Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- What Was a "Turning Point" In Your Parent's Life?

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

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

1)  Family stories are often about "Turning Points" and "Major Decisions."  

2)  This week, please describe a "Turning Point" in the life of one of your parents (or for both of them, or for grandparents).  Describe the decision, and discuss the outcome of it.

2)  Share the turning point with all of us by writing your own blog post, writing a comment on this blog post, or put it in a Substack post, Facebook Note, or some other social media system.  Please leave a comment on this post so others can find it.

Here's mine:

The most important "Turning Point" in my father's life was his decision to come to California from Massachusetts in December 1940.  I told the story in Fred's Story: "The Three-Day Cross-Country Escape."

My father's life was turned upside down and he made the best of it. He met my mother, married her in 1942, had a son Randy, served in the U.lS. Navy in 1944-5, came home and had two more sons, became an insurance agent, a world class bowler, a competitive and crafty youth baseball coach, and eventually a grandfather of four.

Without this decision, I would not be the person I am in this place and time. I might not have an extensive Mayflower and New England ancestry, or the engineer's mind.  My wife might have married someone else, and our daughters might have very different genetics. My mother might have become a world-famous artist.  My father might have been a baseball player or a rock star.  

If I wasn't who I am, would the genealogy research process be any different?  Hmmm, probably not.  

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

The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on 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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Ask AI: "Am I Wrong To Write Historical Fiction About My Ancestors?"

 Some people in the genealogy and family history community (notably on Facebook) have stated that Artificial Intelligence should not be used to create "historical fiction" about a historical person.  Some commenters say that we as family historians should only base stories on our own memories, on sourced records, on actual words spoken by that person, or in witness accounts of the person.  

I understand that point of view.  BUT (a big but...) I don't have memories, family stories, witness accounts, etc. for most of my ancestors - only for myself, my parents, my grandparents, but I have thousands of records for my ancestors. 

How can I tell the stories of my ancestors and their lives so that my relatives and descendants can better understand my life and the ancestors' lives?

As my blog readers and Facebook friends know, I have been telling "historical fiction" stories about my ancestors for over a year now in an attempt to understand the lives of my ancestors.  I do this by asking questions about how did the ancestors live their lives, what historical and social events affected them, what were the major decisions or turning points in their lives, etc.  

Am I wrong to do that?  My view is that this is a useful and legitimate activity as long as I identify the results as "Historical fiction" and "how it might have been" and avoid stating that it is how it really was for the ancestors in the time and place they lived.

1)  I decided to see what OpenAI ChatGPT5 thought about it.  Here is my prompt:  

"I'm an experienced genealogist but a technical writer and don't tell stories well with emotion or feelings, and have stories about my ancestors only from my parents and my own memories. Is it wrong to use AI to tell historical fiction stories about my ancestors - 'the way it might have been' based on the facts I have from source records with names, relationships, events, dates, places, etc.?"

(AI OpenAI ChatGPT5 image - crafting historical family stories)

And here is ChatGPT5's response:

Not wrong at all—if you handle it honestly and carefully. In fact, what you’re describing sits in a long tradition. Family historians have always tried to bridge the gap between documented facts and lived experience. The key is how you frame it.

Think of it this way: you’re not replacing history—you’re interpreting it.

a)  Where it works well

Using AI to create “the way it might have been” stories can:

• Bring otherwise dry records to life (census lines, land deeds, probate files)

• Help descendants connect emotionally with people they’d otherwise see as names and dates

• Explore plausible daily life based on known context (time, place, occupation, culture)

That’s especially valuable in genealogy, where the record is often skeletal. You already know that even a well-documented ancestor leaves a lot unsaid.

b)  Where you need to be careful

The line to watch is between fact and invention. Problems arise when:

• Fiction is presented as proven truth

• Readers can’t tell what is documented vs. imagined

• Details contradict known historical realities

Those are fixable issues with good discipline.

c)  A practical, traditional approach (that works beautifully)

You might appreciate this—it aligns with careful, evidence-based work:

1. Keep your proof standard intact -- Maintain your fully documented, source-based biography (your “anchor”).

2. Create a clearly labeled companion piece -- Call it something like: “A Historical Reconstruction”

• “A Day in the Life (Imagined)”

• “Based on Records of…”

3. Ground every scene in evidence -- For example:

• If he was a millwright → describe mill work typical of that region and period

• If she lived in 1870 Iowa → use known housing, clothing, weather patterns

• If a child died young → you can explore the emotional weight, but don’t invent specific dialogue or events without signaling it

4. Signal uncertainty honestly -- Phrases like:

• “He likely…”

• “She may have…”

• “It is reasonable to imagine…”

That keeps your integrity intact.

c)  Why this actually strengthens your work

You’re doing something many genealogists struggle with—making ancestors human again.

