Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Who Are Your 32 Third-great-grandparents?

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible! music) is to:

1)  Who are your 32 3rd-great-grandparents?  List them (with birth names).  Tell us when and where they were born, married and died.  [NOTE:  This is easily done in your genealogy software program or online family tree by making an Ahnentafel or Ancestors report from yourself as #1, then copy and paste.]

2)  Share your list of your third great-grands on your own blog post or in a Facebook, SubStack or BlueSky post.  Leave a link on this blog post to  help us find your post.

Here's mine (listed by Ahnentafel number):

 32. Benjamin Seaver: born 15 November 1791 in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; married 2 March 1817 in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; died 25 May 1825 in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

33. Abigail Gates: born 24 February 1797 in Gardner, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; died 4 January 1867 in Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

34. Alpheus B. Smith: born 19 May 1802 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; married 30 November 1826 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 13 January 1840 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.

35. Elizabeth Horton Dill: born 9 May 1791 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States; died 28 November 1869 in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

36. Zachariah Hildreth: born 10 April 1783 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; married 21 October 1810 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died 22 January 1857 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

37. Hannah Sawtell: born 6 November 1789 in Brookline, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States; died 13 January 1857 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

38. Lambert Brigham: born 7 June 1794 in Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; married 12 February 1817 in Sterling, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; died 5 May 1834 in Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

39. Sophia Buck: born 3 May 1797 in Holden, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; died 6 January 1882 in Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

40. John Richman: born before 27 September 1789 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; married 28 February 1811 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; died before 26 April 1867 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.

41. Ann Marshman: born about 1784 in Devizes, Wiltshire, England; died 31 July 1856 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.

42. John Rich: born before 14 November 1790 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England; married 14 February 1815 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; died before 6 June 1868 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.

43. Rebecca Hill: born before 25 April 1790 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; died before 7 March 1862 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.

44. Jonathan White: born about 1803 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; married about 1823 in Foster, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; died 19 April 1850 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.

45. Miranda Wade: born 25 June 1804 in Foster, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; died 27 August 1850 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.

46. Rev. Jonathan Oatley: born 7 July 1790 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States; married 29 May 1813 in Exeter, Washington, Rhode Island, United States; died 10 August 1872 in East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.

47. Amy Champlin: born 9 March 1798 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States; died 8 February 1865 in East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.

48. Henry Carringer: born 6 June 1800 in Sandy Creek Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States; married before 1825 in Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States; died 20 April 1879 in Columbus City, Louisa, Iowa, United States.

49. Sarah Feather: born 7 June 1804 in Warren, Trumbull, Ohio, United States; died 9 April 1848 in Perry Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States.

50. Daniel Spangler: born 9 October 1781 in York, York, Pennsylvania, United States; married 12 March 1815 in York, York, Pennsylvania, United States; died 19 July 1851 in Georgetown, Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States.

51. Elizabeth King: born 5 March 1796 in York, York, Pennsylvania, United States; died 18 March 1863 in Conneautville, Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States.

52. . : born about 1820 in Jefferson, New York, United States; married.

53. Lanfear: born about 1821 in Lorraine, Jefferson, New York, United States.

54. Samuel Vaux: born 14 January 1816 in South Petherton, Somerset, England; married before 1839 in Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; died 9 October 1880 in Concordia, Cloud, Kansas, United States.

55. Mary Ann Underhill: born 5 March 1815 in Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; died 3 November 1882 in Concordia, Cloud, Kansas, United States.

56. John Auble: born 11 March 1780 in New Germantown, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States; married 15 July 1804 in New Germantown, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States; died 16 January 1831 in Byram, Sussex, New Jersey, United States.

57. Anna Row: born about 1787 in New Germantown, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States; died 12 June 1860 in Stillwater, Sussex, New Jersey, United States.

58. William Knapp: born 1775 in Peekskill, Westchester, New York Colony, British Colonial America; married about 1804 in probably Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died 16 June 1856 in Newton, Sussex, New Jersey, United States.

59. Sarah Cutter: born 6 November 1785 in Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died 6 March 1878 in Hackensack, Bergen, New Jersey, United States.

60. Abraham Kemp: born 4 November 1795 in Fredericksburgh, Lennox and Addington, Ontario, Canada; married 16 April 1818 in probably Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada; died after 1 April 1881 in Norfolk, Ontario, Canada.

61. Sarah Fletcher: born 7 July 1802 in Ontario, Canada; died before 1850 in Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada.

