The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT4, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta, CoPilot, GenSpark, and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise (or verbose) format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.
1) I wondered if the FREE AI tools could write a genealogical sketch using information from an Ancestry Member Tree profile PDF document.
On my Ancestry Member Tree, I created a PDF from the profile of my 3rd great-grandfather, Henry Carringer (1800-1879) (the information was previously posted in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 41: #48 Henry Carringer (1800-1879)). The process of creating the PDF was discussed and described in In Search Of the Perfect Genealogical Sketch.
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Here is my prompt for the free Claude Sonnet 3.7: "Please create a draft biography from the attached file, including parents, siblings, spouses and children (all with birth and death years), summarize life events, and add historical facts as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be casual and suitable for family members."
2) Here is the resulting "expanded" response from Claude Sonnet 3.7:
Henry Carringer (1800-1879)
Early Life
Henry Carringer (also known as Heinrich Carringer or Henry Caringer) was born on June 6, 1800, in Sandy Creek, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. His birth date comes from the Martin Carringer family Bible, with pages preserved in Martin's Revolutionary War Pension File. His gravestone suggests a slightly different birth date of June 25, 1800, based on his age at death (78 years, 9 months, 26 days), but the family Bible record is generally considered more reliable.
Henry was the son of Martin Carringer (1758-1835) and Maria Magdalena Houx (1768-1850). His father Martin was a Revolutionary War veteran who settled in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
Henry grew up with several siblings in what was likely a busy household:
• Johann Jacob Carringer (1785-1865)
• Maria Elisabetha Carringer (1789-1850)
• Catherine Carringer (1792-1866)
• George Carringer (1795-1870)
• Calli Carringer (1797-1810)
• Soloman Carringer (1802-1820)
• Joseph Carringer (1805-1869)
The family faced early tragedy when Henry's sister Calli died before 1810 when Henry was about 9 years old. His younger brother Soloman died after 1820 when Henry was around 20. Growing up in early 19th century rural Pennsylvania, Henry would have helped with farming and other chores from a young age, learning the agricultural skills that would support him throughout his life.
Marriage and Family
Henry married Sarah Feather around 1825 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, when he was about 25 years old and she was about 21. While no marriage record has been found, their relationship is confirmed in the 1855 writ of partition in the estate records of Cornelius Feather (Sarah's father) in Mercer County, which identifies Sarah as the wife of Henry Carringer.
Between 1827 and 1848, Henry and Sarah had ten children:
1. Eliza Carringer (1827-1914), born June 1, 1827
2. David Jackson "D.J." Carringer (1828-1902), born November 4, 1828
3. George W. Carringer (1832-1880)
4. Cornelius A. Carringer (1834-1916), born December 7, 1834
5. Mary Carringer (1835-1908), born November 1835
6. Sarah Carringer (1837-1881)
7. Henry Carringer (1839-1862)
8. Louisa M. Carringer (1842-?)
9. Matilda Spangler Carringer (1845-1911), born April 1845
10. Harvey M. Carringer (1848-1870)
Census records paint a picture of a growing family. The 1830 census shows Henry and Sarah with two young children. By 1840, their household had grown significantly.
Tragically, Sarah died on April 9, 1848, in Perry, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, shortly after the birth of their youngest child, Harvey. At age 47, Henry was left to raise ten children ranging from infants to young adults. The 1850 census shows Henry as a single father managing his household and farm with the help of his older children.
Through the estate of Sarah's father, Cornelius Feather, her children received $89.95 to divide between them—a modest inheritance that would have provided some financial assistance after their mother's death.
Life in Pennsylvania
Henry was a farmer throughout his years in Pennsylvania, gradually building his assets and providing for his large family. The census records show his progress over the decades:
In the 1830 census, the Henry Carringer household in Sandy Creek township included one male under 5, one male age 20-30, one female under 5, and one female age 20-30—representing Henry, Sarah, and their first two children.
By the 1840 census, still in Sandy Creek township, the household had grown considerably, including:
• One male under 5
• Two males age 5-10
• One male age 10-15
• One male age 30-40 (Henry)
• One female under 5
• One female age 5-10
• One female age 10-15
• One female age 30-40 (Sarah)
• One female age 70-80 (possibly Henry's mother or mother-in-law)
The 1850 census, taken after Sarah's death, shows Henry as head of household with property valued at $2,000—a substantial sum for that time. His occupation is listed as "farmer." The census shows most of his children still living at home, with several attending school, indicating Henry's commitment to their education despite being a single father. His mother, Mary Carringer, age 82, was also living with the family at this time.
