Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 28 February to 6 March 2026

 The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by "Date Updated" during the period from 28 February to 6 March 2026:

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• U.S., Family History Books; 255,789,675 indexed records with record images; Updated 3/5/2026. This collection contains over 64,000 family history books of families living in the United States. Some books may include information about ancestors who were born in other countries.
• Quebec, Canada, Notarial Records, 1637-1935; 16,529,462 indexed records with record images; Updated 3/4/2026. Notarial records are private agreements (contracts), written by official notaries. This collection consists of notarial records for Quebec from the years 1637 to 1935.
• Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968; 41,012,598 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/4/2026. This collection holds over thirty million records pertaining to births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials in Quebec between roughly 1621 and 1968. 
• Jalisco, Mexico, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1995; 15,493,931 indexed records with record images; Updated 3/4/2026. This collection contains catholic parish records created by the state of Jalisco in Mexico.
• England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858; 1,012,964 indexed records with record images; Updated 3/4/2026. Prior to 12 January 1858, wills in England and Wales were proved in ecclesiastical courts. The largest one was the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1384–1858.
• Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900; 1,383,805 indexed records with record images; Updated 3/4/2026. You can’t take it with you. Find out what was left behind and to whom in 200 years of Virginia probate records.
• UK, Wartime Records and Material, 1914-1918, 1939-1945; 30,182 indexed records with record images; Updated 3/3/2026. This collection contains military and wartime images from The Imperial War Museums, from 1914 to 1918 and 1939 to 1945. The majority of the images are photographs.
• Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Female Sole Trader Ledgers, 1875-1906; 4,798 indexed records with record images; ADDED 3/2/2026. This collection contains records from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, dated between 1875 and 1906 related to women seeking the right to conduct business independently or own property separately.
• Arkansas, U.S., County Sheriff Census, 1829; 2,635 indexed records with record images;   ADDED 3/2/2026. This collection contains census returns from counties in Arkansas from 1829. Full returns are available for Arkansas, Chicot, Clark, Conway, Crawford, Crittenden, Independence, Lawrence, and more
• Shropshire, England, Electoral Registers and Poll Books, 1676-1954; 6,852,775 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/2/2026. This collection contains electoral registers and poll books from Shropshire, England, dated between 1676 and 1954. Electoral registers in this collection were produced between 1832 and 1954.

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

By my count, there are 3 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,896 collections available as of 6 March 2026, an INCREASE of 3 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/2026/03/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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Ask AI: "Describe Joseph Champlin's Revolutionary War Military Service"

The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, Gemini, Grok, Meta, Grok, and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.

I wondered if the FREE AI tools could provide me with information about the events in the Revolutionary War experienced by my 4th great-grandfather, Joseph Champlin (1757-1850) of Rhode Island.

  My genealogical sketch for Joseph Champlin is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 79: #94 Joseph Champlin (1757-1850), which included a summary of his military service and his pension file, was attached to the prompt.

(AI NotebookLM Infographic of Joseph Champlin's service)

1)  My Prompt to free Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 was:  "Please describe Joseph Champlin's (1757-1850) Revolutionary War military service in chronological order based on the attached document."

2)  The AI tool responded with:

Joseph Champlin's Military Service During the Revolutionary War

Overview

Joseph Champlin served five separate tours of duty during the American Revolutionary War, spanning from 1775 to 1780. His service included both militia companies and the Continental Army, during critical periods of Rhode Island's involvement in the conflict.

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First Enlistment: 1775

Unit: Captain Samuel Segar's Company (Rhode Island Militia)
Duration: 1 month
Period: 1775 (likely summer/fall, possibly listed as 1774 in pension records)

Historical Context

In April 1775, after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Rhode Island responded immediately. The General Assembly voted to raise an "Army of Observation" of 1,500 men to "repel any insult or violence" and join forces with other colonies if necessary. This was part of Rhode Island's initial mobilization.

Unit Activities

Captain Segar's company would have been part of the initial Rhode Island militia mobilization. During 1775, Rhode Island militia units were:

• Training and organizing along military lines

• Responding to threats from British naval vessels, particularly Captain James Wallace's HMS Rose, which terrorized Narragansett Bay

• Guarding coastal areas and strategic points

• Preparing defenses around Providence and other key locations

• Some units marched to support the siege of Boston

The first year of war saw Rhode Island militia primarily engaged in defensive preparations and responding to British naval raids along the coast.

---

Second Enlistment: 1776

Unit: Captain Samuel Potter's Militia Company (2nd Kings County Regiment)
Duration: 2 months
Period: 1776

Historical Context

1776 was a critical year when the British threat to Rhode Island intensified. In December 1776, the British would occupy Newport, but throughout the year, Rhode Island forces were preparing for this eventuality.

Unit Activities

Captain Samuel Potter commanded the 1st South Kingstown Company in the 2nd Kings County Regiment. During 1776, this unit would have been involved in:

• Coastal defense and guard duties in Washington County (Kings County)

• Responding to British naval raids and threats

• Protecting supplies and strategic locations

• Drilling and training as tensions increased

Rhode Island was particularly vulnerable due to its 400+ miles of coastline, and militia companies like Potter's were essential for local defense.

