Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Genealogy Education Bytes - Week of 7 to 13 August 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 East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference (ECGGC) ($$) -- 12-14 September 2025 - Virtual

*  2025 New York State Family History Conference (NYG&B) ($$) -- 19-20 September 2025 -- In-Person (Kingston, N.Y.) and Virtual.

*  2025 New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC) ($$) -- 29 October to 1 November 2025 -- In-Person in Manchester, NH 

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 a week) - Wednesday, 13 August, 5 p.m.:  
*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for a week) - Friday, 15 August, 11 a.m.:  5 Questions to Answer About Your DNA Matches by Paul Williams.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for a week) - Tuesday, 19 August, 5 p.m.:  From Statutes to Stories: Finding the Law for Family History by Judy G. Russell.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (members only) - Wednesday, 20 August, 11 a.m.:  Was Eleanor of Aquitaine My Ancestor? Applying the GPS across 30 Generations by Yvette Hoitink.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (members only) - Friday, 22 August, 11 a.m.:  AI Video Creation for Genealogy by Johanne Gervais.

3) Recent Podcasts:





4) Recent YouTube Videos

*  Aimee Cross - Genealogy Hints:  Tracing Early Ancestors (Updated)




*  Denyse Allen ~ Chronicle Makers:  ChatGPT Beginner's Guide: Examine a Death Certificate
*  Denyse Allen ~ Chronicle Makers:  Must Use ChatGPT 5 Features for Family History









*  Italian Roots and Genealogy:  These Tricks Make Genealogy SO Much Easier!




*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Rebecca Hill Rich 1788 1862 AI-assisted Song


5) Did you miss the last post in this series - Genealogy Education Bytes -  Week of 31 July yo 6 August 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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ABC Biography of #45 Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850) of Rhode Island and Connecticut

Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is another ancestor biography.

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 3rd great-grandmother, Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850), #45 on my Ahnentafel List), including family members, record abstracts and sources, is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 38: #45 Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850).


(AI-created image by OpenAI ChatGPT4)

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 biography of Miranda (Wade) White based on information in 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."

3)  Here is the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 biography:

Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850): A Life in Early 19th Century New England

Early Life and Family Origins

Miranda Wade entered the world on June 25, 1804, in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island, during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson and just one year after the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the young American nation. She was born into the loving home of Simon Wade (born November 22, 1767) and Phebe (Horton) Wade (born May 7, 1772), who married in about 1790, becoming their fourth daughter and sixth child in what would eventually be a family of eight children.

The Wade household was a bustling one, filled with the energy and chaos that comes with a large family. Miranda grew up alongside her siblings: her eldest brother James (1791-1838), followed by sisters Catharine (1793) and Sarah (1798), brother Arnold H. (1800-1866), sister Olive (1802), and later joined by younger brothers Fenner (1807-1841) and Lawton (1814-1905). The children spanned a remarkable 23-year age range, meaning Miranda likely helped care for her younger brothers while learning from her older siblings.

Foster, Rhode Island, where Miranda spent her childhood, was a rural farming community established in the early 18th century. The town provided a close-knit environment where families like the Wades had deep roots and strong community ties. Simon Wade worked the land to support his growing family during an era when most Americans still made their living through agriculture.

A Mother's Loss and Early Responsibilities

Tragedy struck the Wade family in 1820 when Miranda was just 16 years old. Her mother, Phebe (Horton) Wade, passed away, leaving Simon to raise their children who ranged in age from 6-year-old Lawton to 29-year-old James. For Miranda, still a teenager herself, this loss likely meant taking on significant household responsibilities and helping to care for her younger brothers.

The death of a mother in the early 19th century was devastating for any family, but particularly challenging for one with young children still at home. Without the modern conveniences we know today, running a household required enormous physical labor - from cooking over wood fires to making and mending all the family's clothing. Miranda, at 16, would have been expected to step into many of her mother's roles while also grieving this profound loss. She may have been the oldest and only daughter if her three older sisters died before 1820.