62. Alexander Sovereen: born 22 December 1814 in Middleton, London District, Upper Canada, British North America; married 3 March 1840 in Upper Canada, British Colonial America; died 15 August 1907 in Windham Township, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada.

63. Elizabeth Putman: born 1 January 1820 in Wayne, Steuben, New York, United States; died 17 March 1895 in Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/05/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-who-are.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 AI: "How Did James Richman Travel to Liverpool, and What About the Ship Calhoun in 1855?"

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.

After writing ABC Biography of #20 James Richman/Richmond (1821-1912) of Wiltshire and New England, I wondered if the FREE AI tools could provide me with more information about how James Richman traveled from Wiltshire to Liverpool, and about the ship Calhoun in 1855.  

(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Calhoun, 1856, in public domain)

The first prompt for Google Gemini 2.5 Flash is:  "How would someone travel between Trowbridge, Wiltshire and Liverpool, England in 1855?"

The Gemini response was:

In 1855, traveling between Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and Liverpool, England, would have primarily involved a combination of train and possibly some coach travel, given the rapid expansion of the railway network in Great Britain during that period.

Here's a breakdown of how someone might have made that journey:

1. Trowbridge to a Major Railway Hub (e.g., London or Bristol):

• Train: By 1855, the Great Western Railway (GWR) would have connected Trowbridge to major centers. Trowbridge itself had a railway station. The GWR was a prominent railway company serving the West Country, including routes to Bristol and London. A traveler from Trowbridge would likely have taken a GWR train from Trowbridge to either Bristol or London.

2. From the Hub to Liverpool:

• Train (most likely): By 1855, the railway network was extensive enough that the vast majority of the journey from a major hub like London or Bristol to Liverpool would have been by train.

From London: If the traveler went via London, they would then connect to a major northern railway line. The London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR), which later became part of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), connected London (Euston Station) to Birmingham, and from there, the Grand Junction Railway (also part of the LNWR) would have taken them to Liverpool.

From Bristol: While not as direct as London, it's possible a traveler from Bristol could have connected to lines heading north, eventually linking up with the main routes to Liverpool.

• Coach (less likely for the long haul, but possible for local connections): While railways were dominant for long-distance travel by 1855, stagecoaches still existed, particularly for connecting smaller towns to railway stations or for routes not yet served by rail. However, for a journey of this distance, relying solely on coaches would have been significantly slower and more expensive. Mail coaches, though being phased out, might have been an option for certain legs, but their primary purpose was mail, not passenger comfort or speed over long distances compared to trains.

Considerations for the 1855 Traveler:

• Journey Time: A multi-leg train journey like this would still have taken a significant amount of time, likely many hours, if not a full day. Trains in 1855 traveled slower than modern trains, and multiple changes and waiting times would have been common.
• Cost: Train travel was becoming more accessible but still represented a considerable expense for many.
• Comfort: While trains were generally more comfortable than coaches for long distances, conditions were still basic by modern standards. Carriages would vary in class, with third-class often being exposed to the elements.
• Luggage: Managing luggage would have been a factor, especially with multiple changes.
• Schedules: Train schedules existed, but delays and changes would have been more frequent than today.

In summary, the most efficient and common way to travel from Trowbridge to Liverpool in 1855 would have been almost entirely by rail, likely involving a change or two at major railway junctions.

The second prompt was:  "Can you tell me about the ship Calhoun that sailed from Liverpool to New York City arriving in October 1855? How long was the trip, how many passengers, what was life liek aboard ship?"

The Gemini response was:

The ship "Calhoun" that arrived in New York City in October 1855 from Liverpool was a significant vessel with a notable history, particularly regarding its later role in the American Civil War.

The Ship "Calhoun"

• Type: The "Calhoun" was a side-wheel steamship, built in New York City in 1851. While sailing ships were still common for transatlantic voyages in 1855, the "Calhoun" was a steam-powered vessel, which generally offered more reliable and often faster passage than purely sail-powered ships, as they were less dependent on favorable winds. She was originally named "Cuba" but was renamed "Calhoun" before entering service.
• Master: The master (captain) of the "Calhoun" for its October 1855 voyage to New York was Daniel H. Truman.
• Later History: The "Calhoun" gained further prominence during the American Civil War. She served as a Confederate privateer and then a Confederate Navy gunboat (CSS Calhoun). After being captured by Union forces in January 1862, she was commissioned into the Union Navy as USS Calhoun and later served the U.S. Army as the steamer "General Sedgewick." She returned to civilian employment as "Calhoun" after the war and was finally broken up in 1883.