---

Third Enlistment: 1777

Unit: Captain Samuel Potter's Company
Duration: 5 months
Period: 1777

Historical Context

This was Joseph's longest militia service. By this time, the British had occupied Newport (December 1776) and controlled Aquidneck Island. The state was essentially in a state of siege, with British forces holding the most important port.

Unit Activities

Captain Potter's company had documented activities in 1777:

November 6, 1777 - Capture of HMS Syren: One of the most significant actions involving Potter's company occurred when the British frigate HMS Syren (28 guns) ran aground near Whale Rock on the Narragansett shoreline during rough weather. Potter's company, along with other militia units, brought up three artillery pieces and fired accurate shots at the stranded vessel. The British captain surrendered, and the Americans captured 136 British sailors and marines—a major coup that provided valuable prisoners for exchange.

Throughout 1777, Potter's unit was likely involved in:

• Coastal patrol and surveillance of British positions

• Guard duty at strategic points along the shore

• Responding to British foraging parties and raids

• Protecting livestock and supplies from British seizure

• Supporting Continental Army operations when possible

This was a period of constant vigilance, as the British occupied Newport and made regular raids on the mainland to seize supplies.

---

Fourth Enlistment: 1778

Unit: Captain Timothy Locke's Company, Colonel Charles Dyer's Regiment
Commander: General John Sullivan
Duration: 1 month
Period: August 1778

The Battle of Rhode Island Campaign

This was Joseph's most significant military action. In August 1778, American forces under General John Sullivan, supported by a French fleet under Admiral d'Estaing, launched a major operation to retake Newport from British occupation.

Campaign Timeline

August 9, 1778 - Howland's Ferry Crossing: Joseph's unit was part of approximately 11,000 Continental and militia troops who crossed from Tiverton to Aquidneck Island at Howland's Ferry (also called Howland Ferry Bridge in the pension records). This was the main American landing point for the invasion. The crossing was unopposed, as the British under General Robert Pigot had withdrawn to fortified positions around Newport.

August 9-28, 1778 - Siege Operations: For nearly three weeks, American forces besieged the British garrison in Newport. Sullivan's forces dug in on Honeyman's Hill in Middletown. However, the operation was hampered when:

• A storm on August 10-11 damaged both the French and British fleets

• Admiral d'Estaing sailed to Boston for repairs, taking the French troops with him

• Thousands of militia deserted when the French left

• British reinforcements were reported to be on their way from New York

August 29, 1778 - Battle of Rhode Island (Battle of Quaker Hill): When Sullivan decided to withdraw from the island on August 28, the British garrison sortied from Newport to attack the retreating Americans. The fighting on August 29 was fierce:

• American forces established defensive positions across the northern part of Aquidneck Island

• The defensive line stretched from Turkey Hill on the west to Quaker Hill on the east

• British and Hessian forces launched repeated assaults trying to break through

• The famous 1st Rhode Island Regiment (the "Black Regiment" of African American soldiers under Colonel Christopher Greene) distinguished itself by repulsing three Hessian charges

• The battle lasted throughout the day with heavy casualties on both sides

• American casualties: approximately 30 killed, 173 wounded, 44 missing

• British/Hessian casualties: approximately 38 killed, 210 wounded, 12 missing

Howland's Ferry in the Battle: The ferry crossing point was critical during the retreat. Sullivan had to maintain defensive positions to protect the withdrawal route back across Howland's Ferry to the mainland. The successful defense allowed the American army to withdraw "in perfect order and safety, not leaving behind the smallest article of provision, camp equipage, or military stores."

August 30-31, 1778 - Successful Withdrawal: By midnight on August 30, the last Continental troops were safely removed from Aquidneck Island. The operation was considered a tactical success despite failing to retake Newport, as Sullivan's army preserved itself intact and inflicted heavy casualties on the British.

Joseph's Role

As a private in Captain Timothy Locke's company, Joseph would have:

• Crossed at Howland's Ferry on August 9

• Participated in the siege operations for three weeks

• Been in the defensive line during the Battle of Rhode Island on August 29

• Helped cover the withdrawal back across Howland's Ferry

This was the largest battle of the Revolutionary War fought in New England, and it was the first major Franco-American combined operation of the war.

---

Fifth Enlistment: 1780

Unit: Captain Daniel Dexter's Company, Colonel Christopher Greene's Continental Regiment
Duration: 6 months
Period: 1780

Historical Context

This was Joseph's transition from militia to Continental Army service—his longest and most demanding enlistment. By 1780, the war had been going on for five years, and the Continental Army was struggling with manpower shortages, lack of pay, and supply problems.

Colonel Christopher Greene's Regiment (1st Rhode Island Regiment)

This was one of the most remarkable units in the Continental Army. Originally formed in 1777, it was reorganized in early 1778 to include enslaved and free African Americans who were promised freedom in exchange for service. By 1780, it was an integrated unit with both Black and white soldiers.

