The Anthropic Claude (now Sonnet 4) artificial intelligence tool can be used to write family-friendly biographies of my ancestors that might interest and engage my relatives and descendants to help them learn about and understand their ancestry. Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is one ancestor biography.
2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached the PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestor using the plus (+) icon, and then prompted the AI tool with: "You are an expert genealogist. Please create a biography based on information in the attached file, including parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places), summarize life events, and add historical facts as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members."
3) Here is the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 biography:
Jonathan White (1804-1850): A Life in New England
Early Life and Family Origins
Jonathan White was born around 1804 in the rural town of Glocester, Providence County, Rhode Island, during the early years of the American republic. He was the ninth child in a large family of ten children, and the fourth of five sons born to Humphrey and Sibel (Kirby) White, who had married in 1786.
Jonathan's father, Humphrey White (1757-1814), was a farmer who had established his family in Glocester during the late colonial period. His mother, Sibel Kirby White (1764-1848), came from the Kirby family lineage. The Humphrey White family was part of the close-knit farming community that characterized rural Rhode Island in the early 1800s. The Humphrey White farm was on the east side of what is now Reynolds Road in Glocester, near White’s Pond.
Growing Up in a Large Family
Jonathan grew up surrounded by his many siblings, creating a bustling household on the family farm. His siblings included:
- Meribah White (1787-????) - his eldest sister
- Benjamin White (1789-1863) - his older brother who would later play an important role in land transactions
- David White (1793-1853) - another older brother
- Elizabeth White (1795-1841) - sister who married Peleg Wood
- Humphrey White (1796-????) - brother named after their father
- Martha White (1797-1841) - sister
- Nancy White (1798-????) - sister who would later witness Jonathan's land purchases
- Rhoda White (1800-1862) - sister who married Erastus Clark
- William White (1807-1866) - his younger brother
This large family provided Jonathan with numerous connections and relationships that would prove valuable throughout his life, particularly in business dealings and land transactions.
Early Hardship and Resilience
Tragedy struck the White family when Jonathan was just nine years old. His father Humphrey died on January 15, 1814, leaving behind his widow Sibel with seven children aged 18 and younger. This loss thrust the family into difficult circumstances during a time when a father's death often meant economic hardship for the entire household.
Sibel White showed remarkable strength and determination in the face of adversity. She was appointed guardian of her four youngest children, including Jonathan, demonstrating the trust the community placed in her ability to care for and raise her family. The older children probably continued to work on the farm and help their mother carry on to support themselves during these challenging years.
Marriage and New Beginnings
As a young man, probably before 1823, Jonathan married Miranda Wade, likely in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island. Miranda was born on January 25, 1804, making her nearly the same age as Jonathan. She was the daughter of Simon and Phebe (Horton) Wade of Foster, connecting Jonathan to another established Rhode Island family.
This marriage represented a new chapter in Jonathan's life, as he transitioned from being one of many children in his mother's household to establishing his own family. Miranda would prove to be a devoted wife and mother, supporting Jonathan through their moves and life changes over the coming decades.
Building a Family Legacy
Jonathan and Miranda were blessed with three children who would carry on the White family name:
- Henry Arnold White was born around 1824 in Glocester. He would grow up to marry twice - first to Amy Frances Oatley on June 30, 1844, in Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut, and later to Almira Elizabeth Taft on June 29, 1866, back in Glocester, Rhode Island. Henry lived until August 1, 1885, dying in East Killingly, Connecticut.
- Albert Henry White was born on April 1, 1827, also in Glocester. He would marry Olive Almira Griffith on November 29, 1866, in Providence, Rhode Island. Albert lived a long life, passing away on February 11, 1910, in Putnam, Connecticut, at the age of 82.
- Harriet A. White was born around 1836 in Glocester, the youngest child and only daughter. She was still living with her parents in 1850, but after that time, the historical record becomes silent about her fate, leaving her story as one of the many mysteries that genealogists encounter in family research.
Establishing Roots Through Land Ownership
Jonathan understood the importance of land ownership in securing his family's future. In 1821, he made his first significant land purchase in Glocester, Rhode Island, buying property from his sister Elizabeth and her husband Peleg Wood. This transaction was witnessed by his sister Nancy, demonstrating how family members supported each other in important business dealings.
His land acquisitions continued as he purchased additional property in Glocester on April 3, 1824, from his brother Benjamin. Later that same year, on October 15, 1824, Jonathan and Benjamin together bought land from their sister Rhoda and her husband Erastus Clark. These transactions show Jonathan's methodical approach to building his land holdings and his collaborative relationship with his siblings.
Life in Glocester During the 1830s
The 1830 U.S. Census provides a snapshot of the Jonathan White household during their years in Glocester. The family consisted of five people: one male under age 5 (likely young Albert), one male age 5-10 (probably Henry), Jonathan himself as the male age 20 to 30, Miranda as a female age 20 to 30, and one female age 30-40 (possibly a relative or hired help).