Journey Length (Liverpool to New York, October 1855)

The "Calhoun" arrived in New York on October 22, 1855. To determine the exact length of this specific trip, one would need to find the departure date from Liverpool. However, we can approximate based on general voyage times for 1855:

• In the mid-1850s, the average duration of emigrant voyages from Liverpool to New York by sailing ship was around 40 days.
• However, the "Calhoun" was a steamship. While early steamships weren't as fast as later ones, they significantly reduced travel time. By 1855, with the transition from sail to steam, voyage times were generally decreasing. Some faster sailing ships (clippers) could make the journey in less than 3 weeks, and steamships were aiming for even quicker times.

Given it was a steamship, it's reasonable to estimate the voyage took closer to 2-4 weeks (14-28 days), significantly less than a purely sail-powered vessel. The exact duration would depend on weather conditions encountered during that specific crossing.

Number of Passengers

A passenger list for the "Calhoun" arriving on October 22, 1855, does exist. One specific record indicates that a James Richman (36 years old, laborer from England, intending to reside in the U.S.A.) traveled in steerage along with a "Saml Richman" (likely Samuel Rich, his brother-in-law).

Passenger lists typically detail each individual. To know the total number of passengers, one would need to view the complete manifest for that voyage. These manifests often listed hundreds of passengers, especially for ships carrying emigrants.

Life Aboard Ship in 1855

Life aboard a ship, even a steamship, in 1855 was a challenging experience, especially for those in steerage (the cheapest class).

• Accommodation:

  • Steerage: This was the most common and least comfortable class for emigrants. Passengers were housed in the lowest decks, often below the waterline, in cramped, communal spaces. Berths were typically narrow bunks, and privacy was almost non-existent. Ventilation was poor, leading to stale air and unpleasant odors. Conditions were often dark, and in bad weather, "battening down the hatches" meant confinement without fresh air or light.
  • Cabin Passengers: A small minority of wealthier passengers could afford private cabins, which offered more space, better food, and greater comfort.

• Food and Water:

  • Steerage: Food for steerage passengers was often basic, monotonous, and preserved. Common fare included salted meat, ship's biscuit, flour, oatmeal, and dried potatoes. Passengers were typically divided into "messes" and would either cook their own food in common galleys or have it cooked for them in large pots. Water was also rationed and could deteriorate in quality during the voyage.
  • Cabin: Cabin passengers received better quality food, often including fresh meat (from live animals kept onboard) and milk.

• Hygiene and Sanitation:

  • Poor hygiene was a significant issue. Fresh water for washing was scarce, and salt water was unpleasant. Latrines were basic and often overflowed. Overcrowding, combined with poor sanitation, created ideal conditions for the rapid spread of diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhus, and smallpox. Deaths during voyages were not uncommon.
  • Vermin, such as cockroaches and rats, were pervasive.

• Daily Life and Activities:

  • Days were often regimented, with set times for waking, meals, and returning to berths.
  • There was little in the way of organized activities for steerage passengers. Some might try to fish or snare seabirds. Leisure time was often spent chatting, mending clothes, or writing letters (though mail services at sea were limited).
  • Children, if eligible, might attend some form of informal schooling.
  • The journey could be incredibly boring for many, punctuated by the excitement or terror of storms.

• Dangers:

  • Storms: Bad weather was a constant threat, leading to severe seasickness, discomfort, and even damage to the ship or loss of life.
  • Disease: As mentioned, disease was a major killer on immigrant ships.
  • Fire: The combination of timber, straw mattresses, and restricted light sources meant fire was a constant danger.
  • Shipwreck: While not common, shipwrecks did occur, and with few lifeboats and limited swimming abilities, survival rates were low.

Despite the hardships, thousands of emigrants made these voyages, driven by the hope of a new life and opportunities in America.