Key Facts about the Regiment:

• Colonel Christopher Greene commanded until his death in May 1781

• The regiment had distinguished itself at the Battle of Red Bank (Fort Mercer) in October 1777

• It fought with great distinction at the Battle of Rhode Island in August 1778

• It was considered one of the most disciplined and effective units in the Continental Army

• Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Olney was second-in-command

• Major Samuel Ward (who had commanded at Red Bank when Greene was wounded) was also a key officer

1780 Service Activities

During Joseph's six months of Continental Army service in 1780, the regiment was likely engaged in:

Garrison and Guard Duty: After the British evacuated Newport in October 1779, Rhode Island Continental forces were deployed in defensive positions:

• Manning redoubts and fortifications along the Rhode Island coast

• Guard duty at strategic locations like East Greenwich, Quidnessett Neck, and North Kingstown

• Maintaining disciplined training and readiness

• Protecting against British raids from New York

Life as a Continental Soldier: Unlike militia service, Continental Army soldiers:

• Were subject to strict military discipline and regular drill

• Followed Baron von Steuben's training methods (the regiment trained at Valley Forge in 1777-78)

• Received (when available) standard Continental Army uniforms and equipment

• Were expected to maintain military standards of conduct and appearance

• Lived in military camps under camp regulations

• Performed regular guard duty, fatigue duty, and training exercises

Challenges of 1780: By 1780, the Continental Army faced severe challenges:

• Chronic shortage of pay (some soldiers hadn't been paid in months)

• Limited supplies of food, clothing, and ammunition

• War weariness after five years of fighting

• Desertions were a constant problem

• The main theater of war had shifted to the South

Despite these hardships, Greene's regiment maintained its reputation for discipline and effectiveness. The soldiers knew they were part of an elite unit that had proven itself in battle.

Daily Life: Joseph would have experienced:

• Reveille at dawn

• Morning roll call and inspection

• Drill and training exercises

• Guard mount ceremonies

• Fatigue duties (building/repairing fortifications, cutting wood, etc.)

• Guard duty rotations (typically 24-hour shifts)

• Evening roll call

• Tattoo (lights out signal)

The six months would have tested Joseph's endurance and commitment, but it also meant he was part of the professional Continental Army—the force that would ultimately win American independence.

---

Summary of Joseph's Service

Total Time Served: Approximately 15 months over five separate enlistments (1775-1780)

Types of Service:

• Militia service: 8 months (1775-1778)

• Continental Army service: 6 months (1780)

• State service: 1 month (1778, Battle of Rhode Island)

Combat Experience:

• Captured British frigate HMS Syren (November 1777)

• Battle of Rhode Island/Howland's Ferry (August 1778) - largest battle in New England during the war

• Various skirmishes and coastal defense actions

Units Served:

• Three different Rhode Island militia companies

• One Continental Army regiment (one of the most distinguished in the army)

Notable Aspects:

• Served under both militia and Continental command structures

• Experienced both defensive operations and major offensive campaigns

• Survived shipwreck (date uncertain, possibly during one of these enlistments)

• Witnessed the first major Franco-American military cooperation

• Served in an integrated Continental regiment alongside African American soldiers

• Fought at a critical defensive battle that preserved an American army

Joseph's service record shows a man who answered his country's call repeatedly over five years, serving in both local defense and the Continental line. His experience at the Battle of Rhode Island placed him at one of the most significant engagements of the war, and his Continental service in Greene's regiment connected him to one of the army's most elite and historically important units.

The variety of his service—from one-month militia stints responding to local emergencies to six months of hard Continental service—reflects the typical experience of many Revolutionary War soldiers, who moved between militia and Continental service as needed. His willingness to serve five separate times demonstrates uncommon dedication to the Revolutionary cause.

4)  Here is the Video Overview of this post by Google NotebookLM. 

5)  I have no doubt that the battle descriptions are correct - history books have been written about the battles and the AI tools were pre-trained on the history books.  This particular post is an excellent example of asking the AI tool to summarize the submitted information from a number of sources and put my Revolutionary War soldier in the middle of the historical narrative.

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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/2026/03/ask-ai-describe-joseph-champlins.html

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

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Findmypast Friday: Trace Your Ancestor's Working Life In New Records

   I received this information from Findmypast today:

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Was your gran a 1920s teacher? You could find out with our latest record releases.

This week, delve deeper into your ancestors' world with brand new family history records. Discover if your gran was a 1920s trailblazer with a new directory of teachers, or if your ancestor converted to Christianity with new baptism records. Plus, descend into the mining industry with the newly-added The Mining Journal.

Britain, Directory of Women Teachers, 1927

Did a woman in your family tree teach classics and history, lecture in education or become a Senior Mistress in mathematics? This directory of women teachers for 1927 can reveal more about her teaching career.

London Society for Promoting Christianity, 1885-1889

This small but historically significant collection comes from the historical records of the 'London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews'. It contains baptism records and declaration records, which document the vaccination of children and enrolment in schools established by the society.

Three new newspaper titles and more

Delve into the underground world of the mining industry and cross the water to 19th-century Antigua with this week's newspaper releases.

