Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 25 April to 1 May 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 1 May 2026, there are now 6,665 searchable and full-text transcribed image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, an increase of 4 from last week. There are over   1.95 BILLION "results" in the collections.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.

 

 2)  As of 1 May 2026, there are now 24,667 browsable (some indexed, none transcribed) image collections on FamilySearch Images this week, an increase of 6 from last week. There are over 6.005 BILLION images in these collections.  There are 2,101 collections from the United States, 6,895 from Europe and 221 from Canada.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.  

3)  As of 1 May 2026, there are 3,433 Historical Record Collections (many indexed, browsable) on FamilySearch (an increase of 3 from last week) on the Signed In screen.

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

--- Collections Deleted ---

--- Collections Added ---

*  Italy, Ancona, Census, 1812-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000432); 39,742 indexed records with 21,360 record images, ADDED 06-Apr-2026

*  Italy, Terni, Ferentillo, Civil Registration (Comune), 1861-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000263); 2,096 indexed records with 899 record images, ADDED 29-Apr-2026

*  United Kingdom, UK Residence Database, 1990-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000534); 68,064,068 indexed records with 67,990,671 record images, ADDED 15-Apr-2026

--- Collections Updated ---

Alabama, Jefferson County Circuit Court Papers, 1870-1916 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1548510); 97,321 indexed records with 283,698 record images (was 97,193 records with 283,698 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration, 1588-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138481); 2,781,927 indexed records with 3,208,709 record images (was 2,775,031 records with 3,208,709 images), UPDATED 28-Apr-2026
Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482191); 1,023,600 indexed records with 6,411,594 record images (was 1,023,310 records with 6,411,594 images), UPDATED 28-Apr-2026
Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, 1541-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138513); 1,015,324 indexed records with 2,944,655 record images (was 1,015,256 records with 2,944,655 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001287); 6,431,812 indexed records with 2,841,076 record images (was 6,523,413 records with 2,841,076 images), UPDATED 29-Apr-2026

Canada, Nova Scotia, Church Records, 1720-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1925428); 204,328 indexed records with 16,188 record images (was 215,746 records with 16,188 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
Cook Islands, Public Records, 1846-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2731435); 78,058 indexed records with 96,455 record images (was 78,047 records with 96,455 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
England, Cumbria, Parish Registers, 1538-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3154704); 1,072,084 indexed records with 60,360 record images (was 1,071,532 records with 59,994 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
England, Shropshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1922 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3155854); 884,806 indexed records with 62,913 record images (was 883,907 records with 62,897 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
Honduras, Civil Registration, 1841-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135627); 12,424,489 indexed records with 337,976 record images (was 12,424,283 records with 337,976 images), UPDATED 24-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 742,051 records with 2,361,451 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-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 29-Apr-2026
Italy, Bologna, Bologna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947797); 891,877 indexed records with 5,914,917 record images (was 891,880 records with 5,914,917 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
Italy, Campobasso, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968528); 371,139 indexed records with 2,171,605 record images (was 140,555 records with 2,171,605 images), UPDATED 29-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 29-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 24-Apr-2026
Italy, Cuneo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1795-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1392991); Browse 267,978 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 267,978 images), UPDATED 29-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 29-Apr-2026
Italy, La Spezia, Catholic Church Records, 1838-1857 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2477523); Browse 66,288 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 66,288 images), UPDATED 29-Apr-2026
Italy, La Spezia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1780-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2477527); 17 indexed records with 3,588 record images (was 17 records with 3,588 images), UPDATED 29-Apr-2026

Italy, Lecce, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1901-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2310702); 20,203 indexed records with 3,307,040 record images (was 0 records with 3,307,040 images), UPDATED 28-Apr-2026
Italy, Messina, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935770); 940,311 indexed records with 1,076,443 record images (was 842,818 records with 1,076,443 images), UPDATED 29-Apr-2026
Italy, Modena, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968527); 601,917 indexed records with 2,114,742 record images (was 499,297 records with 2,114,742 images), UPDATED 30-Apr-2026
Italy, Oristano, Oristano, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947719); 603,543 indexed records with 342,194 record images (was 603,549 records with 342,194 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
Italy, Piacenza, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1662-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4117582); 14,431 indexed records with 641,969 record images (was 14,431 records with 641,969 images), UPDATED 29-Apr-2026

Italy, Terni, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1513-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3335348); 249,328 indexed records with 87,821 record images (was 227,101 records with 89,735 images), UPDATED 29-Apr-2026
Montana, Military Records, 1898-1919 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3010075); 49,445 indexed records with 50,189 record images (was 49,436 records with 50,189 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
Northern Ireland, Tithe Applotment Books, 1822-1840 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2729531); 397,947 indexed records with 164,370 record images (was 397,856 records with 164,318 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
Oregon, Multnomah County, Poor Farm Admissions Records, 1900-1962 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2759503); 18,084 indexed records with 4,522 record images (was 18,060 records with 4,516 images), UPDATED 28-Apr-2026
Pennsylvania, Cambria County, Naturalization Records, 1835-1978 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000282); 35,413 indexed records with 66,872 record images (was 35,406 records with 66,863 images), UPDATED 26-Apr-2026

