Every ancestor has a unique life, and has their own stories based on their life experiences from birth to death. I want to hear about my third great-grandfather Jonathan Oatley's unique stories. Since no family stories have been passed down from Jonathan Oatley's line, I am using Artificial Intelligence tools, to generate story ideas and to write the stories, which are then edited for accuracy and content, and then published on this blog.
I attached my genealogical sketch (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 39: #46 Jonathan Oatley (1790-1872)) for the AI tool to use to provide the questions or ideas, and then asked the AI tool to provide the answers to the questions based on the information in my genealogical sketch, historical events, cultural background, etc.
1) Here is the AI prompt that I'm using for the free AI tool Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 for story ideas, and a two-paragraph summary of the answers: "Please provide ten unique interview questions to ask Jonathan Oatley (1790-1872) about his life experiences in 1870 based on the attached report. Provide two-paragraph answers to each question."
2) The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 response to my prompt for my 2nd great-grandfather David Auble (lightly edited) was:
Interview with Rev. Jonathan Oatley
in 1870
1. Reverend Oatley, you've lived through eight decades of American history. What has been the most significant change you've witnessed in your lifetime?
The most profound transformation I've witnessed has been the great shift from an agricultural society to one increasingly dominated by industry and commerce. When I was born in 1790, most families lived much as their grandfathers had—farming small plots, making their own necessities, and rarely venturing far from home. The roads were poor, communication was slow, and news from distant places might take weeks to reach us in South Kingstown.
Now, in my eightieth year, I see railroads connecting our towns, telegraph wires carrying messages across vast distances in mere hours, and factories producing goods that once required skilled craftsmen. The recent war between the states demonstrated both the terrible power of modern weaponry and the remarkable ability of our nation to mobilize resources on an unprecedented scale. Yet through all these changes, I've found that human nature remains constant—people still need spiritual guidance, families still require love and structure, and communities still depend on neighbors helping one another.
2. You moved your large family from Rhode Island to Connecticut in 1834. What prompted this significant relocation, and how did you manage such an undertaking with twelve children?
The decision to leave South Kingstown was not made lightly, as my roots ran deep in Rhode Island soil—my father Joseph Oatley had land there, and the Hazard and Champlin families were well-established in the community. However, I felt called by the Lord to minister to the Baptist congregation in East Killingly, Connecticut, and the opportunity to serve seemed providential. The South Kingstown church had given me their blessing with a letter of recommendation, which eased my conscience about the move.
Managing the relocation of Amy and our twelve children was indeed a monumental task. We had to sell our property in South Kingstown, pack our essential belongings, and arrange transportation for such a large family. The older children—John, Joseph, and Almira—were already teenagers and could help with the younger ones during the journey. Amy, bless her soul, showed tremendous courage in supporting this venture, even though it meant leaving behind familiar surroundings and the graves of family members. We trusted in Providence to provide for our needs, and indeed, the community in East Killingly welcomed us warmly when we arrived in 1834.
3. Tell us about your work in the granite quarries. How did you balance your calling as a minister with the physical demands of quarrying and stone cutting?
The Lord provides for his servants in many ways, and for our family, He provided through the granite deposits near Killingly Old Pond. When I first arrived in Connecticut, I discovered that the area was rich in fine granite, and my sons and I learned the trade of quarrying and stone cutting. This work required great physical strength and skill—splitting the stone along its natural grain, shaping blocks with hand tools, and moving heavy pieces to their destinations. My hands, as you can see, bear the scars and calluses of decades working with stone and steel.
Rather than seeing this work as separate from my ministry, I found it complemented my pastoral duties beautifully. Working alongside other men in the quarry provided countless opportunities for spiritual conversation and counsel. Many a soul was touched while we labored together, and the honest work of providing building materials for the community seemed to me a form of Christian service. The granite steps we cut for the church in "Kentuck" will likely outlast us all—there's something profoundly satisfying about creating something permanent and useful that will serve future generations. Even now, though I'm too aged for the heavy work, I take pride in seeing those same steps serving the Union Baptist Church here in East Killingly.
