Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your Favorite Legacy Family Tree Webinars

  Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)  Legacy Family Tree Webinars provides free and/or subscription education to genealogists every week.  What were your favorite webinars over, say, the past 3 months?

2) Tell us about your favorite Family Tree Webinars in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

I have a paid subscription to Legacy Family Tree Webinars, so I can watch any of the over 2,350 webinars at any time, and download the handouts if they are available.  It's my favorite genealogy society!

The webinars in the past three months that I have enjoyed and learned from include:

•  Soldiers, Squatters and Settlers—early settlements in Upper Canada by Christine Woodcock.  (21 February 2025).  I have Loyalist settlers in Ontario in the 1780-1800 time frame.

• Researching the Great Migration of New England 1620-1640 by David Allen Lambert (29 January 2025).  Almost all of my father's ancestry is from this time period. 

• 10 Practical Uses of AI for Family History by Andrew Redfern (24 January 2025).  Excellent presentation about using AI for amily history.

• MyHeritage: Your Family Stories are Just One Click Away by Melissa Barker (14 January 2025).  MyHeritage has excellent tools to find and document family stories, including photo tools.

• Genealogy Meets AI: Panel Discussion hosted by Geoff Rasmussen (9 January 2025).  This was fascinating.

• Creating Genealogy Images with ChatGPT by Natalie Webb (3 January 2025).  I learned a bit more about this topic.

• DNA: Proof, Citation & Privacy by Elizabeth Shown Mills (27 December 2024).  The best one ever?

• Reflecting on AI in Genealogy: 2024’s Lessons and 2025’s Pathways by Steve Little (13 December 2024).  Where we've been and where we're going with AI.  

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/03/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-your_01151135800.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Ask (Diana Elder's "Genealogy Locality Guide Builder") AI: "Please Create a Locality Guide For Cheyenne County, Kansas"

The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT4, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta, CoPilot, GenSpark, and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise (or verbose) format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.

1)  I read about Diana Elder's Genealogy Locality Guide Builder custom prompt for ChatGPT4, and I wanted to try it out.  She presented Efficient Locality Research with AI: Discovering New Avenues of Exploration at RootsTech 2025.

I knew that my 2nd great-grandfather Devier J. Smith (1839-1894) had a ranch in Cheyenne County, Kansas, and that my great-grandparents, Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946) and Abbey Ardelle "Della" Smith (1862-1944) had land there and were married in Wano, Cheyenne County, Kansas in 1887.  The FamilySearch Research Wiki page for Cheyenne County, Kansas has basic information about the county, but lists no specific online record collections, but does link to state collections.  I also knew that the FamilySearch Library has few actual county records (e.g., vital records, court records, deeds, probate, etc.) in their catalog for Cheyenne County, Kansas (see   https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/catalog/results?q.place=Cheyenne%2C%20Kansas%2C%20United%20States).

2)  Here is my prompt for Diana's custom prompt:  "Please create a locality guide for Cheyenne County, Kansas."

The free ChatGPT4 response was (after I asked for more detail, and edited for readability):

Cheyenne County, Kansas Genealogy Locality Guide

Background

Cheyenne County, located in the northwestern corner of Kansas, was officially established on March 20, 1873. It was named after the Cheyenne Native American tribe, who historically lived in the region. The county seat and largest city is St. Francis.

The county has a strong agricultural heritage, with early settlers primarily engaging in cattle ranching and wheat farming. Over time, the arrival of railroads facilitated the growth of small towns such as Bird City, Wheeler, and Jaqua.

Key Facts:

• Established: 1873
• County Seat: St. Francis
• Land Area: 1,021 square miles
• Population (2020 Census): 2,616
• Borders: Nebraska (North), Colorado (West)

For historical records and local history, visit the Kansas Historical Society (kshs.org).

Online Research Guides & Digital Archives

Here are some essential online resources for researching genealogy in Cheyenne County:

• Kansas Historical Society (kshs.org) – Digital archives, historical records, and maps.
• Kansas State Library (kslib.info) – Access to newspapers, genealogical resources, and census records.
• Kansas Genealogical Society (ksgenweb.org) – County records, cemetery listings, and family histories.
• Cheyenne County GenWeb Project (usgenweb.org) – A volunteer-run resource with digitized records, maps, and family histories.
• FamilySearch Kansas Genealogy (familysearch.org) – Birth, marriage, death, and probate records for the county.