Records tell us:

• what happened

• when

• where

But they rarely tell us:

• what it felt like

• what a day looked like

• what mattered to them

Careful historical storytelling fills that gap without distorting the record.

d)  One more thought (from a traditional angle)

Before AI, people did this by hand—writing sketches, local histories, even family lore narratives. AI is just a new tool for an old instinct: honoring the past by trying to understand it.

Used responsibly, it’s not cutting corners—it’s extending your ability to interpret the past.

---

If you’d like, I can take one of your ancestors—say Devier Lamphier Smith or Della Carringer—and show you exactly how to build a clean, well-labeled “historical reconstruction” from your known facts.

2)  My next prompt was:  

"One of my thoughts is that what I am doing is acting as a ghostwriter for my ancestor who cannot speak for him or herself. Is that a fair thought? Is there another term besides novelist?"

The ChatGPT5 response was:

That’s a very fair way to think about it—and, frankly, a respectful one.

“Ghostwriter” fits better than you might expect, because you’re not trying to replace your ancestor’s voice—you’re trying to reconstruct a voice that history didn’t preserve. In genealogy, that’s a meaningful distinction. You’re working from evidence, not inventing freely.

That said, there are a few terms that might suit what you’re doing even more precisely, depending on how you want to present your work:

a)  Terms that fit your approach

• Historical Interpreter --- This has a solid, traditional feel. It suggests you are explaining and giving life to the past based on evidence—much like a museum interpreter or living history presenter.

• Narrative Genealogist -- A nice blend of your two worlds. It keeps your identity grounded in documented research while acknowledging that you’re shaping it into story form.

• Family Historian (Narrative Form) -- Simple and honest. Many respected genealogists have done exactly this—writing sketches or reminiscences to accompany the record.

• Historical Reconstructor -- This leans into what you’re actually doing: rebuilding a plausible lived experience from fragments.

• Creative Nonfiction Writer (Genealogical) -- Useful if you ever share this more broadly. It signals: this is rooted in fact, but told with narrative technique.

• First-Person Historical Reimagining -- Not a title for yourself, but a good label for the pieces. It clearly tells readers what they’re getting.

---

b)  Why “ghostwriter” still works

Your instinct is sound because:

• You’re writing in his voice, not yours

• You’re constrained by known facts and context

• You’re not claiming he actually said these words

It’s almost like you’re giving him a chance to testify, based on the record he left behind.

---

A small but important guardrail

The only caution I’d add—very much in keeping with your careful approach—is this:

Pair the idea of “ghostwriting” with transparency.

For example, a simple note like:

“This narrative is a historically informed reconstruction based on documented facts and context. The words are imagined, but the circumstances are grounded in evidence.”

That keeps your integrity intact while still allowing the story to breathe.

---

c)  A traditional perspective you might appreciate

In earlier generations, family historians often wrote “reminiscences” or “sketches” of ancestors—sometimes even in first person—especially when preserving stories for children and grandchildren. They understood, as you do, that facts alone don’t carry memory forward.

You’re really doing the same thing—just with better tools and a bit more discipline.

---

If you want, I can help you settle on a consistent label and format you could use across all your ancestor narratives so future readers immediately understand what they’re reading.

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

3)  Let's stop here for now. I hope that this will result in honest discussions about this issue and not devolve into rancor and division. I think it needs to be discussed.

4)  My understanding is that OpenAI ChatGPT5 and most other large language models try to be positive and support the information presented to them as a prompt or opinion.  Do you think ChatGPT5 is trying to fool me with these responses?

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

Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/04/ask-ai-am-i-wrong-to-write-historical.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on 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.

ABC Biography of the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf Family of New England

 Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, enhanced by further developments, here is another ancestor couple biography using the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.6 AI tool.

1) The genealogical sketch for the family of my 5th great-grandparents Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf, including family members, record abstracts and sources, is in Genealogical Sketch of the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf Family of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

(AI NotebookLM Infographic - Burgess Metcalf family story)

2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached a PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestors using the plus (+) icon, and then prompted the AI tool with:  "You are an expert genealogist and family historian. Please create a biography based on information in the attached file for the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf family. Include parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places). Summarize life events, add historical events as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members."