Marriage and New Beginnings

Around 1823, when Miranda was approximately 19 years old, she married Jonathan White in Foster, Rhode Island. Jonathan, born around 1804, was close to Miranda's age and came from the neighboring town of Glocester. He was the son of Humphrey and Sibyl (Kirby) White, making this union between two established Rhode Island families.

Marriage in the 1820s typically meant that a young woman would leave her childhood home to begin building a life with her husband. For Miranda, this transition came during a period when she may have been serving as a maternal figure to her younger brothers following their mother's death. The decision to marry Jonathan represented both a personal new beginning and a significant change in her family responsibilities.

Building a Home in Glocester

The young couple established their first home in Glocester, Providence County, Rhode Island, where Jonathan's family had roots. Glocester, like Foster, was a rural farming community, and Jonathan followed the typical occupation of his time and place, working as a farmer. The couple settled into the rhythms of agricultural life, where work was dictated by the seasons and success depended on favorable weather, hard work, and community cooperation.

Miranda and Jonathan welcomed their first child, Henry Arnold White, around 1824, likely named to honor Miranda's brother Arnold. Three years later, in April 1827, their second son Albert Henry White was born. The boys were close in age, growing up together in the rural Rhode Island landscape where they would have learned farming skills from their father and domestic arts from their mother.

The 1830 U.S. Census provides a snapshot of the White family during these early years of marriage. The household included both boys (Henry, age 5-10, and Albert, under age 5), Jonathan and Miranda (both in their twenties), and interestingly, an older woman aged 30-40, possibly a relative from either the White or Wade families who was living with them, perhaps providing assistance with the children or household duties.

A Move to Connecticut

By March 1839, significant changes were occurring in the White family's life. Jonathan had decided to sell their land in Glocester, which he had originally purchased in 1821. The sale was witnessed by Simon Wade, Miranda's father, suggesting that family remained closely involved in major life decisions. Miranda's formal "release" of her rights to the property was required by law, reflecting the legal practices of the time regarding married women's property rights.

The family relocated to Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut, where they began purchasing land and establishing their new farm. Between 1839 and 1846, Jonathan made several land purchases: from Joseph Arnold in October 1839, from Alvin Cutler in September 1845, and from Reuben Robinson in October 1846. These multiple purchases suggest that the family was gradually expanding their landholdings, possibly indicating growing prosperity or the need for more farmland as their children grew.

The Whites settled on Chestnut Hill in East Killingly, a location that provided them with good farmland and a connection to the local community. By this time, their family had grown to include a daughter, Harriet A. White, born around 1836 in Glocester before the move to Connecticut.

Family Life in the 1840s

The 1840 U.S. Census shows the White family well-established in Killingly, Connecticut. The household included teenage sons Henry (15-20) and Albert (10-15), Jonathan (30-40), young Harriet (under 5), and Miranda (30-40). This was likely a period of relative stability and prosperity for the family, with the older boys old enough to help significantly with farm work while Miranda managed the household and cared for young Harriet.

During this decade, their eldest son Henry Arnold White reached adulthood and married Amy Frances Oatley on June 30, 1844, in Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut. Henry remained in the area, living in East Killingly in 1850, allowing Miranda to maintain a close relationship with her son and his growing family. Henry and Amy would eventually have six children together, making Miranda a grandmother.

Heartbreak and Resilience

The year 1850 brought devastating changes to Miranda's life. On April 19, 1850, her husband Jonathan died of "lung fever" (likely pneumonia) at the age of about 46. Jonathan's estate was probated quickly, on April 27, 1850, his will showing that he had made provisions for his wife "Maranda" and their three children. However, the loss of the family's primary breadwinner during an era with no social safety net would have created immediate financial and emotional challenges.

The 1850 U.S. Census, taken on September 14, 1850, reveals the reduced White household: Albert H. White (age 23) had stepped up as head of household and was working as a farmer, with $1200 in real property to his name. Harriet (age 14) and Miranda (age 46) completed the family unit. This census entry, taken just months after Jonathan's death, shows how quickly family roles shifted when necessity demanded it.

