Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Tell Us About The Fathers In Your Tree

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible! music) is to:

1)  It's Father's Day on Sunday.  This week, tell us about the fathers in your tree -- their names, their birth and death years and locations, their occupations, the number of spouses, the number of children, etc. Go back at least four generations if possible through your known second great-grandfathers.

2)  Share your father list informationin your own blog post or in a Facebook, SubStack, BlueSky or other social media post.  Leave a link to your post on this blog post to help us find your post.

Here's mine:

• Father:  #2 Frederick Walton Seaver Jr (1911 Massachusetts to 1983 California), Insurance agent, 1 spouse, 3 children (3 boys).

• Grandfather:  #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876 Massachusetts to 1942 Massachusetts), Combmaker, 1 spouse, 7 children (3 boys, 4 girls).

• Grandfather:  #6  Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891 California to 1976 California), Accountant, 1 spouse, 1 child (1 girl).

• Great-grandfather:  #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852 Massachusetts to 1922 Massachusetts), Combmaker, 1 spouse, 3 children (3 boys).

• Great-grandfather:  #10 Thomas Richman (1848 England to 1917 Massachusetts), Carder, 1 spouse, 9 children (5 boys, 4 girls).

• Great-grandfather:  #12 Henry Austin Carringer (1853 Pennsylvania to 1946 California), Carpenter, 1 spouse, 3 children (2 boys, 1 girl)

• Great-grandfather: #14  Charles Auble (1849 New Jersey to 1916 California), Painter, 1 spouse, 1 child (1 girl).

• 2nd great-grandfather:  #16  Isaac Seaver (1823 Massachusetts to 1901 Massachusetts), Blacksmith, 3 spouses, 5 children (2 boys, 3 girls).

• 2nd great-grandfather:   #18  Edward Hildreth (1831 Massachusetts to 1899 Massachusetts), Combmaker, 1 spouse, 2 children (1 boy, 1 girl).

• 2nd great-grandfather:  #20  James Richman (1821 England to 1913 Connecticut), Farmer, 1 spouse, 9 children (4 boys, 5 girls).

• 2nd great-grandfather:  #22  Henry Arnold White (1824 Rhode Island to 1885 Connecticut), Cotton mill, 2 spouses, 7 children (2 boys, 5 girls).

• 2nd great-grandfather:  #24  David Jackson Carringer (1828 Pennsylvania to 1902 California), Rancher, 1 spouse, 3 children (2 boys).

• 2nd great-grandfather:  #26  Devier James Lamphier Smith (1839 New York 1894 Nebraska), Liveryman, 1 spouse, 5 children (2 boys, 3 girls)

• 2nd great-grandfather:  #28  David Auble (1817 New Jersey to 1894 Indiana), Shoemaker, 1 spouse, 6 children (2 boys, 4 girls)

• 2nd great-grandfather:   #30 James Abraham Kemp (1831 Ontario to 1902 Ontario), Carpenter, 2 spouses, 6 children (3 boys, 3 girls)

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/06/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-tell-us.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

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

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Ask AI: "What Was Life Like for Hannah Rich age 11, in 1835 in Hilperton, Wiltshire?"

 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 a child's life in 1800 in Hilperton, Wiltshire.  My 3rd great-grandmother, Hannah Rich (1824-1911) was 11 years old in 1835 living with her parents, John and Rebecca (Hill) Rich, and her siblings in Hilperton.  What was Hannah's life like in 1835?  What was the family life like?  Did she have work to do and fun to enjoy?  

1)  I chose to use the responses from free X.ai Grok 3 as of 14 June 2025) today.  

My Prompt was: "You are an expert social historian.  Hannah Rich was born in 1824, and baptized in 1837 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, the daughter of John and Rebecca (Hill) Rich. She had 3 older brothers, 2 younger brothers,  1 older sister, and two younger sisters when she was a child. The father John was a hand loom weaver. The family attended St. Michael's church in Hilperton, where the parents were married and all of the children were baptized and married. When young Hannah was a girl (say in 1835), what was her life like? What was their family life like?  What fun would the children have?"