Geography and Maps

Cheyenne County is located in the High Plains region, featuring rolling prairies and fertile farmland. It has very little water coverage but is home to small creeks such as Cherry Creek and the Republican River, which played a crucial role in early settlement.

Key Geographic Features:

• Republican River: A major waterway for early settlers.
• Arikaree Breaks: A rugged terrain area with historical significance.
• Western border: Shares a boundary with Colorado, influencing migration patterns.
• Where to Find Maps:
• Kansas Historical Society – Historical Maps Collection
• David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Database (glorecords.blm.gov)

Timeline of Major Events

• 1854: Kansas Territory is established.
• 1861: Kansas becomes the 34th state in the U.S.
• 1873: Cheyenne County officially formed.
• 1879: First permanent settlers arrive.
• 1886: Wano chosen as the county seat.
• 1889: St. Francis becomes the official county seat after disputes.
• 1880s-1890s: Railroads expand, leading to economic growth.
• 1930s: The Dust Bowl severely impacts agriculture.
• 1950s-Present: Population declines due to urban migration.

History & Settlement

Cheyenne County was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Cheyenne and Arapaho. The land was later opened for homesteading in the late 19th century, attracting settlers from the Midwest, Germany, and Sweden.

Key Towns & Settlements:

• St. Francis – Current county seat; historical businesses and newspapers.
• Bird City – Founded in 1885, known for its strong farming community.
• Wheeler – A now-smaller town that was historically a railroad stop.
• Jaqua – A ghost town with remnants of early pioneer life.

Settlers came mainly via wagon trains and railroads, bringing with them German Lutheran, Swedish, and English traditions that are still evident today.

Migration Routes & Transportation

Early Trails & Migration Routes:

• Overland Trail – Used by early pioneers heading west.
• Pony Express Route – Passed through parts of Kansas.
• Union Pacific Railroad – Helped settlers establish permanent communities.

Modern Travel Routes:

• U.S. Route 36 – A major highway running east-west through the county.
• Kansas Highway 27 – Runs north-south, connecting Cheyenne County to Nebraska and Colorado.

Law & Government

Cheyenne County operates under a three-member County Commission system. The Cheyenne County Courthouse in St. Francis holds vital land, court, and probate records dating back to the county’s formation.

Where to Find Government Records:

• Cheyenne County Clerk’s Office – Marriage, probate, and court records.
• Cheyenne County Register of Deeds – Land and property transactions.
• Kansas State Archives – Older government records.

Libraries & Archives

Local Resources:

• Cheyenne County Library (St. Francis) – Holds local history books and newspapers.
• Kansas State Historical Society – A central repository for Kansas historical records.
• Denver Public Library Western History Collection – Some records for Kansas frontier settlers.

Newspapers for Research:

• The St. Francis Herald (since 1885) – Available on microfilm.
• Kansas Historical Society’s Newspaper Archive – Online digitized newspapers.

Genealogical Societies & Publications

• Northwest Kansas Genealogical Society
• Kansas State Genealogical Society
• "Cheyenne County History Book" – A compilation of family and pioneer histories.

Record Loss & Research Challenges

Fortunately, Cheyenne County has no known major courthouse disasters. However, older church and school records may be missing due to closures.

Local History & Reference Books

• "Standard Atlas of Cheyenne County, Kansas" (1907) – Early maps and biographies.
• "History of Northwest Kansas" – Covers settlement and development of the region.

Record Collections for Genealogy

• Cemetery Records – Available at Find a Grave and BillionGraves.
• Church Records – Stored at local parishes or Kansas Historical Society.
• Land & Property Records – Found at the Cheyenne County Register of Deeds.
• Probate & Court Records – Available through the Cheyenne County Courthouse.
• Birth, Marriage & Death Records – Can be ordered from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment.

Conclusion

Cheyenne County, Kansas, offers rich genealogical resources for those researching their family history. Whether exploring pioneer ancestors, migration routes, or land records, researchers can find valuable documents through local libraries, government offices, and online archives.

For further research, I recommend visiting:

• 📌 Kansas Historical Society – www.kshs.org
• 📌 Kansas Genealogical Society – www.ksgenweb.org
• 📌 FamilySearch Kansas Records – www.familysearch.org

Would you like help with specific family records or guidance on how to use these resources? 😊

At the top of the response were four map thumbnails that I could click on and see:

3)  My next prompt was:  "My great-grandparents were married in Wano, Kansas in 1887.  Can you provide information on Wano?"