Portugal, Santarém, Catholic Church Records, 1544-1952 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2128189); 1,475,144 indexed records with 647,938 record images (was 1,476,627 records with 647,938 images), UPDATED 28-Apr-2026
Sierra Leone, Civil Births and Deaths, 1802-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3245338); 1,099,537 indexed records with 829,879 record images (was 1,099,411 records with 840,687 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Marriages, 1870-1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2727134); 267,277 indexed records with 265,225 record images (was 267,269 records with 265,207 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1961 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2520237); 1,870,732 indexed records with 1,516,203 record images (was 1,870,522 records with 1,516,203 images), UPDATED 24-Apr-2026
United States Virgin Islands, Census Records, 1841-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4109619); 363,365 indexed records with 28,297 record images (was 363,365 records with 28,297 images), UPDATED 27-Apr-2026

United States, Census, 1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1488411); 107,608,209 indexed records with 2,387,416 record images (was 107,608,212 records with 2,387,416 images), UPDATED 28-Apr-2026
United States, Census, 1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1810731); 125,136,362 indexed records with 2,957,015 record images (was 125,136,376 records with 2,957,015 images), UPDATED 28-Apr-2026
United States, Census, 1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2000219); 134,774,669 indexed records with 3,841,151 record images (was 134,774,682 records with 3,841,151 images), UPDATED 29-Apr-2026
United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages, 1980-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2333694); 28,662,178 indexed records with 46,919,022 record images (was 28,662,179 records with 46,919,022 images), UPDATED 29-Apr-2026
United States, New England Seamen's Identification Cards, 1918-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2191222); 62,681 indexed records with 104,825 record images (was 62,678 records with 104,825 images), UPDATED 26-Apr-2026

--- Collections with new images ---

Alabama, Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661470); 158,893 indexed records with 157,078 record images (was 158,893 records with 156,842 images), last updated 07-Apr-2026
Argentina, Buenos Aires, Civil Registration, 1861-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000041); 1 indexed records with 111,705 record images (was 1 records with 111,703 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 2,929,239 indexed records with 2,929,259 record images (was 2,929,239 records with 2,929,258 images), last updated 03-Apr-2026
Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770729); 457,578 indexed records with 526,435 record images (was 457,578 records with 526,433 images), last updated 28-May-2025
Australia, Deaths and Burials, 1816-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770857); 103,977 indexed records with 108,863 record images (was 103,977 records with 108,862 images), last updated 19-Mar-2025

Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 906,155 record images (was 1 records with 906,146 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Sergipe, Civil Registration, 1866-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4470324); 1 indexed records with 268,944 record images (was 1 records with 268,942 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Canadian Headstones (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2290953); 2,546,441 indexed records with 2,546,441 record images (was 2,546,441 records with 2,545,018 images), last updated 21-May-2019
Colombia, Migration Records, 1885-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000159); 6,739,469 indexed records with 6,507,487 record images (was 6,739,469 records with 6,507,103 images), last updated 19-Mar-2026
England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473014); 39,148,902 indexed records with 14,811 record images (was 39,148,902 records with 11,128 images), last updated 31-Jan-2026

England, Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473016); 13,095,153 indexed records with 406 record images (was 13,095,153 records with 218 images), last updated 31-Jan-2026
France, Calvados, Military Registration Cards, 1867-1921 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2815120); 144,114 indexed records with 126,822 record images (was 144,114 records with 126,811 images), last updated 20-Feb-2026
Germany, Baden, Archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau, Catholic Church Records, 1463-1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790181); 11,306,368 indexed records with 1,709,697 record images (was 11,306,368 records with 1,709,621 images), last updated 05-Feb-2026
Germany, Saxony-Anhalt, Halberstadt, Civil Registration, 1874-1982 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2212665); 180,177 indexed records with 179,075 record images (was 180,177 records with 178,997 images), last updated 15-Apr-2026
Hawaii, Births and Baptisms, 1843-1925 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2390841); 73,643 indexed records with 21,448 record images (was 73,643 records with 21,410 images), last updated 18-Feb-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 2,605 records with 1,846 images), last updated 01-Apr-2026
Philippines, Catholic Church Records, 1520-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2861657); 12,300,078 indexed records with 3,050,822 record images (was 12,300,078 records with 3,050,634 images), last updated 11-Mar-2026
Philippines, Eastern Visayas, Church Records, 1716-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000329); 737,166 indexed records with 423,658 record images (was 737,166 records with 415,304 images), last updated 11-Mar-2026
South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Death, 1869-1954 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2998108); 960,655 indexed records with 1,081,693 record images (was 960,655 records with 1,081,282 images), last updated 29-Jan-2026
Spain, Madrid, Municipal Census Records, 1910-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000004); 1,749,267 indexed records with 687,683 record images (was 1,749,267 records with 687,359 images), last updated 08-May-2025

Texas, Military Discharge Records, 1916-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3734716); 43,059 indexed records with 18,749 record images (was 43,059 records with 18,715 images), last updated 07-Apr-2026
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Census Records (Worldwide), 1914-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3438701); 3,267,429 indexed records with 2,312,562 record images (was 3,267,429 records with 2,304,594 images), last updated 09-Dec-2025
United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,743,050 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,742,479 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
West Virginia, Marriages, 1780-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408729); 1,470,588 indexed records with 36,017 record images (was 1,470,588 records with 36,015 images), last updated 07-Apr-2026