(Image created by X.ai Grok 3 of Hilperton girls cooking with their mother in 1835)

2) The free X.ai Grok 3 response was:

As an expert social historian, I’ll paint a detailed picture of Hannah Rich’s life as a young girl in 1835, living in Hilperton, Wiltshire, as the daughter of John and Rebecca Rich. I’ll draw on historical context about rural life in early 19th-century England, the socio-economic conditions of a hand loom weaver’s family, and the cultural practices of the time, while keeping the response engaging and concise.

Hannah Rich’s Life in 1835

In 1835, Hannah Rich was about 11 years old, living in the small village of Hilperton, near Trowbridge in Wiltshire, a region known for its woolen textile industry. As the daughter of a hand loom weaver, her life would have been shaped by the rhythms of rural working-class existence, the economic pressures of the declining hand-weaving trade, and the close-knit community centered around St. Michael’s Church.

Family Life 

The Rich household was large, with Hannah being one of nine children—three older brothers, one older sister, two younger brothers, and two younger sisters. Living in a modest cottage, likely made of stone or wattle-and-daub with a thatched roof, the family would have shared cramped quarters. The home probably had a main living area with a hearth for cooking and warmth, a few small bedrooms, and perhaps a loft where the children slept. Furniture was basic: a table, benches, and simple beds or straw mattresses. 

John Rich, as a hand loom weaver, worked long hours at home or in a small workshop attached to the cottage. By the 1830s, hand weaving was in decline due to the rise of mechanized textile factories in nearby Trowbridge, which put financial strain on families like the Riches. John’s income was likely irregular, supplemented by Rebecca’s domestic work or contributions from older children. Rebecca managed the household, cooking simple meals like bread, porridge, or vegetable stews, with meat being a rare treat. The family might have kept a small garden or a pig to stretch their resources. 

Family life revolved around work and survival. The older siblings, especially the brothers and older sister, may have already been working—perhaps assisting their father with weaving, carding wool, or doing agricultural labor. Hannah, at 11, likely helped her mother with household chores: fetching water from a village pump or well, tending to younger siblings, cleaning, or preparing food. If she wasn’t yet working in textile production herself, she might have been learning skills like spinning or sewing, which were common for girls her age. 

Religion played a central role. The family’s attendance at St. Michael’s Church, where Hannah was baptized in 1837 (possibly a delayed baptism due to financial or logistical reasons), suggests they were active in the Anglican community. Sundays were for worship, with the family walking to church in their best (often only) clothes. Church was not just spiritual but social, a place to connect with neighbors and reinforce community ties. 

Hannah’s Daily Life

At 11, Hannah’s days were a mix of work, play, and learning. Formal education was limited for working-class children in rural Wiltshire in 1835. If Hannah attended school, it was likely a Sunday school run by the church, where she learned basic reading, writing, and Bible lessons. Some villages had dame schools (informal schools run by local women), but these cost money, which the Riches may not have afforded. More likely, Hannah was taught at home by her mother or older siblings, focusing on practical skills and moral instruction. 

Her chores included helping with cooking, cleaning, and minding her younger siblings. She might also have assisted with textile work, such as preparing wool or winding yarn, as child labor was common in weaving families. If the family took in piecework from local clothiers, Hannah could have been involved in simple tasks to contribute to the household income.

Fun and Leisure for the Children 

Despite their workload, Hannah and her siblings found time for fun, typical of rural children in the 1830s. Play was simple, shaped by the natural environment and limited resources: 

• Outdoor Games: The children likely played games like tag, hide-and-seek, or “hoop and stick,” rolling a hoop with a stick through Hilperton’s lanes. They might have explored nearby fields, climbed trees, or splashed in streams, though parents often cautioned against wandering too far.
• Village Events: Fairs, church festivals, or seasonal celebrations like May Day or harvest festivals were highlights. These events featured music, dancing, and games like sack races or tug-of-war. Hannah and her siblings might have joined in, wearing homemade ribbons or simple decorations.
• Storytelling and Songs: Evenings at home were spent around the fire, where Rebecca or John might have shared folktales, Bible stories, or local legends. Singing was common, with folk songs or hymns learned at church. Older siblings might have taught Hannah rhymes or clapping games.
• Toys and Crafts: Toys were homemade—perhaps a rag doll for Hannah or carved wooden figures for the boys. The children might have made kites from scraps or played with pebbles in games like knucklebones (similar to jacks).
• Community Play: With eight siblings, Hannah had plenty of playmates at home, but she likely also played with other village children. Group games like “oranges and lemons” or makeshift cricket matches using sticks and stones were popular.

