The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, Gemini, Grok, Meta, Grok, and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.
Over twenty of my ancestors served in the Revolutionary War between 1775 and 1783. The service records of these men are documented in the military records and pension files available in books, on Ancestry.com, Fold3.com, FamilySearch.org, and other websites.
My 5th great-grandfather, Robert Seaver (1734-1787) resided in Westminster, Massachusetts in the 1770s, and served as a sergeant of his local militia company in 1775 which marched to Cambridge on the Lexington and Concord alarm on 19 April 1775. He also served two different periods in Rhode Island as part of different companies and regiments in the 1777-1779 time frame. I wondered what his military experience was like, and what was accomplished by his company and regiment in those service terms. See 52 Ancestors - Week 105: #128 Norman Seaver (1734-1787) for details of Norman's life.
I asked the free Artificial Intelligence LLMs OpenAI ChatGP T4, Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4, X Grok 3, and Google Gemini 2.5 Flash to provide information about Robert's service.
1) My Prompt was (based on what I know about Norman's service from my genealogical sketch):
"My 5th great-grandfather Norman Seaver (1734-1787) of Westminster MA was briefly in the Massachusetts militia in April 1775 (marched to Lexington MA); in April to December 1777 (served in Providence RI); and in June to December 1778 (served in North Kingstown RI).
"For the 1775 service, Norman was a Sergeant in Captain Noah Miles company which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775 to Cambridge and joined Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment there for eleven and one half days of service.
"For the Rhode Island service, Norman served as an Ensign in Captain Francis Willson's company in Colonel Danforth Keyes regiment from June 27 to July 27, 1777, with the roll dated Providence; he served in the same company and regiment from December 1, 1777 to January 3, 1778, with the roll dated Providence.
"As a First Lieutenant in Captain Ebenezer Belknap's company in Colonel Nathaniel Wade's regiment, he was engaged on April 1, 1778 and discharged January 3, 1779, serving in Rhode Island. Muster rolls dated North Kingston, Rhode Island were taken on November 6 and December 1, 1778, and muster rolls at East Greenwich, Rhode Island were dated September 28, November 6, November 10, December 1, and December 30, 1778, with his term to expire on January 1, 1779.
"Please describe what the companies did in the time that Norman served with them. What was life like for Norman in those places and times?"
2) The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 response (expanded for more detail):
Your 5th great-grandfather Norman Seaver served during some of the most critical early years of the American Revolution. Let me search for more specific information about the military activities and conditions during his service periods.
The Lexington Alarm - April 1775: The Birth of the Continental Army
The Immediate Response
When the alarm bells rang and express riders galloped through Westminster on April 19, 1775, Norman Seaver and his fellow militiamen were responding to what would become known as "the shot heard 'round the world." As a Sergeant in Captain Noah Miles' company, Norman would have been among the first to muster his men, check their equipment, and begin the urgent 50-mile march from Westminster through Concord and Lexington to Cambridge.
The march itself was grueling - militia companies from across Massachusetts converged on roads leading to Boston, creating massive traffic as thousands of armed men, supply wagons, and livestock all moved toward the same destination. Norman's company would have marched in military formation when possible, but the roads were clogged with other units, civilian refugees fleeing Boston, and messengers carrying news back and forth.
Life in the Cambridge Camps
Minutemen and militia had already set up siege lines around the port by the time that the Committee of Safety began to take charge, on 21 April 1775. When Norman's company arrived and joined Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment, they found themselves part of a massive, chaotic, but determined gathering of New England fighting men.
Daily Routine: As a Sergeant, Norman's day began before dawn with roll call and inspection of his men's weapons and equipment. The siege lines around Boston required constant manning, so his company rotated between guard duty, camp maintenance, and drilling. The men constructed earthworks and redoubts, often working through the night to strengthen their positions.
Living Conditions: The initial camps were primitive - men slept in hastily constructed lean-tos, requisitioned tents, or simply under the stars wrapped in blankets. Norman, as a non-commissioned officer, would have shared quarters with other sergeants and corporals. Food was a constant challenge; each man was expected to bring his own provisions, but these quickly ran out, forcing reliance on whatever supplies the Massachusetts Committee of Safety could procure.
Military Challenges: Conditions within the town were harsh for all who remained; although the British maintained control of Boston Harbor, provisions dwindled while they waited for supply ships to arrive. The American forces faced the opposite problem - they had to feed and supply an army that had grown organically from 16,000 to over 20,000 men with no formal supply system.
Norman would have witnessed the transformation from local militia to something approaching a professional army. Men from different towns and regions had to learn to work together, establish common procedures, and submit to unified command - a process that was often contentious and difficult.
Rhode Island Service - 1777-1778: The Northern Theatre's Forgotten Front
The Strategic Situation
Norman's Rhode Island service occurred during one of the war's most complex periods. The British occupation of Newport created a strategic threat to New England's southern flank and provided the Royal Navy with an excellent base for operations. American forces in Rhode Island faced the challenge of containing a well-fortified enemy position while preparing for potential offensive operations.