New titles:

• Antigua Times — 1863–1864, 1870–1876
• Mining Journal — 1857–1894
• The Star — 1893–1918

Updated titles:

• African Times — 1870–1874
• Allen’s Indian Mail — 1848–1849, 1861–1862, 1871, 1883, 1886
• Bicycling News — 1891
• Blackburn Times — 1911, 1916–1918, 1922, 1944, 1950
• Bromyard News — 1883–1888, 1890–1898
• Christian News — 1850–1851, 1853, 1857, 1859–1867, 1869–1870
• Church in the West — 1891
• Dundee Courier — 1860 (completing the 1956–1985 run)
• Evening Herald (Dublin) — 1903–1906
• Grantham Journal — 1972–1975, 1987–1988
• Herapath’s Railway Journal — 1837–1838, 1849–1851
• Jersey Times and British Press — 1870–1873, 1875, 1877, 1879, 1899, 1910
• Orcadian — 1919
• Pawnbrokers’ Gazette — 1839, 1850–1856, 1858–1859, 1895–1899, 1903, 1910–1913
• Redcar and Saltburn News — 1904–1916
• Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette — 1880–1895, 1898–1899
• Southport Guardian — 1910–1911
• Wexford Independent — 1875–1896, 1906
• Wicklow News-Letter and County Advertiser — 1858–1859, 1875–1876, 1879–1884, 1887–1896, 1901, 1922

Join us at RootsTech 2026

Findmypast returns to the world's largest family history event this week - it's the perfect opportunity to enrich your understanding and delve deeper into your roots. Registration is now open; don't miss the chance to attend for free online or in-person in Salt Lake City.

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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.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/03/findmypast-friday-trace-your-ancestors.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, Instagram, Threads 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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Randy (Not) at RootsTech 2026 - Day 1 (Thursday, 5 March) Activities

 The RootsTech 2026 Conference started today live in Salt Lake City, Utah with thousands of persons in attendance, and thousands more watching some of the conference classes online for free.  I chose to be an online viewer rather than an in-person attendee due to my physical restrictions.

Over the past week, I have selected online classes for "My Schedule" and have downloaded syllabus articles and slide decks for many of the online and in-person classes.   You can see the current list of RootsTech 2026 online and in-person speakers and presentation titles in https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/schedule/preview.

My activities today were sandwiched around my visit to the dentist but I was able to watch some of the classes on my class schedule.   Here are the classes that I watched, either partially or completely:

• Beyond the Box: New Search Tools and Strategies by Adrienne Engell of Ancestry.com.

Adrienne discussed NEW Full-Text Search (selected collections on Ancestry); Search forms have Date Ranges; Column sorting of results; Collection Explorer (AI); Historical Time Spans.

• Your AI Toolkit: Essential Tools for Family History Success – Laryn Brown of Storied. The session description is:

"Discover how AI tools can revolutionize your family history research, making it easier to find ancestors, uncover records, and write compelling stories. Learn simple ways to use AI to enhance your research process and make discoveries faster."

Laryn told a family story, and also used Anthropic Claude CoWork to analyze an ancestor photograph.

• The GPS in Practice: Examples of Reasonably Exhaustive Research By Angela Packer McGhie The session description is:

"Learn to determine when research is thorough by evaluating real-world examples. This session demonstrates how to apply the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) to address research challenges, including identifying parents, distinguishing between multiple individuals with the same name, resolving conflicting evidence, and writing biographical sketches."

• FamilySearch Global Tech Forum 2026 by Robby Parker, Michelle Barber, Ian James of FamilySearc. The session description was:

"Join leaders from FamilySearch as they showcase new features and highlights from around the globe."

The session covered: FamilySearch Family Tree, including Guided merges; Full-text search (now with 2.3 billion images, improved search and filtering, correcting transcriptions; Simple Search;   AI Golden search (tree-extending hints);  AI Research Assistant.

• RootsTech 2026 | General Session 1 | Marlee Matlin and Steve Rockwood 

The session included Steve Rockwood on theme “Together” encouraging teamwork featuring his cousin Jennifer coach of BYU Women’s Soccer; Howard Hochhauser – CEO of Ancestry.com (highlight was 250 new collections in 2025); Marlee Matlin presentation and interview (which was pretty good IMHO).

• What’s New at Ancestry® By Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com.  The description says:

"For more than 40 years, Ancestry has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation in service of our community by making significant DNA advancements, adding billions of records, and making family history discoveries easier than ever before. Join Ancestry Corporate Genealogist, Crista Cowan, for the annual look at what new tools and records have been made available over the past year and what to expect in 2026."

The theme for Ancestry is to create stronger family connections, add new features, simplify website workflows.  The discussion included:  Record and document transcriptions (in Person Gallery):  Ideas and census compare; AI stories (Ask Ancestry AI button – more context about image, including audio snip, context suggestions); Hints and Person Page updates (source citation simplification; “Search” button (search other websites); “Ideas” – what to do next?; Add tree tags (pre-determined, custom)); Tree Compare (My tree with another tree); Ancestry Preserve ($$) – a service to help users save documents, records, film, videos, slides, etc. to inventory and digitize. (like Forever or Legacy Box) -- On Ancestry account; Historical Record content (10 million records added daily (65% unique to Ancestry); 2.4 million RevWar pension files full-name index now on Fold3); Education Zoom meetings (at www.Ancestry.com/education; saved to YouTube channel).