Social and Economic Context 

The 1830s were a challenging time for families like the Riches. The mechanization of the textile industry meant hand loom weavers like John faced falling wages and competition from factories. The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 introduced workhouses, which loomed as a threat for struggling families, though the Rich's large family likely relied on mutual support to avoid such institutions. Food riots and unrest in nearby towns reflected economic hardship, but rural Hilperton was quieter, with community bonds offering some stability. 

Gender roles were rigid. As a girl, Hannah was groomed for domestic life—marriage and motherhood—while her brothers might have been pushed toward weaving or farm work. Still, the sibling group’s size meant a lively household, with older siblings guiding the younger ones and shared responsibilities fostering closeness. 

Emotional and Cultural Life

The Rich family’s life was anchored by routine and community. St. Michael’s Church was a focal point, not just for worship but for baptisms, marriages, and social gatherings. Hannah’s baptism in 1837, at age 13, suggests the family valued religious rites, even if delayed, possibly due to costs, previously attending a non-conformist church, or the church’s schedule. The church’s influence meant Hannah grew up with a strong sense of morality, duty, and community. 

Fun was tempered by discipline. Parents like John and Rebecca, shaped by the era’s values, expected obedience and hard work. Yet, moments of joy—singing, playing, or celebrating with neighbors—provided relief from daily toil. Hannah’s childhood, while laborious, was not without warmth, laughter, and the camaraderie of a large family. 

Summary 

In 1835, 11-year-old Hannah Rich lived a modest, hardworking life in Hilperton, Wiltshire, in a crowded cottage with her parents and eight siblings. Her father’s work as a hand loom weaver and her mother’s domestic management defined a frugal but tight-knit family life, centered around St. Michael’s Church. Hannah’s days involved chores like helping with cooking or textile work, with limited schooling, likely through Sunday school. For fun, she and her siblings played outdoor games, joined village festivals, and shared stories or songs at home. Despite economic pressures from the declining weaving trade, the Rich family found joy in simple pleasures and community ties, shaping Hannah’s childhood in a rural, religious, and industrious world.

3)  I asked the free OpenAI ChatGPT4, Claude Sonnet 4, and Google Gemini 2.5 Flash the same query and received similar responses.  

4)   I have no easy way to double check on these responses from the Chatbots.  I don't have book resources for the subjects and the locality.  The families mentioned are my ancestors and I have significant information about their lives from the available records, but know nothing about their daily lives. Do children in the British Isles study these time periods and learn about their social history?   If readers "know better," please advise me of errors or additions.  

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

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

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/06/ask-ai-what-was-life-like-for-hannah.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 Record Collections - Week of 7 to 13 June 2025

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

As of 13 June 2025, there are 3,409 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 0 from last week):

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

--- Collections Added ---

--- Collections Updated ---

Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1939 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3335352); 264,968 indexed records with 48,659 record images (was 264,968 records with 48,659 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Alaska, State Archives (Juneau), Coroner's Inquests, 1898-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3161312); 2,332 indexed records with 2,224 record images (was 2,332 records with 2,224 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Alaska, Vital Records, 1816-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2216300); 110,943 indexed records with 72,238 record images (was 110,943 records with 72,238 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Argentina, Passenger Lists, 1901-1922 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000241); 1,166,833 indexed records with 43,125 record images (was 1,165,321 records with 43,038 images), UPDATED 11-Jun-2025
Arizona, Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1855-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3740251); 411,306 indexed records with 410,631 record images (was 411,306 records with 410,631 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482191); 303,788 indexed records with 6,411,594 record images (was 303,788 records with 6,411,594 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 931,101 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 931,101 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1799-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 4,708,277 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 1,577,075 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 13-Jun-2025
California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001287); 6,523,394 indexed records with 2,841,076 record images (was 6,523,394 records with 2,841,076 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
California, Lassen County, State Board of Health, Burial Permits, 1931-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3241369); 8,961 indexed records with 8,920 record images (was 8,961 records with 8,920 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

