from Google NotebookLM (based on the referenced genealogical sketch):   https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/91332246-a38f-42bf-aa30-2470a5e6a920/audio

5)  The AI tools do this so much better than I could, and weaves the poem and song along a story theme that is true and heartfelt. Each tool provides a different poem and song from the same prompt --I love fishing in all of the AI streams!! Frankly, doing the poems and song are the most genealogy fun I have every week!

6)  These stories, told in verse and song, are part of my genealogy and family research.  My hope is that they will be passed down to my grandchildren and their descendants to highlight the importance of sharing stories, memories, admiration, and love of our ancestors. I will add them to my Google Drive and to my YouTube channel and my FOREVER account.

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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/2025/06/mirandas-loves-family-history-poem-song.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.

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

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Try out the FamilySearch "Famous Relatives" Page

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible! music) is to:

1)  FamilySearch has a page for "Famous Relatives" at   https://www.familysearch.org/en/discovery/famousrelatives.  It works if you are connected to the FamilySearch Family Tree.

2)  Check out the website.  Which connection surprises you?  Do you believe that the connection is correct?

3)  Share your famous relative connection 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:

My surprise connection on the FamilySearch Famous Relatives page was with George Washington:

Do I believe or trust this relationship?  

The line in my family tree goes back to Elizabeth --?-- (ca1615-1694), who married Richard Sawtell in 1637 in Massachusetts.  The FamilySearch Family Tree says that Elizabeth is Elizabeth Pope (1611-1694), daughter of Stephen and Jane (Neame) Pope, and granddaughter of  Thomas and Sarah (Van Gelder) Pope. who are the purported common ancestors for me and George Washington.  However, FamilySearch Family Tree has no sources connecting Elizabeth Pope to Stephen and Jane (Neame) Pope.

The WikiTree profile for Elizabeth --?--, wife of Richard Sawtell, is at   https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-361521.  The discussion about Elizabeth's parentage is persuasive, and leads me to NOT BELIEVE or trust the FamilySearch connection.  

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/06/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-try-out.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.

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

Ask AI: "Please Provide Ten Interview Questions to Ask David Jackson Carringer About His Life Experiences"

I am impressed by the family stories generated and published by other genealogists and family historians, and I wish that I was a better writer.  I want to be able to write interesting, meaningful and good stories about my own ancestors to help me and my relatives (brothers, children, grandchildren, cousins) understand their ancestors lives.  At my age, I'm not going to significantly improve my writing, so I've relied on Artificial Intelligence to help me.  

Like me, several genealogists and family historians are using Artificial Intelligence to generate story ideas and to write the stories, which are then edited for accuracy and content, and then published on websites and/or blogs.  

Carole McCulloch in Australia is one of those writers, and her website is NextGenGenealogy and her YouTube channel is Carole McCulloch Geneablogger.  If you are fascinated by stories of ancestors, read and watch Carole's stories on her websites.  One of Carole's story-telling prompts is to have an Artificial Intelligence tool create a list of ideas or questions about key events in an ancestor's life, based on a factual genealogical sketch or biography.  Then, she has the AI tool write stories for each idea or question.  That is a great idea!

I have started to use this type of prompt to help me tell stories about my ancestors (THANK YOU CAROLE!!).

Here is the AI prompt that I'm using for free AI tools like OpenAI ChatGPT4, Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4, Google Gemini 2.5 Flash and X.ai Grok 3:  "Please provide ten unique interview questions to ask [David Jackson Carringer] about [his or her] life experiences based on the attached report. Provide one-paragraph answers to each question."  I then attached my genealogical sketch for the AI tool to use to provide the questions or ideas, and eventually ask the AI tool to provide the answers to the questions based on the information in my genealogical sketch, historical events, cultural background, etc.  

(photo of D.J. Carringer in about 1900 from family sources)

The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 response to my prompt for David Jackson Carringer (1828-1902) was:

D.J. Carringer's Complete Interview Responses

As told from his San Diego home, circa 1901

---

Question 1: The Great Migration West:

Mr. Carringer, you moved your family from Pennsylvania to Iowa, then to Colorado, and finally to California over the course of your lifetime. What drove these decisions to keep moving west, and which transition was the most challenging for your family? 

"Well now, that's a story spanning near fifty years, and I suppose it all started with necessity more than adventure. When my dear mother Sarah passed in '48, it changed everything for our family, and with Father getting on in years and Pennsylvania getting crowded, the opportunities weren't what they once were for a young carpenter. Each move west was driven by the same hope that's always moved Americans—the belief that somewhere out there, there's a better life waiting if you're willing to work for it. The move to Iowa was easiest, keeping family together on rich farmland, but losing that farm in '72 and having to sell even Rebecca's kitchen table was one of the hardest days of my life. Colorado was the most challenging transition—taking the family to a rough mining camp high in the mountains, and then losing our sweet Effie just two years after we arrived nearly broke us. But here we are now in our little cottage with orange trees outside, watching the sun set over the Pacific, and I reckon that's worth all the hardship we endured to get here, though I'll say each move was harder on Rebecca than me—women put down deeper roots, but she never complained once, just packed her china carefully and trusted me to find us a new home."

Question 2: From Carpenter to Farmer to Fruit Grower: 

Your occupations evolved dramatically throughout your life—from carpenter in Pennsylvania to farmer in Iowa to fruit grower in Colorado. How did you learn these different trades, and which work brought you the most satisfaction? 

