Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Share Something You Learned From a Probate File or Will That You Wouldn't Have Otherwise Known About

 Calling All Genea-Musings Fans:

 

It's Saturday Night Again - 

Time For Some More Genealogy Fun!!

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)   Today's challenge is to "Share something you learned from a probate file or will that you wouldn't have otherwise known about."

2)  Tell us about your probate or will discovery on your own blog post, in a comment here, or on your Facebook page.  Be sure to leave a link to your report in a comment on this post.

 [thank you to Linda Stufflebean for suggesting this topic!] 

Here's mine:

This was a challenge because I have over 300 will and probate transcriptions on my Amanuensis Monday page.

One that comes to mind is the probate record for my 7th great-grandfather Josiah Wood (1687-1753) of Woburn, Masschusetts Bay Colony.  My summary of this record is:

In 1736, when Josiah Wood of Woburn was age 49, his wife and eldest son petitioned (image 1 above) the Middlesex County Probate Court to have Josiah Wood declared "non compos mentis," meaning not sane, or not in their right mind.  At the time, Josiah and Ruth had eight living children, all but one of them (John) were minors.  

After receiving the petition, the Judge of Probate wrote to the selectmen of the town of Woburn asking their judgement (in image 2 above), and they responded saying they agreed that Josiah Wood was incapable of caring for his family or his affairs.  The Judge then declared Josiah's wife, Ruth, and their eldest son, John Wood, to be Guardians for Josiah wood Junior (his father Josiah Wood was still alive then).  The Judge requested that the guardians prepare an inventory of the real and personal estate of Josiah Wood.  

Bonds by the guardians were recorded here.  The two bond documents are nearly identical - they are bonds that commit Ruth Wood and John Wood, as Guardians, to well and truly do their duty as guardians, and, with two friends, post bond of 1,000 pounds each.

In this post, the guardians of Josiah Wood Junior took an inventory of the estate and made a list of the debts owed by Josiah Wood in 1736.  The estate totaled over 1,430 pounds, of which five items were real estate valued at 1,250 pounds, and the personal estate was over 180 pounds.  The debts were about 220 pounds.  Rather than sell all of the personal property, the probate court suggested selling one of the real property parcels in order to pay the debts and leave the household of this relatively young family intact.

In this post, the guardians of Josiah Wood Junior wrote down their account of the estate in 741 and the court approved it.  

Then in 1743 the neighbors of the Josiah Wood family agreed that John Wood, acting as guardian of Josiah Wood, was abusing his position and petitioned to have him removed.  The heirs of Josiah Wood agreed, and John Wood was removed from his office.  

The source citation for this probate packet is:  

"Middlesex County, MA: Probate Papers, 1648-1871," digital images, American Ancestors (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org :, Packet #25,489, Josiah Wood, 1736 non compos mentis estate papers (14 sheets).

But Josiah Wood (1687-1753) was still alive when all of this occurred.  What was the disposition of his estate?  I checked the probate file on American Ancestors and the 1743 entry is the last dated paper in the file.  Ruth Walker did not have a probate file either.  Perhaps they distributed the land by deed?

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/11/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-share.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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: "Please Help Me Find All Useful Genealogy Resources Relevant To Albany and Saratoga Counties, New York Between the Years 1760 and 1800"

The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Meta, CoPilot and Claude) 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 genealogical resources for a specific locality in a specific time frame.  I chose Ballston, which was in Albany County, New York, until Saratoga County was formed in 1791.  So records and information I want about my ancestor, 5th great-grandfather  George Wakeman (1740-1815), who lived in or near Ballston in the 1770s into the 1790s may be in both counties.

Ballston is blue-dotted at the top of the present-day map image (from Randy Majors Map site), and is about 30 miles north of downtown Albany, New York and about 13 miles northeast of Schenectady. 

1)  My first Prompt was:  "You are an experienced genealogist and historian.  Please help me find all useful genealogy resources relevant to Albany and Saratoga Counties, New York between the years 1760 and 1800."

ChatGPT4 provided this response:

Here are some key resources and strategies for researching genealogy in Albany and Saratoga counties, New York, between 1760 and 1800:

1. Church and Religious Records

• Dutch Reformed Churches: Albany and surrounding areas had a significant Dutch population. The records from Dutch Reformed Churches often contain baptism, marriage, and burial records. The Reformed Dutch Church of Albany is one of the oldest, with records going back to the early 18th century.
• Other Denominations: Albany also had Anglican/Episcopal, Lutheran, and later Methodist churches. Each denomination may have kept records. Check repositories like the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) and Albany Institute of History and Art for specific church archives.