4. The church records indicate you and your family were excluded from fellowship in 1847 but restored in 1853. What happened during those difficult years?
Those were indeed dark days for our family, and I confess that pride and human frailty played their part in the troubles that befell us. Without going into the specific details that caused such pain to many good Christian people, I will say that disagreements arose within the congregation about matters of church governance and discipline. As pastor, I perhaps held too firmly to my convictions and did not show sufficient Christian charity toward those who disagreed with me. My wife Amy, faithful soul that she was, stood by me, as did several of our children, but this loyalty cost them their fellowship as well.
The six years of exclusion were a time of great spiritual testing for our family. We continued our private devotions and Bible study, but the formal sacraments and the comfort of congregational worship were denied to us. I spent many hours in prayer and self-examination, asking the Lord to reveal where I had erred and to soften my heart toward forgiveness. When the invitation for restoration came in 1853, I was humbled and grateful. Brother Covill, the church clerk, showed great Christian spirit in facilitating our return to fellowship. Those years taught me that even ministers are fallible men, and that the body of Christ is stronger than any individual's shortcomings.
5. You've raised fourteen children to adulthood, losing only one in infancy. What principles guided your approach to fatherhood and family leadership?
Raising such a large family required both divine guidance and practical wisdom that Amy and I developed together over the years. Our fundamental principle was that children are gifts from the Almighty, entrusted to us for training in righteousness and preparation for useful lives in His service. We insisted upon daily family devotions, regular church attendance, and the memorization of Scripture from an early age. Each child learned to read using the Bible, and we encouraged them to ask questions about matters of faith and conduct.
Practically speaking, we believed in the dignity of honest labor and the importance of self-reliance. The older children helped care for the younger ones, and as soon as they were able, all participated in the work of the household and farm. My sons learned the stone-cutting trade alongside me, while my daughters mastered the domestic arts under Amy's careful instruction. We were firm but fair in discipline, quick to correct wrongdoing but equally quick to praise good behavior. Most importantly, we tried to demonstrate Christian love in our daily interactions with one another. I'm proud to say that all our surviving children have established godly households of their own and remain committed to the faith in which they were raised.
6. Your wife Amy passed away five years ago after more than fifty years of marriage. How do you cope with such a profound loss at this stage of life?
Amy's death in February of 1865 was the greatest earthly sorrow I have ever endured. For fifty-two years, she was my helpmeet, my counselor, and my dearest friend. She bore our fourteen children with grace and courage, supported my ministry through times of both blessing and trial, and managed our large household with remarkable efficiency and love. The phthisis that claimed her was a cruel disease, and I watched helplessly as it slowly weakened her body, though her spirit remained strong until the end.
In these five years since her passing, I have found comfort in the certain hope of Christian resurrection and the expectation of our reunion in glory. Daily Scripture reading and prayer sustain me, as does the loving care of our children, particularly our son Joseph, in whose home I now reside. I often walk to the Bartlett Cemetery to visit her grave and speak with her as if she were still present—telling her about the grandchildren's accomplishments, the weather, the news from our scattered family members. The apostle Paul reminds us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and I find great peace in knowing that Amy has been released from all earthly suffering and now enjoys perfect rest in our Savior's presence.
7. At age 80, you remain remarkably active. What has been the secret to your longevity and continued good health?
I attribute my continued vigor primarily to the Lord's blessing and perhaps to the active life I've always led. Working in the granite quarries required physical strength and endurance that kept my body strong well into my later years. Even now, I maintain daily routines of walking and light work around Joseph's property. I believe that remaining useful and engaged with life's activities, rather than retreating into idle retirement, helps preserve both physical and mental faculties.
My dietary habits have always been simple and moderate—plain food, taken in reasonable quantities, with little indulgence in spirits or rich fare. Amy was an excellent cook who provided nourishing meals for our large family without extravagance. I've also found that maintaining regular hours for sleep and rising serves the body well. Perhaps most importantly, I've tried to keep my mind active through continued study of Scripture, reading of improving literature, and engagement with the concerns of family and community. A man who stops learning and growing begins to die, regardless of his physical age.