3)  The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.6 biography (lightly edited for accuracy) is: 

The Story of Burgess & Jerusha Metcalf

A Family History of Massachusetts and New Hampshire

1741 – 1817

Burgess Metcalf: A New England Beginning

Our story begins on a late August day in 1741, when Burgess Metcalf came into the world in the small town of Medway, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony — born on August 28th to Michael Metcalf and his wife Melatiah (Hamant) Metcalf. He was the fourth son and seventh of eight children in a busy household, so young Burgess would have grown up surrounded by siblings, chores, and the rhythms of colonial New England life.

His parents, Michael (1706–1771) and Melatiah (1704–1751), had married in Medway in 1728 and built a family there over the following two decades. Melatiah passed away in 1751, when Burgess was only about ten years old — a loss that no doubt shaped the family's early years together.
His Parents & Siblings

Burgess grew up alongside seven brothers and sisters. Here is the full family:

• Oliver Metcalf (b. 6 June 1729, Medway) — married Sarah Hammond, 16 October 1759, in Keene, NH; died 29 March 1797, Keene, NH
• Michael Metcalf (b. 5 December 1730, Medway) — married Sarah Allen, February 1753; later married Hannah ~1757; died 16 August 1777 at the Battle of Bennington, Vermont
• Melatiah Metcalf (b. 1 August 1732, Medway) — married Jonah French in 1750 in Keene, NH; died 19 April 1766, Keene, NH
• Amity Metcalf (b. 2 February 1734, Medway) — no further record found
• Abijah Metcalf (b. 2 July 1735, Medway) — married Mercy Ellis, 1763, Keene, NH; died 3 September 1815, Keene, NH
• Sarah Metcalf (b. 22 January 1737, Medway) — married Amos Davis Jr., 14 April 1757, Chesterfield, NH; died 11 February 1812, Addison, Vermont
• Burgess Metcalf (b. 28 August 1741, Medway) — our subject
• Silas Metcalf (b. 8 October 1745, Rutland, Worcester, MA) — no further record found

When Burgess was around nine years old, the whole Metcalf family pulled up roots and relocated north to Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire Colony, around 1750. This move — likely in search of better farmland or opportunity — would set the stage for the rest of Burgess's life in northern New England. It was in Keene where he would have grown to adulthood and eventually met the woman he would marry.

Jerusha: The Mystery Behind the Name

Jerusha — the woman who would become Burgess's wife and the mother of his ten children — is, in many ways, a figure shrouded in mystery. She was born around 1750, probably somewhere in Massachusetts Bay Colony or New Hampshire Colony, but her exact birthdate, birthplace, and maiden surname have not been confirmed by records.

Some family researchers have suggested her maiden surname was Chandler — possibly inspired by the name given to her youngest son, Chandler Metcalf, born in 1798. But as far as records show, that connection remains unproven. It's a common practice in genealogy to give children surnames as first names to honor the mother's family, so the theory is plausible — just not yet documented.

Whatever her origins, Jerusha was a woman of quiet endurance. She raised ten children in the rugged hill country of New Hampshire, outlived her husband by less than a year, and left behind a legacy that carries through hundreds of descendants today.

Building a Life Together in Piermont

Burgess and Jerusha were married before 1770, most likely in Keene, New Hampshire Colony. Their first child, Ephraim, was born around 1770, suggesting the wedding took place sometime in the late 1760s. Within a few years, Burgess was on the move again — this time heading further north.

In August 1773, Burgess purchased Lot 9 in Range 1 in the newly settled town of Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire from Richard Jenness of Rye, NH, paying 70 pounds for the land along what is now River Road. This acquisition planted the Metcalf family firmly in Piermont, where they would remain for generations.

Life on the frontier of New Hampshire was not easy. Piermont was a young, still-developing community, and families like the Metcalfs were the ones doing the developing. Burgess cleared land, farmed, raised livestock, participated in local governance, and helped build the community church. The 1801 tax records show him with cows, calves, and acreage in tillage, mowing, and pasture — a working farm by any measure.

Burgess in the Revolutionary War

One of the most remarkable chapters in Burgess Metcalf's life was his service in the American Revolutionary War. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the 5th Company of the 12th New Hampshire Regiment on September 5, 1775 — just months after the war's opening shots at Lexington and Concord.

He served again from September 25 to October 26, 1777, during a pivotal moment in the war. That October, he was present at the surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York — one of the war's most decisive American victories and the event that helped convince France to enter the war on the American side. It was a historic moment, and Burgess Metcalf was there to witness it firsthand.

His gravestone, in fact, honors his military service, inscribing him as "Ensign Burgess Medcalf" — a title he clearly wore with pride.