A Life Cut Short

Sadly, Miranda's widowhood was brief. On August 27, 1850, just four months after losing her husband, Miranda (Wade) White died of pleurisy at the age of 46 in East Killingly, Connecticut. The 1850 U.S. Census Mortality Schedule records that she had been ill for seven weeks before her death, suggesting a prolonged struggle with this painful lung condition.

Pleurisy, an inflammation of the tissues surrounding the lungs, was a serious and often fatal condition in the pre-antibiotic era. The fact that Miranda battled this illness for seven weeks indicates both the severity of her condition and perhaps the family's determination to help her recover. Her death left Albert, now 23, and Harriet, only 14, as orphans who would need to rely on each other and their extended family network.

Final Rest and Legacy

Both Jonathan and Miranda White were laid to rest in the "White-Chace Yard" in Glocester, Providence County, Rhode Island, close by the White family farm where Jonathan had grown up, returning them to the community where they had begun their married life and started their family. This burial location suggests that despite their move to Connecticut (of about 8 miles), the family maintained strong ties to their Rhode Island roots.

Miranda's legacy lived on through her children and their descendants. Her son Albert Henry White later married Olive Almira Griffith in 1866 and lived until 1910, while her son Henry Arnold White, after the death of his first wife Amy Frances Oatley, married Almira Elizabeth Taft in 1866 and had additional children, ensuring that Miranda's bloodline continued. The fate of daughter Harriet remains unknown to family historians, as no further records of her have been located after the 1850 census.

Historical Context

Miranda's life spanned a fascinating period in American history. Born during Thomas Jefferson's presidency, she witnessed the War of 1812, the Era of Good Feelings, the expansion westward, and the growing tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War. Her life in rural New England represented the experiences of countless American women of her era - managing households, raising children, supporting their husbands' agricultural pursuits, and facing the uncertainties of life without modern medicine or social support systems.

The Wade and White families were part of the fabric of early Rhode Island and Connecticut, contributing to the agricultural economy and community life that characterized New England in the early 19th century. Their story reflects the patterns of movement, land ownership, and family networks that shaped American rural life during this formative period in the nation's development.

Miranda (Wade) White's life, though cut short at 46, encompassed the full experience of womanhood in her era: daughter, wife, mother, and briefly, widow. Her story reminds us of the strength and resilience required of women in earlier generations, who faced life's challenges without many of the supports we consider essential today.
4) A poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850) can be found in "Miranda's Loves" -- A Family History Poem, Song and Podcast Created by Artificial Intelligence. The song created from the song lyrics can be played in that blog post, and on Suno.com, and below:


5) An Audio Overview (essentially a podcast created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool) discussing the life of Miranda (Wade) White (1804-1850) can be heard here (unfortunately, Blogger won't easily display audio files).  

The Video Overview created by Google NotebookLM highlights a "census ghost" - watch it here:  


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/2025/08/abc-biography-of-45-miranda-wade-white.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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Linda and Sheryl in 1970 With Their Husbands' Grandparents -- (Not So) Wordless Wednesday #881

 I found another priceless (to me) photograph in my computer file folders:


This photograph was taken in the living room of the Lyle and Emily (Auble) Carringer home at 825 Harbor View Place in San Diego in 1970. 

The persons in the photograph are (left to right):
  • Linda (Leland) Seaver, my wife at age 26, smiling broadly
  • Emily (Auble) Carringer, my maternal grandmother at age 71, looking surprised
  • Lyle Carringer, my maternal grandfather at age 79, looking at something else
  • Sheryl (Johnson) Seaver, my brother Stan's wife, looking unhappy (or surprised).
This was probably soon after my marriage to Linda and we were visiting my grandparents for a holiday or weekend visit.