"When I look back on it, I never set out to be a jack-of-all-trades, but circumstances have a way of making you learn things you never thought you'd need to know. I started as a carpenter in Pennsylvania—learned it from my father, and there's something satisfying about taking rough lumber and building something that'll outlast you—but when we got to Iowa and I saw all that rich black soil, farming looked like the path to real prosperity, a chance to own land and be my own boss. That 1870 season was good—452 bushels of spring wheat, 400 bushels of corn—I was proud of those numbers, but farming can break your heart when you do everything right and still lose it all to weather and prices. Moving to Colorado, I went back to carpentry at first, making good money building for miners, but as I got older the physical demands wore on me, and that's when I discovered fruit growing—it was like raising children, requiring attention and care rather than back-breaking work. Each trade taught me something different: carpentry taught me precision and patience, farming taught me humility and hard work, but fruit growing taught me the rewards of gentle persistence, and I think that's what gives me the deepest satisfaction now in my old age—working with living things, coaxing sweetness from the earth, feels closer to the Lord's own work."

Question 3: The Failed Farm Sale of 1872:

The public notice for your farm sale in Jackson township, Iowa, suggests financial difficulties forced you to sell everything—even your furniture. Can you tell us about that difficult period and how you found the strength to start over in Colorado? 

That auction in October of '72 was the lowest point of my life, I'll admit it freely. Standing there watching strangers handle Rebecca's furniture, bidding on the tools I'd worked with every day, seeing everything we'd built together reduced to dollar amounts—it was enough to break a man's spirit. The farm had failed despite all our hard work; you can plant at the right time, tend your crops carefully, and still lose everything to forces beyond your control. I remember looking at Rebecca that day, seeing her try to hold back tears as they sold her kitchen table and her good dishes, and wondering if I'd failed as a husband and provider. But you know what kept us going? The knowledge that we still had each other and our boys, and the faith that the Lord doesn't give you more than you can bear, even when it feels like He might. That sale taught us that material possessions are just that—possessions—and what really matters is family and the strength to start over, which is exactly what we did when we packed up for Colorado with nothing but hope and determination.

Question 4: Life in a Mining Boomtown:

You signed the petition to incorporate Caribou, Colorado, in 1874, helping establish this mining town. What was it like living in such a remote, newly formed community? How did the mining boom affect daily life for families like yours?

"Caribou was unlike anything we'd ever experienced—a rough, wild place perched high in the mountains where fortunes were made and lost overnight. The town was full of miners, merchants, and dreamers, all chasing silver, and the energy was both exciting and dangerous; you'd see men strike it rich one day and lose it all gambling the next, and the saloons never seemed to close. For families like ours, it meant being extra careful with the children, making sure they understood the difference between right and wrong when surrounded by such temptation, and creating our own little bubble of respectability in all that chaos. The altitude took some getting used to—we were all short of breath for months—and the winters were brutal, but there was money to be made building houses for successful miners, and I'll admit there was something thrilling about being part of a brand-new community, helping establish law and order by signing that petition to incorporate the town. The mining boom meant constant change—people coming and going, new businesses opening and closing, fortunes rising and falling—but it also meant opportunity for a skilled carpenter willing to work hard, and despite the hardships, those were some of the most exciting years of our lives, even if we paid a terrible price with Effie's death."

Question 5: The Loss of Your Daughter Effie:

Losing your 15-year-old daughter Effie in 1874, so soon after arriving in Colorado, must have been devastating. How did this tragedy affect your family, and what helped you and Rebecca find the strength to continue? 

Losing Effie at just fifteen years old, so soon after we'd arrived in Colorado, was a blow that nearly destroyed us both. She was our little sunshine, bright and full of life, and watching her fade away from illness in that rough mountain town, so far from the family and friends who'd known her since birth, was the hardest thing Rebecca and I ever endured together. I remember standing at her graveside in Columbia Cemetery, looking out at those towering peaks, and wondering how we'd ever find the strength to go on without her laughter filling our little cabin. Rebecca took it especially hard—mothers and daughters have a special bond—and there were nights I'd find her just sitting by the window, staring out at nothing, tears streaming down her face. What saved us, I think, was our faith and the knowledge that Effie was in a better place, free from suffering, and that we had to keep going for Harvey and Henry, who needed us to be strong. The community in Caribou was surprisingly supportive too—these rough miners and their families understood loss, and they rallied around us in ways that reminded us we weren't alone, even in that remote place.

Question 6: Teaching Your Sons the Trades:

Both of your sons, Harvey and Henry, learned skilled trades—Harvey in farming and later as a clerk, and Henry as a millwright and carpenter. How important was it to you to pass on practical skills to your boys, and what advice did you give them about making their way in the world?

"Teaching Harvey and Henry practical skills was one of the most important things I could do as their father, because a man needs to be able to support himself and his family no matter what life throws at him. I made sure both boys learned carpentry from me—how to handle tools properly, how to measure twice and cut once, how to take pride in good craftsmanship—but I also encouraged them to find their own paths, which is how Henry became such a skilled millwright and Harvey learned farming and clerking. The advice I gave them was simple: work hard, be honest in your dealings, learn as much as you can about whatever trade you choose, and never be too proud to start over if circumstances require it. I wanted them to understand that a man's worth isn't measured by what he owns but by his willingness to provide for his family and contribute to his community, and I'm proud to say both my boys took those lessons to heart. Watching Henry build his own life in Kansas and then California, seeing Harvey stay loyal to the family even when it meant sacrifice, well, that tells me Rebecca and I did something right in raising them, even through all our moves and troubles."