The ChatGPT response was:

That’s a fascinating piece of family history! Wano, Kansas was the original county seat of Cheyenne County before St. Francis took over in 1889. Here’s what I found about Wano and how it might relate to your great-grandparents' marriage in 1887.

History of Wano, Kansas

Early Settlement & Development

• Founded: Around the early 1880s.
• Original County Seat: Chosen as the first county seat of Cheyenne County in 1886.
• Named After: Possibly derived from a Native American term, though origins are uncertain.

Population: In the 1880s, Wano had a few hundred residents and served as an important trading post.

Economic Activity: Farming, ranching, and local businesses were the main sources of income.

During the 1880s, the town of St. Francis was growing rapidly, and a county seat battle ensued. In 1889, a county-wide vote moved the county seat from Wano to St. Francis, leading to Wano's decline.

Wano's Decline

After losing its county seat status, many residents and businesses moved to St. Francis.  By the early 20th century, Wano was virtually abandoned.  Today, Wano no longer exists as a separate town but is part of St. Francis. 

Your Great-Grandparents' Marriage in Wano (1887)

Since Wano was still the county seat in 1887, it was likely where:

• Marriage licenses were issued
• County records were kept

Where to Find Their Marriage Record:

• Cheyenne County Clerk’s Office (St. Francis, KS). Holds historical marriage records from the county’s early years. Contact: (785) 332-8800
• Kansas State Archives (kshs.org). Houses early marriage records and documents from the period.
• FamilySearch Kansas Marriage Index (familysearch.org). Online searchable marriage records from Kansas counties.

Does Anything Remain of Wano Today?

Physically, Wano no longer exists as a separate town, but traces of it remain in:

• Street names in St. Francis (there was once a "Wano Street").
• Local history books and newspapers that reference Wano’s early days.
• Old maps of Cheyenne County (before 1890) that still show Wano.
• If you're ever in St. Francis, visiting the Cheyenne County Museum might provide more insight! 😊

Would you like me to help locate an official marriage record for your great-grandparents?

4)  Since ChatGPT4 offered, I asked:  "Yes, please find an official marriage record for Henry Austin Carringer and Abbey Ardelle 'Della' Smith."

The ChatGPT4 response was:

​Henry Austin Carringer and Abbey Ardelle "Della" Smith were married on September 11, 1887, in Wano, Cheyenne County, Kansas. Their marriage was officiated by Reverend Emanuel Richards of the Community Congregational Church. ​

Sources Confirming the Marriage:

• Marriage Certificate: The original marriage certificate states: "This certifies that on the 11th day of September in the year 1887, Mr. Henry A. Carringer and Miss Della A. Smith were united by me in the Bond of Marriage at Wano, Kansas."​
• Witness: A.E. Boring
• Officiant: Rev. Emanuel Richards, Minister of Congregational Church
• Source:  GeneaMusings:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2014/01/52-ancestors-friday-henry-austin.html

Family Bibles:

D.J. and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer Family Bible: Records the marriage of Henry A. Carringer and Della A. Smith on September 11, 1887, at Wano, Kansas, officiated by Rev. Emanuel Richards. ​

• Source:  GeneaMusings:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2014/01/52-ancestors-friday-henry-austin.html

Devier J. Smith Family Bible: Notes the marriage of Abbey Ardell, daughter of D.J. & A.A. Smith, on September 11, 1887. ​

• Source:  GeneaMusings:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2014/01/52-ancestors-friday-henry-austin.html

Accessing the Marriage Record:

• The original marriage certificate is privately held by genealogist Randall J. Seaver in Chula Vista, California. ​

Additional Resources:

• WikiTree Profile: Provides detailed genealogical information on Henry Austin Carringer, including marriage details: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Carringer-19#Ancestors
• FamilySearch Profile: Offers comprehensive ancestral data for Henry Austin Carringer:​https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LCRX-2DT/henry-austin-carringer-1853-1946

If you're seeking an official copy of the marriage record, consider contacting the Cheyenne County Clerk’s Office in St. Francis, Kansas, as they maintain historical marriage records from that period.

The last prompt also had a list of sources that included the above and several other web sources that pertained to the marriage license, based on my earlier blog posts.

5)  It is obvious that I am the only genealogist researching for my great-grandparents, since I'm one of only three great-grandchildren descended from them.  I have the marriage license on the wall of my hallway in my home and have written extensively about them.

6)  This custom prompt for ChatGPT4 by Diana Elder is excellent.  I've seen other examples for counties with many more resources. The locality guides for well researched counties often go for 20 to 30 pages or more using this custom prompt.  The custom prompt searches the Internet for selected articles and records.  Brava, Diana!  

