Ask NotebookLM AI: A Summarization of Information About Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)

I wrote several blog posts back in late 2024 about using the FREE Google NotebookLM artificial intelligence tool to summarize and analyze text about a subject, and enjoyed the "Audio Overviews" (essentially a podcast discussion about the subject) presented by this AI tool for each analysis.  See Google's NotebookLM Can Summarize Large Text Files Using AI - My First Notebook (3 October 2024) and Betty (Carringer) Seaver's Life Summary, Chat Q&A and Audio Overview Using the Google NotebookLM AI Feature (9 October 2024).

I now have 29 Notebooks (and "Audio Overviews") about my own life and the lives of some of my close ancestors (back through my 2nd great-grandparents).   

NotebookLM's graphic interface and capabilities have changed some over the past six months, and I want to share my latest interaction with the AI tool.  

1)  Here is the opening page for my NotebookLM site (after I sign in with my Google account):

The page now includes all of my Notebooks.  I can select "Most Recent" as above, or "Title" or "Shared With Me."  I can "Create new" another "Notebook."  I can open any of my existing Notebooks and add or edit source information. 

2)  The latest Notebook is for my 3rd great-grandfather, Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825).  I uploaded, as a source, a PDF of my blog post about his life (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 25: #32, Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)).  After I uploaded the source document, and worked with the different options, the NotebookLM screen looked like this:

There are three panels on the screen above.  I can collapse or expand the left and right panels, but not the center panel.  If I collapse the left and/or right panels, the center panel expands,

a)  In the left-hand "Sources" panel is the Source information.  If I had more source articles I could add them using the "Add source" button.  I can click on the link and the source article text will appear.

b)  In the center "Chat" panel, there is a very short summary of the source document(s).  I can click the "Save to note" button to save that information.  There are buttons below that to:"Add note" (using the "Start typing" field); an "Audio Overview" button to set off the Audio Overview (which appears at the top of the right-hand panel); and "Mind Map" which creates a mind map of significant information.   

In the "Start typing box, the user can click on each of the "suggested" topics and see the response, and then save the response as a note.  The user can also ask their own questions about the subject matter.  On the screen above, I selected the first "suggested" question which was "What broader historical context, such as military service and community roles, is revealed about Benjamin Seaver through this genealogy?"  After collapsing the left and right panels, I saw:

The user can expand the "Mind Map" button to show each event in the map:

c)  In the right-hand "Studio" panel, the "Audio Overview" feature can be listened to by clicking the Play button.  Below that area, there are "Notes."  All of the saved Notes can be found there.  There are some suggested "Notes" - "Study Guide," "Briefing doc," "FAQ" and "Timeline."  

3)  The "Audio Interview" can be played, shared downloaded or deleted using the icons to the right of the subject title.  Here is a link to this "Audio Overview" (which is 23 minutes in length!):

https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/15a19819-4adc-456c-a720-4a180aaeeb4c/audio

The "Audio Overview" description says "Generated by AI based on user-provided sources and instructions."

I download the Audio Overview" and then use an audio-to-text tool called TurboScribe to save (and edit) the text in a word processing document.  Consistent spelling of surnames and place names are a challenge sometimes.

4)  I really like the "Briefing Document" created by NotebookLM.  Here is the "Briefing Document" text (copied from the screen above):

Briefing Document: Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825) Ancestor Biography 

• Date: October 26, 2023 Source: Excerpts from "geneamusings.com - 52 Ancestors - Week 25: #32 Benjamin Seaver 1791-1825.pdf" and accompanying webpage. 
• Author: Randall J. Seaver (geneamusings.com) Subject: Biographical information on Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825), a 3rd great-grandfather of the author.
• Purpose: To summarize the key biographical details, life events, and family connections of Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825) as presented in the provided source.