By 1860, Henry's financial situation had improved further. The census records his real property at $3,200 and personal property at $643. He continued farming in Perry township, Mercer County, with many of his children still at home. His son George, age 28, was also listed as a farmer with $100 in personal property.
During this period, Henry experienced several family losses. His father Martin died on January 25, 1835. His mother Maria Magdalena Houx lived until August 31, 1850. His sister Maria Elisabetha died on November 20, 1850. More tragically, his son Henry Jr. died on December 26, 1862, during the Civil War era, though it's not specified if his death was war-related.
Move to Iowa
Sometime between 1860 and 1864, Henry decided to relocate with most of his family to Louisa County, Iowa. This move followed the path of his son David Jackson Carringer and daughter Eliza (Carringer) Robinson, who had already established their families in Louisa County around 1858.
The westward migration reflected a common pattern for American families of the era, seeking more affordable land and new opportunities. Iowa had achieved statehood in 1846 and was attracting many settlers from eastern states.
On February 15, 1864, Henry purchased significant landholdings in Louisa County for $1,200 from William McCullough. His purchase included:
• The North half of the South 20 acres of the Northwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 19 in Township 75 North of Range 4 West
• 40 acres of the Northwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section 29, Township 75 North of Range 5
This land transaction established the Carringer family in their new Iowa home. Henry's brother Joseph also moved to Iowa and died there on June 8, 1869, in Columbus City, suggesting the brothers may have maintained close ties even in their new location.
Later Years and Death
The 1870 census provides our last glimpse of Henry's household in Columbus City township, Louisa County, Iowa. At age 69, he was still working as a farmer, with real property valued at $2,000 and personal property worth $1,117. Living with him were:
• Mary Carringer, age 25, keeping house
• Louisa Carringer, age 21, working in town
• Harvey Carringer, age 22, working on the farm
That same year brought more heartache when Henry's youngest son Harvey died on November 26, 1870, at just 22 years old.
Henry Carringer lived for nearly another decade. He died on April 20, 1879, in Columbus City, Louisa County, Iowa, at the age of 78 years, 9 months, and 26 days, according to his gravestone inscription. He was buried in Columbus City Cemetery, where his marker still stands today.
Throughout his nearly eight decades of life, Henry witnessed enormous changes in America, from the early years of the republic through the Civil War and Reconstruction. He lived through the administrations of 15 U.S. presidents, from John Adams to Rutherford B. Hayes.
Estate and Legacy
Following Henry's death, detailed probate records document the settlement of his estate. D.W. Moore was appointed administrator, and the court proceedings identified all heirs-at-law:
• Wilbert H. Carringer (minor grandson, son of George W. Carringer)
• Matilda Moore (daughter) and husband John S. Moore
• David J. Carringer (son) and wife Rebecca
• Eliza Robinson (daughter)
• Mary C. McLaughlin (formerly Mary C. Carringer, widow of George W. Carringer and wife of James W. McLaughlin)
• Mary Carringer and Louisa M. Carringer (daughters)
• Cornelius S. Carringer (son) and wife Elizabeth
The court directed the administrator to sell Henry's real estate to pay creditors' claims, with any remaining funds to be distributed to the heirs. An inventory submitted to the court on September 13, 1881, showed that no personal property came into the administrator's hands, suggesting Henry may have distributed his personal belongings before his death or had limited possessions at the end of his life.
Mary Carringer filed claims against the estate for $1,379.33, which the court ordered to be paid from the assets. This substantial claim suggests she may have been caring for Henry in his later years or had otherwise provided financial support.
James M. McLaughlin was initially appointed guardian for Henry's grandson Wilbert on May 25, 1880, in Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York. However, Francis I. Moore was later appointed guardian for Wilbert in Louisa County. As a minor heir, Wilbert received $125.40 from his grandfather's estate on July 2, 1882.
On October 29, 1881, Eliza Robinson sold her one-sixth share of Henry's estate to her sisters Mary and Louisa M. Carringer for just $1, suggesting close family ties or perhaps a prior private arrangement.
Henry's legacy lives on through his numerous descendants who spread throughout the Midwest and beyond. From his birth in Pennsylvania in 1800 to his death in Iowa in 1879, Henry Carringer's life spanned a formative period in American history. He experienced the transformation of the young United States from a coastal nation to one expanding rapidly westward—a journey he personally undertook when moving his family to Iowa in his sixties. His story reflects the resilience, hard work, and family devotion characteristic of many American pioneers of his generation.
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My blog posts, and those of other genealogists, using Artificial Intelligence tools are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.
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