2. Land Records

• New York Land Office Records: Land grants, patents, and other transactions from this period are valuable for identifying early settlers. The New York State Archives has collections, including colonial patents and deeds that span 1643-1846.
• Manorial Records: Much of Albany County land was part of the Rensselaerswyck manor, owned by the Van Rensselaer family. Rensselaerswyck Manor Papers (available at the New York State Library) may contain lease records, tenant lists, and petitions.
• Maps and Surveys: Historical maps from the New York Public Library Digital Collections and the Library of Congress can provide context on land ownership and settlements.

3. Tax Records

• Tax records can help identify heads of households in the pre-census period. Albany County, covering a large area in this period, has early tax records that may list residents. The New York State Archives holds these tax assessment rolls, often arranged by region and year.

4. Military Records

• Colonial and Revolutionary War Records: Many Albany and Saratoga residents were involved in the Revolutionary War. The New York State Archives and National Archives hold muster rolls, pension applications, and bounty land warrants. Saratoga was a notable battleground, so records specific to regiments from this area may provide insights.
• DAR and SAR Records: The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution have extensive lineage applications that might help connect families from this area.

5. Census and Census Substitutes

• 1790 U.S. Federal Census: Albany County was divided after the Revolutionary War, but early census data can still identify family heads. This data is accessible through platforms like Ancestry and FamilySearch.
• New York State Census: Although state censuses started later, tax lists, militia rolls, and other records serve as census substitutes.

6. Court Records

• Albany County Court Records: Court proceedings, including probate and civil cases, often mention family relationships. Check the Albany County Clerk's Office and New York State Archives for colonial court records from the 18th century.

7. Probate and Wills

• Albany Surrogate’s Court: Wills, estates, and guardianship records from this period can provide family connections. The court records from 1787 onward are at the Albany County Surrogate's Court, while earlier probate records may be at the New York State Archives or FamilySearch.

8. Newspapers and Periodicals

• Albany Gazette and Albany Register: These early newspapers sometimes published obituaries, estate sales, and legal notices. The New York State Library and Chronicling America have digital archives for many New York newspapers.

9. Historical Societies and Libraries

• Albany Institute of History & Art and Saratoga County Historical Society: Both maintain collections of family papers, maps, and manuscripts from the colonial period. They often have vertical files on early Albany and Saratoga families.
• New York State Library and Archives: Located in Albany, this institution has a vast collection of manuscripts, genealogy publications, and colonial records.

10. Local and Regional Histories

• Books like “The History of Saratoga County” by Nathaniel Sylvester (1878) and “History of the County of Albany” by Joel Munsell often contain lists of early settlers, notable events, and family names. These can be found through HathiTrust, Google Books, or local libraries.

11. Online Genealogy Databases

• FamilySearch Catalog: Search specifically for “Albany County” or “Saratoga County” records, filtering by the relevant time period. FamilySearch has many probate, church, and land records digitized or available on microfilm.
• New York Genealogical and Biographical Society and American Ancestors (by the New England Historic Genealogical Society) both offer online databases with unique collections for early New York families.

Let me know if you'd like more details on any of these resources or help with locating a specific type of record!

2)  My additional prompt:  "Are there records for the town of Ballston or Ballstown in the 1760-1800 period?"

The ChatGPT4 response was:

Yes, there are records for Ballston (historically known as "Ballstown") for the period between 1760 and 1800. Here are several key resources to explore for early records from this area:

1. Land and Property Records

• Ballston Patent Records: Ballston was part of the Kayaderosseras Patent, one of the largest land grants in colonial New York, issued in 1708. This patent covered a wide area, including parts of what later became Saratoga County. The New York State Archives holds records on land grants, surveys, and transactions involving this patent.
• Saratoga County Land Records: Though Saratoga County wasn’t formed until 1791 (from Albany County), land records created afterward often refer to transactions that took place in the late 18th century. The Saratoga County Clerk’s Office has these records.