Main Themes and Important Ideas/Facts:

This document presents a detailed genealogical sketch of Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825) as part of a "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" blogging challenge. The author, Randall J. Seaver, meticulously compiles information from various primary and secondary sources to paint a picture of his ancestor's life. Key themes and facts include:

Vital Statistics and Family:

• Birth: Benjamin Seaver was born on November 15, 1791, in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts. The Westminster Town Records confirm this, stating: "November 15th 1791. Benjamin Seaver Jun^r born".
• Parents: His parents were Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816) and Martha Whitney (1764-1832).
• Marriage: He married Abigail Gates (1797-1867) on March 2, 1817, in Westminster. The marriage record notes: "Feb^y 15 1817; Mr. Benjamin Sever and Miss Abigail Gates both of Westminster March 2; published for marriage as the law directs." Notably, his surname was recorded as "Sever" in this instance, highlighting the alternate spelling of the name.
• Children: Benjamin and Abigail had four children: Abigail (1817-1899), Lucinda (1821-1899), Isaac (1823-1901) (the author's direct ancestor), and Benjamin (1825-1836).
• Death and Burial: Benjamin Seaver died on May 25, 1825, in Westminster at the age of 33. The Westminster Town Records state: "Benjamin Sever, parent of the above family, died May 25th 1825 aged 33 years and 5 Months". He is buried in Whitmanville Cemetery in Westminster. His gravestone inscription reads: "Benjamin Seaver died May 25 1825 AE. 33". 

Occupation and Residence:

Benjamin Seaver lived his entire life in Westminster, Massachusetts.

He was "apparently a farmer or yeoman," suggesting his primary occupation was likely agricultural. 

Military Service:

He served in the War of 1812 in Captain Rice's company, Colonel Messenger's regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia around the age of 21. 

Property and Inheritance:

• Inheritance: In 1817, he inherited a portion (1/10th) of his father's estate. Specifically, on May 22, 1817, he "received 51 acres and 132 rods of the home farm, and agreed to pay each of the minor children (of his father) $28."
• Land Transactions: The document details several land transactions:
• In 1818, he bought 1.5 acres in Gardner that his father had previously purchased. In this transaction, he is referred to as "Benjamin Sever, yeoman of Gardner."
• Also in 1818, he bought the land in Westminster that was the share of his minor siblings for $1,480. The source notes that these land transactions involved an auction where the highest bidder refused, leading to a direct agreement with Benjamin.
• In 1823, he sold land in Westminster to his brother, Isaac Seaver, for $780. The boundaries of this land are described, mentioning neighboring landowners.
• In 1825, shortly before his death, he bought 15 acres and 22 rods of land in Westminster for $300.

 Census Records:

The 1820 US Census places the Benjamin Seaver family in Westminster. The household included one male aged 26-45, one female aged 0-10, and one female aged 16 to 26, likely representing Benjamin, his wife Abigail, and their two eldest daughters at the time. 

Estate and Probate:

• Benjamin Seaver died intestate (without a will) in 1825.
• His widow, Abigail Seaver, filed a petition for administration of his estate on June 8, 1825, stating she was "altogether unacquainted with doing business and besides she is left with four young children to take care of and that it will be impossible for her to administer upon said estate."
• John Jackson of Westminster was nominated as administrator.
• The estate was valued at $1000 in real estate (the Home Farm) and $996.10 in personal estate.
• The estate was later declared insolvent in March 1826, and a commission was formed to address debts. Real estate was petitioned for sale to pay these debts.
• In May 1827, John Jackson's account of the estate showed a small balance to be paid to the widow "to enable her to uphold life," highlighting the difficult financial circumstances of the family after Benjamin's death.
• Abigail Seaver was appointed guardian of her four minor children in April 1826.

Surname Variation:

The document notes that Benjamin Seaver's surname was spelled both "Seaver" and "Sever" in various records. 

Conclusion:

The biography of Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825) provides a detailed snapshot of the life of an early 19th-century Massachusetts farmer and family man. Through meticulous research in town records, census data, probate documents, and cemetery inscriptions, the author reconstructs Benjamin's life, including his birth, marriage, military service, land ownership, family, and untimely death. The information reveals the challenges faced by his widow and young children after his passing, underscoring the importance of family and community in that era. The document serves as a valuable record for genealogical research, preserving details of Benjamin Seaver's life for his descendants.