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, August 12, 2025

Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 30 July to 5 August 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)  New or Updated Genealogy Digital Record Collections:







5)  Did you miss the last post in this series?  See Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 30 July to 5 August 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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Jonathan White (1804-1850) Reminisces About His Life Experiences (AI-Assisted)

 Several genealogists and family historians, including me, 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.  

Every ancestor has a unique life, and has their own stories based on their life experiences from birth to death.  Today, I want to hear about my third great-grandfather Jonathan White (1804-1850) unique life stories. I wrote an AI-assisted biography of Jonathan in ABC Biography of #44 Jonathan White (1804-1850) of Rhode Island and Connecticut.

I attached my genealogical sketch (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 37: #44 Jonathan White (1804-1850)) for the AI tool to use to provide the questions or ideas, and then asked the AI tool to provide the answers to the questions based on the information in my genealogical sketch, historical events, cultural background, etc.  

1)  Here is the AI prompt that I'm using for the free AI tool  Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 for story ideas, and a two-paragraph summary of the answers:  "Please provide reminscences of Jonathan White about his life experiences in, say early 1850 while in his sickbed talking to his wife and children." 


(AI ChatGPT4 image of The Jonathan White Family in 1850)

2)  The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 response to my prompt for my 3rd great-grandfather Jonathan White (1804-1850):

Jonathan's Reminiscences

Killingly, Connecticut - April 1850

The following reminiscences were shared by Jonathan White with his family during his final illness in April 1850, as he lay in bed at their farm on Chestnut Hill in East Killingly, Connecticut. His wife Miranda sat beside him, while their sons Henry and Albert, and daughter Harriet gathered close to hear their father's memories of a life well-lived.

Memories of Childhood and Family

"Come closer, children," Jonathan said softly, his voice weakened by the lung fever that had taken hold of him. "I want to tell you about where you come from, about the people who came before you, so you'll remember when I'm gone."

He shifted slightly in bed, Miranda adjusting the quilts around him. "I was born right here in New England, you know, but in Rhode Island, in Glocester, in a house not so different from this one. My father, your grandfather Humphrey, he was a good man, a hard worker. He cleared that land with his own hands, built stone walls that are still standing today."

Jonathan's eyes grew distant as he continued. "I had so many brothers and sisters—nine of them. Can you imagine, Harriet, having eight brothers and sisters all in one house? The noise we made! My mother, your grandmother Sibel, bless her soul, she kept us all in line somehow. She was the strongest woman I ever knew, except for your mother here."

He reached out to touch Miranda's hand. "When I was just eleven years old, my father died. It was winter, cold as anything, and suddenly Mother had ten children to raise on her own. We all had to grow up fast. Benjamin and David, my older brothers, they taught me everything—how to work the land, how to care for animals, how to be a man."

Albert leaned forward. "What was it like, Father, losing your own father so young?"

Jonathan was quiet for a moment, remembering. "It was hard, son. Harder than anything I hope you boys ever have to face. But it taught me something important—that a man has to be ready to shoulder responsibility for his family. When your time comes to be the head of a household, you'll understand what I mean."

Courtship and Marriage

"Tell us about when you met Mother," Henry requested, settling more comfortably beside the bed.

Jonathan's face softened, and he looked at Miranda with the same affection he'd felt as a young man. "Your mother was the prettiest girl in Foster, Rhode Island. I was barely nineteen, working our family farm, when I first saw her at a church social. She was wearing a blue dress—do you remember that dress, Miranda?"

Miranda smiled, her eyes moist. "I remember. It was my best dress, the one my mother had made for special occasions."

"I was so nervous when I asked her father's permission to court her," Jonathan continued. "Simon Wade was a stern man, and I was just a farmer's son with more ambition than money. But Miranda, she saw something in me worth taking a chance on."

He squeezed his wife's hand gently. "We were married in 1823—seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago all at once. Your mother came to live with me in Glocester, helped me build the life we've had together. She was nineteen, had to learn to run a household, but she took to it like she was born for it."