--- Collections with images removed ---

Arizona, Various County Divorce Records, 1877-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3734469); 64,104 indexed records with 61,503 record images (was 64,104 records with 63,966 images), last updated 27-Feb-2026
England, Hampshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2556014); 1,726,898 indexed records with 134,446 record images (was 1,726,898 records with 140,183 images), last updated 17-Apr-2026
Finland, Tax Lists, 1809-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2704794); 1,339,320 indexed records with 19,026 record images (was 1,349,867 records with 19,736 images), last updated 24-Apr-2026
Germany, Prussia, Saxony, Census Lists, 1585-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2780641); 991,875 indexed records with 48,956 record images (was 991,875 records with 50,674 images), last updated 05-Feb-2026
Germany, Württemberg, Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Catholic Church Records, 1520-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3499252); 7,153,108 indexed records with 888,534 record images (was 7,153,108 records with 894,947 images), last updated 05-Feb-2026

Italy, Brindisi, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2328379); 228,127 indexed records with 827,146 record images (was 228,127 records with 827,148 images), last updated 24-Apr-2026
Italy, Vercelli, Archdiocese of Vercelli, Catholic Church Records, 1839-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000274); 333,854 indexed records with 149,199 record images (was 333,854 records with 149,478 images), last updated 01-Apr-2026
Luxembourg, Church and Civil Registration, 1601-1923 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000012); 3,005,872 indexed records with 1,121,891 record images (was 3,005,872 records with 1,137,384 images), last updated 01-Feb-2026
Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675351); 128,729 indexed records with 1,205 record images (was 128,729 records with 1,716 images), last updated 06-Feb-2026
Poland, Church Books, 1568-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4135958); 5,145,060 indexed records with 1,150,410 record images (was 5,145,060 records with 1,151,120 images), last updated 02-Feb-2026

Portugal, Aveiro, Civil Registration, 1911-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2796823); 8,010 indexed records with 6,611 record images (was 8,010 records with 6,782 images), last updated 15-Apr-2026
West Virginia, Military Discharge Records, 1866-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4166146); 67,103 indexed records with 19,903 record images (was 67,103 records with 19,937 images), last updated 14-Apr-2026

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

Belgium, West Flanders, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2139860); 596,932 indexed records with 2,612,466 record images (was 596,937 records with 2,612,466 images), last updated 24-Apr-2026
California, Birth Index, 1905-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001879); Index only (24,589,390 records), no images (was 24,589,391 records with 0 images), last updated 01-Mar-2012
England and Wales, Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2285338); Index only (132,174,233 records), no images (was 132,174,236 records with 0 images), last updated 02-Oct-2014
Fiji, Passports, 1915-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3743978); 248,253 indexed records with 246,862 record images (was 248,254 records with 246,862 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Kentucky, Vital Record Indexes, 1911-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2531527); Index only (9,865,927 records), no images (was 9,865,928 records with 0 images), last updated 15-Jul-2015

New Jersey, Death Index, 1901-1903; 1916-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2843410); 752,125 indexed records with 5,555 record images (was 752,128 records with 5,555 images), last updated 22-Oct-2024
New Jersey, Reclaim the Records, Geographic Birth Index, 1901-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4461588); 1,903,321 indexed records with 30,989 record images (was 1,903,322 records with 30,989 images), last updated 12-Jun-2025
New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2727138); Index only (3,124,555 records), no images (was 3,124,556 records with 0 images), last updated 19-Jun-2017
North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726957); 7,908,591 indexed records with 1,509,652 record images (was 7,908,592 records with 1,509,652 images), last updated 07-May-2025
United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2860782); 31,807,550 indexed records with 4,918,255 record images (was 31,807,561 records with 4,918,255 images), last updated 13-May-2025

United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,600,627 records), no images (was 875,600,635 records with 0 images), last updated 23-Dec-2025
United States, Social Security Death Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1202535); Index only (93,945,890 records), no images (was 93,945,903 records with 0 images), last updated 17-Mar-2014
United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1861144); 12,074,279 indexed records with 19,317,962 record images (was 12,074,280 records with 19,317,962 images), last updated 06-Feb-2026
Washington Marriage Index, 1969-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2761120); Index only (1,994,523 records), no images (was 1,994,525 records with 0 images), last updated 25-Aug-2017

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

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:

• 3,433 Historical Record Collection entries
• 0 removed entries
• 3  added entries 
• 40 updated entries
• 36 entries with more or fewer images 
• 14 entries with more or fewer records

Marshsll's list shows 3,433 Historical Record Collections this week, an increase of 3 collections. The image above shows 3,433 collections, so the Image number is in sync with Marshall's list number.

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

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 25 April to 1 May 2026

  The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by "Date Updated" during the period from 25 April to 1 May 2026.