• DNA Evidence Analysis with AI By Nicole Elder Dyer of Family Locket. The description says: 

Learn how artificial intelligence tools can streamline your DNA analysis workflow. This session covers practical applications of AI for clustering DNA matches, creating descendancy diagrams, and interpreting genetic data. We'll explore how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can help with the Leeds Method, network graphs, and pedigree triangulation. You'll discover techniques for using AI to generate visual diagrams from family data and convert research reports into charts. We'll also cover privacy considerations when working with DNA match data and AI tools. Whether you're analyzing shared centimorgan amounts or building proof arguments with DNA evidence, learn how to leverage AI while maintaining accuracy and protecting sensitive information.

Niicole discussed Clustering using Leeds Method and Network Graphs (Gephi); Extract DNA match data by screenshots for Leeds Method; Pedigree Triangulation -- use Colored Labels/Dots. Use Pro Tools to sort shared matches by closest to the match; Agentic Browsers; and more.

• AI and Family History: Help or Hype? By Andrew Redfern. The description says:

"Are you intrigued by AI tools but unsure how they fit into your family history research? Wondering whether you can trust AI with your ancestors' stories, or how to avoid introducing errors or bias into your work?This session is for family historians who want to better understand the role of artificial intelligence in genealogy - without the hype. We’ll explore the practical uses of AI for tasks like transcription, story writing, and research planning, alongside examples where it gets things wrong. You’ll learn a straightforward framework to help you decide when to use AI, how to interpret its results, and how to keep human judgement and historical context at the heart of your research.No technical background is needed - just curiosity and a desire to work more critically and confidently with AI. You’ll leave with greater clarity, practical takeaways, and a downloadable decision-making tool to guide your own use of AI in family history."

• Genealogy, Upgraded: AI and Smart Tools on MyHeritage by Daniel Horowitz. The description says:

"Family history research isn’t what it used to be — and that’s a good thing. MyHeritage’s innovative technologies make it easier and faster than ever to uncover your ancestors’ stories, and even enable discoveries that were once impossible. This session offers an in-depth look at the tools that are transforming genealogy: AI-enhanced photo features, Smart Matches™, Record Matches, advanced DNA tools, and access to billions of historical records. Learn how to leverage these powerful resources to break through brick walls, find relatives, and build a richer, more meaningful family tree with less guesswork and more results."

Daniel covered AI-related Records, Photo enhancing, colorizing, Time Machine, LiveMemory, AI Biography, Scribe AI, and the NEW Color Coding for Family Trees.

I also browsed the Expo Hall page (which first appeared this morning) to get a sense of the companies and organizations that were exhibitors.  The most interesting new technology products I saw included:

• LifeWeaver ($$)  The product description is:

• "Your life already exists in your digital footprint. LifeWeaver uses AI to turn decades of text messages, photos, emails, videos, posts, and personal memories into a living, searchable life story. Instead of scattered data, you get daily journals, chapters, and timelines that preserve meaning, relationships, and moments for you and for future generations. LifeWeaver goes far beyond traditional journaling, photo storage, or genealogy tools. It automatically weaves everyday life as it happens, while also allowing you to weave the past from old phones, backups, and archives. You can edit, refine, and add your own voice at any time, keeping you in control of your story. Family history is no longer just names, dates, and records. It is conversations, emotions, milestones, and lived experience. LifeWeaver preserves the full human story, creating a legacy that children and grandchildren can actually explore, search, and understand."

• Archoral ($$).  The product description is:

"Family history shouldn’t feel overwhelming—or scattered across files, apps, and hard drives. Activate during RootsTech to lock in our Founders Annual rate. Archoral gives every person, family, and organization one platform to create a living digital archive built around profiles for people and places. Photos, documents, audio stories, videos, memories, and relationships don’t sit in isolation—they interact naturally and grow over time, reflecting how history is actually lived and remembered. Families are shaped by more than names and dates. Neighborhoods, schools, churches, workplaces, and local events matter too. Community memory influences family memory, and family memory shapes community history. Archoral lets you document both side by side without forcing them into a rigid or flattened structure. For genealogists and family historians, Archoral reduces the friction of managing multiple GEDCOM files by bringing them together into a unified, profile-based archive. For caregivers, educators, and preservation-focused organizations, it supports collaboration, inclusive family structures, evolving stories, and clear ownership. Whether you’re preserving one family’s legacy or documenting a shared community history, Archoral helps you organize media, capture stories, and create meaningful archives that endure. RootsTech Show Special: Attendees who activate during the conference receive exclusive Founders Annual benefits available only at RootsTech. Explore a live archive, see how Archoral makes preservation easier and more human, and connect with us at connectwithus@archoral.com. Together, small archives add up to something powerful—a richer, more complete picture of our shared past, preserved for the future."