This "use case" is an excellent example of how Artificial Intelligence can be used to create a research and finding aid at your desk and in a minute of time.  To do this online, or in-person at libraries or archives away from home, would have taken months of time.  This is a better locality guide than I have ever attempted.

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My blog posts, and those of other genealogists, using Artificial Intelligence tools are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/03/ask-diana-elders-genealogy-locality.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Added and Updated FamilySearch Historical Record Collections - Week of 8 to 14 March 2025

  Each week, genealogy record collections are added and updated to FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list.

As of  14 March 2025, there are 3,418 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase  of 0 from last week):

The added, deleted, new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch:

--- Collections Deleted ---

*  Ireland, Dog License Registrations, 1810-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000212); 7,358,408 indexed records with 138,913 record images, DELETED

--- Collections Added ---

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Capital Federal, Census, 1855 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469065); 260,720 indexed records with 7,630 record images (was 132,765 records with 7,630 images), UPDATED 09-Mar-2025
Argentina, Santiago del Estero, Catholic Church Records, 1581-1961 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974197); 173,145 indexed records with 102,368 record images (was 173,119 records with 102,368 images), UPDATED 11-Mar-2025
Arizona, Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1855-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3740251); 405,387 indexed records with 404,735 record images (was 362,065 records with 361,510 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Bolivia, Catholic Church Records, 1566-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,851,453 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,844,663 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1799-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 1,450,285 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 1,448,964 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025

Brazil, Foreigner Files, 1653-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000160); 1,633,081 indexed records with 2,182,065 record images (was 1,625,180 records with 2,124,711 images), UPDATED 08-Mar-2025
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1820-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 971,201 indexed records with 404,123 record images (was 971,056 records with 404,050 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 641,280 indexed records with 185,644 record images (was 639,760 records with 185,215 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Chile, Cemetery Records, 1701-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1428897); 5,796,417 indexed records with 3,675,058 record images (was 5,769,065 records with 3,675,058 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 30,674,044 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 29,510,669 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025

Colorado, United States Naturalization Records, 1877-1952 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000180); 57,079 indexed records with 50,760 record images (was 57,075 records with 50,756 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Costa Rica, Catholic Church Records, 1595-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1460016); 7,353,172 indexed records with 962,203 record images (was 7,027,777 records with 962,203 images), UPDATED 09-Mar-2025
Costa Rica, Civil Registration, 1823-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1925429); 6,211,271 indexed records with 404,718 record images (was 6,209,998 records with 404,718 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal, Civil Registration, 1810-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000010); 271,105 indexed records with 251,461 record images (was 271,083 records with 251,447 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Ghana, Census, 2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000267); 380,319 indexed records with 94,593 record images (was 380,319 records with 94,593 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025

Haiti, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Catholic Church Records, 1866-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279947); 237,482 indexed records with 44,096 record images (was 237,381 records with 42,165 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Honduras, Catholic Church Records, 1633-1978 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823595); 1,878,155 indexed records with 425,330 record images (was 1,878,124 records with 425,330 images), UPDATED 08-Mar-2025
Hungary, Civil Registration, 1895-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1452460); 13,361,254 indexed records with 5,864,285 record images (was 13,360,982 records with 5,864,285 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Indiana, Marriages, 1811-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1410397); 5,339,303 indexed records with 1,259,299 record images (was 5,336,117 records with 1,259,299 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 9,060,370 indexed records with 320,372 record images (was 8,869,525 records with 300,659 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025

Italy, Caltanissetta, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1986780); 403,003 indexed records with 470,099 record images (was 403,003 records with 470,099 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Caserta, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2718545); 582,376 indexed records with 4,543,698 record images (was 582,376 records with 4,543,698 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Chieti, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2419833); 328,460 indexed records with 3,714,370 record images (was 328,460 records with 3,714,370 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Enna, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068343); 240,184 indexed records with 837,356 record images (was 240,184 records with 837,356 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Lecce, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1901-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2310702); Browse 3,307,040 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 3,307,040 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025

Italy, Mantova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1496-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1934580); 377,343 indexed records with 855,316 record images (was 377,208 records with 855,316 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Matera, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1925 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2819382); Browse 1,323,614 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 1,323,614 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Messina, Patti, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1823-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946858); 4,605 indexed records with 891,170 record images (was 4,605 records with 891,170 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Netherlands, Noord-Holland, Civil Registration, 1739-1951 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2020117); 1,981,263 indexed records with 6,635,049 record images (was 1,981,263 records with 6,635,049 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
North Carolina, Military Discharge Records, 1915-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4163858); 9,410 indexed records with 3,626 record images (was 4,786 records with 2,556 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025

