Stephen Little, the National Genealogical Society AI Program Director and author of the AI Genealogy Insights blog, has created a number of specialized and custom ChatGPT prompts.
1) One of the custom prompts is the Biographical Sketch Generator on ChatGPT, where the user inputs a historical person's name and sees what ChatGPT can find out about the person:
I decided to use this for my 4th great-grandfather, Frederick Sovereen (1786-1875). I typed in the name and his birth-death years (because there were several people with this name) and hit the Enter key.
2) The Biographical Sketch Generator has a Prompt that tells ChatGPT to do certain tasks - including
A) Initial Assesment and Plan,
B) Review and Critique
C) Revise and Improve the Plan
D) Execute the Plan
Here is the top of the response:
3) Rather than show screen captures, here is the Text supplied by the Biographical Sketch Generator:
A) Initial Assessment and Plan:
Frederick Sovereen (1786-1875) appears to be a historical figure, but not one well-known in the mainstream. Since I don't have extensive pre-existing data on Sovereen, I will need to do a search to gather information about his life, significance, and context. Based on the dates, he lived through an important period in history, likely involving the early days of Canadian or American development, as well as the War of 1812, westward expansion, and other political or cultural shifts.
I will research:
- Sovereen's early life, origins, and family background.
- His contributions or activities that made him notable.
- His broader historical and cultural context, particularly in North America during the 19th century.
- Any interesting personal details, quotes, or legacy-related facts to make the radio segment engaging.
B) Review and Critique:
This plan is reasonable, but I need to ensure I focus not just on the dry facts but on creating a narrative that helps listeners understand why Frederick Sovereen is a significant figure. I’ll aim to place him in the context of 19th-century life, especially the specific region he influenced (possibly Canada, based on the name and era). I should look for any records of his involvement in local movements or family influence that might give us personal insights.
C) Revise and Improve the Plan:
To strengthen the plan, I will:
- Look for regional historical sources and any records linking Sovereen to specific historical events.
- Emphasize how his actions or life story intersected with major themes of the 19th century, such as settlement, agriculture, politics, or community-building.
- Ensure the final script for the radio segment highlights his personal character, any legacy, and what made him relevant to his time and region.
D) Execute the Plan:
I will now search for more detailed information on Frederick Sovereen and prepare the biographical sketch for a radio segment. I'll be back shortly with that information!
Frederick Sovereen (1786–1875) was an important early settler and farmer in Norfolk County, Ontario. Born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, he moved to Ontario with his family as a child. He later became a respected community leader, known for his deep involvement in local agriculture and religious life.
Sovereen married Mary Jane Hutchison in 1810, and together they raised a large family. By 1861, his farm spanned 238 acres, producing various crops such as wheat, corn, and peas, along with wool and pork. His work exemplified the rural, self-sustaining agricultural lifestyle common among early Canadian settlers. His contribution to his community extended beyond farming. Sovereen operated the first tobacco manufactory in the area, crafting popular plug tobacco that was well-loved by the locals for its purity.
Additionally, Sovereen was a foundational figure in the establishment of the Baptist Church in Delhi, Ontario, donating land for the church and serving as a deacon for many years. His commitment to his faith and community earned him the affectionate title "Uncle Frederick" among locals, and his home became known for its Christian hospitality. His legacy is tied not only to the development of Norfolk County but also to the religious and social fabric of the region
This sketch offers a glimpse of a pioneer whose life intertwined with the growth of rural Ontario during the 19th century.
The 5 Sources accessed were:
The three paragraphs above, apparently based on the five sources cited, provide a short sketch with very few details. What about his birth and death dates, his parents, his children, and other notable events?
4) I asked another question in the Chat box, saying: "can you add detail about his family members - parents and siblings?"
And the response was:
Frederick Sovereen (also spelled Sovereign) was born on February 14, 1786, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, to Jacob Sovereen (1759–1845) and Elizabeth Pickle (1764–1849). His family was part of a larger migration of Loyalist settlers from the United States to Upper Canada after the American Revolution. This Loyalist connection helped shape their early lives in what would later become Ontario.
Frederick's father, Jacob Sovereen, was a farmer and also a Loyalist, having moved to Canada as part of a wave of those who remained loyal to the British Crown. Frederick's mother, Elizabeth Pickle, also came from a notable family, contributing to the community's development in Upper Canada. The Sovereen family was involved in both agricultural pursuits and the Baptist faith, laying the foundation for Frederick's later role as a church leader and farmer.
Frederick had several siblings, including:
- Elisabeth Sovereign (born around 1785),
- Henry Baltis Sovereen (1793–1863), who was active in the same region and played a role in local community life, alongside Frederick.
Frederick's family settled in the Charlotteville area, where he would later marry Mary Jane Hutchison in 1810 and raise his own children. Together, they had several children, including:
- William Lewis Sovereign,
- Mary Catherine Sovereign,
- Alexander Sovereen (1814–1907),
- Jacob Sovereen.
This large and interconnected family helped shape the pioneer landscape of Norfolk County, Ontario, contributing to its agricultural development and religious institutions
All of that is useful, and should be in the biographical sketch, in my opinion.
5) What about other details, like his estate. My next prompt was: "did he leave an estate? If so, to whom and what or how much?"