In this case, I used the AI tool Gemini as a "search engine" and it provided the answers quickly without me having to click many web links or find books about the query answers.  Gemini provided sources for the Calhoun query (which I  didn't include above).  They are:

• United States Navy.mil (www.history.navy.mil) Calhoun - Naval History and Heritage Command Ship Histories. » Confederate Ships. » Calhoun. Calhoun. (SwStr: t. 509; cpl. 85; a. 1 18-pdr., 2 12-pdr., 2 6-pdr.) CSS Calhoun, built at New York in 1851 as ...
• Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org) USS Calhoun - Wikipedia.  USS Calhoun was a captured Confederate steamer and blockade runner acquired by the Union Navy from the prize court during the American Civil War. USS Calhoun. ...
• Genea-Musings (www.geneamusings.com) Treasure Chest Thursday - Post 200: 1855 Passenger List for James Richman. ... Daniel H. Truman master, which sailed from Liverpool and arrived in New York on 22 October 1855, is: And a snippet of the entry for James Richman: The ...
• CivilWar.com (www.civilwar.com) Calhoun (1862-1864) - Civil War. USS Calhoun, an 508-ton side-wheel gunboat, was built in 1851 at New York City as the civilian steamer Calhoun. She became a Confederate privateer in May 1861 ...
• Ibiblio (www.ibiblio.org) Civilian Ships--Steamship Calhoun (1851-1883) - Ibiblio. She was transferred to the U.S. Army the next month and spent the rest of the Civil War as the Army steamer General Sedgewick. Sold by the Government in 1865, ...
• HowStuffWorks (science.howstuffworks.com) The Origins of the Steamship - Science | HowStuffWorks One of the first successful steamships was the PS Comet. It first set sail in 1812 as a paddle steamer and got an upgrade with new technology by 1819. ...
•  GEOCITIES.ws (www.geocities.ws) Ships' Passenger List Port of New York 1820-1865 -. ... Mary. 40. Laborer. Ireland. Liverpool. Scargo. Oct. 12, 1850. 211. Foy, Mary Ann Michael Kate Thomas. 45 18 16 - -. Widow Servant Laborer Servant Infant. ...

I tried using Google's actual Search engine for the first prompt and received the same results, plus web links to railway information.  A Google Search for the second prompt provided a similar response to the Gemini response, but did not include information about specific passengers.  Google Search told me that the distance from Liverpool to New York City  was over 3,300 miles; and that the travel speed in open water was probably 8 to 14 miles per hour depending on sea conditions.  Also, that the Calhoun was designed for river and coastal travel - it may have been a difficult crossing in 1855!

Note that Gemini "remembered" my James Richman queries in weeks past, and that he was a passenger on the Calhoun.  I checked the passenger list on Ancestry.com and found that there were 164 passengers on the ship, and that James Richman and Samuel Rich (and his wife and infant) were the last-named passengers on the list.  Did they just barely make the boat?

Information like this is very helpful to add historical events and social history content to a person's biography. 

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See all of my Artificial Intelligence-related posts at https://www.geneamusings.com/p/artificial-intelligence-posts.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/05/ask-ai-how-did-james-richman-travel-to.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 Twitter, 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 Record Collections - Week of 24 to 30 May 2025

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

As of 30 May 2025, there are 3,409 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 0 from last week):

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

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Capital Federal, Census, 1855 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469065); 261,816 indexed records with 7,630 record images (was 260,720 records with 7,630 images), UPDATED 27-May-2025
Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770729); Index only (457,578 records), no images (was 463,909 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-May-2025
Australia, Marriages, 1810-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770858); Index only (140,493 records), no images (was 142,362 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-May-2025
Colombia, Censuses, 1777-1967 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000123); 323,365 indexed records with 29,662 record images (was 311,464 records with 29,632 images), UPDATED 29-May-2025
Connecticut, Naturalization Records, 1795-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3238391); 743,240 indexed records with 680,191 record images (was 305,750 records with 680,067 images), UPDATED 28-May-2025

Ecuador, Catholic Church Records, 1565-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1923402); 6,168,088 indexed records with 1,454,787 record images (was 6,168,067 records with 1,454,787 images), UPDATED 24-May-2025
Indiana, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2852766); 899,405 indexed records with 898,302 record images (was 899,393 records with 898,300 images), UPDATED 23-May-2025
Indonesia, Civil Registration, 1806-1997 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000168); 231,975 indexed records with 865,226 record images (was 234,066 records with 865,226 images), UPDATED 27-May-2025
Iowa, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2796750); Index only (609,202 records), no images (was 609,182 records with 0 images), UPDATED 23-May-2025
Ireland, Valuation Office Books, 1831-1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2329951); 6,485,477 indexed records with 183,144 record images (was 4,133,425 records with 183,144 images), UPDATED 23-May-2025