"What I want you children to remember," he said, looking at each of them in turn, "is that your mother and I, we built everything together. Every decision, every move, every challenge—we faced it as partners. That's what marriage should be."

Building a Life in Rhode Island

"Those early years in Glocester," Jonathan continued, "they were good years. Hard work, but good. I was determined to build something lasting, something I could pass on to my children. I bought land from my own sister Elizabeth and her husband Peleg Wood. Nancy, my sister Nancy, she stood witness to that transaction. Family helping family—that's how things were done."

He paused, catching his breath before continuing. "I remember the day Henry was born—1824, it was. You were our first child, Henry, and I was so proud, so scared. I walked the floors all night while your mother labored, and when I finally heard your cry, I knew my life had changed forever. I was no longer just Jonathan White—I was a father."

"Three years later, Albert came along. By then I felt more confident, like I knew what I was doing. And then, much later, our little Harriet arrived. You were such a surprise, sweetheart, born when your mother and I thought our family was complete."

Harriet, now fourteen, moved closer to her father's bedside. "Tell me about when I was little, Papa."

"You were the apple of my eye from the moment you drew breath," Jonathan said, reaching out to touch her hair. "Your brothers were already growing up, becoming young men, but you brought such joy back into the house. Your mother and I would sit by your cradle in the evenings, just watching you sleep, amazed that God had blessed us with such a perfect little daughter."

The Decision to Move to Connecticut

"Why did we leave Rhode Island, Father?" Albert asked. "I've always wondered about that."

Jonathan considered his answer carefully. "By the late 1830s, I could see that opportunities were better here in Connecticut. The land was good, the price was right, and I thought I could provide better for all of you. It wasn't an easy decision—leaving behind the place where I grew up, where my family was buried, where I had so many memories."

"I remember the day we loaded up the wagon," Henry said. "I was about fifteen, and I thought it was a grand adventure."

"You did," Jonathan smiled. "But your mother, she cried leaving that house in Glocester. Didn't you, Miranda? All her friends, the places where our children had been born—it was hard to leave all that behind. Still, we've been able to visit our families and friends there."

Miranda nodded. "It was one of the hardest things I ever did. But I trusted your father's judgment. He'd never steered us wrong before."

"And I was right, wasn't I?" Jonathan said with a touch of his old pride. "Look what we built here. This farm, this house—it's provided well for us. You boys have learned to work this land, and when I'm gone, you'll have something solid to build your own lives on."

Lessons from the Land

"Farming," Jonathan said, his voice growing more thoughtful, "it's taught me everything I know about life. You plant in spring, you tend through summer, you harvest in fall, you prepare for winter. Every season has its purpose, its challenges, its rewards."

He looked at his sons. "Henry, Albert, I want you to remember that the land doesn't owe you anything. You have to earn what it gives you through honest work, careful planning, and respect for what God has provided. Don't ever take shortcuts, don't ever cheat your neighbors, and always pay your debts."

"I've made mistakes," he continued. "Times when I planted too early and lost crops to late frost, times when I didn't prepare enough hay for winter, times when I trusted the wrong person in business. But every mistake taught me something, made me a better farmer, a better man."

Albert leaned forward. "What's the most important thing you've learned, Father?"

Jonathan thought for a long moment. "That everything worthwhile takes time to build. This farm, our family, the respect of our neighbors—none of it happened overnight. It took years of steady work, of doing the right thing even when it was hard, of thinking about tomorrow while dealing with today."

Hopes and Worries

"I want to talk to you about what happens after I'm gone," Jonathan said, his voice becoming more serious. "Henry, you're the oldest, but Albert, you're the one who's stayed closest to the farm. I'm counting on both of you to take care of your mother and sister."

"We will, Father," Henry assured him. "You don't need to worry about that."

"I know you will," Jonathan replied. "But I want you to understand—taking care of family isn't just about providing money or shelter. It's about staying connected, about making sure no one faces their troubles alone. Promise me you'll look after each other, no matter what life brings."

Both sons nodded solemnly.

