I've used FREE Artificial Intelligence tools to create biographies, poems and songs about my ancestors lives, genealogy research, and family history in the recent past. Today, I want to share a poem and a song about my third great-grandfather, Zachariah Hildreth.
(image created by ChatGPT4)
I uploaded a PDF of my genealogical sketch which has all of the information I have about the life of my 3rd great-grandfather Zachariah Hildreth - see 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 29: #36, Zachariah Hildreth (1783-1857).
1) The prompt I used was: "Please write a poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of Zachariah Hilreth (1783-1857) using the attached document."
2) I chose the poem created by Claude 3.7 Sonnet today:
THE COOP ER'S TALE
In Townsend's embrace, where spring blossoms sway,
A cooper's son was born that April day.
Zachariah Hildreth, steadfast and true,
Beneath New England skies of changing blue.
With Hannah by his side for forty-seven years,They weathered joy and sorrow, laughter and tears.Nine children blessed their home on Townsend soil,Where honest hands found purpose in daily toil.
The barrels he crafted with skilled, weathered hands,While tending to his fields and farming lands.A witness to a nation young and bold,As America's story began to unfold.
From Washington's time through changing days,He lived a life of quiet, steadfast ways.The farmhouse lights aglow through winter nights,As generations grew beneath his sight.
Two daughters called too soon to heaven's door,Their absence felt upon the household floor.Yet still the family circle carried on,Through seasons of harvest, through dusk and dawn.
When winter claimed him in his seventy-fourth year,Just days after Hannah, his partner dear,They rest together in Townsend's hallowed ground,Where generations since have peace profound.
So here's to Zachariah, whose legacy flows,Through branches of a family tree that grows.Not fame nor fortune marked his humble days,But love and labor worthy of our praise.
3) Here are the AI song lyrics created on Grok 3 used as custom lyrics on Suno.com), using an Americana storytelling style in an upbeat tempo. The link to the song is here: "The Cooper's Tale:"
THE COOPER'S TALE
Verse 1
In Townsend’s fields where the wild winds roam,
Zachariah Hildreth built his home.
Born in '83 when the nation was young,
A farmer’s heart, with a cooper’s tongue.
Through the soil and wood, he carved his way,
In the dawn of freedom’s brighter day.
Verse 2
With Hannah’s hand, he pledged his heart,
In autumn’s glow, their love would start.
Nine children came, some slipped away,
Clarissa and Harriet, too young to stay.
Yet through the tears, their love held strong,
In Townsend’s arms, they carried on.
Chorus
Oh, Zachariah, steady and true,
Built a life where the wildflowers grew.
With Hannah by his side, through joy and pain,
His legacy lives in the Townsend rain.
Verse 3
His barrels rolled through the market square,
Crafted with skill, with a cooper’s care.
The fields he tilled brought harvest’s yield,
A modest man with a heart of steel.
Through changing times, he stood his ground,
A Townsend soul, forever bound.
Chorus
Oh, Zachariah, steady and true,
Built a life where the wildflowers grew.
With Hannah by his side, through joy and pain,
His legacy lives in the Townsend rain.
Bridge
The world turned fast, with rails and steam,
Yet Zachariah chased a simpler dream.
Through war and growth, he saw it all,
Answering life’s unyielding call.
When sorrow came, he faced it still,
With faith as firm as the Townsend hill.
Verse 4
In ’57, their time was near,
Hannah went first, he followed, dear.
In New Cemetery, they rest as one,
With daughters lost beneath the sun.
But through their kin, their story flows,
In Hildreth blood, their spirit grows.
Chorus
Oh, Zachariah, steady and true,
Built a life where the wildflowers grew.
With Hannah by his side, through joy and pain,
His legacy lives in the Townsend rain.
Outro
So raise a glass to the man who stood,
With heart of oak and hands of wood.
In Townsend’s fields, his name will stay,
Zachariah Hildreth, forever and a day.
4) Here is the Audio Overview "podcast" file for Zachariah Hildreth from Google NotebookLM (based on the referenced genealogical sketch):
5) The AI tools do this so much better than I could, and weaves the poem and song along a story theme that is true and heartfelt. Each tool provides a different poem and song from the same prompt --I love fishing in all of the AI streams!! Frankly, doing the poems and song are the most genealogy fun I have every week!
6) These stories, told in verse and song, are part of my genealogy and family research. My hope is that they will be passed down to my grandchildren and their descendants to highlight the importance of sharing stories, memories, admiration, and love of our ancestors. I will add them to my Google Drive and to my YouTube channel and my FOREVER account.
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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.
Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver
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