Italy, Agrigento, Agrigento, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946817); 23,455 indexed records with 852,371 record images (was 13,545 records with 852,371 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Agrigento, Sciacca, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043548); 16,616 indexed records with 226,482 record images (was 0 records with 226,482 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Ancona, Ancona, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1862-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046896); 554,474 indexed records with 2,361,451 record images (was 11,945 records with 2,361,451 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Avellino, Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043434); 23,571 indexed records with 181,144 record images (was 0 records with 181,144 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Bari, Bari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043445); 40,000 indexed records with 1,626,044 record images (was 0 records with 1,626,044 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025

Italy, Bologna, Bologna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947797); 679,204 indexed records with 5,914,917 record images (was 115,140 records with 5,914,917 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Cagliari, Cagliari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043426); 231,663 indexed records with 1,791,108 record images (was 95,281 records with 1,791,108 images), UPDATED 29-May-2025
Italy, Caserta, Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043630); 1,066,556 indexed records with 1,097,228 record images (was 62,331 records with 1,097,228 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Catania, Caltagirone, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1483039); 205,830 indexed records with 1,252,189 record images (was 111,782 records with 1,252,189 images), UPDATED 29-May-2025
Italy, Catania, Catania, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043496); 58,555 indexed records with 434,962 record images (was 21,174 records with 434,962 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025

Italy, Como, Como, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043815); 504,983 indexed records with 1,475,606 record images (was 449,692 records with 1,475,606 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Cremona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1744-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987747); 613,351 indexed records with 1,325,362 record images (was 613,346 records with 1,325,362 images), UPDATED 29-May-2025
Italy, Genova, Genova, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046914); 257,755 indexed records with 871,669 record images (was 170,569 records with 871,669 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Lecco, Lecco, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046897); 148,378 indexed records with 646,060 record images (was 141,994 records with 646,060 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Macerata, Macerata, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043838); 9,996 indexed records with 792,563 record images (was 6,740 records with 792,563 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025

Italy, Messina, Messina, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1939 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1887904); 93,036 indexed records with 927,560 record images (was 93,036 records with 927,560 images), UPDATED 29-May-2025
Italy, Modena, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968527); 334,253 indexed records with 2,114,742 record images (was 317,276 records with 2,114,742 images), UPDATED 29-May-2025
Italy, Venezia, Venezia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043809); 559,744 indexed records with 628,744 record images (was 546,793 records with 628,744 images), UPDATED 30-May-2025
Italy, Vercelli, Vercelli, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1802-1813, 1838-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939214); 1,682 indexed records with 17,865 record images (was 1,682 records with 17,548 images), UPDATED 29-May-2025
Kentucky, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2857274); 735,551 indexed records with 733,388 record images (was 735,550 records with 733,387 images), UPDATED 23-May-2025

Mexico, Sinaloa, Civil Registration, 1861-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2290241); 1,471,810 indexed records with 1,403,105 record images (was 1,471,781 records with 1,403,105 images), UPDATED 24-May-2025
Mississippi, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2999487); Index only (560,490 records), no images (was 560,472 records with 0 images), UPDATED 23-May-2025
New Hampshire, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2999488); 120,500 indexed records with 119,849 record images (was 120,490 records with 119,848 images), UPDATED 23-May-2025
New York, New York City, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3288447); 2,333,621 indexed records with 2,109,883 record images (was 2,333,405 records with 2,109,848 images), UPDATED 23-May-2025
Oregon, Naturalization Records, 1859-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279955); 81,184 indexed records with 63,482 record images (was 81,183 records with 63,481 images), UPDATED 24-May-2025

Sri Lanka, Civil Registration, 1768-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2209866); 14,543,519 indexed records with 14,508,157 record images (was 14,616,964 records with 14,508,157 images), UPDATED 27-May-2025

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Civil Registration, 1861-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000041); 1 indexed records with 111,622 record images (was 1 records with 111,613 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 2,920,541 record images (was 1 records with 2,920,537 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 453,466 record images (was 1 records with 453,459 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 904,292 record images (was 1 records with 904,290 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Colombia, DAS Civil Registration Alphabetic Cards, 1914-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000074); 1 indexed records with 26,238,293 record images (was 1 records with 26,237,779 images), last updated 25-Nov-2024