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• U.S., Newspapers.com™ Birth Index, 1800s-2003; 151,248,838 indexed records without record images, Updated 5/1/2026. This Newspapers.com™ index contains newspaper birth announcements published in the United States from the early 1800s until the year 2003.
• UK and Ireland, Newspapers.com™ Birth Index, 1800s-current; 5,996,311 indexed records without record images, ADDED 4/30/2026. This collection contains an index of newspaper birth announcements from Newspapers.com™ published in the United Kingdom and Ireland from the early 1800s to the 2020s. 
• Australia and New Zealand, Newspapers.com™ Birth Index, 1800s-Present; 1,960,399 indexed records without record images, ADDED 4/30/2026. This collection contains an index of newspaper birth announcements from Newspapers.com™ published in Australia and New Zealand from the early 1800s to 2003.
• Canada, Newspapers.com™ Birth Index, 1800s-current; 4,366,392 indexed records without record images, ADDED  4/30/2026. This collection contains an index of newspaper birth announcements from Newspapers.com™ published in Canada from the early 1800s to present day. 
• Web: Manitoba, Canada, Birth Index, 1870-1925; 860,034 indexed records without record images, Updated  4/30/2026. All data in this third-party database was obtained from the source’s website. Ancestry.com does not support or make corrections or changes to the original database. 
• Canada, Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's to current; 1,244,715,520 indexed records without record images, Updated  4/29/2026. This index allows you to search for your ancestor by name in Canadian newspapers that are available on Newspapers.com™ from the 1800s to the present.
• Bronx and Queens, New York, U.S., Naturalizations, 1914-1952; 111,928 indexed records with record images, ADDED 4/29/2026. This collection contains naturalization records filed in the Bronx and Queens, New York, from 1914 to 1952. The records include certificates of arrival, declarations of intent, petitions, etc.
• Ireland, 1926 Census of the Irish Free State; 2,972,451 indexed records without record images, ADDED 4/28/2026. This collection contains an index of information taken from the 1926 Census of the Irish Free State. The index includes a link that connects to images of the original census pages on the National Archives of Ireland website. 
• Wiltshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812; 3,708,724 indexed records with record images, Updated  4/28/2026. This collection contains images of Church of England baptism, marriage, and burial records for the years 1538–1812 from the county of Wiltshire, England.
• Ireland, Griffith’s Valuation, 1849-1865; 1,347,783 indexed records with record images, Updated 4/28/2026. This database, an index to one of Ireland's premier genealogical resources, Griffith's Valuation, references approximately one million individuals who occupied property in Ireland between 1849 and 1865.
• Arkansas, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1914-1925; 2,694,473 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This collection contains birth certificates from the state of Arkansas that took place between the years of 1914 and 1925.
• Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1924; 9,576,337 indexed records with record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index of birth details extracted from Virginia birth records for the years 1864-2015 as well as images of birth records for the years 1864–1924.
• Germany, Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current; 4,628,215 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from Germany. The records are dated between the 1600s and the present.
• Norway, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current; 267,319 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from Norway. The records are dated between the 1800s and the present. 
• Web: England, Bedfordshire Gaol Index, 1770-1901; 52,421 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. All data in this third-party database was obtained from the source’s website. Ancestry.com does not support or make corrections or changes to the original database. 
• Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current; 12,695,556 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from Australia and New Zealand. The records are dated between the 1800s and the present. 
• UK and Ireland, Find a Grave® Index, 1300s-Current; 25,234,886 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from the United Kingdom and Ireland. The records are dated between the 1300s and the present.
• Brazil, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current; 318,263 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from Brazil. The records are dated between the 1800s and the present. 
• Mexico, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current; 99,809 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from Mexico. The records are dated between the 1800s and the present. 
• Sweden, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current; 1,172,689 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from Sweden. The records are dated between the 1800s and the present. 
• Italy, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current; 483,172 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from Italy. The records are dated between the 1800s and the present. 
• Canada, Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current; 12,203,272 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from Canada. The records are dated between the 1600s and the present. 
• U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current; 185,975,230 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® from the United States. The records are dated between the 1600s and the present. 
• Global, Find a Grave® Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current; 24,438,445 indexed records without record images, Updated 4/27/2026. This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find a Grave® for burials at sea and other select burial locations. 
• Washington, District of Columbia, U.S., Land Transfer Books, 1900-1962; 2,281,604 indexed records with record images, ADDED 4/27/2026. This collection contains records of land transfers made in the District of Columbia between 1902 and 1964.
• Lancashire, England, Non-Conformist Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1785-1997; 447,404 indexed records with record images, Updated 4/24/2026. This collection includes registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials between 1785 and 1997 from non-conformist churches in Lancashire, England.
• Teesside, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1550-1812;  169,527 indexed records with record images, Updated 4/24/2026. This collection includes Church of England parish registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials between 1550 and 1812 from the historical county of Teesside, 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 6 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above. There are now 33,925 collections available as of 1 May, an INCREASE of 6 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/2026/05/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 Facebook, X, 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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Genealogical Sketch of the John Underhill (1745-1816) and Hannah Colby (1750-1793) Family of Chester and Plainfield, New Hampshire

This is a genealogical sketch of the lives of the John and Hannah (Colby) Underhill family of New Hampahire. They are my 5th great-grandparents, and John was a Revolutionary War soldier.