2. Tax Records and Assessments

• Albany County Tax Records (pre-1791): Before 1791, Ballston was part of Albany County. Early tax lists, dating back to the 1770s and 1780s, include heads of households and properties in Ballston. These records can be found in the New York State Archives and Albany County Archives.
• Saratoga County Tax Lists (post-1791): After Saratoga County was formed, tax lists for Ballston began to be kept separately, documenting residents and landholders.

3. Military Records and Revolutionary War Rolls

• Many Ballston residents were involved in the Revolutionary War. Look for muster rolls, pension files, and service records for local militias. The New York State Archives and National Archives both hold Revolutionary War records.
• The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library also has applications and lineages that include information on Ballston-area soldiers.

4. Church Records

• Presbyterian Church of Ballston: Organized in the 1780s, this was one of the earliest churches in the area. The church maintained baptism, marriage, and membership records that might include early Ballston settlers. Some of these records may be available at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) or local repositories.
• Dutch Reformed Church of Schenectady: Many early Ballston residents were originally members of nearby churches in Schenectady before churches were formally established in Ballston. Records from the Schenectady Dutch Reformed Church may provide clues to family connections.

5. Court Records

• Before Saratoga County’s creation, legal cases involving Ballston residents were handled in Albany County courts. The Albany County Clerk’s Office holds colonial-era court records that may mention individuals from Ballston.
• Saratoga County Court Records: Post-1791 records for probate, civil cases, and other court documents are held by the Saratoga County Surrogate's Court.

6. Census Records and Census Substitutes

• Federal Census of 1790: The 1790 census covers Ballston, as it was part of Albany County. This census is available through FamilySearch, Ancestry, and HeritageQuest.
• New York Tax Lists and Militia Rolls: These can serve as substitutes for the census for the earlier part of the period. They can be found at the New York State Archives and in historical publications.

7. Probate and Wills

• Wills and probate records before 1791 are likely to be found in Albany County’s records. After Saratoga County’s establishment, probate records would be filed in Saratoga County Surrogate’s Court. These records may include wills, estate inventories, and guardianships.

8. Local Histories and Genealogical Publications

• “History of Saratoga County, New York” by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester (1878): This book provides insights into early Ballston settlers, land grants, and local families.
• Genealogical Periodicals: Publications like The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record often publish transcriptions and abstracts from early records. The NYG&B Society has an extensive collection available to its members.

9. Maps and Surveys

• Early maps of the Kayaderosseras Patent and the Ballston area can provide insights into land ownership and settlement patterns. The New York Public Library Digital Collections and the Library of Congress have historical maps that may show the original divisions of land within Ballston.

If you need assistance with accessing specific records or require more information on any of these resources, please let me know!

3)  I asked the same questions on Perplexity, and received similar answers.  I recommend doing several AI tools because they may have been trained on different reference materials.

Perplexity also provides links and summary information from the Internet.  In this case, their answers were informed by:

• https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Saratoga_County,_New_York_Genealogy
• https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyalbany/a-f.htm
• https://www.schenectadyhistory.org/families/firstsettlers/for_ha.html
• https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Albany_County,_New_York_Genealogy
• https://www.cdgsny.org/statewide
• https://albany.nygenweb.net/gene-c.htm
• https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyalbany/pearson/A-B.html
• https://exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/sources.html
• https://www.saratoganygenweb.com/Sylvester/chap31.html
• https://allthingsliberty.com/2016/07/war-on-the-middleline-the-october-1780-british-raid-on-ballston/
• https://www.ongenealogy.com/listings/new-york-genealogy-records/
• https://theancestorhunt.com/blog/free-new-york-online-church-records/

While all of those may not directly apply to Ballston and the time frame of interest, they are very useful resources for anyone researching in this locality.

4)  Is this information complete and accurate?  We always have to confirm information that has been summarized, analyzed and presented by the AI Tools, and they may not be complete or accurate.  This information looks pretty good to me, and appears to be derived from resources that experienced genealogists know to use for a locality search.

I likethat it refers readers to off-line resources (local, county, state archives and libraries) and online resources (especially the FamilySearch Research Wiki and Books, USGenWeb pages, Wikipedia, Internet Archive and Google for Locality Books, etc.). 

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See all of my Artificial Intelligence-related posts at https://www.geneamusings.com/p/artificial-intelligence-posts.html.