California, Los Angeles County, North Hollywood, Pierce Brothers Memorial Park Cemetery, Memorial Tablets, 1943-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3235392); 52,723 indexed records with 50,707 record images (was 52,723 records with 50,707 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
California, Los Angeles, Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery/Crematory Records, 1884-2002 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3583819); 372,033 indexed records with 193,682 record images (was 372,033 records with 193,682 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
California, San Francisco, Area Funeral Home Records, 1835-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1385518); 162,363 indexed records with 193,721 record images (was 162,363 records with 193,721 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
California, Sonoma County, Sebastopol, Evergreen Lawn Cemetery Burial Records, 1800-2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3583823); 14,963 indexed records with 8,811 record images (was 14,963 records with 8,811 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Canada, Nova Scotia, Delayed Births, 1837-1907 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2241429); 117,044 indexed records with 70,782 record images (was 117,044 records with 70,782 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

Canada, Nova Scotia, Marriages, 1864-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2242886); 372,511 indexed records with 21,950 record images (was 372,511 records with 21,950 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Connecticut, County Coroner's Records, 1883-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000080); 76,296 indexed records with 44,583 record images (was 76,296 records with 44,583 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Delaware, Vital Record Index Cards, 1680-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922410); 135,150 indexed records with 134,797 record images (was 135,150 records with 134,797 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kisantu Diocese, Catholic Church Records, 1894-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000138); 92,010 indexed records with 24,884 record images (was 92,010 records with 24,884 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
England, Gloucestershire, Non-Conformist Church Records, 1581-1997 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3648679); 204,742 indexed records with 61,532 record images (was 204,742 records with 61,532 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3155913); 1,608,374 indexed records with 127,461 record images (was 1,608,374 records with 127,461 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
England, Yorkshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1613-1887 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3477664); 323,017 indexed records with 316,537 record images (was 322,928 records with 316,528 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Hawaii, Board of Health, Marriage Record Indexes, 1909-1989 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3463469); 823,339 indexed records with 289,703 record images (was 823,319 records with 289,702 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Hawaii, Collector of Customs, Ships' Passenger Manifests, 1843-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3463100); 527,870 indexed records with 226,567 record images (was 527,525 records with 225,299 images), UPDATED 11-Jun-2025
Hawaii, Probate Packet Records, 1814-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3463463); 91,077 indexed records with 87,921 record images (was 72,896 records with 70,627 images), UPDATED 11-Jun-2025

Idaho, Bonneville County, Idaho Falls, Rose Hill Cemetery Records, 1800-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1447470); 14,537 indexed records with 14,161 record images (was 14,519 records with 14,137 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1462519); Index only (3,396,808 records), no images (was 3,396,808 records with 0 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Iowa, Adjutant General's Office, Grave Registration Service, Cemetery Records, 1800-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3518727); 10,639 indexed records with 10,591 record images (was 10,639 records with 10,591 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Iowa, Buchanan County Obituaries and Cemetery Records, ca.1796-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3740406); 218,560 indexed records with 42,954 record images (was 218,560 records with 42,954 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Italy, Caserta, Gricignano d'Aversa, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1884182); 5,322 indexed records with 8,486 record images (was 0 records with 8,486 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