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Census, 1984 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3288450); 27,147,953 indexed records with 5,466,978 record images (was 27,147,953 records with 5,457,909 images), last updated 18-Apr-2025
Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 255,470,448 indexed records with 64,051,898 record images (was 255,470,448 records with 43,170,944 images), last updated 09-Apr-2025
Italy, Torino, Diocese of Torino, Catholic Church Records, 1801-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000113); 1 indexed records with 142,117 record images (was 1 records with 142,114 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024
Netherlands, Archival Indexes, Vital Records, 1600-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2704829); 46,579,094 indexed records with 46,322,195 record images (was 46,579,094 records with 46,317,998 images), last updated 08-Feb-2024
Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1908-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 1,480,535 indexed records with 328,665 record images (was 1,480,522 records with 328,664 images), last updated 23-May-2025
 
--- Collections with images removed ---

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,724,182 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,724,331 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,203,175 record images (was 1 records with 28,203,176 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024

--- Collections with new records ---

Tennessee, Shelby County, Memphis, Board of Health Death Records, 1848-1913 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3460987); 107,261 indexed records with 46,422 record images (was 107,258 records with 46,422 images), last updated 23-May-2025
Washington, County Divorce Records, 1852-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1930340); 78,804 indexed records with 127,147 record images (was 78,802 records with 127,147 images), last updated 23-May-2025

--- Collections with records removed ---
United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,605,742 records), no images (was 875,605,747 records with 0 images), last updated 24-Jan-2025
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,872,492 records), no images (was 413,872,496 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-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:

• 0 removed entries
• 0 added entries 
• 36 updated entries
• 12 entries with more or fewer images 
• 4 entries with more or fewer records

The FamilySearch website says there are 3409 total entries on the list (without signing in). Marshall's list says there are 3409 (without signing in).  They are in-sync this week.

See previous FamilySearch-related blog posts in   https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FamilySearch

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/05/added-and-updated-familysearch-record_30.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 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 be posted immediately.

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 24 to 30 May 2025

 The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by Date Updated during the period from 24 to 30 May 2025:

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• Utah, U.S., Death and Military Death Certificates, 1904-1970; 967,991 indexed records with record images, Updated 5/29/2025.  In addition to records of those who died in Utah between 1904 and 1970, this collection includes military death certificates for soldiers who died in World War II and the Korean War.
• Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans and Widows Burial and Death Records 1885-1995; 172,171 indexed records with record images, ADDED 5/29/2025.  This collection contains burial and death records for military veterans and their widows filed in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, between 1885 and 1995. 
• 1950 United States Federal Census; 156,818,192 indexed records with record images, Updated 5/28/2025. A U.S. census record is only available to the general public 72 years after Census Day. This census may help you discover more about how the Great Depression, World War II, and the start of the Baby Boom affected your family.
• Zschopau, Germany, Births, 1876-1911; 53,164 indexed records with record images, Updated 5/28/2025.  This collection consists of civil registry birth records from Zschopau in the German state of Saxony that took place between the years of 1876 and 1911.
• Zschopau, Germany, Deaths, 1876-1980; 67,060 indexed records with record images, Updated 5/28/2025. This collection contains civil registry death records from Zschopau in the German state of Saxony.
• Zschopau, Germany, Marriages, 1876-1942; 33,036 indexed records with record images, Updated 5/28/2025. This collection contains civil registry marriage records from Zschopau in the German state of Saxony.

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

By my count, there was 1 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,808 collections available as of 30 May, an INCREASE of 1 from last week.  

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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/2025/05/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_01264096073.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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Findmypast Friday: From London to South Africa

  I received this information from Findmypast today:

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From London to South Africa

This week, delve into stories of military service with new Anglo-Boer records, and understand the working lives of your ancestors with new apprenticeship additions.

City Of London, Goldsmiths Apprentices and Freemen 1578-1933

Ever wondered how your ancestors earned their way in the world? Delve into centuries of rich detail with these apprenticeship and freedom records from the Company of Goldsmiths, dating back to 1578. Discover signatures, trades, family connections, and addresses that bring the working lives of your forebears vividly to life in the heart of London’s history.

Anglo-Boer War Records 1899-1902

Discover your ancestors who served in the Anglo-Boer War between 1899 and 1902. This unique database contains over hundreds of thousands of names extracted from more than five hundred sources that can reveal the unit your ancestor served with, as well as details of medals, honours or awards that he or she won. This collection also features a completely revised list of men who were killed in action, died of wounds or died of disease.