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/11/ask-ai-please-help-me-find-all-useful.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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Added and Updated FamilySearch Historical Record Collections - Week of 9 to 15 November 2024

  Each week, genealogy record collections are added and updated to FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list.

As of 15 November 2024, there are 3,388 historical record collections on FamilySearch (a decrease of 2 from last week):

The deleted, new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch are:

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, General Censuses, 1806-1827 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000089); 104,221 indexed records with 2,808 record images (was 96,964 records with 2,621 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Argentina, Jujuy, Civil Registration, 1888-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489444); 15,188 indexed records with 26,689 record images (was 14,609 records with 25,399 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Aruba, Civil Registration, 1823-2004 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4285043); 27,513 indexed records with 12,809 record images (was 27,486 records with 12,724 images), UPDATED 11-Nov-2024
Australia Deaths and Burials, 1816-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770857); Index only (108,251 records), no images (was 108,236 records with 0 images), UPDATED 10-Nov-2024
Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 832,150 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 828,308 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024

Bolivia Catholic Church Records, 1566-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,525,155 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,521,054 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1799-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 1,131,770 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 1,113,098 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 597,022 indexed records with 173,307 record images (was 591,315 records with 171,825 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1860-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,817,459 indexed records with 920,565 record images (was 1,814,050 records with 919,024 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Brazil, Sergipe, Catholic Church Records, 1785-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177298); 1,496,422 indexed records with 273,847 record images (was 1,495,782 records with 273,847 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024

California, Walnut Creek, Oak Hills Park Chapel, Funeral Records, 1962-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000260); 45,877 indexed records with 44,460 record images (was 45,870 records with 44,453 images), UPDATED 08-Nov-2024
Chile, Catholic Church Records, 1633-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3405096); 8,834,471 indexed records with 1,129,318 record images (was 8,834,356 records with 1,129,300 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 27,494,094 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 27,476,086 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Colombia, Civil Registration, 1553-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469480); 754,581 indexed records with 880,407 record images (was 752,062 records with 878,264 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040054); 4,788,144 indexed records with 1,421,761 record images (was 4,788,027 records with 1,421,761 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024

Cuba, Church Records, 1584-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4375851); 227,145 indexed records with 43,928 record images (was 218,878 records with 43,521 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
El Salvador Catholic Church Records, 1655-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1919582); 2,606,565 indexed records with 592,191 record images (was 2,587,916 records with 592,191 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
French Polynesia, Civil Registration, 1780-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2549721); 152,984 indexed records with 475,278 record images (was 152,953 records with 500,525 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal, Civil Registration, 1810-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000010); 211,867 indexed records with 199,188 record images (was 206,831 records with 194,688 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Guadeloupe, Church Records, 1639-1830 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316498); 12,288 indexed records with 2,128 record images (was 12,080 records with 2,068 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024

Guadeloupe, Civil Registration Records, 1792-1872 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4293709); 3,409 indexed records with 929 record images (was 3,358 records with 1,022 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Guatemala, Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075150); 4,617,727 indexed records with 1,486 record images (was 4,616,592 records with 1,486 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Haiti, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Catholic Church Records, 1866-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279947); 141,177 indexed records with 27,119 record images (was 140,084 records with 27,371 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Honduras, Catholic Church Records, 1633-1978 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823595); 1,779,957 indexed records with 425,330 record images (was 1,763,690 records with 425,330 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Illinois, District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3158878); 698,535 indexed records with 665,959 record images (was 550,051 records with 541,120 images), UPDATED 12-Nov-2024

Iowa State Census, 1925 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2224537); 2,487,917 indexed records with 327,118 record images (was 2,487,917 records with 327,118 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 7,744,715 indexed records with 261,021 record images (was 7,696,936 records with 275,442 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Italy, Catania, Diocesi di Caltagirone, Catholic Church Records, 1502-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1493344); 3,237 indexed records with 554,541 record images (was 3,173 records with 554,541 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Italy, Trapani, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1906-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2052404); 105,264 indexed records with 1,371,292 record images (was 105,264 records with 1,371,292 images), UPDATED 12-Nov-2024
Italy, Viterbo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1870-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016212); 90,219 indexed records with 936,472 record images (was 90,219 records with 936,472 images), UPDATED 12-Nov-2024