First Rhode Island Tour (June-July 1777, December 1777-January 1778)
As Ensign in Captain Francis Willson's Company, Colonel Danforth Keyes' Regiment
Norman's promotion to Ensign marked his entry into the officer corps. As the lowest-ranking commissioned officer, he would have been responsible for carrying the company's colors, assisting in drill and discipline, and serving as a liaison between the enlisted men and higher-ranking officers.
Providence Garrison Life: Providence served as the primary American base for Rhode Island operations. The town was transformed into a military hub, with soldiers quartered in private homes, public buildings, and purpose-built barracks. Norman would have lived in officer's quarters, likely sharing rooms with other ensigns and lieutenants. The officers' mess provided better food than the enlisted men received, but provisions were still often scarce during winter months.
Military Operations: During this period, American forces conducted extensive reconnaissance of British positions on Aquidneck Island (where Newport is located). Norman's regiment would have participated in patrol duties along the mainland coast, gathering intelligence on British ship movements and troop dispositions. The December 1777 to January 1778 service period was particularly challenging due to harsh winter conditions and the need to maintain constant vigilance against British raids.
Second Rhode Island Tour (April 1778-January 1779)
As First Lieutenant in Captain Ebenezer Belknap's Company, Colonel Nathaniel Wade's Regiment
Norman's promotion to First Lieutenant represented significant advancement and increased responsibility. First Lieutenants were typically second-in-command of their companies and handled much of the day-to-day administration and training.
The Sullivan Expedition Context: Norman's service during this period coincided with major military operations. Major General John Sullivan was appointed to command American forces in Rhode Island with orders to coordinate with the French fleet in an ambitious assault on British-held Newport. This represented one of the first major Franco-American joint operations of the war.
North Kingstown and East Greenwich Operations: The multiple muster rolls taken at different locations indicate Norman's regiment was highly mobile during this period. North Kingstown served as a forward base for operations against Newport, while East Greenwich was used as a staging area and supply depot. The frequent movement between these locations reflects the dynamic nature of the campaign.
Daily Life as a First Lieutenant: Norman's responsibilities were extensive. He conducted morning and evening roll calls, supervised drill and training, managed company supplies and equipment, and served on various duty rosters including officer of the day, court martial panels, and reconnaissance missions. He would have been responsible for ensuring his men maintained their weapons, kept their uniforms in good repair, and followed camp regulations.
Living Standards: As a First Lieutenant, Norman would have enjoyed significantly better accommodations than enlisted men. He likely had private quarters or shared rooms with only one other officer. His meals were prepared by company cooks or, when available, local civilian contractors. Officers were expected to maintain their own uniforms and equipment to higher standards, which required personal expenditure often not fully reimbursed by the Continental Congress.
The Harsh Realities of Military Life
Health and Medicine: Disease was a constant threat. Smallpox, typhus, and dysentery regularly swept through military camps. Norman would have been responsible for monitoring his men's health and ensuring they followed camp sanitation rules. Medical care was primitive - regimental surgeons did what they could, but many men died from diseases that would be easily treatable today.
Supply Challenges: The Continental Army's supply system was notoriously inadequate. Norman would have spent considerable time requisitioning supplies, writing reports on equipment shortages, and improvising solutions to keep his men fed, clothed, and armed. Officers often used their personal funds to purchase necessities for their men, creating financial hardships that lasted long after the war.
Discipline and Morale: Maintaining discipline among citizen-soldiers was a constant challenge. Norman would have participated in courts martial, supervised punishments, and worked to maintain unit cohesion despite irregular pay, inadequate supplies, and the stress of military life far from home.
Communication with Home: Letters to and from family were vital for morale but irregular. Norman would have written reports to his superiors and personal letters to family when paper and opportunity allowed. The postal system was unreliable during wartime, and many letters never reached their destinations.
The Broader Impact
Norman's service represented the sacrifices made by thousands of ordinary New Englanders who transformed themselves from farmers and tradesmen into soldiers. His progression from Sergeant to First Lieutenant reflects both personal competence and the army's desperate need for experienced officers. The locations where he served - from the improvised camps around Boston to the more organized operations in Rhode Island - show how the Continental Army evolved from a militia force into something approaching a professional military organization.
His service also illustrates the geographic scope of the Revolutionary War in New England. While major battles like Bunker Hill and Saratoga grab historical attention, the day-to-day work of maintaining siege lines, conducting patrols, and preparing for operations was equally important to the ultimate American victory.
3) The Claude Sonnet 4 response to the prompt was interesting and probably is accurate because the pre-trained resources are well known. I asked the same questions of ChatGPT4, Grok, and Gemini and received similar responses. I chose Claude for this blog post because it seemed the most informed and most conversational.
I like how the LLMs work - they answer the question, they organize the answers into sections, and they provide descriptive text that makes sense. They are well-trained on historic events and social history.
This took me about 30 minutes to ask the question of the four AI LLMs, record the responses, and review them for accuracy. I could have studied the history books (if I could access them) and the websites online, or in libraries, and it would take weeks to compile the information, and then write it up.
4) Using AI tools to answer history and geography-related questions is like having an instant library in my computer. Using AI tools to write biographies and memories, and to tell fictional family stories, is like hiring a writer to turn my genealogical research and sketches into readable blog posts, websites, or books.
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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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