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John Underhill’s Early Life

John Underhill was born 20 June 1745 in Chester, New Hampshire Colony,[1-3] the third child and second son of John Underhill (1720-1793) and Joanna Healey (1718-1809), who married in Chester in 1741. They had ten children:

• Betty Underhill, born 13 July 1742, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Samuel Buswell, 12 July 1764, Candia, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; died 30 September 1806, Candia, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
• William Underhill, born 15 February 1744, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Abigail Choate, about 1767, Candia, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; died 24 November 1780, Moultonborough, Carroll, New Hampshire.
• Sgt. John Underhill, born 20 June 1745, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Hannah Colby, 1767, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; died 1816, Plainfield, Sullivan, New Hampshire.
• Molly Underhill, born 4 December 1747, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married James Pierce, 1765, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; died 1835.
• Moses Underhill, born 2 February 1749, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married (1) Martha Knight, about 1781, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; married (2) Abigail Elliott, after 1785, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; married (3) Rachel Lufkin, about 1787, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; died 8 February 1838, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
• David Underhill, born 9 September 1751, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Jemima Blake, 20 September 1792, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; died 28 July 1827, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
• Samuel Underhill, born 5 May 1753, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Sarah Underhill, 12 December 1775, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; died 20 September 1828, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
• Jeremiah Underhill, born 6 August 1755, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Anna Heath, September 1775, Hampstead, Rockingham, New Hampshire; died 16 September 1794, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
• Sarah Underhill, born 20 May 1759, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Moses Greenough, 10 December 1789, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; died 7 September 1838, Atkinson, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
• Joanna Underhill, born about 1764, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; married Moses Preston, 30 November 1784, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire.

The Underhill Genealogy written by Josephine C. Frost has this information about John Underhill [3]:

"JOHN UNDERHILL, son of (2) John and Joanna (Healey) Underhill, was born in Chester, N. H., June 20, 1745, and married in 1767, Hannah Colby, daughter of Joseph. They resided near the brick school house on the opposite side of the road a little to the southwest. He removed to Plainfield, N. H., where he died in 1816."

Hannah Colby Early Life

Hannah Colby was born 14 February 1744/5 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony,[4] the fourth child (of five) of Joseph Colby (1707-1768) and Abigail Worthen (1714-????), who married in 1736 in Amesbury. Joseph and Abigail (Worthen) Colby had five children:

• Ephraim Colby born 6 March 1736/7 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony; he died in 1737 at the age of 1 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
• Joseph Colby, born 3 April 1739, Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Molly , before 1776, Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire Colony; died 1839, Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire.
• Abigail Colby was born on 24 September 1742 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
• Hannah Colby, born 14 February 1744/5, Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Sgt. John Underhill, 1767, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; died 12 September 1791, Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
• Ephraim Colby was born on 24 March 1750 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The Joseph Colby family moved from Amesbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony to Chester, New Hampshire Colony by 1760.

Their Married Life

John Underhill and Hannah Colby married in about 1767 in Chester, New Hampshire Colony[3,5] and had six children between 1770 and 1779, all born in Chester, New Hampshire. John and Hannah (Colby) Underhill had the following children:

• Joseph Underhill, born 1770, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Mollie Carr, about 1798, Cabot, Washington, Vermont, five children; died 3 September 1843, Marshfield, Washington, Vermont.

• Amos Underhill, born 15 April 1772, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; married Mary Metcalf, 25 March 1801, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, five children; died 15 October 1865, Aurora, Erie, New York.

• Nancy Underhill was born in 1774 in Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire Colony; no further record.

• John Underhill, born 1776, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; married Mary Esther Mitchell, 1798, Grafton, Grafton, New Hampshire, three children; died 1858, Grafton, Grafton, New Hampshire.

• Susan Underhill was born in 1778 in Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; no further record.

• Jonathan Underhill, born 9 August 1779, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire; married Sophia Slack, 5 March 1805, Plainfield, Sullivan, New Hampshire, four children; died 31 October 1875, Washington, Orange, Vermont.

On 2 March 1774, John and Hannah (Colby) Underhill bought the 60 acre homestead of her father, Joseph Colby, of Chester, New Hampshire for £165 from her brother, Joseph Colby. It was Lot No. 40, located on the Long Meadow road and near the old brick school house. They sold the land in 1801 to Mary Brown for $600.

John Underhill served at least two stints in the Revolutionary War. The History of Old Chester [N.H.] from 1719 to 1869, by Benjamin Chase provides this information about John's service:[5]

* page 375: “Pay-roll of Capt. Stephen Dearborn's company, Thomas Stickney's regiment, in Gen. Stark's brigade, which company marched from Chester, in the State of New Hampshire, and joined the Northern Continental Army, 1777, from July 19 to September 28; John Underhill, Sergt., Company A., advanced to Sergt. Aug. 16.”

The United States Revolutionary War muster and pay rolls for New Hampahire indicate that on 21 July 1777, John Underhill enlisted as a Corporal in Captain Stephen Dearborn's Company of Colonel Thomas Stickney's regiment of General Stark's brigade.[6] The brigade marched from Chester and joined with the North Continental Army in 1777. He was promoted to Sergeant on 16 August 1777 during the battle at Bennington, Vermont, and was discharged on 28 September 1777. He traveled 192 miles, and was paid £ 13 14s 8d for his service.

Everything indicates that this was the John Underhill who was promoted to Sergeant at the Battle of Bennington, 16 August 1777.