Italy, Caserta, Sant'Arpino, Civil Registration (Comune), 1876-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1860760); 7,531 indexed records with 2,900 record images (was 0 records with 2,900 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Italy, Caserta, Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043630); 1,160,350 indexed records with 1,097,228 record images (was 1,066,556 records with 1,097,228 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Italy, Catania, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821289); 1,750,035 indexed records with 2,852,068 record images (was 1,153,229 records with 2,852,068 images), UPDATED 10-Jun-2025
Italy, Modena, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968527); 415,979 indexed records with 2,114,742 record images (was 334,247 records with 2,114,742 images), UPDATED 10-Jun-2025
Italy, Teramo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3006903); 162,822 indexed records with 111,715 record images (was 43,441 records with 20,177 images), UPDATED 10-Jun-2025

Louisiana, Orleans, Birth Records, 1819-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3326847); 271,592 indexed records with 127,659 record images (was 271,592 records with 127,659 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Madagascar, Sainte-Marie Island, Civil Registration, 1820-1870 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000242); 4,669 indexed records with 892 record images (was 4,669 records with 892 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Maine, Tombstone Inscriptions, Surname Index, 1620-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2523434); 132,991 indexed records with 123,543 record images (was 132,991 records with 123,543 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Martinique, Church Records, 1662-1847 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316497); 24,624 indexed records with 4,405 record images (was 24,624 records with 4,405 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Maryland, Baltimore, Loudon Park Cemetery, Cemetery Records, 1853-1986 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3021633); Index only (356,160 records), no images (was 356,160 records with 0 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

Michigan, Saginaw County, Biographical Card File, ca. 1830-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3733440); 22,373 indexed records with 21,341 record images (was 22,365 records with 21,341 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Minnesota, Veterans Grave Registration Reports, 1930-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489446); 71,386 indexed records with 70,023 record images (was 71,386 records with 70,023 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Mississippi, County Marriages, 1818-1979 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3477669); 1,761,044 indexed records with 562,580 record images (was 1,761,033 records with 562,579 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
New Hampshire, Hillsborough County, Manchester, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1930346); 44,955 indexed records with 50,399 record images (was 44,955 records with 50,399 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
New Jersey, Reclaim the Records, Geographic Birth Index, 1901-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4461588); 1,903,349 indexed records with 30,989 record images (was 1,903,316 records with 30,988 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

North Carolina, Wake County, Death Records, 1900-1909 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1949206); 4,291 indexed records with 4,272 record images (was 4,291 records with 4,272 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987615); 1,898,264 indexed records with 1,097,134 record images (was 1,898,198 records with 1,097,134 images), UPDATED 07-Jun-2025
Pennsylvania, Berks County, Reading, Charles Evans Cemetery and Crematory Burial Records, 1887-1979 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3241365); 106,375 indexed records with 87,452 record images (was 106,360 records with 87,448 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1775-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1589502); 3,618,274 indexed records with 1,789,697 record images (was 3,618,274 records with 1,789,697 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
South Africa, Civil Marriage Records, 1801-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821281); 2,699,607 indexed records with 2,692,995 record images (was 2,699,607 records with 2,692,995 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

South Carolina, Charleston City Death Records, 1821-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3477663); 136,837 indexed records with 5,779 record images (was 136,486 records with 5,779 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
South Carolina, County Marriage Licenses, 1911-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3161369); 738,103 indexed records with 663,260 record images (was 737,889 records with 660,820 images), UPDATED 11-Jun-2025
South Dakota, Veteran Graves Registration Records, 1903-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3246420); 17,028 indexed records with 11,443 record images (was 17,007 records with 11,443 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
St. Lucia, Church Records, 1751-1793 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4449051); 3,056 indexed records with 642 record images (was 3,056 records with 642 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Tennessee, Davidson County, Death Records, 1900-1913 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3559087); 7,381 indexed records with 7,355 record images (was 7,372 records with 7,355 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

Tennessee, Deaths, 1914-1966 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1417505); 1,923,635 indexed records with 2,017,500 record images (was 1,923,625 records with 2,017,500 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Tennessee, Shelby County, Memphis, Board of Health Death Records, 1848-1913 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3460987); 107,341 indexed records with 46,423 record images (was 107,261 records with 46,422 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Texas, Bexar County, San Antonio Cemetery Records, 1893-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1828544); 59,251 indexed records with 38,892 record images (was 59,251 records with 38,892 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Texas, Dallas County, Oakland Cemetery Interment Cards, 1891-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3656813); 79,888 indexed records with 35,286 record images (was 79,871 records with 35,286 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Texas, Hardin County, Marriage Records, 1837-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3502089); 56,689 indexed records with 44,091 record images (was 56,685 records with 44,091 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