Norway, Probate Index Cards, 1640-1903 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661306); Index only (1,037,638 records), no images (was 995,764 records with 0 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987615); 1,897,449 indexed records with 1,097,134 record images (was 1,895,116 records with 1,097,134 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Oregon, Naturalization Records, 1859-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279955); 81,150 indexed records with 63,469 record images (was 80,934 records with 63,294 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Peru, Arequipa, Catholic Church Records, 1660-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4447275); 261,706 indexed records with 486,225 record images (was 239,346 records with 465,320 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Philippines Civil Registration (National), 1945-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1852584); 4,787,513 indexed records with 20,274,621 record images (was 4,720,425 records with 20,274,621 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025

Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,339,813 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,339,805 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Puerto Rico, San Juan, Cemetery Records, 1888-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4376727); 182,814 indexed records with 85,536 record images (was 182,749 records with 85,360 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Spain, Gerona, Municipal Records, 1566-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2015355); 1,410,785 indexed records with 390,067 record images (was 1,372,171 records with 390,067 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Uruguay, Civil Registration, 1879-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,947,588 records), no images (was 1,871,819 records with 0 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Venezuela, Civil Registration, 1843-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 1,493,080 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 1,414,621 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025

Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1908-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 1,025,477 indexed records with 194,031 record images (was 998,952 records with 183,639 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Civil Registration, 1861-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000041); 1 indexed records with 106,778 record images (was 1 records with 106,712 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 1,042,337 record images (was 1 records with 1,042,211 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 208,854 record images (was 1 records with 208,848 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 137,673 record images (was 1 records with 136,964 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Sergipe, Civil Registration, 1866-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4470324); 1 indexed records with 142,164 record images (was 1 records with 142,162 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024

Colombia, Archivo Distrital de Bogota, Obituary Books, 1900-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000257); 172,322 indexed records with 28,224 record images (was 172,322 records with 27,550 images), last updated 03-Jan-2025
Connecticut, Naturalization Records, 1795-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3238391); 305,750 indexed records with 680,067 record images (was 305,750 records with 676,523 images), last updated 07-Nov-2024
England and Wales, Census, 1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1921547); 36,354,828 indexed records with 8,516,806 record images (was 36,354,828 records with 8,516,802 images), last updated 01-Aug-2019
France, Marne, Census, 1876 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316511); 144,863 indexed records with 2,756 record images (was 144,863 records with 240 images), last updated 28-Oct-2024
France, Vosges, Parish and Civil Registration, 1522-1956 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000301); 2,984,513 indexed records with 860,977 record images (was 2,984,513 records with 806,625 images), last updated 28-Jan-2025

Germany, Baden, Church Book Duplicates, 1804-1877 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1395660); 733,778 indexed records with 1,768 record images (was 733,778 records with 1,266 images), last updated 07-Nov-2024
Guatemala, Chiquimula, Civil Registration, 1877-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790265); 506,590 indexed records with 392,007 record images (was 506,590 records with 391,934 images), last updated 03-Mar-2025
Illinois, District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3158878); 1,646,670 indexed records with 1,240,215 record images (was 1,646,670 records with 1,240,124 images), last updated 02-Feb-2025
New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1865-1957 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3662227); 12,308,209 indexed records with 127,769 record images (was 12,308,209 records with 120,309 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
United States City and Business Directories, ca. 1749 - ca. 1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3754697); 64,961,936 indexed records with 952,512 record images (was 64,961,936 records with 952,229 images), last updated 20-Dec-2024

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 52,785,233 indexed records with 52,637,039 record images (was 52,785,233 records with 52,636,958 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,197,667 record images (was 1 records with 28,197,666 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024

--- Collections with images removed ---

Kansas, Military Discharges, ca. 1862 - ca. 1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4121697); 21,123 indexed records with 15,743 record images (was 21,123 records with 16,376 images), last updated 03-Feb-2025
South Africa, Western Cape, Deceased Estate Files, 1951-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4319131); 988,273 indexed records with 348,413 record images (was 988,273 records with 348,416 images), last updated 04-Mar-2025
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Missionary Registers (Worldwide), 1860-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2517343); 49,025 indexed records with 41,948 record images (was 49,025 records with 49,025 images), last updated 22-Jan-2024
Utah, Obituaries from Utah Newspapers, 1850-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2302011); 554,507 indexed records with 103,426 record images (was 554,507 records with 106,946 images), last updated 10-Aug-2024