In 1780, the town of Chester was requested to raise six men for six months service in the Coos region of New Hampshire.[7] Muster Master John Webster, acting under orders from the state's Committee of Safety in Exeter raised the six men. The document records the enlistment of six men to serve until the end of December 1780 and acknowledges the receipt of travel funds by three of the men (at two dollars per mile) for the 100-mile march from Chester to Haverhill in the 'Cohos' (Coos) region. In the muster roll and travel pay record, John Underhill is listed as of Chester and is one of the three men authorized to distribute the travel funds to the soldiers, including himself.

Their Later Years

Hannah (Colby) Underhill died on 12 September 1791, probably in Chester, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

After the death of Hannah, John Underhill resided in Chester, and for some time in nearby Candia, and then sold the Chester homestead in 1801 to Mary Brown, John Underhill moved to Plainfield, then in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. John, a husbandman of Chester, bought a 57 acre parcel of land in Plainfield from Nathaniel Garland for $700.[8]

Subsequently, John Underhill sold the 57 acres of land in Plainfield to his son Jonathan Underhill on 13 March 1806 for $700.[9] It is likely that John continued living with his son Jonathan in that home.

According to the History of Old Chester, John Underhill died in 1816 in Plainfield, Sullivan County, New Hampshire of hypothermia.[5]

There are no death, burial or probate records for John or Hannah (Colby) Underhill in Rockingham or Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire..

Sources

1. "New Hampshire, Birth Records, 1659-1900," imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), "Thurston - Vochon," John Underhill birth entry, born 20 June 1745.

2. "New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900," database, FamilySearch (https://FamilySearch.org), FHL microfilm, 98 reels; citing New Hampshire Registrar of Vital Statistics, Concord, N.H., "Index to births, early to 1900", John Underhill, born 20 June 1745 entry.

3. Josephine C Frost, Underhill Genealogy, Volume 4 (N.p.: Myron C. Taylor, in the interests of the Underhill Society of America, 1932), page 29, John Underhill sketch.

4. Town of Amesbury, Massachusetts, Vital Records of Amesbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield, Mass. : Topsfield Historical Society, 1913), Births, page 60, Hannah Colby birth entry, 17 February 1744/5.

5. Benjamin Chase, History of Old Chester From 1719 to 1869 (Auburn, N.H. : the author, 1869).

6. "New Hampshire Revolutionary War Records, 1675-1835," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org :) Rolls > Muster rolls and petitions, 1777-1779, image 218 of 751, John Underhill service.

7. "U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls," imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4282/records/1287078 : accessed 29 April 2026); "New Hampshire > Walkers Company, 1777 (Folder 160) - Various Organizations, Nos 1-169 (Folders 175-177)," image 52 of 778, John Underhill entry.

8) "Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States records," Nathaniel Garland to John Underhill, executed 9 June 1801, recorded 29 June 1814; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSRH-F9ZN-4?view=fullText : Apr 30, 2026), Image Group Number: 008297918, "Cheshire Deeds, 1813-1814," image 543 of 866; Cheshire County (New Hampshire). Register of Deeds.

9) "Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States records," John Underhill to Jonathan Underhill, executed 13 March 1806, recorded 29 June 1814; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLR-X9WW-L?view=fullText : Apr 30, 2026), Image Group Number: 008203909; "Cheshire Deeds, 1812-1814," page 529, image 582 of 652; Cheshire County (New Hampshire). Register of Deeds.

Relationship

John and Hannah (Colby) Underhill are my 5th great-grandparents through thyeir son Amos Underhill (1772-1865), who married Mary "Polly" Metcalf (1780-1855) in 1801 in Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire.

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Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:   https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/05/genealogical-sketch-of-john-underhill.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Please note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Ask AI: "Describe the Life of the David Jackson Carringer Family in 1886 in Boulder, Colorado

  I wondered if my AI Assistant Anthropic Claude could provide me with information about an ancestral family's life in 1886 in Boulder, Colorado.  My 2nd great-grandparents, David Jackson "D.J." and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer had two adult children at home in 1886 and D.J. was a fruit grower. I posted an ABC Biography for D.J. Carringer in ABC Biography of #24 David Jackson "D.J." Carringer (1828-1902) of Pennsylvania, Iowa, Colorado and California.

(AI NotebookLM Infographic -- D.J. Carringer Family  in 1886 in Boulder, Colorado)

I asked Claude to create a description of this family in Boulder in 1886, based on the biography and social history.

The Claude Sonnet 4.5 response was:

The Carringer Family in Boulder, Colorado - 1886

The year 1886 found the David Jackson Carringer family well-established in Boulder, Colorado, having survived the tragedies and hardships that had brought them west from Iowa over a decade earlier. At fifty-seven, D.J. had transformed himself from failed Iowa farmer to successful Colorado fruit grower, and the family had rebuilt their life in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.

The Household on Second Avenue and Third Street

The Carringer home sat in North Boulder on Second Avenue and Third Street—a modest but comfortable house that D.J. had likely built or significantly improved with his carpentry skills. The 1885 Colorado State Census listed the household as consisting of D.J. (age 56), Rebecca (age 53), and Harvey Edgar (age 28), though son Henry Austin occasionally stayed with them between his trips to Kansas.