During this period, Jonathan was establishing himself as a farmer and landowner in the community where he had grown up. Glocester in the 1830s was a rural farming community where families like the Whites formed the backbone of the local economy through agriculture and land stewardship.
The Move to Connecticut
By March 1839, significant changes were underway for the White family. Jonathan had relocated to Killingly, Connecticut, representing a major life transition, but only about ten miles distant from Glocester. From his new home in Connecticut, he sold the land in Glocester that he had purchased in 1821 to James White, with Miranda releasing her rights to the property and Simon Wade (Miranda's father) serving as a witness.
This move to Connecticut marked Jonathan's commitment to building a new life for his family in a different state. He began acquiring land in Killingly, Windham County, starting with a purchase on October 7, 1839, from Joseph Arnold. The family settled on Chestnut Hill in East Killingly, where Jonathan continued his work as a farmer.
Building a New Home in Killingly
Jonathan's commitment to his new Connecticut home was evident in his continued land purchases. On September 12, 1845, he bought additional property from Alvin Cutler, and on October 5, 1846, he acquired more land from Reuben Robinson. These transactions show Jonathan's steady building of his farming operation and his confidence in his chosen new home.
The 1840 U.S. Census for Killingly shows the family had grown and changed: the household included one male age 10-15 (likely son Albert), one male age 15-20 (likely son Henry), Jonathan as the male age 30-40, one female under age 5 (likely young Harriet), and Miranda as the female age 30-40.
Final Years and Family Responsibilities
Jonathan's mother, Sibel, lived until early 1848, dying in Glocester before March 11th of that year. Her intestate estate was settled with Jonathan paying $39.96 to the estate for a note he had taken, showing his continued financial responsibilities to his family of origin even after establishing his own household in Connecticut.
By 1850, Jonathan had built a substantial farming operation. The census that year showed that his son Albert, now 23, was the head of the family, which included Miranda and Harriet, and had $1,200 in real property, indicating the family's success in their Connecticut farming venture.
A Life Cut Short
Tragically, Jonathan's life came to an early end on April 19, 1850, in Killingly, Connecticut. At just 47 years old, he died of "lung fever" (likely pneumonia), a common cause of death in that era before modern medical treatments. His death record noted that he was white, a farmer, resided in Killingly, and was born in Glocester, Rhode Island.
Remarkably, Jonathan had the presence of mind to prepare for his family's future. On April 18, 1850—just one day before his death—he made his last will and testament, demonstrating his concern for his family's welfare even in his final moments.
Providing for His Family's Future
Jonathan's will reveals both his love for his family and his practical approach to securing their future. He appointed Deacon Samson B. Covill of Killingly as his executor, choosing a respected community member to oversee his estate.
In his will, Jonathan made careful provisions for each family member:
- He gave Miranda the use of all his Connecticut lands during her lifetime, along with household furniture to manage as she saw fit
- He bequeathed his Rhode Island lands to his sons Henry and Albert to share equally
- After Miranda's death, the Connecticut lands would also go to his sons, provided they pay their sister Harriet $200 within one year
- He required Miranda to provide room and board for Harriet until she married, including her clothing if she remained at home
- His sons were responsible for paying all debts and funeral expenses
The inventory of Jonathan's estate totaled $1,227.55, including real estate valued at $900, showing that he had indeed built a successful farming operation in Connecticut.
A Brief Widowhood
Miranda White's life was also cut tragically short. She died on August 27, 1850, in Killingly of pleurisy -- just four months and eight days after Jonathan's death. This left their children orphaned, with young Harriet (around 14 years old) likely going to live with one of her older brothers.
Final Rest
Jonathan and Miranda White were laid to rest together in the "White-Chace Lot" in Glocester, Providence County, Rhode Island, returning in death to the place where Jonathan had been born and spent his early years. Their gravestones stand as lasting memorials to a couple who worked hard to build a life for their family during the challenging but hopeful years of early 19th-century America.
Legacy and Historical Context
Jonathan White's life spanned a fascinating period in American history. Born during Thomas Jefferson's presidency in 1804, he lived through the War of 1812, the era of westward expansion, and the industrial changes that were beginning to transform New England. His move from Rhode Island to Connecticut reflected the mobility that characterized American life in this period, as families sought better opportunities and farmland.
His story represents that of countless American farming families who built the foundation of the nation through hard work, family cooperation, and careful stewardship of the land. The White family's emphasis on education, land ownership, and mutual support exemplifies the values that helped shape American society during the first half of the 19th century.
Jonathan's legacy lived on through his sons Henry and Albert, who continued to build on the foundation their parents had established, and through the family connections that bound the White, Wade, and related families together across the generations.
4) A poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of Jonathan White (1804-1850) can be found in "Jonathan White's Life" -- A Family History Poem, Song and Podcast Created by Artificial Intelligence. The song created from the song lyrics can be played in that blog post, and on Suno.com, and below:
6) I edited the Claude biography text to add more family detail and correct minor errors. Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write. I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts gleaned from my research." The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including local and national historical events and social history detail when requested.
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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