Active in the Community

Burgess was not a man content to stay in the background. Town records from Piermont show him repeatedly called upon for public duties over the years:

• 1776: Enumerated in the New Hampshire State Census in Piermont
• 1789: Chosen as Surveyor of Highways
• 1794: Named as a Petit Juror
• 1797: Named to a committee to set school land boundaries; also served as Moderator and Grand Juror
• 1803: Listed as a founding member of Piermont's new Congregational Church

His involvement with the Congregational Church was a family affair. As early as 1779, Burgess signed a pledge to financially support the Gospel in Piermont. His son John later served as a deacon of the same church — a clear sign of the family's deep roots in the community's spiritual life.

Their Ten Children

Burgess and Jerusha had a large family — ten children born between about 1770 and 1798. The first few were born while the family was still getting settled, and the last seven came after they established themselves in Piermont:

• Ephraim Metcalf (b. ~1770, Westmoreland, NH) — married Martha ~1791 in Piermont; 2 children; died 8 April 1858, Newbury, Orange, Vermont
• Samuel Metcalf (b. ~1771, Grafton County, NH) — no further record found
• Burgess Metcalf Jr. (b. 8 August 1772, Canaan, NH) — married (1) Elizabeth Wait, 28 December 1802; (2) Rachel Taplin, 16 March 1826; 9 children total; died 19 December 1831, Piermont, NH
• Sally Metcalf (b. ~1774, Piermont, NH) — married Edward Chapman, 15 July 1794, Haverhill, NH; 1 child
• Cyrus Metcalf (b. 1776, Piermont, NH) — married Lydia A. Root, 1798, Piermont; 9 children; died 3 March 1843, Irasburg, Orleans, Vermont
• Meletiah Metcalf (b. 4 April 1779, Piermont, NH) — married Salmon Niles, 16 December 1797, Piermont; 13 children; died 13 July 1838, Haverhill, NH
• Mary "Polly" Metcalf (b. ~1780, Piermont, NH) — married Amos Underhill, 25 March 1801, Piermont; 5 children; died 15 October 1855, Aurora, Erie, New York
• Joseph Metcalf (b. 1781, Piermont, NH) — died young, 10 March 1796, Piermont, NH, at about age 15
• Jerusha Metcalf (b. 1789, Piermont, NH) — married John Bickford, 4 June 1807, Piermont; 12 children; died 22 December 1864, Troy, Orleans, Vermont
• Chandler Metcalf (b. 7 April 1798, Piermont, NH) — married Letitia Olmstead, 17 December 1826, Hanover, NH; 2 children; died 8 June 1842, Haverhill, NH

The 1790 census recorded Burgess's household with 4 males over 16, 3 males under 16, and 7 females — a full and lively house. By 1800, the household had thinned somewhat as older children married and moved on, but young Chandler (their last child, born in 1798) and daughter Jerusha were still home.

Passing the Farm to the Next Generation

In August 1798, Burgess Jr. executed a notable legal arrangement: he leased back the family's Piermont land — including two house lots and two meadow lots — to his aging parents, Burgess Sr. and Jerusha, for the remainder of their natural lives. In exchange, Burgess Sr. paid his son $500.

The document, recorded in Grafton County deeds in 1812, is a touching piece of family history. It guaranteed that Burgess and Jerusha could live on and work "said lands as he or she shall chuse without any Let hindrance or Molestation" for as long as they lived. It was a formal way of ensuring the elder Metcalfs were taken care of in their old age.

The Final Years

Burgess Metcalf died on September 26, 1816 in Piermont, New Hampshire, at the age of 74 — a long life for the era, and one well-lived. His gravestone at River Road Cemetery in Bradford, New Hampshire bears the inscription:

"In Memory of / Ensign / Burgess Medcalf / who died Sept 20, 1816 / aged 74 years"

Jerusha survived her husband by less than a year. She passed away on June 9, 1817, at the age of 67, in Piermont. She was laid to rest beside Burgess at River Road Cemetery, her gravestone reading:

"In memory of / Mrs. / Jerusha Medcalf / who died June / 9 1817 aged / 67 years"

No probate records have been found for either Burgess or Jerusha in Grafton County — not unusual for a family that had already arranged the transfer of property to their children during their lifetimes.

Their Legacy

Burgess and Jerusha Metcalf were, in every sense, foundational figures. They were among the early settlers of Piermont, New Hampshire — a town that barely existed when they arrived in 1773. Over the following four decades, they helped shape it: farming its land, serving in its government, worshipping in its church, and raising a family of ten children who spread across New England and beyond.