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

California, Birth Index, 1905-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001879); Index only (24,589,420 records), no images (was 24,589,421 records with 0 images), last updated 01-Mar-2012
England Marriages, 1538–1973 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473015); Index only (11,774,857 records), no images (was 11,801,038 records with 0 images), last updated 28-Jan-2025
England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473014); Index only (45,633,928 records), no images (was 45,730,552 records with 0 images), last updated 28-Jan-2025
England, Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473016); Index only (14,511,339 records), no images (was 14,518,428 records with 0 images), last updated 28-Jan-2025
Ireland, Petty Sessions Court Registers, 1828-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2487287); 850,935 indexed records with 1 record images (was 21,832,352 records with 1 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Papua New Guinea, Birth Records, 1888-2004 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3757740); 78,503 indexed records with 47,912 record images (was 78,504 records with 47,912 images), last updated 03-Mar-2025

United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,605,787 records), no images (was 875,605,788 records with 0 images), last updated 24-Jan-2025
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,872,539 records), no images (was 413,872,541 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-2024
Wisconsin, State Census, 1855 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1443825); 133,164 indexed records with 2,501 record images (was 133,383 records with 2,501 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Zimbabwe Death Notices, 1904-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1838530); Browse 328,546 Images only, no index (was 12,349 records with 328,546 images), last updated 17-Nov-2024
Zimbabwe, Death Registers, 1890-1977; Index to Death Register, 1892-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837900); Browse 74,045 Images only, no index (was 320,653 records with 74,045 images), last updated 17-Nov-2024

=====================================

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

Marshall notes that there are:

*  1 removed entries

*  0 added entries 

*  41198 updated entries

*  32 entries with more or fewer images and/or records

The FamilySearch website says there are 3418 total entries on the list (signed in). Marshall's list says there are 3417 (without signing in).  They are not in-sync.

In order to select a specific record collection on FamilySearch, go to 

 https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list and use the "Filter by collection name" feature in the upper left-hand corner and use keywords (e.g. "church england") to find collections with those keywords.

Each of the collections listed above has a Research Wiki page (use the "Learn more" link). It would be very useful if the Wiki page for each collection listed the dates for when the collection was added as a new collection and the dates for major updates also.

==========================================

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Copyright (c) 2025 Randall J. Seaver

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 8 to 14 March 2025

The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by Date Updated during the period from 8 to 14 March 2025:

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• Illinois, U.S., Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield Sacramental Records, 1853-1981; 1,402,318 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/13/2025.  This collection contains records of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield spanning the years of 1853-1975.
• Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Old Stone Bank Records, 1844-1924; 469,684 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/13/2025. This collection contains records from the Providence Bank for Savings (commonly known as The Old Stone Bank) in Providence, Rhode Island, dated between 1844 and 1897. 
• Geneanet Community Trees Index; 1,823,460,231 indexed records without record images, Updated 3/13/2025.  This collection contains an index of more than 2 million family trees created by members of Geneanet, the #1 genealogy site in France and the biggest community of genealogists in Europe. 