Question 7: The Colorado Agricultural Experiment:

You transitioned from general farming in Iowa to fruit growing in Colorado. What drew you to fruit cultivation, and what were the unique challenges of farming in Colorado's climate and terrain compared to the Midwest? 

"Transitioning from grain farming in Iowa to fruit growing in Colorado was like learning a completely different language, but the mountain climate and soil proved perfect for certain varieties of apples and other fruits. What drew me to fruit cultivation was partly necessity—I needed work that was less physically demanding than carpentry as I got older—but also the realization that fruit trees were like patient teachers, requiring attention and care rather than the back-breaking labor of row crops. The challenges were significant: learning about altitude effects on growing seasons, dealing with sudden temperature changes, understanding how mountain soil differed from Iowa's rich black earth, and figuring out which varieties would thrive in that harsh but beautiful environment. Unlike grain farming where you plant, tend, and harvest in a single season, fruit growing required thinking in terms of years—planting trees you might not see fully productive for five or six years, but then enjoying their bounty for decades. I found real satisfaction in that work, watching my orchards mature and produce, knowing that the trees I planted would outlast me and continue feeding families long after I was gone, and the income was steadier than grain farming too, less dependent on a single season's weather."

Question 8: Building a Home in San Diego:

At age 70, you moved your family and obtained a permit to build an $800 cottage in San Diego—quite an investment for someone your age. What made you decide to put down such permanent roots in California, and how did you envision spending your final years there? 

"At seventy years old, moving and getting that permit to build an $800 cottage in San Diego was probably the most optimistic thing I'd ever done, but Rebecca and I were tired of being renters and wanted a place to truly call our own for whatever years the Lord might grant us. We'd followed Henry out to California partly for the climate—those Colorado winters were getting harder on our old bones—but mostly to be near family, to watch little Lyle grow up and maybe help Henry and his wife in whatever way we could. The decision to put down such permanent roots came from a deep desire for stability after a lifetime of moving; we wanted a place where we could tend a small garden, sit on our own porch in the evenings, and know that we'd finally found our last home. Building that cottage in Brooklyn Heights, so close to Henry's family, felt like completing a circle that had started back in Pennsylvania fifty years earlier—we'd traveled thousands of miles, learned new trades, survived losses and failures, and finally found a place where we could rest and enjoy our remaining years together."

Question 9: Watching the Country Change:

You lived through enormous changes in America—from the antebellum period through the Civil War, westward expansion, and into the new century. What changes in the country surprised you most, and what aspects of the "old ways" did you miss?

"Living through the changes from the antebellum period to the dawn of this new century has been like watching several different countries emerge from the one I was born into, and the speed of change in recent decades has been simply astounding. What surprised me most was the railroad—when I was young, traveling from Pennsylvania to Iowa was an enormous undertaking, but now you can cross the entire continent in a matter of days; it's connected the country in ways we never imagined possible and made our westward moves seem almost routine. The mining booms, the agricultural expansion, the growth of cities, the inventions coming one after another—electric lights, telephones, all manner of machinery—sometimes I feel like I've lived through three different lifetimes. What I miss most about the old ways is the sense that neighbors truly depended on each other; in those early Iowa farming communities, we helped each other with harvests, raised barns together, shared our successes and failures, but now with all this progress, families seem more scattered, communities more temporary. Still, I can't complain about progress—it's brought us here to this beautiful place where an old fruit grower can sit in his garden year-round, watching ships come and go in the harbor, marveling at how far we've all come.

Question 10: Your Golden Wedding Anniversary:

Despite all the hardships—failed farms, the loss of a child, multiple relocations—you and Rebecca celebrated 50 years of marriage in 1901. What do you believe was the secret to maintaining your partnership through such challenging times, and what memories from your marriage brought you the most joy? 

"Standing in our little parlor last October, surrounded by friends celebrating fifty years of marriage, I kept thinking about all the trials Rebecca and I had weathered together—the failed farm, the moves, losing Effie, starting over again and again—and realizing that none of it would have been possible without her unwavering faith in me and in our family. The secret to our partnership, if there is one, was simple: we made our decisions together, we shared our burdens, and we never forgot that we were on the same side, even when times got hard and tempers got short. Rebecca has been my anchor through every storm, the one who packed our belongings without complaint for each move, who held me up when I wanted to quit, who made every house we lived in feel like home; she's also been my conscience, keeping me honest and reminding me what truly matters when I got too caught up in business or worry. The memories that bring me the most joy are the quiet ones—evenings on our various porches talking about the day, watching our boys grow into good men, sharing morning coffee and planning our small adventures, celebrating small victories together. That golden anniversary party, with folks bringing gold coins and useful gifts, reminded us that we'd not only survived together but had somehow built a life that mattered to others, and that's about the finest legacy two people can hope for."

The OpenAI ChatGPT4 response to my prompt for David Jackson Carringer (1828-1902) was:

Here are sample questions and answers from David Jackson “D.J.” Carringer, as if he's reflecting in the final years of his life—perhaps in San Diego in 1901—sharing wisdom and memories with his children and grandchildren:

---

1. "What motivated you to leave Pennsylvania and move your young family to Iowa in the 1850s?"