The house reflected Rebecca's careful management and D.J.'s craftsmanship. After years of moving and making do, Rebecca had finally accumulated the household goods she'd longed for—good dishes that weren't broken in moves, curtains she'd sewn, a proper kitchen with shelves for her preserves. The walls likely held simple decorations: perhaps a sampler Rebecca had embroidered, family photographs if they could afford them, and certainly their family Bible. A tintype photograph of their lost daughter Effie would have held a place of honor, twelve years gone but never forgotten.

Family Dynamics

At fifty-seven, D.J. was in his prime working years but beginning to feel his age. Years of carpentry, farming, and tending orchards had left their marks—hands gnarled from hard use, a back that ached on cold mornings. But he was still vigorous, still capable of a full day's work in his orchards, and took pride in his transformation from failed Iowa farmer to respected Boulder fruit grower.

Rebecca, at fifty-three, had also aged from their hard years. The loss of Effie had left permanent lines of sorrow on her face, and the years of frontier living had taken their toll. But she was still the strong, capable woman D.J. had married thirty-five years earlier, managing their household efficiently and helping with the fruit business during harvest season.

Harvey Edgar, at thirty-four and still unmarried, was something of a puzzle to his parents. The 1885 census had listed him as a clerk, suggesting he'd moved from farming into commercial work—probably in one of Boulder's mercantile establishments or a business. Living at home at his age was not unusual for unmarried sons, especially in a family that had suffered loss. Edgar was quiet, dependable, perhaps still marked by the loss of his sister. He contributed to household expenses and helped his father when needed, but seemed to live a somewhat solitary life.

Henry Austin, at thirty-two, represented both hope and anxiety for D.J. and Rebecca. He had proven himself a skilled millwright and carpenter—D.J. took pride in how well he'd taught his son the trade. But Austin was restless, ambitious. He'd filed on homestead land in Cheyenne County, Kansas, in the northwest corner of the state near the Colorado border, and spent increasing amounts of time there developing his claim. The Homestead Act required living on the land and making improvements, and Austin  was serious about proving up his claim.

When Austin was in Boulder, the house felt fuller, more alive. He brought news from Kansas, talked about his plans, debated with his father about farming versus fruit growing. When he was gone—sometimes for weeks or months—Rebecca worried constantly. She'd already lost one child; the thought of losing another to frontier hardships terrified her.

D.J.'s Fruit Growing Business

By 1886, D.J. Carringer had established himself as a successful fruit grower in Boulder County. The orchards he'd planted in the late 1870s and early 1880s were now in full production, and he'd learned through trial and error which varieties thrived at Boulder's altitude and in Colorado's challenging climate.

His orchards likely included several varieties of apples—hardy types bred for mountain growing that could withstand late spring frosts and early fall freezes. He probably also grew pears, cherries, and possibly plums. The fruit trees were arranged in careful rows, pruned expertly, and tended with the patience that came from decades of hard-won agricultural knowledge.

The work followed seasonal rhythms. Spring meant pruning, watching anxiously for late frosts that could destroy blossoms. Summer brought irrigation work—critical in Colorado's semi-arid climate—thinning fruit, and constant vigilance against pests. Late summer and fall meant harvest, with the whole family helping to pick, sort, and prepare fruit for market.

D.J. sold his fruit in Boulder's growing market—the town had grown from a rough mining supply center to a more established community with hotels, restaurants, and a population that appreciated good local produce. He likely also sold to merchants who shipped fruit to Denver or to mining camps in the mountains. His reputation for quality fruit and honest dealing served him well.

Rebecca helped with the business, particularly during harvest. She made preserves, dried fruit, and baked pies to sell alongside the fresh fruit—value-added products that brought in extra income. Her fruit preserves and dried apples had their own reputation in Boulder.

Edgar's Clerical Work

Harvey Edgar Carringer had found his niche in Boulder's commercial sector. The 1885 census listing him as a clerk suggests he worked in one of Boulder's businesses—possibly a mercantile establishment, a bank, a land office, or perhaps for one of the mining companies that had offices in town.

Clerical work suited Edgar's temperament. He was good with figures, careful with details, and possessed the steady reliability that employers valued. The work was indoor, clean, and regular—very different from the farming and carpentry that had defined his father's life. Perhaps this was deliberate—Edgar had seen farming fail in Iowa and had chosen a different path.

His salary likely wasn't large, but it was steady, and he contributed to household expenses. Living at home meant he could save more than if he'd had to pay for separate lodging. He dressed more formally than his father or brother—clerks needed to present themselves professionally.

Austin's Kansas Homestead

Henry Austin Carringer's homestead claim in Cheyenne County, Kansas, represented both opportunity and challenge. The county, organized only in 1873, was still sparsely populated. The land was semi-arid high plains, prone to drought, with harsh winters and hot summers—challenging country for farming but available under the Homestead Act.

The Act required claimants to live on the land for five years, build a dwelling, and make improvements before receiving full title. Austin was meeting these requirements, which meant spending significant time in Kansas while maintaining connections in Boulder. His skills as a millwright and carpenter served him well—he could build his own cabin, construct outbuildings, and earn money doing carpentry work for other settlers.

Life on the Kansas homestead was primitive compared to Boulder. Austin likely lived in a small sod house or rough cabin, cooked simple bachelor meals, endured isolation and harsh weather, and worked from dawn to dusk breaking sod and making improvements. When he came back to Boulder, he probably seemed thinner, weathered, but also energized by the challenge.