Kansas State Census, 1925 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2659395); 1,843,934 indexed records with 59,120 record images (was 1,843,934 records with 59,120 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Madagascar, Sainte-Marie Island, Civil Registration, 1820-1870 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000242); 3,001 indexed records with 491 record images (was 2,754 records with 412 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Martinique, Civil Registration Records, 1809-1874 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316501); 8,236 indexed records with 2,553 record images (was 8,164 records with 2,528 images), UPDATED 13-Nov-2024
Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 6,105,770 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 6,092,503 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Mexico, Puebla, Catholic Church Records, 1545-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837906); 9,055,844 indexed records with 6,124,553 record images (was 9,054,273 records with 6,124,553 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024

Papua New Guinea, Vital Records, 1867-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2114430); 462,445 indexed records with 420,572 record images (was 455,957 records with 420,206 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1589502); 3,617,541 indexed records with 1,789,697 record images (was 3,609,761 records with 1,789,697 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1603-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); 21,330,297 indexed records with 4,192,353 record images (was 21,307,597 records with 4,192,353 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Peru, Áncash, Civil Registration, 1888-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2114425); 1,396,301 indexed records with 903,067 record images (was 1,396,301 records with 903,067 images), UPDATED 13-Nov-2024
Philippines Civil Registration (Archives Division), 1902-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2018411); 100,135 indexed records with 185,883 record images (was 0 records with 185,883 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024

Philippines Civil Registration (Local), 1888-1986 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1410394); 664,705 indexed records with 6,699,351 record images (was 37,482 records with 6,699,351 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Philippines, Biliran, Diocese of Naval Parish Registers, 1818-1978 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2322258); 64,145 indexed records with 42,440 record images (was 64,145 records with 28,118 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Philippines, Camarines Sur, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres, Parish Registers, 1716-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1457939); 776,803 indexed records with 136,616 record images (was 446,790 records with 130,474 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Philippines, Catholic Church Records, 1520-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2861657); 12,130,654 indexed records with 2,865,417 record images (was 10,781,112 records with 2,258,645 images), UPDATED 13-Nov-2024
Philippines, Church Census, 1542-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000216); 3,301,396 indexed records with 74,044 record images (was 1,238,605 records with 29,362 images), UPDATED 13-Nov-2024

Philippines, Eastern Samar, Roman Catholic Diocese of Borongan, Parish Registers, 1842-1984 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2379876); 233,423 indexed records with 57,624 record images (was 233,423 records with 32,304 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Philippines, La Union, Diocese of San Fernando de La Union, 1801-1984 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2071967); 1,009,686 indexed records with 33,723 record images (was 1,009,686 records with 30,534 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899-1984 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1686086); 637,126 indexed records with 5,857,674 record images (was 1,714 records with 5,857,674 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Philippines, Negros Occidental, Roman Catholic Diocese of Bacolod, Parish Registers, 1755-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2157100); 268,199 indexed records with 163,253 record images (was 268,199 records with 95,820 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Philippines, Northern Samar, Roman Catholic Diocese of Catarman, Church Records, 1860-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2328692); 74,011 indexed records with 81,107 record images (was 74,011 records with 63,212 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024

Portugal, Setúbal, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935451); 1,101,028 indexed records with 829,309 record images (was 1,100,865 records with 829,309 images), UPDATED 13-Nov-2024
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,331,060 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,330,631 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Russia, Lutheran Church Book Duplicates, 1833-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469151); 562,877 indexed records with 128,317 record images (was 562,786 records with 128,317 images), UPDATED 09-Nov-2024
South Africa, Cape Province, Civil Records, 1840-1972 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1779109); 3,135,285 indexed records with 2,216,270 record images (was 3,135,177 records with 2,216,270 images), UPDATED 10-Nov-2024
South Africa, Western Cape, Deceased Estate Files, 1951-1958 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4319131); 988,132 indexed records with 348,412 record images (was 970,980 records with 348,397 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024