Jonathan turned to Harriet. "And you, my dear daughter, I want you to remember that you're just as capable as any man. I've watched you help your mother run this household, seen how you handle responsibility. Don't let anyone tell you you're not capable of anything you set your mind to."

"I won't, Papa," Harriet whispered.

"Miranda," he said, turning to his wife, "you've been the best partner a man could ask for. Twenty-seven years we've been married, and not a day goes by that I don't thank God for bringing you into my life. When I'm gone, I want you to lean on our children, but I also want you to know that you're strong enough to manage whatever comes."

Final Reflections

As the April afternoon light filtered through the bedroom window, Jonathan's breathing became more labored, but he continued speaking, as if he knew time was running short.

"I want you all to know," he said slowly, "that I'm proud of the life we've built together. We've been honest people, worked hard, treated our neighbors fairly, and raised children who will do the same. That's a legacy worth leaving."

He paused, gathering strength. "When you remember me, don't think about these last weeks when I've been sick. Remember the good times—the harvest celebrations, the Sunday afternoons when we'd walk down to check on the livestock, the evenings when we'd sit around the fire and plan for the next season."

"I remember teaching you boys to plow with the oxen, how proud I was when you finally got the furrows straight. I remember Harriet's first attempts at milking the cows, how determined she was even though her hands were so small. I remember your mother singing while she worked in the garden, how she'd stop to show me some flower that was blooming or some vegetable that was ready for harvest."

Miranda wiped tears from her eyes. "Those were good times, Jonathan. We had a good life together."

"We did," he agreed. "We built something that will last. This farm will provide for our children and their children. The values we've taught—hard work, honesty, family loyalty—those will outlive all of us."

A Father's Final Wisdom

"There's one more thing I want to tell you," Jonathan said, his voice barely above a whisper now. "Tomorrow I'm going to call Deacon Covill to help me write out my will. I want to make sure everything is proper, legal, so there won't be any confusion about what I want to happen."

"Don't talk about that now, Father," Henry said uncomfortably.

"No, son, it's important," Jonathan insisted. "I've seen too many families torn apart after a father dies because he didn't make his wishes clear. I won't let that happen to us."

He took a shallow breath before continuing. "I'm going to leave the Rhode Island land to you boys to share. It's where our family started, and I want you to always remember that. The Connecticut land, your mother will have the use of it as long as she lives, and then it will come to you, provided you take good care of your sister."

"Harriet," he said, looking at his daughter, "I'm making sure you get something too. Your brothers will give you money when the time comes, and until you're married, your mother will provide for you completely. I don't want you ever to feel like you're a burden or that you don't have a place in this family."

As the day wore on and Jonathan grew more tired, the family remained close, each lost in their own thoughts about the man who had shaped their lives. He had been a good father, a faithful husband, a hard worker, and an honest neighbor. His legacy would live on in the farm he had built, the children he had raised, and the values he had instilled in them.

The next day, true to his word, Jonathan would make his will, ensuring that his family would be provided for after his death. But on this April afternoon in 1850, surrounded by the people he loved most, Jonathan White was at peace, knowing that he had lived a life of purpose and left behind something of lasting value.

3)  The Audio Overview about this story from Google ContentLM is here.  Here is the Video Overview created by Google NotebookLM to explain this blog post:

4) 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 has a unique life, and has unique family, economic, historical and social experiences. I don't know about the thoughts, education, wisdom, decisions, temperaments, emotions, figures of speech, or sound of the voice of any of my ancestors older than my parents and maternal grandparents.

My ancestors, and everyone else's, were human -- happy at times, sad at times, loving at times, imperfect at times, innocent at times, craven at times, saintly at times, perhaps evil at times.  They survived childhood, found a spouse, had children, and had to support themselves and their family.  They had health, social and economic challenges.  I think that almost all of them did the best they could do with their life situations. 

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 know who their ancestors were and to help them understand the lives of their ancestors.  The AI-generated responses are much better than any response I have in my memory bank or that I can dream up. 

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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


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