5)  I also like the Timeline - it produced this information for Benjamin Seaver:

Here is a detailed timeline of the main events covered in the source, followed by a cast of characters with brief bios:

Timeline of Main Events 

• November 15, 1791: Benjamin Seaver (the subject of the biography) was born in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Circa 1812: Benjamin Seaver served in Captain Rice's company, Colonel Messenger's regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia during the War of 1812.
• February 15, 1817: The intention of marriage between Mr. Benjamin Sever and Miss Abigail Gates, both of Westminster, was published.
• March 2, 1817: Benjamin Seaver (as Benjamin Sever) and Abigail Gates were married in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts.
• May 22, 1817: Benjamin Seaver inherited part of his father's estate in Westminster, including 51 acres and 132 rods of the home farm, and agreed to pay his minor siblings a total of $140.
• January 4, 1818: Benjamin Seaver (as Benjamin Sever, yeoman of Gardner) bought 1.5 acres of land in Gardner, Worcester, Massachusetts, that his father had previously purchased from Josiah Kendal, for $32.
• January 4, 1818: Benjamin Seaver bought land in Westminster which constituted the entire real estate allocated to his minor siblings Martha, Silas, Isaac, Rozilla, and Mary Jane Seaver. Heman Ray, their guardian, represented them in the transaction, and the price was $1480.
• June 1, 1820: The US Census recorded Benjamin Seaver's family residing in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts. The household included one male aged 26-45, one female aged 0-10, and one female aged 16-26.
• April 19, 1823: Benjamin Seaver, yeoman, and his wife Abigail sold land in the northerly part of Westminster to his brother, Isaac Seaver, for $780.
• February 1, 1825: Benjamin Seaver bought 15 acres and 22 rods of land in Westminster from Gilman Thurston and Moses Thurston for $300.
• May 25, 1825: Benjamin Seaver died in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, at the age of 33 years and 5 months.
• After May 25, 1825: Benjamin Seaver was buried in Whitmanville Cemetery in Westminster, Massachusetts.
• June 8, 1825: Abigail Seaver, Benjamin's widow, filed a petition for administration of his estate with the Worcester County Probate Court, stating her unfamiliarity with business and the responsibility of caring for four young children.
• July 5, 1825: An inventory of Benjamin Seaver's estate was taken, showing real estate valued at $1000 and personal estate at $996.10.
• October 4, 1825: Abigail Seaver's dower rights to the estate were granted.
• March 23, 1826: Benjamin Seaver's estate was represented as insolvent.
• April 1, 1826: Abigail Seaver was appointed guardian of her four minor children.
• May 17, 1827: An advertisement for the sale of the personal estate was printed. John Jackson's account of the estate was allowed, with a balance to be paid to the widow.
• October 6, 1827: An inventory of the property belonging to Benjamin Seaver's four minor children was filed, valued at $30.

