I've used FREE Artificial Intelligence tools to create biographies, poems and songs about my ancestors lives and family history in the recent past. Today, I want to share a poem and a song about one of my paternal 2nd great-grandfathers, James Richman (1821-1912) based on infomation from my genealogy research.
James Richman (1821-1912) Family in 1885 (from family photograph colorized by MyHeritage)
1) I requested Microsoft CoPilot, Perplexity, Meta, ChatGPT4 and Claude (all FREE AI tools) to create a poem about one of my paternal 2nd great-grandfathers, James Richman (1821-1912). Here is the Prompt information I used for the poem and the song lyrics:
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James Richman was born 22 April 1821 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, the son of John and Ann (Marshman) Richman. He was baptized on 6 May 1821 in the Hilperton parish church. He had 7 siblings. In the 1841 England census at age 20, he was an agricultural laborer residing with his family in Hilperton. James married Hannah Rich on 7 September 1845 in the Hilperton parish church. He was a bachelor and a labourer. James and Hannah had nine children - Thomas (1848-1917), James (1849-1929), Ann (1851-1853), Louisa A (1852-1940), Elizabeth Ann (1854-1931), Emma (1856-1921), Hannah Rebecca (1858-1907), John Henry (1865-1947), and Charles Edwin (1866-1951). In the 1851 England census, James was age 30 and a coal merchant laborer residing in Hilperton Marsh. He worked on the Avon and Kennett Canal near Hilperton. In about 1854, he was accused of stealing coal, but was found innocent in a trial. He felt his reputation was besmirched. The family decided to try to improve their fortunes in the United States. On 22 October 1855, James Richman arrived on the ship Calhoun out of Liverpool in New York City. His wife and children arrived in 1856 on the ship Osprey out of Glasgow. They settled in Burrillville RI where James was a farm laborer in the 1860 US census. The family started using the surname Richmond before 1860. James Richman moved to Putnam, CT in 1866 to work as manager of the mill engine. In the 1870 US census, the family resided in Putnam CT and he was age 49 and worked in a woolen mill. In the early 1870s, James bought a dairy farm from Nathaniel Battey on Richmond Road in Putnam. In the 1880 US census, the family resided in Putnam CT and he was aged 59 and a farmer. In the 1900 US census, James was enumerated as age 79, a farmer on his home farm, which he owned with a mortgage. In the 1910 US census, James was enumerated as age 89, a naturalized citizen, a farmer on his home farm, which he owned with a mortgage. James died 20 December 1912 of pneumonia and grippe in Putnam at age 91. His wife Hannah died in 1911. They are buried in Grove Street Cemetery in Putnam. James died intestate, and son Thomas was named administrator of the estate. Six children were listed as heirs-at-law. The home farm was 80 acres and was appraised at $3000. He was well known and respected by the Putnam farming community, and was a member of the Methodist church. In an 1890s family photograph, James looks very distinguished in a suit and bow tie, and has a trimmed white beard. In a 1905 photograph, he wears a hat, has glasses, and holds a cane while posing with his family.
2) I chose the poem created by Meta AI today. Here are the stanzas:
JAMES RICHMAN'S JOURNEY
In Hilperton's fields of green and gold,
A young James Richman's story unfold,
Born to labor, born to strive,
A life of hard work, his spirit alive.
He wed Hannah, love's gentle flame,
Together they built a family's name,
Nine children born, a household's delight,
James worked tirelessly, through morning's early light.
Accusations fell, like autumn's rain,
But innocence prevailed, his name regained,
Yet reputation's stain, a wound did bear,
A fresh start beckoned, across the sea to share.
America's shores, a new life's stage,
James arrived, with hope's unyielding page,
The Calhoun's voyage, a journey's might,
Followed by Hannah, and their children's light.
Burrillville's fields, a farm's hard toil,
James labored on, with sweat and soil,
Putnam's mills, a new path did make,
A manager's role, his skills did partake.
A dairy farm, on Richmond Road's bend,
James built a life, where love and labor blend,
The land's rich bounty, his family's pride,
A legacy born, where love did reside.
Years went by, like falling leaves,
James's hair turned white, his heart still believes,
In the land, in his family's might,
A life of toil, a life of triumph's light.
Grove Street Cemetery, a final rest,
James's story told, in eternal nest,
A life of labor, a life of love,
James Richman's legacy, sent from above.
3) Here are the AI created song and lyrics for "James Richman's Journey" (with song lyrics created on Meta AI used as custom lyrics on Suno.com), using a folk ballad style in a medium tempo:
JAMES RICHMAN's JOURNEYVerse 1
In the fields of Hilperton, where the sun rises high
A young James Richman worked, with a heart full of pride
Born to John and Ann, with a spirit bold and bright
He labored from dawn till dusk, with a love that shone like light
Verse 2
He met Hannah Rich, and his heart was won
Together they built a life, with nine children, one by one
They sailed across the ocean, to a new life in the west
With a dream of a better future, and a heart that was blessed
Chorus
Oh, James Richman, a man of the land
With a heart of gold, and a spirit grand
He worked from dawn till dusk, with a love so true
Leaving a legacy, for me and for you
Verse 3
He worked in the mills of Putnam, with a determination strong
Building a new life for his family, where they could belong
He bought a dairy farm, on Richmond Road's gentle slope
Where he worked from dawn till dusk, with a love full of hope
Chorus
Oh, James Richman, a man of the land
With a heart of gold, and a spirit grand
He worked from dawn till dusk, with a love so true
Leaving a legacy, for me and for you
Verse 4
Now his life is a memory, a legacy that remains
A story of love, of hard work, and of a heart that sustains
Hannah by his side, through joys and troubles too
Together they built a life, with a love that shone right through
Bridge
Though his life is over, his legacy lives on
A shining example, of a life well-lived, and a love that's strong
He may be gone, but he'll never be forgotten
His memory will live on, in the hearts of those he's loved
Chorus
Oh, James Richman, a man of the land
With a heart of gold, and a spirit grand
He worked from dawn till dusk, with a love so true
Leaving a legacy, for me and for you
Outro
So let's raise our voices, in a tribute to his name
A man of the land, with a heart that still remains
James Richman, a life well-lived, a legacy that will shine
A love that will endure, forever in our hearts and minds.
The AI tools do this so much better than I could, and weaves the poem and song along a story theme that is true and heartfelt. Each tool provides a different poem and song from the same prompt --I love fishing in all of the AI streams!! Frankly, doing the poems and song are the most genealogy fun I have every week!
4) These stories, told in verse and song, are part of my genealogy and family research. My hope is that they will be passed down to my grandchildren and their descendants to highlight the importance of sharing stories, memories, admiration, and love of our ancestors. I will add them to my Google Drive and to my YouTube channel and my FOREVER account.
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My blog posts with the AI-created poems and songs to date are on this Artificial Intelligence Posts page.
Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver
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