D.J. had mixed feelings about Austin's Kansas venture. He admired his son's ambition but worried about farming failures, having experienced them himself. Rebecca simply worried—about Austin's safety, his health, whether he was eating properly, whether he'd find a good woman willing to share such a hard life.

Social Life and Entertainment

By 1886, Boulder had evolved considerably from the rough mining camp of the 1870s. The town had churches, fraternal organizations, social clubs, and cultural events. The Carringers, as established residents, participated in this social life.

Church remained central to the family's social calendar. Sunday services provided not just spiritual sustenance but also community connection. Rebecca likely belonged to a ladies' aid society, where women gathered to sew, prepare meals for community events, and support charitable causes.

D.J. may have belonged to a fraternal organization—the fact that Columbia Lodge #14 sold him a cemetery plot in 1876 suggests lodge connections. These groups met regularly, giving men an outlet beyond work.

Boulder also had cultural entertainment by the 1880s. Traveling theatrical companies performed at local halls. Lectures on various topics drew crowds. Musical concerts provided entertainment. The Carringers, with their modest but stable income, could occasionally afford tickets to such events.

Looking Toward the Future

In 1886, the Carringer family stood at another transitional moment. D.J. and Rebecca were in late middle age, established in Boulder but aware their time was limited. Edgar seemed settled in his clerk's life but showed no signs of marrying. Austin was building toward independence in Kansas, and soon would meet Abbey Ardelle Smith, marry, and start his own family in far away San Diego, California.

D.J. could look at his orchards with satisfaction—he'd finally succeeded at agriculture after the Iowa failure. Rebecca could look at her comfortable home and feel she'd achieved stability. The family Bible on the mantel recorded their story so far, and more entries would come—Austin's marriage in 1887, the birth of two grandchildren, eventually D.J. and Rebecca's own deaths. But in 1886, the story was still being written, and despite all they'd endured, the Carringers had built a life worth living in the shadow of the Colorado Rockies.

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The AI Google NotebookLM Video Overview of this story is in:  

This is historical fiction based on known events in the lives of my ancestors -- it might have been this way. The family mentioned is the family of my 2nd great-grandparents, and I have significant information about their lives from the available records, but I know nothing about their day-to-day lives.

As always, I am amazed at what life was like in any place over 140 years ago. This description of their family life in Massachusetts is interesting and so different from our current daily activities.

After I read these types of social history summaries, I wish that I could be a time traveler for one day to visit this Carringer family in 1886 Colorado and witness their daily lives.  I'm glad that the general lifestyles and occupations are known from historical records and witness accounts.

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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) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/05/ask-ai-describe-life-of-david-jackson.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Findmypast Friday: Browse Burials From Across England and Wales

I received this information from Findmypast today:

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Uncover new stories with over 800,000 new records this week.

This week's new additions help you to chart the final chapter of your ancestors' lives in vivid detail. With new burials and probate records, uncover where they were laid to rest and what they left behind.

Durham Diocese Probate Index, 1663-1869

These 566,645 new additions cover over 200 years.

National Burial Index for England & Wales

We updated our burial records collection this week, with 223,246 new additions spanning back as far as 1538.

Cumberland and Lancashire Burials

But our burial record updates don't end there. In partnership with the Cumbria Family History Society, we've published over 80,000 burial records, which sit within our Cumberland Burials and Lancashire Burials record sets. These additions are from 46 locations across the region, and cover the 17th to the 20th century.

New pages from Portsmouth to Putney

340,466 pages joined our newspaper archive this week, with five new titles and updates to 21 existing publications.

New titles:

• English Chartist Circular, 1841-1843
• English Leader, 1866-1867
• Grimsby Advertiser, 1861-1887
• Putney & Wandsworth Borough News, 1885-1895
• Wearside Catholic News, 1907-1908, 1914-1934

Updated titles:

• Bookseller, 1979, 1989-1990, 1992, 1995
• Coventry Evening Telegraph, 2003-2004
• Crediton Gazette, 1882
• Crewe Chronicle, 2002-2005
• Deeside Piper, 1995-2004
• Dundee Weekly News, 1885, 1893-1950
• Fife Herald, 2001-2005
• Forest Gate Gazette and Upton Chronicle, 1889-1894, 1896-1902
• Govan Press and Weekly Advertiser for Govan & Kinning Park, 1884-1888, 1890
• Mining Journal, 1845-1856
• Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, 1898, 1900-1910, 1912-1913, 1921-1928
• Reynolds’s Newspaper, 1950-1962
• Roscommon Messenger, 1871-1886, 1888-1903
• Shields Daily Gazette, 1919
• Smethwick Telephone, 1934, 1939-1940, 1951-1962
• South Wales Echo, 2001-2002
• Southern Times and Dorset County Herald, 1930-1938
• Southport Visiter, 2002
• Sporting Post, 1924-1928, 1930-1946, 1948-1950
• Talking Machine News, 1908-1928
• Usk Observer, 1867-1874, 1880-1895, 1897-1908

A Family History of the General Strike: Part 1 out now

One miner. One village. One week that changed a nation.

Listen now

A century on from the momentous events of May 1926, Jen Baldwin is joined by special guest Jonathan Kindleysides for the latest series of our podcast.

More on this topic:  english records                              welsh record

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

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

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