Their children and grandchildren carried the Metcalf name (and the lines of their daughters' married names) into Vermont, New York, and further afield. The numbers alone tell the story: among their ten children, at least eight went on to have children of their own, producing over fifty  grandchildren for Burgess and Jerusha.

And then there's the legacy of service. Burgess stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his fellow colonists during the Revolution, was present at one of its pivotal moments — the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga — and came home to build something lasting in the hills of New Hampshire. That's a story worth remembering.

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

4) An Audio Overview (essentially a podcast) created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool) describing and celebrating the lives of Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf can be heard here (click on "Audio Overview" and wait for it to load).

5)  The Video Overview discussing the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf family created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool is:  

6)  The Slide Deck produced by Google NotebookLM was incorporated into a Google Slides file, and the created Google Vids presentation is below:  

7)  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.

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

Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/04/abc-biography-of-burgess-and-jerusha.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on 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.

Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 28 March to 3 April 2026

 Each week, I try to keep track of the number of Full-Text Search collections (indexed, searchable) and the Images collections (browsable but not searchable) -- see Sections 1) and 2) below. In addition, I list the genealogy historical record collections (often name-indexed) that are added, removed, and/or updated on FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list  --  See Section 3.

1)  As of 3 April 2026, there are now 6,648 searchable and full-text transcribed image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, a decrease of 0 from last week. There are over   1.914 BILLION "results" in the collections.  It is not possible to see which collections are new. 

 2)  As of 3 April 2026, there are now 24,610 browsable (some indexed, none transcribed) image collections on FamilySearch Images this week, a decrease of 1 from last week. There are over 5.973 BILLION images in these collections.  There are 2,101 collections from the United States, 6,903 from Europe and 221 from Canada.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.  

3)  As of 3 April 2026, there are 3,420 Historical Record Collections (many indexed, browsable) on FamilySearch (a decrease of 3 from last week) on the Signed In screen.

The Deleted, Added and Updated Hstorical Record Collections this week include:

--- Collections Deleted ---

Italy, Alessandria, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1800-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2197595); 28,851 indexed records with 51,135 record images, DELETED
Italy, Ancona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1544-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2310701); 200,585 indexed records with 208,356 record images, DELETED
Italy, Bologna, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2185174); 955,882 indexed records with 335,164 record images, DELETED
Italy, Bologna, Imola, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1805-1815 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2306526); 66,625 indexed records with 34,773 record images, DELETED

--- Collections Added ---

*  Italy, Ivrea Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1926-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000539); 1,520 indexed records with 790 record images, ADDED 30-Oct-2025

--- Collections Updated ---

Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration, 1588-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138481); 2,682,068 indexed records with 3,208,709 record images (was 2,632,365 records with 3,208,709 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482191); 1,006,734 indexed records with 6,411,594 record images (was 968,601 records with 6,411,594 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Bolivia, Catholic Church Records, 1566-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,825,511 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,832,200 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Dominican Republic, Index of Deceased Persons,1886-2004 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000619); 763,000 indexed records with 763,000 record images (was 763,000 records with 763,000 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 265,645,823 indexed records with 40,705,841 record images (was 264,892,869 records with 102,401,311 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026

Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473000); 23,453,302 indexed records with 29,147,064 record images (was 23,453,302 records with 29,147,064 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026
Honduras, Civil Registration, 1841-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135627); 12,424,283 indexed records with 337,976 record images (was 12,424,229 records with 337,976 images), UPDATED 31-Mar-2026
Italy, Agrigento, Sciacca, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043548); 19,928 indexed records with 226,482 record images (was 19,928 records with 226,482 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Ancona, Ancona, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1862-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046896); 742,051 indexed records with 2,361,451 record images (was 843,996 records with 2,361,451 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Arezzo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1314-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2146184); 4,533 indexed records with 68,721 record images (was 11,993 records with 68,721 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026

Italy, Avellino, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2484771); 105,657 indexed records with 3,099,458 record images (was 105,657 records with 3,099,458 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Bari, Bari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043445); 301,213 indexed records with 1,626,044 record images (was 279,177 records with 1,626,044 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Bari, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1908 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968511); 605,987 indexed records with 2,870,392 record images (was 605,987 records with 2,870,392 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Belluno, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1815 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939239); 4,765 indexed records with 43,302 record images (was 4,905 records with 43,302 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Benevento, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1810-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2475030); 356,098 indexed records with 1,827,400 record images (was 356,098 records with 1,827,400 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026