St. Lucia, Church Records, 1751-1793 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4449051); 2,070 indexed records with 445 record images (was 1,511 records with 314 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Switzerland, Fribourg, Census, 1880 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2142779); 134,331 indexed records with 48,947 record images (was 134,331 records with 48,947 images), UPDATED 13-Nov-2024
Ukraine, Kiev Confession Lists, 1741-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2290980); 2,535,019 indexed records with 40,448 record images (was 2,535,019 records with 40,448 images), UPDATED 13-Nov-2024
Ukraine, Western Ukraine Catholic Church Book Duplicates, 1600-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1910265); 465,533 indexed records with 942,391 record images (was 465,419 records with 942,391 images), UPDATED 08-Nov-2024
Ukraine, Zaporizhia Poll Tax Census (Revision Lists), 1811-1858 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2465061); 634,285 indexed records with 62,154 record images (was 634,285 records with 62,154 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024

United States City and Business Directories, ca. 1749 - ca. 1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3754697); 64,938,958 indexed records with 897,497 record images (was 63,356,449 records with 756,203 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2333694); 28,662,424 indexed records with 46,919,022 record images (was 28,662,424 records with 46,919,022 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Uruguay Civil Registration, 1879-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,526,463 records), no images (was 1,517,584 records with 0 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Venezuela Civil Registration, 1873-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 1,185,486 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 1,182,752 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Venezuela, Archdiocese of Barquisimeto, Catholic Church Records, 1634-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2373794); 153,902 indexed records with 64,228 record images (was 145,433 records with 59,945 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024

Venezuela, Archdiocese of Mérida, Catholic Church Records, 1654-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1417520); 1,431,170 indexed records with 1,157,611 record images (was 1,423,066 records with 1,157,611 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4149585); 1,731,633 indexed records with 93,922 record images (was 1,730,766 records with 94,421 images), UPDATED 14-Nov-2024
Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1950-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 773,835 indexed records with 97,687 record images (was 752,279 records with 92,473 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024
Zimbabwe, Diocese of Masvingo, Catholic Church Records, 1893-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000104); 587 indexed records with 14,858 record images (was 587 records with 13,879 images), UPDATED 15-Nov-2024

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Cemetery Records, 1882-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2363123); 1,226,896 indexed records with 839,871 record images (was 1,226,896 records with 839,830 images), last updated 07-Nov-2024
Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 952,563 record images (was 1 records with 951,420 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Austria, Carinthia, Gurk Diocese, Catholic Church Records, 1527-1986 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2718009); 3,674,161 indexed records with 752,015 record images (was 3,674,161 records with 749,344 images), last updated 27-Sep-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 139,943 record images (was 1 records with 138,561 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 58,875 record images (was 1 records with 58,569 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024

Canada Census, 1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000196); 2,466,494 indexed records with 2,467,344 record images (was 2,466,494 records with 2,467,343 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
Iceland Church Census, 1744-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2697871); 1,875,482 indexed records with 47,337 record images (was 1,875,482 records with 41,400 images), last updated 25-Oct-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 12,842,258 record images (was 1 records with 7,656,326 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024

--- Collections with images removed ---

Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2126715); 1,531 indexed records with 1,381 record images (was 1,531 records with 1,393 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137266); 6,651 indexed records with 6,144 record images (was 6,651 records with 6,373 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Connecticut, Naturalization Records, 1795-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3238391); 305,750 indexed records with 679,992 record images (was 305,750 records with 680,067 images), last updated 07-Nov-2024
Germany, Saxony, Church Book Indexes, 1500-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2399108); 278,748 indexed records with 136,596 record images (was 278,748 records with 154,173 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Germany, Saxony-Anhalt, Halberstadt, Civil Registration, 1874-1982 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2212665); 180,514 indexed records with 178,850 record images (was 180,514 records with 179,072 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024

Maryland, Allegany County, Tax and Voter Records, 1798-1948 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2175760); 255,522 indexed records with 15,719 record images (was 255,522 records with 16,671 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
United States Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 52,785,233 indexed records with 45,318,470 record images (was 52,785,233 records with 52,769,173 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1894-1954 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2185932); 210,076 indexed records with 161,464 record images (was 210,076 records with 161,466 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024

--- Collections with new records ---

Philippines, Pangasinan, Civil Registration, 1945-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1989160); 44,066 indexed records with 151,466 record images (was 19,586 records with 151,466 images), last updated 04-Nov-2024

--- Collections with records removed ---

Canada, Newfoundland Census, 1921 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2226517); 218,865 indexed records with 8,415 record images (was 218,867 records with 8,415 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,609,823 records), no images (was 875,609,828 records with 0 images), last updated 01-Jun-2024
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,877,661 records), no images (was 413,877,675 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-2024

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

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:

*  0 removed entries

*  0 added entries 

*  69 updated entries

*  20 entries with more or fewer images or records

The FamilySearch website says 3388 total entries on the list. Marshall's list says 3388.  Back to synchronization!