“After my mother passed in ’48, Pa seemed lost. He talked often of going west, and I felt the same pull. Land was cheaper in Iowa, and there was a chance to build something of our own—not just for me and Rebecca, but for our children. So we packed our hopes and tools and headed west in a wagon caravan. It wasn’t easy, but it was ours.”

---

2. "Can you describe the day you lost your daughter Effie in Caribou, Colorado, and how your family coped with such a tragedy?"

“June 8th, 1874... I’ll never forget it. Effie had such spirit—sharp mind, gentle heart. She fell ill quickly. We tried all we could, but there was no saving her. Burying her in Boulder was the hardest day of my life. Rebecca never fully recovered. Harvey and Austin helped keep us strong. We leaned on each other—and on faith—even when faith felt far away.”

---

3. "You were a carpenter, farmer, and later a fruit grower—how did your skills evolve with each new home you built across three states?"

“I followed the tools in my hands. In Pennsylvania, I built with wood. In Iowa, I worked the land. When the farm failed, I went back to carpentry in Colorado. Later, I tried my hand at fruit growing—grapes and apples mostly. Each trade taught me something: patience, precision, and how to start again when the world shifts beneath you.”

---

4. "What do you remember most about your 50th wedding anniversary celebration in San Diego?"

“The laughter. The warmth. Even though Rebecca and I were in poor health, the house felt alive that night. Neighbors and kin came with gifts, songs, and hugs. Someone even brought gold coins. But it was the look in Rebecca’s eyes—still full of love after 50 years—that meant the most to me.”

---

5. "How did it feel to start over in Boulder, Colorado after your Iowa farm was sold at auction?"

“Humbling. That sale in ’72 was hard—I’d put everything into that land. Losing it was like watching your dreams wither in the field. But we had our sons, and we still had each other. Caribou was raw and wild, but there was opportunity there. I picked up my tools again and carved out a new life plank by plank.”

---

6. "What inspired you to sign the petition to incorporate the town of Caribou in 1874?"

“We needed order. Folks were arriving fast—miners, merchants, dreamers. The petition meant roads, a post office, and law. It meant turning wilderness into a town. I believed then—and still do—that we’re meant to leave the land better than we found it.”

---

7. "Which of your children surprised you the most in the choices they made as adults?"

“Austin, surely. As a boy, he was quiet but always watching—steady with his hands, clever with tools. I thought he’d stay near the farm or follow me in carpentry. But he struck out on his own, working in mills and helping build machinery and structures I’d never dreamed of. When he married that bright Kansas girl and moved clear out to San Diego, I knew he was chasing something bigger. I never expected one of my sons to settle beside the Pacific Ocean, but I’m glad he did. He built a good life there, and we followed him west one last time.”

---

8. "Looking back, what was the most difficult decision you ever made for your family’s future?"

“Selling the Jackson Township farm. It meant admitting defeat. But I chose to protect my family’s dignity and future over my pride. If I hadn’t made that call, we might’ve been swallowed by debt. Instead, we found our way to Colorado, and then to California. Sometimes, starting over is the only way forward.”

---

9. "What lessons did you learn from moving so many times—from Pennsylvania to Iowa, to Colorado, and finally to California?"

“The soil changes, but the soul stays steady. Wherever you go, you bring yourself—your work ethic, your hopes, your family. I learned that home isn’t a place—it’s the people who sit at your table each night, no matter the roof above.”

---

10. "What legacy or memory do you hope your grandchildren and great-grandchildren carry forward?"

“I hope they remember that I never gave up. That through hardship, illness, and loss, I kept working, kept loving, kept building. I hope they plant roots where they land, and grow strong like trees. And that they know their story didn’t begin with them—it began with a man who carved a path westward, not just with wagons, but with faith.”

---

Would you like these turned into a family keepsake narrative or a “fireside storytelling” version for sharing with others?

Oh my, I am so tempted to say YES to turn all of those ideas and questions into family keepsake narratives. So watch for future blog posts, but I doubt that I will do every ancestor and every question as a blog post!

One option is to do just one question a day and have a ten chapter book that could be given to my relatives as an eBook and put into my FOREVER account for a number of close ancestors.  Perhaps doing the ancestral couple makes more sense.  The eBook could include my AI-assisted ABC Biography, my genealogical sketch, the poem/song/podcast about the person, plus any historical fiction accounts I might write about "a day in the life" or "how did they do that" or "what was life like."  

Of course, all of this AI material is historical fiction since I don't have details of every day or every year in the lives of my ancestors.  Each ancestor is unique and has unique experiences.  I don't know about the education, thoughts, wisdom, decision-making skills, temperaments, emotions, figures of speech or sound of the voice of any of my ancestors older than my parents and maternal grandparents. My ancestors were human, imperfect, had to support themselves and their family, had health and economic challenges, and did the best they could with their life situations. But does it matter if  I am presenting these as seemingly real answers or conversations?  I don't think so - because my purpose is to enable my relatives to better understand the lives of their ancestors.  The AI-generated responses are much better than any response I have in my memory bank or could dream up.

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

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

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Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 21 to 27 June 2025

   Each week, genealogy record collections are added, removed, and/or updated on FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list.