Italy, Bergamo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1903 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1986789); 658,071 indexed records with 2,514,754 record images (was 658,071 records with 2,514,754 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Births and Baptisms, 1806-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708706); Index only (205,484 records), no images (was 205,484 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Bologna, Bologna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947797); 891,880 indexed records with 5,914,917 record images (was 887,656 records with 5,914,917 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Brescia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1797-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2158242); 157,049 indexed records with 620,801 record images (was 157,049 records with 620,801 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Brindisi, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2328379); 228,127 indexed records with 827,175 record images (was 228,127 records with 827,175 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Italy, Cagliari, Cagliari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043426); 620,818 indexed records with 1,791,108 record images (was 633,890 records with 1,791,108 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Caserta, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2718545); 17,474 indexed records with 4,543,698 record images (was 17,474 records with 4,543,698 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Caserta, Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043630); 1,241,591 indexed records with 1,097,228 record images (was 1,341,457 records with 1,097,228 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Catania, Catania, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043496); 747,745 indexed records with 434,962 record images (was 754,311 records with 434,962 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Catania, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821289); Browse 2,852,068 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,852,068 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Catanzaro, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937913); 753,725 indexed records with 436,534 record images (was 753,725 records with 436,534 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Como, Como, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043815); 1,215,604 indexed records with 1,475,606 record images (was 1,233,545 records with 1,475,606 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Cremona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1744-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987747); 425,341 indexed records with 1,325,362 record images (was 425,341 records with 1,325,362 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Cuneo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1795-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1392991); 90 indexed records with 267,978 record images (was 75,223 records with 267,978 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Cuneo, Saluzzo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068332); Browse 1,604,444 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 1,604,444 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Deaths and Burials, 1806-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708705); Index only (76,671 records), no images (was 76,671 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Enna, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068343); 735 indexed records with 836,855 record images (was 735 records with 836,855 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Foggia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1902 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821290); 197,277 indexed records with 1,514,502 record images (was 197,277 records with 1,514,502 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Foggia, Lucera, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043436); 20,412 indexed records with 706,597 record images (was 25,880 records with 706,597 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Forlì-Cesena, Forlì, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1800-1815, 1866-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068333); 145,735 indexed records with 2,090,185 record images (was 859,021 records with 2,090,185 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Genova, Chiavari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482818); 697,605 indexed records with 650,745 record images (was 697,072 records with 650,745 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Genova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1796-1812, 1838-1859, 1866-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928859); 249,878 indexed records with 445,302 record images (was 249,878 records with 445,302 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Genova, Genova, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046914); 1,795,434 indexed records with 871,669 record images (was 1,808,867 records with 871,669 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Isernia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1914 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3049866); 1,195 indexed records with 1,021,993 record images (was 1,195 records with 1,021,993 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, L'Aquila, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1944, 1911-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937372); 134,489 indexed records with 2,754,472 record images (was 134,489 records with 2,754,472 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Italy, Latina, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1867-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2684446); 1,744 indexed records with 144,647 record images (was 14,453 records with 144,647 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Lecce, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1901-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2310702); 20,298 indexed records with 3,307,040 record images (was 20,298 records with 3,307,040 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Lecco, Lecco, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046897); 298,052 indexed records with 646,060 record images (was 399,332 records with 646,060 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Lucca, Lucca, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043811); 128,224 indexed records with 1,335,192 record images (was 131,582 records with 1,335,192 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Macerata, Macerata, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043838); 640,524 indexed records with 792,563 record images (was 691,441 records with 792,563 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Mantova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1496-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1934580); 802,442 indexed records with 855,316 record images (was 802,442 records with 855,316 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Marriages, 1809-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1711678); Index only (76,565 records), no images (was 76,565 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Massa e Carrara, Massa, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043539); 138,337 indexed records with 513,674 record images (was 132,923 records with 513,674 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Matera, Matera, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043814); 201,255 indexed records with 237,814 record images (was 220,819 records with 237,814 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Messina, Patti, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1823-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946858); 147,853 indexed records with 891,170 record images (was 142,082 records with 891,170 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Milano, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2537277); 2,517 indexed records with 1,064,144 record images (was 2,517 records with 1,064,144 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Milano, Milano, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000032); 1,151,946 indexed records with 472,131 record images (was 1,220,160 records with 472,131 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Modena, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968527); 499,297 indexed records with 2,114,742 record images (was 500,217 records with 2,114,742 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Modena, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1920-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000266); 61,676 indexed records with 51,102 record images (was 68,918 records with 51,102 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Calvizzano, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046907); 6,137 indexed records with 4,044 record images (was 9,326 records with 4,044 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Napoli, Casoria, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046905); Browse 40,753 Images only, no index (was 1,075 records with 40,753 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937990); 1,178,892 indexed records with 12,795,172 record images (was 1,178,892 records with 12,795,172 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Pomigliano d'Arco, Military Conscriptions (Comune), 1898-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068335); Browse 2,689 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,689 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Portici, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046899); 14,781 indexed records with 48,547 record images (was 15,171 records with 48,547 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Qualiano, Civil Registration (Comune), 1836-1909 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046904); 2,605 indexed records with 1,883 record images (was 4,159 records with 1,883 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Napoli, Torre Annunziata, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1900-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947578); 134,522 indexed records with 41,398 record images (was 143,727 records with 41,398 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Nuoro, Nuoro, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946873); 189,571 indexed records with 118,771 record images (was 189,265 records with 118,771 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Oristano, Oristano, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947719); 603,549 indexed records with 342,194 record images (was 632,863 records with 342,194 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Padova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1621-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2120751); 43,158 indexed records with 601,344 record images (was 43,158 records with 601,344 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Padova, Padova, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946877); 1,141,213 indexed records with 1,745,536 record images (was 1,197,968 records with 1,745,536 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Palermo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2608509); 4,683 indexed records with 4,331,932 record images (was 4,683 records with 4,331,932 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Catholic Church Records, 1531-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046915); 1,050,963 indexed records with 431,296 record images (was 1,050,963 records with 431,296 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pavia, Pavia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1806-1812, 1866-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043830); 265,040 indexed records with 306,382 record images (was 290,024 records with 306,382 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pavia, Voghera, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2057676); Browse 165,651 Images only, no index (was 32,348 records with 165,651 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Perugia, Perugia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043831); 39,264 indexed records with 405,632 record images (was 49,670 records with 405,632 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Piacenza, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1662-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4117582); 18,373 indexed records with 641,969 record images (was 18,373 records with 641,969 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pisa, Pisa, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043812); 219,442 indexed records with 618,446 record images (was 215,386 records with 618,446 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pistoia, Pistoia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1493462); 38,616 indexed records with 834,726 record images (was 38,410 records with 834,726 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pordenone, Pordenone, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043819); Browse 236,209 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 236,209 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Potenza, Melfi, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1483052); 270,195 indexed records with 558,203 record images (was 270,358 records with 558,203 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Prato, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1923 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2057689); 45,813 indexed records with 227,429 record images (was 45,813 records with 227,429 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Ravenna, Ravenna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947700); 698,358 indexed records with 1,759,182 record images (was 756,168 records with 1,759,182 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Reggio Emilia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1769-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2388826); 30,483 indexed records with 643,483 record images (was 984,348 records with 643,483 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Rieti, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1840-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2146202); 136,452 indexed records with 448,819 record images (was 136,452 records with 448,819 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026