• Michigan, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1887-1931; 521,040 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/13/2025. This database consists of naturalization records for Michigan from U.S. District Courts.
• London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812; 18,150,930 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/13/2025. This collection includes Church of England parish registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials between 1538 and 1812 from the historical county of London, England.
• Savannah, Georgia, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1790-1910; 6,042 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/13/2025. This database contains original naturalization records from the city of Savannah, Georgia.
• London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940; 14,368,939 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/13/2025.  This collection includes Church of England parish registers of marriages between 1754 and 1940 from the historical county of London, England.
• London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2003; 2,780,432 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/13/2025. This collection includes London death and burial records from the Church of England and workhouses operated by the Boards of Guardians. 
• London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1924; 23,817,333 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/13/2025. This collection includes Church of England parish registers of births and baptisms between 1813 and 1924 from the historical county of London, England. 
• Web: Los Angeles, California, U.S., Coroner's Inquest Index, 1992-2024; 168,210 indexed records without record images, Updated 3/12/2025.  All data in this third-party database was obtained from the source’s website. Ancestry.com does not support or make corrections or changes to the original database. To learn more about these r...
• West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, Poor Law Applications and Registers, 1846-1914; 20,661 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/11/2025. This collection contains Poor Law registers and applications created in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, between 1846 and 1914. 
• Ardennes, France Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1595-1919; 11,227,682 indexed records with record images, Updated 3/10/2025. This collection contains civil registries of births, marriages, and deaths between 1595 and 1919 from Ardennes, France. Most records are in French, but some records may be in German or Latin.
• West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, William Denny & Bros. Ltd. Shipbuilding Employee Registers, 1901-1915; 957 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection contains employee registers of William Denny & Brothers Ltd., a shipbuilding company based in Dunbarton, Scotland, between 1901 and 1915.
• West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, Non-Conformist Parish Registers, 1840-1969; 44,218 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection covers the registers for five non-conformist parishes between 1840 and 1969 in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. 
• Ireland, Quarter Session Licenses to Keep Arms, 1832-1836; 4,727 indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection is an index of Irish citizens who were granted government licenses to possess arms between 1832 and 1836. 
• Dunbartonshire, Scotland, Prison Registers, 1790-1824; 3,123 indexed records with record images, ADDEDADDED 3/10/2025. This collection contains prison books from Dunbarton, Scotland between 1790 and 1824. Most records were journal entries, but some records are handwritten in ledgers. 
• West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, School Records, 1834-1922; 50,992 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection contains school records from West Dunbartonshire, Scotland between 1834 and 1922. Records available include admissions registers, school logs, and withdrawal registers.
• West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, Burial Register and Monumental Inscriptions, 1855-2024; 280,033 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection is an assemblage of burial registers and monument inscriptions from cemeteries in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. 
• West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, Electoral Registers and Burgess Roll, 1600-1846 and 1914-1918; 61,546 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection contains electoral registers of voters in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland between 1914 and 1918. 
• West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, City and County Directories, 1877-1893; 23,097 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection contains several historical directories published for the West Dumbartonshire area of Scotland during the late 1800s, including editions for Dumbartonshire from 1877 and 1885.
• Select Counties, Scotland, Church of Scotland, Marriages, 1615-1854; 3,150,429 indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection is an index of marriage registers from select counties in Scotland between 1615 and 1854.
• Select Counties, Scotland, Church of Scotland, Baptisms, 1615-1854; 4,991,735 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection is an index of birth and baptism registers from select counties in Scotland between 1615 and 1854.
• West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, Military Muster Rolls, 1890-1917; 6,001 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection contains military records created in Dumbartonshire, Scotland, between 1890 and 1918.
• Select Counties, Scotland, Church of Scotland, Burials, 1655-1854; 497,944 indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection is an index of death and burial records from select counties in Scotland between 1655 and 1854.
• Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, Valuation Rolls, 1855-1930; 1,821,383 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/10/2025. This collection contains valuation rolls for Dumbartonshire, Scotland, dated between 1855 and 1930.

=========================================

The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at   https://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count, there were 15 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,754 collections available as of 14 March, an  INCREASE of 15 from last week.  

                              ==============================================

Disclosure: I pay for an All-Access subscription from Ancestry.com. In past years, Ancestry.com  provided a complimentary All Access subscription, an autosomal DNA test, material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and hosted events and meals that I attended in Salt Lake City.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/03/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_0240751463.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.  

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52 Relatives: 2nd Great-GrandAunt Ann (Rich) Gaisford (1818-1882) of Hilperton, Wiltshire and Minonk, Illinois

Ann Rich was born before 7 June 1818 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England, when she was baptized in the parish church, the second child and the first daughter of  John and Rebecca (Hill) Rich.[1]  She died 20 December 1882 at the age of 64 in Minonk, Woodford, Illinois, and was buried after 20 December 1882 at Minonk Township Cemetery in Minonk, Woodford, Illinois.[2]   

Ann Rich and James Gaisford were married on 25 March 1838 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England in the parish church.[3]   She was of full age a spinster and a weaver, and James was a minor, a bachelor, and a weaver.  They both signed with a mark.  