As of 27 June 2025, there are 3,408 historical record collections on FamilySearch (a decrease of 14 from last week):

The added, deleted, and updated collections this week from FamilySearch:

--- Collections Deleted ---

Brazil, Espirito Santo, Civil Registration, 1850-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473668); 1,036 indexed records with 2,555 record images, DELETED
England, Berkshire, Parish Registers, 1515-1993 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4380176); 1,610,955 indexed records with 78,892 record images, DELETED
England, Buckinghamshire, Church Records, 1217-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4380170); 1,792,424 indexed records with 100,082 record images, DELETED
England, Lancashire, Liverpool, Burials, 1557-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489060); 561,716 indexed records with 26,714 record images, DELETED
England, Lancashire, Liverpool, Church of England Confirmations, 1734-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4488962); 2,413 indexed records with 343 record images, DELETED

England, Lancashire, Liverpool, Roman Catholic Parish Records, 1709-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489062); 643,273 indexed records with 98,432 record images, DELETED
England, Lancashire, Liverpool, School Records, 1845-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4487240); 456,709 indexed records with 14,024 record images, DELETED
England, Lancashire, Liverpool, Workhouse Registers, 1800-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489063); 1,502,302 indexed records with 43,337 record images, DELETED
England, Nottinghamshire, Church Records, 1578-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4233297); 1,300,064 indexed records with 70,100 record images, DELETED
Fiji, General Register of Immigrants, 1870-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3754690); 16,868 indexed records with 626 record images, DELETED

Fiji, Immigration Passes, 1879-1916 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3744433); 60,698 indexed records with 30,911 record images, DELETED
Fiji, Indian Death Records, 1899-1922 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3748258); 14,752 indexed records with 908 record images, DELETED
Fiji, Plantation Register of Indian Immigrants, 1879-1919 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3753637); 76,711 indexed records with 2,288 record images, DELETED
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Diocese of Münster, Catholic Church Records, 1580-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4124957); 2,062,298 indexed records with 200,907 record images, DELETED
United States, French Combatants in the Revolutionary War, 1778-1783 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2758243); 26,866 indexed records with 183 record images, DELETED

--- Collections Added ---

--- Collections Updated ---

Brazil, Alagoas, Church Records, 1802-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820768); 642,025 indexed records with 208,789 record images (was 1,325,781 records with 208,789 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Bahia, Civil Registration, 1877-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3694028); 69,018 indexed records with 270,262 record images (was 278,784 records with 270,262 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Bahia, Passenger Lists, 1855-1964 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928179); 631,443 indexed records with 38,990 record images (was 1,905,072 records with 38,990 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Bahía, Catholic Church Records, 1598-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177272); 1,646,397 indexed records with 368,634 record images (was 2,188,299 records with 368,634 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Baptisms, 1688-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500708); Index only (2,486,145 records), no images (was 2,536,319 records with 0 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025

Brazil, Ceará, Catholic Church Records, 1725-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2175764); 2,106,955 indexed records with 774,950 record images (was 4,237,715 records with 774,950 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1799-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 5,144,512 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 5,307,504 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Espírito Santo, Church Records, 1821-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4426177); 76,856 indexed records with 10,487 record images (was 79,285 records with 10,487 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Foreigner Files, 1653-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000160); 130,354 indexed records with 2,178,120 record images (was 1,623,431 records with 2,182,065 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Maranhão, Catholic Church Records, 1673-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177273); 180,947 indexed records with 41,812 record images (was 242,772 records with 41,812 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025

Brazil, Marriages, 1730-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500709); Index only (326,098 records), no images (was 335,550 records with 0 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, Civil Registration, 1875-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2296929); 334,362 indexed records with 1,358,078 record images (was 1,079,954 records with 1,358,078 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Mato Grosso, Civil Registration, 1845-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001286); Index only (8,389 records), no images (was 1,354 records with 0 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Catholic Church Records, 1706-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177275); 2,243,294 indexed records with 930,569 record images (was 5,155,232 records with 930,569 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1820-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 664,444 indexed records with 404,256 record images (was 971,513 records with 404,256 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025

Brazil, Paraná, Catholic Church Records, 1704-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177282); 581,997 indexed records with 138,743 record images (was 934,107 records with 138,743 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Paraná, Civil Registration, 1852-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016194); 2,168,519 indexed records with 1,689,031 record images (was 3,197,165 records with 1,689,031 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Paraíba, Catholic Church Records, 1731-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177286); 1,616,732 indexed records with 788,492 record images (was 6,460,635 records with 788,492 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Paraíba, Civil Registration, 1879-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2015754); 1,590,326 indexed records with 852,268 record images (was 1,942,507 records with 852,268 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Pará, Catholic Church Records, 1795-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177288); 294,305 indexed records with 103,313 record images (was 661,833 records with 103,313 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025

Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 634,920 indexed records with 186,200 record images (was 643,271 records with 186,200 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Pernambuco, Catholic Church Records, 1762-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177293); 2,631,795 indexed records with 578,073 record images (was 6,042,734 records with 578,073 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Pernambuco, Civil Registration, 1804-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016195); 1,337,033 indexed records with 5,387,756 record images (was 8,513,873 records with 5,387,756 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Piauí, Church Records, 1767-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4382070); 41,235 indexed records with 65,276 record images (was 44,636 records with 65,276 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Piauí, Civil Registration, 1875-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001150); 367,811 indexed records with 1,295,575 record images (was 1,748,782 records with 1,295,575 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025

Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte, Catholic Church Records, 1755-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177294); 2,020,714 indexed records with 54,182 record images (was 7,457,067 records with 54,182 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Catholic Church Records, 1738-1952 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177295); 754,180 indexed records with 184,012 record images (was 771,696 records with 184,012 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1810-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,591,820 indexed records with 933,552 record images (was 1,821,016 records with 933,552 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Miscellaneous Records, 1748-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1985805); Browse 2,919,774 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,919,774 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Catholic Church Records, 1616-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1719212); 2,571,856 indexed records with 368,464 record images (was 3,768,599 records with 368,464 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025

Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration, 1804-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1582573); 6,379,080 indexed records with 5,100,470 record images (was 6,928,259 records with 5,100,470 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Immigration Cards, 1900-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1932363); 1,159 indexed records with 3,967,834 record images (was 2,090,652 records with 3,967,834 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Catholic Church Records, 1714-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177296); 665,543 indexed records with 166,596 record images (was 783,227 records with 166,596 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016197); 438,092 indexed records with 1,037,638 record images (was 767,958 records with 1,037,638 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, Sergipe, Catholic Church Records, 1785-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177298); 873,403 indexed records with 273,847 record images (was 1,483,894 records with 273,847 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025

Brazil, São Paulo, Catholic Church Records, 1640-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177299); 4,018,558 indexed records with 1,610,067 record images (was 5,908,933 records with 1,610,067 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, São Paulo, Civil Registration, 1925-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2765317); 4,486,374 indexed records with 21,090,537 record images (was 17,964,689 records with 21,090,537 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, São Paulo, Immigrant Hostelry Records, 1882-1925 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1967737); Browse 37,565 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 37,565 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Brazil, São Paulo, Immigration Cards, 1902-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2140223); Browse 4,039,657 Images only, no index (was 2,291,098 records with 4,039,657 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025
Brazil, São Paulo, Port of Santos, Passenger and Immigrant Lists, 1960-1982 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2091716); Browse 125,208 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 125,208 images), UPDATED 22-Jun-2025

California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2125028); 509,128 indexed records with 99,436 record images (was 509,058 records with 99,436 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 30,905,948 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 30,910,600 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
England Marriages, 1538–1973 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473015); Index only (11,795,731 records), no images (was 12,091,932 records with 0 images), UPDATED 24-Jun-2025
England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473014); Index only (45,711,308 records), no images (was 47,044,357 records with 0 images), UPDATED 24-Jun-2025
French Polynesia, Civil Registration, 1780-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2549721); 113,620 indexed records with 526,921 record images (was 165,111 records with 521,207 images), UPDATED 24-Jun-2025

Hawaii, Naturalization Records, 1838-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2842680); 11,156 indexed records with 4,353 record images (was 11,090 records with 4,341 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Agrigento, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2480962); 126,466 indexed records with 1,218,927 record images (was 47,206 records with 1,218,927 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Alessandria, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1800-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2197595); 12,437 indexed records with 8,713 record images (was 12,437 records with 8,713 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Ancona, Ancona, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1862-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046896); 563,156 indexed records with 2,361,451 record images (was 558,759 records with 2,361,451 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Avellino, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2484771); 389,776 indexed records with 3,099,458 record images (was 389,880 records with 3,099,458 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025

Italy, Brescia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1797-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2158242); 312,830 indexed records with 620,801 record images (was 305,734 records with 620,801 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Brindisi, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2328379); 1,125,727 indexed records with 721,935 record images (was 503,739 records with 372,923 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Campobasso, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968528); 577,375 indexed records with 2,171,605 record images (was 577,375 records with 2,171,605 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Caserta, Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043630); 1,289,853 indexed records with 1,097,228 record images (was 1,289,847 records with 1,097,228 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Catania, Catania, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043496); 683,875 indexed records with 434,962 record images (was 671,742 records with 434,962 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025

Italy, Catania, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821289); 1,847,849 indexed records with 2,852,068 record images (was 1,750,035 records with 2,852,068 images), UPDATED 26-Jun-2025
Italy, Chieti, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2419833); 331,050 indexed records with 3,714,370 record images (was 328,668 records with 3,714,370 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Como, Como, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043815); 1,200,423 indexed records with 1,475,606 record images (was 1,167,241 records with 1,475,606 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Cosenza, Paola, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043464); 239,334 indexed records with 270,197 record images (was 227,389 records with 270,197 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Cosenza, Rossano, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043833); 135,921 indexed records with 114,854 record images (was 129,257 records with 114,854 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025

Italy, Cremona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1744-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987747); 612,735 indexed records with 1,325,362 record images (was 613,351 records with 1,325,362 images), UPDATED 24-Jun-2025
Italy, Genova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1796-1812, 1838-1859, 1866-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928859); 450,441 indexed records with 445,302 record images (was 450,452 records with 445,302 images), UPDATED 26-Jun-2025
Italy, Genova, Genova, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046914); 1,808,867 indexed records with 871,669 record images (was 1,268,575 records with 871,669 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Lecco, Lecco, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046897); 363,062 indexed records with 646,060 record images (was 340,451 records with 646,060 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Macerata, Macerata, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043838); 416,005 indexed records with 792,563 record images (was 399,372 records with 792,563 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025