Italy, Rimini, Rimini, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000028); 31,075 indexed records with 28,627 record images (was 30,070 records with 28,627 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Roma, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1863-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2390532); 825,269 indexed records with 5,066,067 record images (was 828,452 records with 5,066,067 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Rovigo, Rovigo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482864); 825,653 indexed records with 1,082,856 record images (was 828,399 records with 1,082,856 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Salerno, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935404); 1,186,348 indexed records with 5,918,455 record images (was 2,240,352 records with 5,918,455 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Savona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1813, 1838-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016218); 154,142 indexed records with 1,279,025 record images (was 154,142 records with 1,279,025 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Italy, Siena, Montepulciano, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043840); 47,691 indexed records with 181,893 record images (was 56,457 records with 181,893 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Siracusa, Siracusa, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1900-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2110810); 334,705 indexed records with 275,840 record images (was 354,875 records with 275,840 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Sondrio, Sondrio, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043841); Browse 279,212 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 279,212 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Teramo, Teramo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947829); 192,334 indexed records with 425,736 record images (was 192,012 records with 425,736 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Terni, Orvieto, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043538); 128,767 indexed records with 44,289 record images (was 130,285 records with 44,289 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Torino, Ivrea, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1865-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1475996); Browse 722,302 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 722,302 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Torino, Torino, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1967801); Index only (3,542,652 records), no images (was 3,652,548 records with 0 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Trapani, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1906-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2052404); 105,264 indexed records with 1,371,292 record images (was 105,264 records with 1,371,292 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Trento, Diocesi di Trento, Catholic Church Records, 1548-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1430983); 1,968,517 indexed records with 86,924 record images (was 1,985,100 records with 86,924 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Treviso, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1815 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928857); Browse 300,678 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 300,678 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Treviso, Treviso, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947831); 348,515 indexed records with 427,232 record images (was 365,193 records with 427,232 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Trieste, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1924-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2684447); Browse 118,496 Images only, no index (was 15,381 records with 118,496 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Udine, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1815, 1871-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939238); 497,987 indexed records with 1,262,279 record images (was 497,987 records with 1,262,279 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Venezia, Venezia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043809); 1,025,162 indexed records with 628,744 record images (was 1,095,467 records with 628,744 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Verbania, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1814, 1838-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068338); 2,150 indexed records with 595,341 record images (was 99,593 records with 595,341 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Italy, Vercelli, Archdiocese of Vercelli, Catholic Church Records, 1839-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000274); 333,854 indexed records with 149,478 record images (was 336,668 records with 149,478 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Verona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1630-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016225); 293,902 indexed records with 2,976,910 record images (was 293,902 records with 2,976,910 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1871-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2141952); 167,671 indexed records with 1,637,660 record images (was 167,671 records with 1,637,660 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Viterbo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1870-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016212); 651,693 indexed records with 936,472 record images (was 651,693 records with 936,472 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Minnesota, Deaths, 1887-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3398461); 1,455,734 indexed records with 1,454,437 record images (was 1,455,734 records with 1,453,838 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Nicaragua, Civil Registration, 1809-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1601210); 978,582 indexed records with 2,591,542 record images (was 978,582 records with 2,591,542 images), UPDATED 31-Mar-2026
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 01-Apr-2026
Russia, Births and Baptisms, 1755-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771027); Index only (118,328 records), no images (was 81,115 records with 0 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026
Russia, Deaths and Burials, 1815-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771042); Index only (94,633 records), no images (was 55,414 records with 0 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026
Russia, Lutheran Church Book Duplicates, 1833-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469151); 563,045 indexed records with 128,317 record images (was 401,678 records with 128,317 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026