Texas, Harrison County Delayed Birth Records, 1860-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3460988); 6,319 indexed records with 6,304 record images (was 6,309 records with 6,303 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
United States, Deceased Physician File (AMA), 1864-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2061540); 915,376 indexed records with 707,724 record images (was 915,299 records with 707,724 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Utah, County Marriages, 1871-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1803977); 454,124 indexed records with 124,465 record images (was 454,116 records with 124,465 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Utah, FamilySearch, Early Church Information File, 1830-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2078505); 1,007,678 indexed records with 1,091,919 record images (was 1,007,589 records with 1,091,919 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Vanuatu, Vital Records, 1900-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3734433); 162,888 indexed records with 157,901 record images (was 162,888 records with 157,901 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

Virginia, Campbell, Lynchburg, Diuguid Funeral Home, Records, 1820-1971 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1419237); 15,433 indexed records with 6,196 record images (was 15,424 records with 6,195 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2134304); 796,003 indexed records with 2,733 record images (was 795,976 records with 2,733 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Virginia, Jewish Cemetery Records Index, ca. 1800-1986 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3013259); Index only (8,076 records), no images (was 8,076 records with 0 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Virginia, Vital Records, 1853-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4231103); 2,064,686 indexed records with 108,055 record images (was 2,064,673 records with 108,053 images), UPDATED 09-Jun-2025
Wales, Monmouthshire (Gwent), Electoral Registers 1839-1889 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3477661); 455,367 indexed records with 11,207 record images (was 455,348 records with 11,412 images), UPDATED 11-Jun-2025

Washington, County Divorce Records, 1852-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1930340); 78,804 indexed records with 127,147 record images (was 78,804 records with 127,147 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1908-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 1,480,684 indexed records with 328,682 record images (was 1,480,535 records with 328,665 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Zimbabwe, Catholic Church Records, 1897-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4475014); 9,815 indexed records with 64,555 record images (was 9,815 records with 64,551 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Zimbabwe, Diocese of Chinhoyi, Catholic Church Records, 1941-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000107); 581 indexed records with 12,191 record images (was 581 records with 12,190 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Zimbabwe, Diocese of Gweru, Catholic Church Records, 1904-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000102); 590 indexed records with 23,713 record images (was 590 records with 23,712 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

Zimbabwe, Diocese of Hwange, Catholic Church Records, 1924-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000103); 7,577 indexed records with 20,941 record images (was 7,577 records with 20,938 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Zimbabwe, Diocese of Masvingo, Catholic Church Records, 1893-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000104); 587 indexed records with 31,654 record images (was 587 records with 31,653 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025
Zimbabwe, Diocese of Mutare, Catholic Church Records, 1898-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000105); 12,438 indexed records with 38,410 record images (was 12,438 records with 38,407 images), UPDATED 12-Jun-2025

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Civil Registration, 1861-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000041); 1 indexed records with 111,625 record images (was 1 records with 111,623 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 2,920,550 record images (was 1 records with 2,920,545 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 453,500 record images (was 1 records with 453,484 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 904,299 record images (was 1 records with 904,293 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Italy, Torino, Diocese of Torino, Catholic Church Records, 1801-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000113); 1 indexed records with 142,124 record images (was 1 records with 142,122 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024

Italy, Vercelli, Vercelli, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1802-1813, 1838-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939214); 1,682 indexed records with 17,865 record images (was 1,682 records with 4,684 images), last updated 29-May-2025

--- Collections with images removed ---

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,723,136 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,723,737 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,203,178 record images (was 1 records with 28,203,179 images), last updated 22-Jul-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 
• 78 updated entries
• 8 entries with more or fewer images 
• 0 entries with more or fewer records

The FamilySearch website says there are 3409 total entries on the list (without signing in). Marshall's list says there are 3409 (without signing in).  They are in-sync this week.