Italy, Mantova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1496-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1934580); 676,181 indexed records with 855,316 record images (was 676,248 records with 855,316 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Matera, Matera, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043814); 220,819 indexed records with 237,814 record images (was 151,130 records with 237,814 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Messina, Patti, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1823-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946858); 32,702 indexed records with 891,170 record images (was 25,932 records with 891,170 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Milano, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2537277); 1,187,958 indexed records with 1,042,250 record images (was 1,187,985 records with 1,042,250 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Napoli, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937990); 2,624,733 indexed records with 12,795,172 record images (was 2,627,686 records with 12,795,172 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025

Italy, Nuoro, Nuoro, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946873); 189,265 indexed records with 118,771 record images (was 188,616 records with 118,771 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Palermo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2608509); 917,742 indexed records with 4,331,932 record images (was 917,742 records with 4,331,932 images), UPDATED 26-Jun-2025
Italy, Pavia, Pavia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1806-1812, 1866-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043830); 273,254 indexed records with 306,382 record images (was 234,757 records with 306,382 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Ravenna, Ravenna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947700); 603,406 indexed records with 1,759,182 record images (was 367,893 records with 1,759,182 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Roma, Velletri, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947702); 76,131 indexed records with 47,495 record images (was 69,793 records with 41,427 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025

Italy, Salerno, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935404); 1,711,876 indexed records with 5,923,884 record images (was 1,711,917 records with 5,923,925 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Siracusa, Siracusa, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1900-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2110810); 317,702 indexed records with 275,840 record images (was 306,132 records with 275,840 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Italy, Trapani, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1906-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2052404); 286,289 indexed records with 1,371,292 record images (was 286,289 records with 1,371,292 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
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 613,511 records with 1,262,279 images), UPDATED 23-Jun-2025
Italy, Venezia, Venezia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043809); 855,617 indexed records with 628,744 record images (was 560,553 records with 628,744 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025

Japan, Passenger Lists, 1893-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1803988); Index only (61,188 records), no images (was 203,318 records with 0 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Louisiana Naturalization Records, 1812-1932 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1459894); 89,692 indexed records with 29,063 record images (was 20,710 records with 29,063 images), UPDATED 26-Jun-2025
Maine, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040046); 180,660 indexed records with 207,883 record images (was 180,641 records with 207,883 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
New Hampshire, County Naturalization Records, 1771-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040051); 171,525 indexed records with 173,600 record images (was 171,517 records with 173,600 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
New Jersey, County Naturalization Records, 1749-1986 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2057433); 788,825 indexed records with 791,233 record images (was 788,718 records with 791,233 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025

Pennsylvania, Wayne County, Court of Common Pleas, Naturalization Records, 1799-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3158041); 15,837 indexed records with 6,259 record images (was 15,813 records with 6,235 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Philippines, Catholic Church Records, 1520-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2861657); 12,210,026 indexed records with 2,867,383 record images (was 12,123,584 records with 2,867,383 images), UPDATED 26-Jun-2025
Portugal, Aveiro, Civil Registration, 1911-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2796823); 8,002 indexed records with 6,766 record images (was 8,073 records with 6,766 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Portugal, Bragança, Catholic Church Records, 1541-1985 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1976616); 1,004,741 indexed records with 960,435 record images (was 1,004,741 records with 960,435 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Portugal, Lisbon, Catholic Church Records, 1334-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4449050); 3,203,007 indexed records with 869,405 record images (was 3,204,831 records with 869,405 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025

Portugal, Portalegre, Catholic Church Records, 1532-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2014755); 2,077,104 indexed records with 178,927 record images (was 2,080,492 records with 178,927 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Portugal, Porto, Catholic Church Records, 1535-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1913408); 2,469,808 indexed records with 1,207,157 record images (was 2,470,267 records with 1,207,157 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Portugal, Santarém, Catholic Church Records, 1544-1952 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2128189); 1,486,086 indexed records with 647,938 record images (was 1,492,995 records with 647,938 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Portugal, Vila Real, Catholic Church Records, 1533-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1976140); 769,525 indexed records with 396,243 record images (was 769,586 records with 396,243 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Spain, Cádiz, Municipal Records, 1784-1956 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2015325); 495,704 indexed records with 1,631,476 record images (was 495,704 records with 1,631,476 images), UPDATED 25-Jun-2025

Texas, Gonzalez de la Garza Genealogy Collection (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918470); Browse 270,253 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 270,253 images), UPDATED 21-Jun-2025
Utah, State Archives, Records, 1848-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001084); 131,303 indexed records with 433,665 record images (was 68,646 records with 433,665 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025
Wisconsin, Dane County Naturalization Records, 1887-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1384564); 27,479 indexed records with 34,494 record images (was 27,382 records with 34,494 images), UPDATED 20-Jun-2025

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Civil Registration, 1861-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000041); 1 indexed records with 111,630 record images (was 1 records with 111,628 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 453,947 record images (was 1 records with 453,504 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 905,386 record images (was 1 records with 904,303 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Sergipe, Civil Registration, 1866-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4470324); 1 indexed records with 268,798 record images (was 1 records with 268,450 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 256,357,194 indexed records with 118,631,580 record images (was 256,357,194 records with 81,440,998 images), last updated 18-Jun-2025

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,723,552 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,723,303 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,203,184 record images (was 1 records with 28,203,178 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024
Wales, Pembrokeshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1419323); 320,664 indexed records with 378,649 record images (was 320,664 records with 376,903 images), last updated 03-Nov-2023

--- Collections with images removed ---

United States, Civil War Confederate Papers of Citizens or Businesses, 1861-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937233); 2,040,863 indexed records with 1,982,739 record images (was 2,040,863 records with 2,040,863 images), last updated 26-Sep-2011