Russia, Marriages, 1793-1919 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771044); Index only (27,686 records), no images (was 16,762 records with 0 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026
Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4138674); 19,762,820 indexed records with 2,024,045 record images (was 19,755,625 records with 2,024,045 images), UPDATED 31-Mar-2026
Switzerland, Church Records, 1277-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1640373); Browse 517,510 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 517,510 images), UPDATED 31-Mar-2026
United States, Census, 1860 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473181); 26,936,553 indexed records with 703,834 record images (was 26,936,041 records with 703,834 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
United States, Census, 1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1488411); 107,608,212 indexed records with 2,387,416 record images (was 107,608,221 records with 2,387,416 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

United States, Census, 1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1810731); 125,136,376 indexed records with 2,957,015 record images (was 125,136,392 records with 2,957,015 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
United States, Census, 1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2000219); 134,774,682 indexed records with 3,841,151 record images (was 134,774,707 records with 3,841,151 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 2,929,239 record images (was 1 records with 2,929,235 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 454,169 record images (was 1 records with 454,166 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 906,026 record images (was 1 records with 906,023 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Sergipe, Civil Registration, 1866-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4470324); 1 indexed records with 268,940 record images (was 1 records with 268,939 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,739,142 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,739,058 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024

United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000016); 63,700,466 indexed records with 63,700,463 record images (was 63,700,466 records with 13,260,985 images), last updated 12-Feb-2023

--- Collections with images removed ---

Puerto Rico, Births and Baptisms, 1938-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770964); 1,575 indexed records with 279 record images (was 1,575 records with 1,575 images), last updated 08-Feb-2020

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2285732); Index only (95,810,877 records), no images (was 95,810,879 records with 0 images), last updated 09-Oct-2014

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

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

Marshall notes that there are:

• 3,420 Historical Record Collection entries
• 4 removed entries
• 1  added entries 
• 110 updated entries
• 7 entries with more or fewer images 
• 1 entries with more or fewer records

Marshsll's list shows 3,420 Historical Record Collections this week, a decrease of 3 collections. The image above shows 3,420 collections, so the Image number is in sync with Marshall's list number.

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

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/04/added-and-updated-familysearch-record.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 28 March to 3 April 2026

 The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by "Date Updated" during the period from 28 March to 3 April 2026.

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• England, Prerogative and Exchequer Court of York Wills, 1389-1858; 2,462,539 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/30/2026. This collection contains images of wills filed in Yorkshire, England, between 1389 and 1858.
• Yorkshire, England, Bishops' Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1558-1912; 13,500,549 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/30/2026. This collection includes Church of England parish registers and bishops’ transcripts of baptisms, marriages, and burials between 1558 and 1912 from the historical county of Yorkshire, England.

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

By my count, there are 2 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,902 collections available as of  3 April, an INCREASE of 2 from last week. 

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/04/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on 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 so they may not appear immediately.

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