James Gaisford was born on 3 October 1817 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England, and was baptized on 23 February 1818 in the Hilperton parish church, the son of Charles and Rachel Gaisford.[4] He died on 21 April 1905 at the age of 87 in Minonk, Woodford, Illinois, and was buried after 21 April 1905 at Minonk Township Cemetery in Minonk, Woodford, Illinois.[5] 

 James Gaisford and Ann Rich had the following children:

• Charles Gaisford was born before 2 January 1839 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. He was christened on 2 January 1839 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. He died before 20 January 1839 at the age of 0 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. Charles was buried on 20 January 1839 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.
• Emma Jane Gaisford, born 27 January 1840, Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; married George  Henry Bailey, 26 March 1859, Burrillville, Providence, Rhode Island; died 28 December 1915, Beatrice, Gage, Nebraska.
• Charles H. Gaisford, born 28 January 1842, Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; married Henrietta Abigail Smith, 23 May 1867, Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts; died 25 January 1920, Beatrice, Gage, Nebraska.
• James Gaisford was born before 11 July 1844 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. He was christened on 11 July 1844 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. He died after 11 July 1844 at the age of 0 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.
• James Gaisford, born 15 May 1845, Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; married Martha Whatley, 1867, Putnam, Windham, Connecticut; died 24 March 1909, Chatsworth, Livingston, Illinois.
• Hannah Merle Gaisford, born 11 September 1847, Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; married George Pickard, 18 November 1869, Minonk, Woodford, Illinois; died 25 January 1918, Diller, Jefferson, Nebraska.
• William Gaisford, born 26 January 1850, Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; married Anna Guy, 1874; died 10 August 1927, Minonk, Woodford, Illinois.
• Samuel Gaisford was born before 20 September 1852 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. He was christened on 20 September 1852 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. He died before 27 September 1852 at the age of 0 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. Samuel was buried on 27 September 1852 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.
• Ann Gaisford, born 1854, Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; married Thomas Davey Pickard, 5 March 1872, Minonk, Woodford, Illinois; died 18 March 1913, Minonk, Woodford, Illinois, .
• Samuel Gaisford, born 21 June 1857, Pascoag, Providence, Rhode Island; married Ellen Sophia Pickard, 5 February 1880, Minonk, Woodford, Illinois; married Emma Ammerman, 5 October 1891, Beatrice, Gage, Nebraska; died 3 December 1921, Diller, Jefferson, Nebraska.
• Jean "John" H. Gaisford, born 2 November 1859, Rhode Island; married Mary Frances Tuthill, 31 December 1881, Minonk, Woodford, Illinois; married Nettie Ellen Wilson, 10 February 1910, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa; died 14 March 1952, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa.

The James and Ann (Rich) Gaisford family migrated to the United States in about 1854, and settled in Minonk, Woodford County, Illinois.

SOURCES:

1. Wiltshire births and baptisms, imaged, "Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1922," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61188/records/2506462 : accessed 13 March 2025); Hilperton > 1813-1922 > page 18 (image 30 of 116), No. 138, Ann Rich baptism entry, 7 June 1818, daughter of John and Rebecca Rich.

2. Find A Grave, imaged,  (https://www.findagrave.com), Minonk Township Cemetery, Minonk, Ill., Anna Rich Gaisford (1818-1882) memorial # 14718816.

3. Wiltshire marriages and banns, imaged, "Wiltshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1837-1922," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61189/records/902903510 : accessed 13 March 2025); Hilperton > 1837-1922 > page 4 (image 12 of 213), No. 8, Ann Rich and James Gaisford marriage entry, 25 March 1838.

4. Wiltshire births and baptisms, imaged, "Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1922," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61188/records/2506462 : accessed 13 March 2025); Hilperton > 1813-1922 > page 16 (image 28 of 116), No. 124, James Gaisford baptism entry, 23 February 1818, son of Charles and Rachel Gaisford.

5. Find A Grave, Minonk Township Cemetery, Minonk, Ill., James Gaisford (1817-1905) memorial # 14718794

                          ===========================================

Ann Rich (1818-1882) is my 2nd great-grandaunt and sister of my 2nd great-grandmother, Hannah Rich (1821-1911).   

I have posted over 500 genealogical sketches of  my ancestors back through the 7th great-.grandparents and a number of close relatives.  Information about his father, John Rich (1790-1868) is in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 35: #42 John Rich (1791-1868).

The "52 Relatives" theme is a weekly series to document the lives of siblings of my ancestors with relatively short genealogical sketches, including important events, and with source citations.  These relatives lived and died within a family structure, and deserve a genealogical sketch - they were integral parts and important persons in the lives of my ancestral families.  

I post the 52 Ancestors and 52 Relatives sketches on the 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies page, in my Ancestry Member Tree, in WikiTree, and in the FamilySearch Family Tree. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/03/52-relatives-2nd-great-grandaunt-ann.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.   Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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