Lastly, I checked the Relatives at RootsTech page and saw that I have 47,804 relatives listed at RootsTech 2026 (down from over 74,000 in 2025).

My closest Relative at RootsTech is a first cousin 1x removed whom I know in my Seaver line, and the next closest cousin is George, a 3rd cousin 1x removed in my Kemp line.  I am randyseaver1 if you want to see how I am related to you.  

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Disclosure:  I am a RootsTech 2026 "Influencer" but will receive no remuneration for my support or posting of RootsTech information.  I will be an online participant this year because of my health issues.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/03/randy-not-at-rootstech-2026-day-1.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.    I moderate all comments and they may not appear immediately - please write only one comment.

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

Trying Out the MyHeritage Scribe AI Tool To Transcribe, Translate, Interpret and Describe An Italian Birth Record

 MyHeritage introduced Scribe AI today in Introducing Scribe AI: Transcribe, Interpret, and Receive Fascinating Insights About Your Family’s Historical Documents and Photos, and MyHeritage Records and I was impressed.

So I tried it.  I didn't think too long about it - I wanted a handwritten record in a foriegn language to demonstrate all of the features.  Ah, how about the birth record of the 2nd great-grandfather of two of my grandsons, Leone Morandi in 1894 in Bagni di Lucca, Lucca, Italy?  Here is the image I have:

Leone Morandi's birth record is the second of three records on this image starting on the bottom of the left-hand page and finishing at the top of the right-hand page.  

I input it into Scribe AI, and it took a minute or two but look at whsat it produced (after I expanded all of the categories:

MyHeritage Scribe AI Results – Leone Morandi 1894 Birth Record

Historical context:

The document you uploaded is a page from the Italian Civil Registration (Stato Civile) birth registers (Atti di Nascita) from the municipality of Bagni di Lucca, Tuscany, dated October 1894.

These records were created by the local civil registrar to officially document the births of citizens, which was a strict legal requirement in post-unification Italy. You will notice a specific historical clause in these records: the fathers were exempted from physically presenting the infants at the town hall due to 'lontananza' (distance). This reveals the rural and mountainous geography of Bagni di Lucca, where traveling from outlying villages like Limano or Casabasciana with a newborn was impractical.

Additionally, you can see handwritten marginal notes next to the records. These are highly significant for your research, as Italian registrars later annotated birth records with marriage dates and spouses' names, providing you with a direct link to the individuals' adult lives.

Details Mentioned:

Based on the document you provided, here are the detailed profiles of the individuals mentioned:

Record 311 (Primary Subject):

• Leone Giovanni Morandi

  • Role in Document: Principal Subject (Newborn)

  • Birth: October 8, 1894, at 15:00 (3:00 PM) in Limano (sulla rocca), Bagni di Lucca, Italy.

  • Marriage: A marginal note indicates he married Maria Rosa Angeli on September 15, 1926, in Bagni di Lucca.

• Lorenzo Morandi

  • Role in Document: Declarant / Father

  • Biographical Details: Age 48, carpenter (falegname), residing in Limano.

• Domenica Angeli

  • Role in Document: Mother

  • Biographical Details: Housewife, residing with her husband. She is listed as the daughter of the late Giovanni.

Record 310:

• Pellegrina Argentina Filomena Trullani

  • Role in Document: Principal Subject (Newborn)

  • Birth: October 2, 1894, at 15:05 (3:05 PM) in Casoli (in Cornia), Bagni di Lucca.

  • Marriage: Married Francesco Petrucci on January 23, 1921, in Bagni di Lucca.

• Luigi Trullani (Father, age 43, farmer) and Maria Bernardi (Mother, housewife).

Record 312:

• Assunta Gaspera Maria Marigliani

  • Role in Document: Principal Subject (Newborn)

  • Birth: October 8, 1894, at 19:30 (7:30 PM) in Casabasciana, Bagni di Lucca.

• Fortunato Marigliani (Father, age 31, farmer) and Amelia Pacini (Mother, housewife).

Associated Officials and Witnesses:

• Pietro Corrado Ambrogi: Civil Status Official (Secretary delegated by the Mayor).

• Lino Morandi: Witness for Record 311 (Age 27, landowner).

• Michele Barsotti: Witness for Record 311 (Age 60, landowner).

• Achille Benedetti & Antonio Michelini: Witnesses for Record 310.

• Annibale Ciannelli & Torquato Borgantini: Witnesses for Record 312.

Key Findings:

Your document contains three civil birth records from Bagni di Lucca, Italy, recorded in October 1894.

• The primary record (Number 311) documents the birth of Leone Giovanni Morandi on October 8, 1894, to Lorenzo Morandi and Domenica Angeli in the village of Limano.

• A crucial marginal note on Leone's record reveals that he married Maria Rosa Angeli on September 15, 1926.

• You can also find the birth records for Pellegrina Trullani and Assunta Marigliani on the same page, complete with their parents' details and marginal marriage annotations.