And the response was:
There is no readily available detailed record of Frederick Sovereen's estate distribution in the sources reviewed. However, given his considerable landholdings and agricultural success, it is likely that he left a substantial estate. By 1861, he owned 238 acres of farmland in Norfolk County, Ontario, with a cash value of $4,000 at the time—a significant amount for the period. His farm produced various crops, livestock, and goods, indicating a well-managed, prosperous operation
Typically, estate distributions at the time would have passed primarily to the surviving family members, particularly his children. Sovereen had several children, including William Lewis, Mary Catherine, Alexander, and Jacob, who were likely the primary heirs of his estate
Estate documents, if they exist, might provide more specifics, but these would likely be stored in regional archives or family records.
{Randy's note: there was no estate description in the WikiTree profile notes.]
6) Another prompt for something that is in the WikiTree profile notes: "do you have any information about his land holdings in Norfolk County?"
And the response was:
Frederick Sovereen held significant land in Norfolk County, Ontario. By the 1861 Agricultural Census, he owned a 238-acre farm in Windham, which was divided into:
- 169 acres of cultivated land, including:
- 134 acres for crops,
- 32 acres for pasture,
- 3 acres for an orchard or garden,
- 89 acres of woodland and wild land.
His farm produced a variety of crops and goods, including fall wheat (21 acres), spring wheat (4 acres), rye, peas, oats, corn, potatoes, turnips, and carrots, as well as hay and butter. He also kept livestock, with 45 sheep, 4 milch cows, 3 steers/heifers, and 2 horses
The value of his farm's land alone was estimated at $4,000 in cash, which was a substantial amount during the mid-19th century. Sovereen also owned a pleasure carriage worth $80 and produced 200 pounds of butter, 150 pounds of wool, and four barrels of pork, showcasing the diverse and successful agricultural operation he managed.
There is no specific detail readily available regarding what happened to these holdings after his death, but his children likely inherited his assets, as was customary during that period
[Randy's note: This information was in the WikiTree profile note, but there was more land information also which was not captured]
7) I added another prompt: "Can you weave all of the above information into the biographical sketch?"The response was a Radio Script (which apparently is a part of the prompt!). Here is the Radio Script:
Host:
"Good morning, listeners! Today, we take a trip back to the 19th century to honor Frederick Sovereen, born on February 14, 1786, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and later one of the pioneering settlers in Norfolk County, Ontario. Frederick, or 'Uncle Frederick' as he was affectionately called, was a true frontiersman who helped shape both the agricultural and religious landscape of early Ontario.
Frederick came from strong Loyalist roots—his parents, Jacob Sovereen and Elizabeth Pickle, were part of the wave of settlers who moved north to Canada after the American Revolution. The Sovereens settled in the Charlotteville area of Upper Canada, where Frederick began to build his life. In 1810, he married Mary Jane Hutchison, with whom he had several children, including Alexander, William Lewis, Mary Catherine, and Jacob.
As a farmer, Frederick's success was remarkable. By the 1860s, he owned 238 acres of land in Windham, Norfolk County. Of this, 169 acres were cultivated, growing wheat, rye, peas, and even potatoes. The remaining 89 acres were woodland, essential for the rural economy of the time. His crops included over 200 bushels of fall wheat, 100 bushels of oats, and 65 bushels of corn. He also raised livestock, with 45 sheep, 4 cows, and 8 pigs contributing to the farm's production of butter, wool, and pork.
But Frederick wasn’t just a farmer—he also contributed to his community's spiritual life. He donated the land for the Baptist Church in Delhi, Ontario, where he served as a deacon for many years. His home, known for its Christian hospitality, became a beacon of community gatherings. When 'Uncle Frederick' passed away in 1875 at the age of 89, one local tribute said that his presence was like one of the 'main pillars' of the church falling.
Not to mention, Frederick was an entrepreneur! He ran the first tobacco manufactory in the area, producing a high-quality plug tobacco preferred by local settlers. His operation was small but well-regarded, producing tobacco mixed with molasses and Jamaica rum—a product that locals loved far more than the store-bought alternatives.
When Frederick died in 1875, he left behind a large and prosperous farm, which was worth an estimated $4,000—a considerable sum for that time. Although records of his estate's division are unclear, it's likely his children, including Alexander and William, inherited much of it. The legacy of his hard work and religious devotion lives on in the lands of Norfolk County, where the Baptist church he helped establish still stands as a testament to his contributions.
Today, Frederick Sovereen is remembered not only for his role in farming but also as a community leader whose dedication to faith, family, and progress helped shape early Canadian society."
Host: "Thanks for tuning in to our historical spotlight. Up next—what lessons can we learn from pioneers like Frederick Sovereen today? Stay with us!"
This script blends Frederick Sovereen’s contributions to agriculture, religious life, and community-building, highlighting his land holdings, entrepreneurial spirit, and the enduring legacy he left in Ontario.
8) This Biographical Sketch Generator provides a basic genealogical sketch of the subject, plus a Radio Script that someone could read over the air, or in an audio segment, or in a YouTube video.
9) What about the other free AI tools - can they take a text script, or a PDF file, and create a biographical sketch? At this time, I know that Perplexity can take a PDF file (say of my 52 Ancestors post) and do a decent job, with additional chat prompts if necessary. The other AI tools can take the text (but it may be too long) and create a biographical sketch.
10) Thank you to Steve Little for creating this custom AI ChatGPT tool. It works easily and well, and may be helpful for person profiles that have some online record on websites like WikiTree and Find A Grave.
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