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

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/06/added-and-updated-familysearch-record_0290954771.html

Copyright (c) 2025 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 X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not be posted immediately.

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Ancestor Bios: The "ABC" Process with Randy Seaver Presentation

 I had some genealogy fun on 12 June presenting my "Ancestor Biography Creation" Process in a Zoom meeting hosted on Substack by Barbara at Projectkin on her publication.

Barbara Tien is a wonderful host, and she has summarized the presentation and provided the syllabus for the talk in her Substack post titled Special » Ancestor Bios: The “ABC” Process with Randy Seaver.

It is also on the Projectkin YouTube channel (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp8ml7l-k_4):

Substack has become a writer's haven over the years providing a relatively simple blog layout for writers to post their work, for free or for paid subscribers.  

Along with many other genealogists and family historians, I have started using Substack to share my family stories (both with and without artificial intelligence assistance).  My Substack publication is  https://substack.com/@geneaholic.  

Most of my Substack posts are from my posts here on Genea-Musings.  I am not re-posting everything from Genea-Musings as a "Substack Post"because every Post is sent to every subscriber after it is written.  I'm trying to limit myself to "stories" and one Post a day so as to not inundate my subscribers email boxes with non-story articles.  Posts on Substack can embed audio clips and video clip.  A "Substack Note" can be used to highlight news, comment on Posts, etc.  Readers can chat with writers in the Chat section.  

There is a different set of genealogists, family historians, and writers on Substack who I am becoming familiar with, and they with me.  It's been fun!  The "Genealogy/Family History Writer World" is a lot bigger than Blogger, or Wordpress, or other social media.

Thank you to Barbara Tien at Projectkin for encouraging me to do this presentation and for hosting it.  I haven't done many presentations recently, so I was a bit rusty, but I think it said what I wanted to pass along to the viewers.  

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

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

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  

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 Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 7 to 13 June 2025

 The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by Date Updated during the period from 7 to 13 June 2025:

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• UK and Ireland, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current; 32,051,053 indexed records without record images, Updated  6/9/2025. This database consists of facts extracted from obituaries found on Newspapers.com™ dating from the early 1800’s to current.

• Canada, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current; 47,187,373 indexed records without record images, Updated  6/9/2025. This Newspapers.com™ index contains newspaper obituaries published in Canada from the early 1800s until the present day.

• Australia and New Zealand, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current; 5,842,149 indexed records without record images, Updated  6/9/2025. This database consists of facts extracted from obituaries found on Newspapers.com™ dating from the early 1800’s to current.

• U.S., Virginia City Directories; 3,700,624 indexed records with record images, ADDED 6/12/2025.  This collection contains city directories published in Virginia between 1873 and 1960.

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

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

By my count, there is 1 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,812 collections available as of 13 June, an INCREASE of 1 from last week.  

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

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/2025/06/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_01811565356.html

Copyright (c) 2025, 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-GrandUncle Stephen Hazard Oatley (1822-1863) of New England

 Stephen Hazard Oatley was born on 21 May 1822 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, the 6th child (of 14) and 4th son of Jonathan Oatley and Amy Champlin.[1-2]

Stephen Hazard Oatley and Susan Maria Wood were married about 1843 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.[1] Susan Maria Wood was born in February 1824 in Connecticut.  

 Stephen Hazard Oatley and Susan Maria Wood had the following children:

• Angeline M. Oatley, born 24 October 1843, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; married Dexter R. Billington, 26 August 1865, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; died 9 February 1906, Danielson, Windham, Connecticut.
• Prescott W. Oatley was born about 1844 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut. He died in August 1846 at the age of 2 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
• Ann Elizabeth Oatley was born in 1847 in Massachusetts.
• Nason E. "Doc" Oatley was born on 4 November 1851 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut. He died on 11 February 1929 at the age of 77 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut. He was buried after 11 February 1929 at Westfield Cemetery in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.
• Stephen H. Oatley, born July 1855, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; married Emily M. Adams, 4 May 1879, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island; died 24 December 1920, Putnam, Windham, Connecticut.
• William Henry Oatley, born 3 June 1857, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; married Martha Briton, 8 July 1877, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island; died 6 December 1926, Rhode Island.