Suggested Next Steps:

You should search for the marriage record of Leone Morandi and Maria Rosa Angeli dated September 15, 1926, in Bagni di Lucca. The marginal note specifically references register number 169, which will help you locate the exact document.

• You should look for the birth records of Lorenzo Morandi (born around 1846) and Domenica Angeli to identify Leone's grandparents and extend your family tree.

• You should explore the Antenati portal (Il Portale Antenati), the free Italian State Archives website, to find digitized civil registration records for Bagni di Lucca.

• You should check MyHeritage for existing family trees or indexed Italian vital records that might connect to the Morandi or Angeli families in the Lucca province.

Full Text Transcription:

Numero 310. Trecentodieci Trullani Pellegrina [Margin note: 23. 1. 21 ha celebrato matrimonio con Petrucci Francesco nel Comune di B. Lucca come da atto inserito sul relativo registro al N 70 dell'anno [blank] Lucca, Il Cancelliere [Signature]] L'anno milleottocentonovantaquattro, addì quattro di Ottobre a ore dieci meridiane e minuti cinquanta, nella Casa Comunale. Avanti di me Pietro Corrado Ambrogi Segretario delegato dal Sindaco con atto primo marzo mille 887. Uffiziale dello Stato Civile del Comune di Bagni di Lucca è comparso Trullani Luigi, di anni quarantatre, colono, domiciliato in Cutigliano, il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore meridiane tre e minuti cinque, del dì due del corrente mese, nella casa posta in Casoli (in Cornia) al numero [blank], da Bernardi Maria, attendente a casa, di lui moglie, seco lui convivente, è nato un bambino di sesso femminile che non mi presenta, e a cui dà i nomi di Pellegrina Argentina Filomena. A quanto sopra e a quest'atto sono stati presenti quali testimoni Benedetti Achille, di anni ventinove, possidente, e Michelini Antonio, di anni trentuno, calzolaio, entrambi residenti in questo comune. A causa della lontananza il comparente è stato da me dispensato dal presentarmi la bambina suddetta, dopo essermi altrimenti reso certo della verità di questa nascita. Letto il presente atto agl'intervenuti, lo hanno essi con me sottoscritto. Trullani Luigi Benedetti Achille Antonio Michelini L'Uffiziale: P. Ambrogi

Numero 311. Trecentoundici Morandi Leone [Margin note: 15-9-926 ha celebrato matrimonio con Angeli Maria Rosa nel Comune di B. Lucca come da atto inserito sul relativo registro al N 169 dell'anno [blank] Lucca, Il Cancelliere [Signature]] L'anno milleottocentonovantaquattro, addì nove di Ottobre a ore nove meridiane e minuti trenta, nella Casa Comunale. Avanti di me Pietro Corrado Ambrogi Segretario delegato dal Sindaco con atto primo marzo mille 887. Uffiziale dello Stato Civile del Comune di Bagni di Lucca è comparso Morandi Lorenzo, di anni quarantotto, falegname, domiciliato in Limano, il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore meridiane quindici e minuti nessuno, del dì otto del corrente mese, nella casa posta in Limano (sulla rocca) al numero [blank], da Angeli Domenica fu Giovanni, attendente a casa, di lui moglie, seco lui convivente, è nato un bambino di sesso maschile che non mi presenta, e a cui dà i nomi di Leone Giovanni. A quanto sopra e a quest'atto sono stati presenti quali testimoni Morandi Lino, di anni ventisette, possidente, e Barsotti Michele, di anni sessanta, possidente, entrambi residenti in questo Comune. A causa della lontananza il comparente è stato da me dispensato dal presentarmi il bambino suddetto, dopo essermi altrimenti reso certo della verità di questa nascita. Letto il presente atto agl'intervenuti, lo hanno con me sottoscritto. Morandi Lorenzo Lino Morandi Michele Barsotti L'Uffiziale: P. Ambrogi

Numero 312. Trecentododici Marigliani Assunta L'anno milleottocentonovantaquattro, addì nove di Ottobre a ore undici meridiane e minuti quindici, nella Casa Comunale. Avanti di me Pietro Corrado Ambrogi Segretario delegato dal Sindaco con atto primo marzo mille 887. Uffiziale dello Stato Civile del Comune di Bagni di Lucca è comparso Marigliani Fortunato, di anni trentuno, agricoltore, domiciliato in Casabasciana, il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore meridiane diciannove e minuti trenta, del dì otto del corrente mese, nella casa posta in detto luogo (sussamanca) al numero [blank], da Pacini Amelia, donna di casa, di lui moglie, seco lui convivente, è nato un bambino di sesso femminile che non mi presenta, e a cui dà i nomi di Assunta Gaspera Maria. A quanto sopra e a quest'atto sono stati presenti quali testimoni Ciannelli Annibale, di anni trentasei, impiegato, e Borgantini Torquato, di anni quarantatre, impiegato, entrambi residenti in questo comune. Il dichiarante per ragione della lontananza, è stato da me dispensato dal presentarmi il bambino suddetto, dopo essermi in altro modo reso certo della verità di questa nascita. Previa lettura, tutti meno il dichiarante illetterato, lo hanno con me firmato. Ciannelli Annibale Torquato Borgantini L'Uffiziale di Stato Civile: P. Ambrogi