8. Looking back on your pastoral ministry, what do you consider your most important spiritual accomplishments?
My greatest joy as a minister has been witnessing the transformation that occurs when individuals truly accept Christ as their personal Savior. In both South Kingstown and East Killingly, I had the privilege of baptizing new converts and watching them grow in faith and Christian character. The baptismal services at the Exeter church, where both Amy and I were baptized before our marriage, remain among my most precious memories—seeing young people publicly declare their faith and older converts find peace with God after years of struggle.
Beyond individual conversions, I take satisfaction in having helped establish strong, Bible-centered congregations that continue their ministry long after my active service ended. The churches I served are still proclaiming the Gospel, supporting missions, and caring for their communities. I also find fulfillment in knowing that several of my own children have maintained leadership roles in their local churches, carrying forward the spiritual legacy that Amy and I tried to establish in our home. A minister's true success is not measured in eloquent sermons or large congregations, but in the lasting fruit of changed lives and faithful disciples who continue the work of the Kingdom.
9. You recently made a remarkable journey on foot from Connecticut back to Rhode Island at age 75. What motivated this pilgrimage, and what did you discover there?
That walk to South Kingstown was perhaps an old man's folly, but I felt compelled to revisit the scenes of my youth and reconnect with family and friends while I still had strength for such a journey. The distance seemed much greater than when I was young, and my legs reminded me of every mile, but my heart grew lighter with each step toward home. I wanted to see once more the land where my father Joseph had lived, the church where Amy and I had worshipped in our early married years, and the graves of family members who had passed on.
What I discovered was both the permanence and the transience of human life. Many of the houses and stone walls remained exactly as I remembered them, yet so many of the faces I had known were gone. Some of my contemporaries had died, others had moved away, but their children and grandchildren welcomed me warmly and wanted to hear stories of the old days. I spent time with surviving relatives, sharing memories and learning about family members I had lost touch with over the years. The journey reminded me that while our earthly pilgrimage is brief, the bonds of family and faith endure across generations. It was a fitting preparation for my own approaching departure from this world.
10. As you approach the end of your long life, what wisdom would you want to pass on to younger generations about living faithfully through changing times?
The most important truth I can share is that while the external circumstances of life may change dramatically—as they certainly have during my eighty years—the fundamental principles of Christian living remain constant. Fear God, honor your parents, love your neighbor, work honestly, speak truthfully, and trust in the Lord's providence through all seasons of life. These precepts served our ancestors well, they have sustained me through decades of joy and sorrow, and they will guide future generations through whatever challenges await them.
I would also counsel young people to value the institution of marriage and the blessing of family above worldly success or material accumulation. Amy and I began our married life with little more than faith and determination, yet we raised fourteen children, served our communities, and found deep satisfaction in simple pleasures—a well-tended garden, a warm hearth, children's laughter, and the fellowship of believers. In this age of rapid change and increasing complexity, don't lose sight of these enduring sources of human happiness. Finally, remember that each generation has the responsibility to preserve and pass on the faith to their children. The Gospel that sustained the apostles, the reformers, and the pioneers who settled this land is the same Gospel that will carry your descendants through whatever trials may come. Hold fast to it, and teach it faithfully to those who come after you.
3) All of this AI material is historical fiction since I don't have details of every day or every year in the lives of my ancestors. Each ancestor has a unique life, and has unique family, economic, historical and social experiences. I don't know about the thoughts, education, wisdom, decisions, temperaments, emotions, figures of speech, or sound of the voice of any of my ancestors older than my parents and maternal grandparents. This view of my ancestor is postiive and uplifting.
My ancestors, and everyone else's, were human -- happy, sad, imperfect, innocent at times, craven at times, saintly at times, perhaps evil at times. They survived childhood, had to support themselves and their family. They had health, social and economic challenges, and almost all of them did the best they could with their life situations.
4) Does it matter if I am presenting these as seemingly real answers or conversations? I don't think so - because my purpose is to enable my relatives to know who their ancestors were and to help them understand the lives of their ancestors. The AI-generated responses are much better than any response I have in my memory bank or thast I can dream up.
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