In the 1850 United States census, the Stephen H. Oatley family resided in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut.[3]  The household included:

• Stephen H. Oatley - age 29, male, white, factory laborer, born R.I.
• Susan Oatley - age 27, female, born R.I.
• Angeline M.  Oatley - age 6, female, born Conn.
• Elizabeth Oatley - age 3, female, born Conn.

In the 1860 United States census, the Stephen H. Oatley family resided in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[4]  The household included:

• Stephen H. Oatley - age 38, male, white, Carding, $500 in personal property, born R.I. 
• Susan M. Oatley - age 37, female, born R.I.
• Angeline Oatley - age 16, female, born R.I., attended school
• Ann E. Oatley - age 13, female, born Conn., attended school
• Nason E. Oatley - age 7, male, born Conn., attended school
• Stephen H. Oatley - age 5, male, born Conn., attended school
• Wm H. Oatley - age 3, male, born Conn.

Stephen H. Oatley of Killingly enlisted in Company G., 18th Regiment of the Connecticut Volunteers on 9 August 1862, and mutered in on 21 August 1862.  He was killed in Winchester, Virginia on 15 June 1863.  His record of service is in the book Connecticut men in the army and navy of the United States during the War of the Rebellion.[6] 

Stephen H. Oatley died on 15 June 1863 in Winchester, Virginia during the Civil War.[2,7]  He is buried in Westfield Cemetery in Danielson, Windham County, Connecticut.[2]

Susan Maria (Wood) Oatley died on 2 November 1890 at the age of 66 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.[8-9] She was buried after 2 November 1890 at Westfield Cemetery in Danielson, Windham, Connecticut.[9]

SOURCES:

1. Harry J. Oatley, The Oatley Family in America and Their Descendants (Providence, R.I. : The Oatley Family Association, 1970), page 40, Jonathan Oatley family sketch.

3. Find A Grave, imaged,  (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37404364/stephen-hazard-oatley : accessed 12 June 2025), Westfield Cemetery, Danielson, Conn., Stephen H. Oatley (1822-1863) memorial #37404364.

4. 1850 United States Federal Census, New London County, Connecticut, population schedule, Norwich, page 194/387 (stamped/penned), dwelling #2646, family #3288,Stephen H. Oatley household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/records/18297278 : accessed 5 June 2025); citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

5. 1860 United States Federal Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, Killingly, page 68 (penned), dwelling #539, family #557, Stephen H. Oatley household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/records/17601200 : accessed 5 June 2025); citing  1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.

 6.  "Connecticut men in the army and navy of the United States during the War of the Rebellion," imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/27180/images/dvm_LocHist011493-00351-0 : accessed 12 June 2025), "History of the Eighteenth Regiment C.V. Infantry," page 682 (image 695 of 1087), Stephen H. Oatley entry.

7. "Connecticut, U.S., Deaths and Burials, 1650-1934," indexed, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), Killingly, Conn., Stephen H. Oatley death entry, 14 June 1863.

8. "Connecticut, U.S., Deaths and Burials, 1650-1934" , Susan M. Wood Oatley entry.

9. Find A Grave, Westfield Cemetery, Danielson, Conn., Susan M. Wood Oatley (1824-1890) memorial # 74567724.

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

Stephen Hazard Oatley (1822-1863) is my 2nd great-granduncle and brother of my 2nd great-grandmother, Amy Frances Oatley (1826-1864).  

I have posted over 500 genealogical sketches of  my ancestors back through the 7th great-.grandparents and a number of close relatives.  Information about her father, Jonathan Oatley (1790-1872) in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 39: #46 Jonathan Oatley (1790-1872).

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 add links to 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/2025/06/52-relatives-2nd-great-granduncle_01769360504.html

Copyright (c) 2025, 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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