Cast of Characters 

• Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825): The central figure of the biography. He was born in Westminster, Massachusetts, served in the War of 1812, married Abigail Gates in 1817, inherited and bought land in Westminster and Gardner, and died at the age of 33. He was described as a farmer or yeoman.
• Abigail Gates Seaver (1797-1867): Benjamin Seaver's wife, whom he married in 1817. After Benjamin's death, she petitioned for administration of his estate and was appointed guardian of their four minor children. The gravestone inscription indicates she later married an Isaac Seaver.
• Isaac Seaver III (1823-1901): Son of Benjamin and Abigail Seaver. He is the ancestor through whom the author of the blog post is descended. He married Lucretia T. Smith.
• Lucretia T. Smith (1828-1884): Wife of Isaac Seaver III.
• Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922): Son of Isaac Seaver III and Lucretia T. Smith. He married Hattie Louisa Hildreth.
• Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920): Wife of Frank Walton Seaver.
• Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942): Son of Frank Walton Seaver and Hattie Louisa Hildreth. He married Alma Bessie Richmond.
• Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962): Wife of Frederick Walton Seaver.
• Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983): Son of Frederick Walton Seaver and Alma Bessie Richmond. He married Betty Virginia Carringer.
• Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002): Wife of Frederick Walton Seaver.
• Randall J. Seaver (1943-....): The author of the blog post and a direct descendant of Benjamin and Abigail Seaver.
• Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816): Father of the subject of the biography. His estate was partitioned in 1817.
• Martha Whitney (1764-1832): Mother of the subject of the biography.
• Abigail Seaver (1817-1899): Daughter of Benjamin and Abigail Seaver.
• Lucinda Seaver (1821-1899): Daughter of Benjamin and Abigail Seaver.
• Benjamin Seaver (1825-1836): Son of Benjamin and Abigail Seaver, born in the year of his father's death.
• Martha Seaver, Silas Seaver, Isaac Seaver, Rozilla Seaver, Mary Jane Seaver: Minor siblings of the subject of the biography who inherited part of their father's estate.
• Josiah Kendal: Individual from whom Benjamin Seaver's father purchased land that the younger Benjamin later bought.
• Heman Ray: Guardian of Benjamin Seaver's minor siblings who represented them in the land sale to Benjamin.
• Isaac Seaver (brother): Brother of the subject of the biography, who bought land from him in 1823.
• Merari Spaulding, Heirs of Jabez Fairbanks, John Jackson, Asa Rand, Daniel Howe, Hannah Whitney: Neighbors whose land bordered the property sold by Benjamin Seaver to his brother Isaac.
• Gilman Thurston: Yeoman of Westminster who sold land to Benjamin Seaver in 1825.
• Moses Thurston: Yeoman of Cambridge, VT, who also sold land to Benjamin Seaver in 1825.
• Benjamin Bigelow (deceased): Previous owner of the farm from which Benjamin Seaver bought land in 1825.
• Jonas Whitney, Nathan Merriam: Neighbors whose land bordered the property bought by Benjamin Seaver in 1825.
• Captain Rice: Captain of the company in which Benjamin Seaver served during the War of 1812.
• Colonel Messenger: Colonel of the regiment in which Benjamin Seaver served during the War of 1812.
• John Jackson: Of Westminster, nominated by Abigail Seaver as administrator of Benjamin's estate. He posted bond and presented an account of the estate.
• Merari Spaulding, Daniel Howe: Sureties on the $10,000 bond for the administration of Benjamin Seaver's estate.
• Edward Kendall, Zebina Spaulding, Daniel Howe: Individuals who took the inventory of Benjamin Seaver's estate.
• Daniel Howe, Zebina Spaulding, Benjamin F. Wood: Individuals appointed to set out the widow's dower rights.
• Edward Kendall, Simeon Sanderson: Commissioners formed when Benjamin Seaver's estate was declared insolvent.
• Isaac Seaver, Nathan Wetherbee, Henry Collidge Jr.: Sureties on the $5000 bond for Abigail Seaver's guardianship of her children.

Ah, the FAN [Family, Associates, Neighbors) Club!  All in one list.  [Of course, I had to transcribe the records that created the information. AI Tools can do this also!]

6)  Did I  mention that I love how Google's NotebookLM AI tool describes and analyzes available text(s)? 

Did I mention that this is FREE to use?  There can be a limitation on how many can be produced each day.  

Did I mention that Notebook LM performs these tasks without user prompts in a matter of seconds (although the audio overview takes minutes to generate)?  And the user can ask questions on particular issues if desired?  

All you need is source material:  The source material could be notes from a number of sources, a blog post, a periodical article, book pages, etc.  NotebookLM then produces a series of articles and lists that the user can use to better understand the subject matter, plus an audio overview (e.g., a podcast) that discusses the subject matter.  The articles and audio delve into the material and adds social and historical context in some cases. 

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See all of my Artificial Intelligence-related posts at AI and Genealogy Compendium.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

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