In order to select a specific record collection on FamilySearch, go to   https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list and use the "Filter by collection name" feature in the upper left-hand corner and use keywords (e.g. "church england") to find collections with those keywords.

Each of the collections listed above has a Research Wiki page (use the "Learn more" link). It would be very useful if the Wiki page for each collection listed the dates for when the collection was added as a new collection and the dates for major updates also.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/11/added-and-updated-familysearch_0904240446.html

Copyright (c) 2024 Randall J. Seaver

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

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 9 to 15 November 2024

  The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by Date Updated during the period from 9 to 15 November 2024: 

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

*  Sydney, Australia, Royal Easter Show Collection, 1869-2022; indexed records with record images, ADDED 11/14/2024.  This collection contains images of annual catalogues published for the Sydney Royal Easter Show between 1869 and 2022. 

*  Toulouse City Archive, France, Births, Marriages, Deaths, and Church Books, 1691-1912; indexed records with record images, ADDED 11/14/2024.  This collection contains civil registries of births, marriages, and deaths between 1691 and 1912 from Toulouse City in Haute-Garonne, France.

*  Connecticut, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1790-1996; indexed records with record images, Updated 11/14/2024.  This database consists of naturalization records for Connecticut from U.S. District Courts.

*  Virginia, U.S., Birth Registers, 1853-1911; indexed records with record images, Updated 11/13/2024.  This collection contains records for babies born between 1853 and 1911 in Virginia. The information in this collection is made available to the general public 100 years after the date of birth.

*  Web: Isle Of Man, Wills Index, 1600-1864; indexed records without record images, ADDED   11/13/2024.  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. 

*  Wyoming, U.S., State and County Marriage Records, 1869-1973; indexed records with record images, Updated 11/13/2024.  This collection contains information on marriages in Wyoming between 1869 and 1972 from both state and county levels.

*  Virginia, U.S., Department of Military Affairs Records, 1876-1947; indexed records with record images, ADDED 11/13/2024.  This collection contains personal military records from Virginia between 1876 and 1947.

*  Wyoming, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1870-1991; indexed records with record images,   ADDED 11/13/2024.  This collection includes naturalization records that were filed in Wyoming between 1870 and 1991 and includes a variety of naturalization records.

*  Virginia, U.S., Personal Property Tax Records, 1782-1900; indexed records with record images, ADDED 11/13/2024.  This collection contains images of personal property tax records from Virginia dating between the years of 1782 and 1900.

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

By my count, there were 6 NEW record collection ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,624 collections available as of 15 November, 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/2024/11/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_0590683343.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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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52 Relatives: 2nd Great-GrandAunt Clarissa Hildreth (1814-1819) of Townsend, Massachusetts

Clarissa Hildreth[1–4] was born on 18 August 1814 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, the second child and first daughter of Zachariah and Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth.[1-2] She died on 16 September 1819 at the age of 5 years, 29 days in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.[2-4] She was buried after 16 September 1819 at Hillside Cemetery in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.[3-4]

The gravestone inscription, read by the author, is:

Clarissa Hildreth,

d. Zachariah & Hannah,

Sept 16 1820, ae 5y 29d

The death year on the gravestone is probably wrong, because the Hildreth family Bible record says she died 16 September 1819.  but the burial record on Find A Grave and in the Vital Record book lists her death as 16 September 1820.   Both the Bible record and the vital records book give her birth as 18 August 1814.  If the birth date and age at death are correct, then her death date is 16 September 1819.

SOURCES:

1. Henry C. Hallowell (editor), Vital Records of Townsend, Massachusetts (Boston, Mass. :  New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1992), page 281, Clarissa Hildreth birth entry, 18 August 1814.

2. Richard C. Fipphen, "Bible Records - Northborough Historical Society," The Mayflower Descendant, Volume 35, Number 2 (July 1985), page 158, Clarissa Hildreth entry.

3. Henry C. Hallowell (editor), Vital Records of Townsend, Massachusetts (Boston, Mass. :  New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1992), page 355, Clarissa Hildreth death entry, 16 September 1820 1814.

4. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146977529/clarissa-hildreth : accessed November 14, 2024), memorial page for Clarissa Hildreth (18 Aug 1815–16 Sep 1820), Find a Grave Memorial ID 146977529, citing Hillside Cemetery, Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by James Bianco (contributor 47745493).

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

Clarissa Hildreth (1814-1820) is my 2nd great-grandaunt and the sister of my 2nd great-grandfather, Edward Hildreth (1831-1899).  I am sure that the death of their little girl affected her parents and her siblings.  The second daughter of Zachariah and Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth, born 24 January 1820, was also named Clarissa.

I have posted over 500 genealogical sketches of  my ancestors back through the 7th great-grandparents and a number of close relatives. 

The "52 Relatives" theme is a weekly series to document the lives of siblings of my ancestors with relatively short genealogical sketches, including important events, and with source citations.  These relatives lived and died within a family structure, and deserve a genealogical sketch - they were integral parts and important persons in the lives of my ancestral families.  

I post the 52 Ancestors and 52 Relatives sketches on the 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies page, in my Ancestry Member Tree, in WikiTree, and in the FamilySearch Family Tree. 

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/11/52-relatives-2nd-great-grandaunt.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

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Findmypast Friday: Explore New Wartime Medical Records and More

 I received this information from Findmypast today:

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

There are over 220,000 new additions this week.

We've updated four of our key military record sets this week - so it's easier than ever to discover the stories of your heroic ancestors.  The biggest update comes to our Prisoners of War 1715-1945 collection, to which we've added 200,000 records. We've also bolstered our British Army Soldiers' Medical Records and added over 6,000 records for the Women's Royal Navy spanning 1914 to 1918.

British Armed Forces, First World War Soldiers' Medical Records

We added 20,460 images and transcriptions to our British Army Medical Records this week.  These new additions document soldiers during the First World War.

Prisoners of War, 1715-1945

We made a huge update to our Prisoner of War collection - there are 20,000 new Second World War additions for you to search.

British Women's Royal Naval Service Ratings' Service Registers, 1918-1919

We've made improvements to this existing set of Women's Navy Service Registers, so you can now discover age, next of kin details and images for many records.

On this day...

Delve into the history of today's date with our newspapers.  Every day, we make pages from this day in history free to explore, so you can glimpse what life was like on this day in years gone by.  Last week we added Women's Land Army records and a fascinating sketchbook from World War One. Explore the full release here.

More on this topic:

military records                       world war 2

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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/2024/11/findmypast-friday-explore-new-wartime.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

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Added and Updated MyHeritage Record Collections - 8 to 14 November 2024

 The following Record Collections were ADDED or updated to the MyHeritage Collections Catalog during the week of 8 to 14 November 2024:

• MyHeritage Family Sites (Family Trees), Updated Nov 13 2024, 94,717,410 entries

• MyHeritage members (Family Trees), Updated Nov 13 2024, 76,067,790 entries
• Search Connect™ - Searches by MyHeritage Members (Family Trees), Updated Nov 13  2024,  443,718,196 entries
• MyHeritage photos & docs (Images), Updated Nov 13 2024, 441,984,104 entries
• MyHeritage Family Trees (Family Trees), Updated Nov 13 2024, 6,122,729,167 entries
• Filae Family Trees (Family Trees), Updated Nov 13 2024, 301,090,986 entries
• FamilySearch Family Tree (Family Trees), Updated Nov 13 2024, 1,158,118,544 entries
• Geni World Family Tree (Family Trees), Updated Nov 13 2024, 358,079,096 entries
• United States Newspapers from OldNews.com™ (Newspapers), Updated Nov 12 2024, 73,695,333 entries.
• Canada, Quebec Couples (Marriage & Divorce), Updated Nov 12 2024, 39,513,800 entries.
• 1910 Sweden Census (Images), ADDED Nov 9 2024, 5,416,868 entries
• 1915 New Jersey State Census (Images), ADDED Nov 6 2024, 839,702 entries.

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There are 2 ADDED record collections this past two weeks, and MyHeritage now has a total of 7,435 record collections (an increase of 2 collections), with 21,194,034,481 entries (an increase of over 48 million entries).  The FamilySearch Family Tree added 0.222 million entries last week.

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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.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/11/added-and-updated-myheritage-record_0124482981.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

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