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

Dominican Republic, Catholic Church Records, 1590-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918910); 2,300,813 indexed records with 238,265 record images (was 2,305,989 records with 238,265 images), last updated 17-Apr-2025
El Salvador, Catholic Church Records, 1655-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1919582); 3,185,352 indexed records with 592,191 record images (was 3,188,382 records with 592,191 images), last updated 23-May-2025
England, Berkshire, Reading, Cemetery Records, 1843-1959 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2334592); 52,184 indexed records with 5,526 record images (was 54,774 records with 5,526 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
England, Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473016); Index only (14,517,219 records), no images (was 14,796,534 records with 0 images), last updated 19-Mar-2025
England, Lancashire, Liverpool, Banns and Marriages, 1557-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489058); 11,002 indexed records with 205,758 record images (was 418,164 records with 205,758 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024

England, Lancashire, Liverpool, Baptisms, 1557-1919 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489061); 29,838 indexed records with 68,910 record images (was 1,003,861 records with 68,910 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
England, Lancashire, Manchester, Electoral Registers, 1820-1939 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000365); 5,008,658 indexed records with 467,581 record images (was 25,351,205 records with 467,581 images), last updated 27-Sep-2024
England, Lancashire, Non-Conformist Church Records, 1647-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3656808); 1,436,444 indexed records with 104,648 record images (was 1,470,953 records with 104,648 images), last updated 05-Nov-2024
England, Manchester, Miscellaneous Records, 1700-1916 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075052); 10,603,373 indexed records with 15,918,751 record images (was 15,095,623 records with 15,918,751 images), last updated 29-Jan-2025
Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473000); 24,605,154 indexed records with 29,147,064 record images (was 24,855,904 records with 29,147,064 images), last updated 19-Mar-2025

Germany, Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1494474); Index only (2,882,721 records), no images (was 2,894,148 records with 0 images), last updated 16-Aug-2022
Germany, Marriages, 1558-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473009); Index only (5,619,081 records), no images (was 5,690,255 records with 0 images), last updated 12-Jan-2023
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Paderborn, Catholic Church Records, 1612-1909 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3219562); 2,352,574 indexed records with 266,792 record images (was 2,358,751 records with 266,792 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Illinois, Births and Christenings, 1824-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1676968); Index only (1,070,559 records), no images (was 1,124,902 records with 0 images), last updated 10-Oct-2022
Illinois, Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3541609); 561,490 indexed records with 177,615 record images (was 568,478 records with 177,615 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024

Illinois, Marriages, 1815-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1680829); Index only (981,643 records), no images (was 998,865 records with 0 images), last updated 10-Oct-2022
Ireland, Inland Revenue Wills & Administration, Will Registers, 1828-1879 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000207); 239,097 indexed records with 10,723 record images (was 305,529 records with 10,723 images), last updated 19-Mar-2025
Nicaragua, Catholic Church Records, 1740-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1494432); 825,362 indexed records with 86,119 record images (was 828,893 records with 86,119 images), last updated 17-Apr-2025
Portugal, Viana do Castelo, Catholic Church Records, 1537-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1976095); 532,918 indexed records with 785,939 record images (was 533,661 records with 785,939 images), last updated 09-Oct-2024
Spain, Baptisms, 1502-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500692); Index only (8,173,079 records), no images (was 8,689,505 records with 0 images), last updated 12-Dec-2022

Spain, Catholic Church Records, 1307-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1784529); 18,521,476 indexed records with 3,008,340 record images (was 21,037,395 records with 3,008,340 images), last updated 18-Oct-2024
Spain, Deaths, 1600-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500694); Index only (256,992 records), no images (was 265,951 records with 0 images), last updated 11-Feb-2020
Spain, Marriages, 1565-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500693); Index only (2,269,515 records), no images (was 2,393,017 records with 0 images), last updated 12-Dec-2022
Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4138674); 20,891,903 indexed records with 2,024,045 record images (was 20,924,181 records with 2,024,045 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
United States City and Business Directories, ca. 1749 - ca. 1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3754697); 67,580,271 indexed records with 1,278,112 record images (was 201,857,548 records with 1,278,112 images), last updated 13-Apr-2025

United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages, 1980-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2333694); 28,662,416 indexed records with 46,919,022 record images (was 28,662,417 records with 46,919,022 images), last updated 15-Apr-2025
United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,605,696 records), no images (was 875,605,711 records with 0 images), last updated 24-Jan-2025
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,872,401 records), no images (was 413,872,420 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-2024
Zimbabwe Death Notices, 1904-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1838530); Browse 328,546 Images only, no index (was 12,349 records with 328,546 images), last updated 17-Nov-2024
Zimbabwe, Death Registers, 1890-1977; Index to Death Register, 1892-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837900); Browse 74,045 Images only, no index (was 320,653 records with 74,045 images), last updated 17-Nov-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:

• 15 removed entries
• 0  added entries 
• 98 updated entries
• 9 entries with more or fewer images 
• 30 entries with more or fewer records

The FamilySearch website says there are 3408 total entries on the list (without signing in). Marshall's list says there are 3409 (without signing in).  They are not in-sync this week.

There are now 3,549 494 searchable image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, an increase of 55.

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

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/06/added-and-updated-familysearch-record_27.html

Copyright (c) 2025 Randall J. Seaver

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