Translation:

Number 310. Three hundred ten. Trullani Pellegrina. [Margin note: On January 23, 1921, she celebrated marriage with Petrucci Francesco in the Municipality of Bagni di Lucca as per the act inserted in the relative register at No. 70 of the year [blank] Lucca, The Chancellor [Signature]] The year one thousand eight hundred ninety-four, on the fourth day of October at ten hours and fifty minutes a.m., in the Town Hall. Before me Pietro Corrado Ambrogi, Secretary delegated by the Mayor with act of March first, 1887. Civil Status Official of the Municipality of Bagni di Lucca appeared Trullani Luigi, aged forty-three, farmer, residing in Cutigliano, who declared to me that at three hours and five minutes p.m., on the second day of the current month, in the house located in Casoli (in Cornia) at number [blank], from Bernardi Maria, housewife, his wife, living with him, was born a child of female sex whom he does not present to me, and to whom he gives the names of Pellegrina Argentina Filomena. To the above and to this act were present as witnesses Benedetti Achille, aged twenty-nine, landowner, and Michelini Antonio, aged thirty-one, shoemaker, both residing in this municipality. Due to the distance, the declarant was exempted by me from presenting the aforementioned child, after I had otherwise made myself certain of the truth of this birth. The present act having been read to the participants, they have signed it with me. Trullani Luigi Benedetti Achille Antonio Michelini The Official: P. Ambrogi

Number 311. Three hundred eleven. Morandi Leone. [Margin note: On September 15, 1926, he celebrated marriage with Angeli Maria Rosa in the Municipality of Bagni di Lucca as per the act inserted in the relative register at No. 169 of the year [blank] Lucca, The Chancellor [Signature]] The year one thousand eight hundred ninety-four, on the ninth day of October at nine hours and thirty minutes a.m., in the Town Hall. Before me Pietro Corrado Ambrogi, Secretary delegated by the Mayor with act of March first, 1887. Civil Status Official of the Municipality of Bagni di Lucca appeared Morandi Lorenzo, aged forty-eight, carpenter, residing in Limano, who declared to me that at fifteen hours [3:00 p.m.] and zero minutes, on the eighth day of the current month, in the house located in Limano (on the fortress) at number [blank], from Angeli Domenica, daughter of the late Giovanni, housewife, his wife, living with him, was born a child of male sex whom he does not present to me, and to whom he gives the names of Leone Giovanni. To the above and to this act were present as witnesses Morandi Lino, aged twenty-seven, landowner, and Barsotti Michele, aged sixty, landowner, both residing in this Municipality. Due to the distance, the declarant was exempted by me from presenting the aforementioned child, after I had otherwise made myself certain of the truth of this birth. The present act having been read to the participants, they have signed it with me. Morandi Lorenzo Lino Morandi Michele Barsotti The Official: P. Ambrogi

Number 312. Three hundred twelve. Marigliani Assunta. The year one thousand eight hundred ninety-four, on the ninth day of October at eleven hours and fifteen minutes a.m., in the Town Hall. Before me Pietro Corrado Ambrogi, Secretary delegated by the Mayor with act of March first, 1887. Civil Status Official of the Municipality of Bagni di Lucca appeared Marigliani Fortunato, aged thirty-one, farmer, residing in Casabasciana, who declared to me that at nineteen hours and thirty minutes [7:30 p.m.], on the eighth day of the current month, in the house located in said place (sussamanca) at number [blank], from Pacini Amelia, housewife, his wife, living with him, was born a child of female sex whom he does not present to me, and to whom he gives the names of Assunta Gaspera Maria. To the above and to this act were present as witnesses Ciannelli Annibale, aged thirty-six, clerk, and Borgantini Torquato, aged forty-three, clerk, both residing in this municipality. The declarant, by reason of the distance, was exempted by me from presenting the aforementioned child, after I had otherwise made myself certain of the truth of this birth. Following a reading, everyone except the illiterate declarant signed it with me. Ciannelli Annibale Torquato Borgantini The Civil Status Official: P. Ambrogi

Here is an image of the screen with the English translation of the image:

I have no ability to transcribe the record - it would take me hours to do that, and I  probabvly would misspell 5% of the letters.  I have no ability to translate the record and have not had the chance to translate the transcription using a tool like Google Translate.  The names, dates and place names in the translation match what I have in my family tree program based on what a translator on the Facebook Italian Research group told me about Leone Morandi's birth record.

This took no more than two minutes for MyHeritage's Scribe AI to perform this task.  Amazing!  This will, I think, greatly improve the transcription, translation and analysis of many foreign language records, documents and photographs.  

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Disclosure: I receive a complimentary subscription to MyHeritage, and have received other material consideration in past years. I uploaded my autosomal DNA raw data to their DNA product. This does not affect my objective analysis of MyHeritage products. I am a paid subscriber to Family Tree Webinars and love it.

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