200 Years of Railway History

The year 2025 means we can reflect on a significant milestone: 200 years of railway travel in the United Kingdom. This journey began in 1825 with the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and it has since woven its way through the challenges of the Industrial Revolution and two world wars, touching countless lives along the way. We invite you to join us in exploring the rich history of railways through the eyes of our historical newspapers.

A young hero - James Edward Skitt

On 5 July 1930, the town of Castleford in Yorkshire was rocked by a massive explosion at its chemical plant. 13 people died, many more were injured, and homes were destroyed, leaving many homeless. As terror ripped through the community, some delved into danger to help their colleagues. One such person, 20-year-old James Edward Skitt, tried gallantly to put out the ensuing fire, which ultimately cost him his life.

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See all of my posts about Findmypast at   https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FindMyPast

Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador. This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/05/findmypast-friday-from-london-to-south.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.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.

52 Relatives: 2nd Great-GrandAunt Nancy E. (Oatley) Edson (1818-1892) of Rhode Island and Connecticut

Nancy E. Oatley was born on 17 October 1818 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, the second daughter and fourth child (of fourteen) of Jonathan and Amy (Champlin) Oatley.[1-2] The Jonathan Oatley family resided in South Kingstown before moving to Killingly, Connecticut in about 1835, where Jonathan was a Baptist minister for several years. 

Nancy E. Oatley and Ira Edson were married on 5 February 1837 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.[1]  Ira Edson was born on 10 July 1815 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut. the son of Levi and Anna (Cutler) Edson. After their marriage, the Ira Edson family resided in Killingly.

 Ira Edson and Nancy E. Oatley had the following children:

• Emma Jane Edson was born on 20 June 1841 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut. She died.
• Lucy Ann Edson, born 13 September 1842, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; married Edward Mason Fairmon, 23 February 1862, East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; died 10 February 1919, East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.
• Juliette Edson, born 5 January 1844, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; married Isaac Wade, 6 June 1863, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; died 22 October 1883, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.
• William Erskine Edson, born 5 October 1845, Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts; married Emily J. Chase, 2 June 1866, Chepachet, Providence, Rhode Island; died 9 December 1903, Putnam, Windham, Connecticut.
• Nancy E. Edson was born on 11 February 1850 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States. She died on 13 September 1850 at the age of 0.
• Antoinette Frances Edson, born 14 April 1851, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; married (1) John Bramin, 4 July 1869, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; married (2) Herbert W. Roper, 22 May 1880, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut; died 7 February 1909, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.
• Ira Adelbert Edson, born 14 November 1852, East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; married Susan C. Winslow, 23 July 1870, Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island; married Irene Frances Sherman, 13 December 1874, Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island; died 29 April 1908, Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island.
• male Edson was born on 20 December 1858 in East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut. He died on 20 December 1858 at the age of 0 in East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.

In the 1850 United States census, the Ira Edson family resided in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[3]  The household included:

• Ira Edson - age 34, male, a Weaver, born Killinglt Ct.
• Nancy  Edson - age 31, female, born S. Kingston RI
• Laura Edson - age 10, female, born Killingly Ct.
• Emma J. Edson - age 8, female, born Killingly Ct.
• Lucy Ann Edson - age 7, female, born Killingly Ct.
• Juliette Edson - age 6, female, born Killingly Ct.
• William E. Edson - age 4, male, born Killingly Ct.
• Nancy E. Edson - age 7/12, female, born Killingly Ct.

In the 1860 United States census, the Ira Edson family resided in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[4]  The household included:

• Ira Edson - age 45, male, an operative, born Conn.
• Nancy  Edson - age 41, female, born Conn.
• Lucy Edson - age 17, female, an operative, born Conn.
• Juliette Edson - age 16, female, an operative, born Conn.
• Wm. Edson - age 14, male, born Conn..
• Annett Edson - age 9, female, born Conn., attended school
• Ira A. Edson - age 7, male, born Conn., attended school

In the 1870 United States census, the Ira Edson family resided in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[5]  The household included:

• Ira Edson - age 54, male, white, a Farmer, $2000 in real property, $750 in personal property, born Conn.
• Nancy  Edson - age 51, female, white, Keeping House, born Rhode Island
• William E. Edson - age 24, male, white, Works In Cotton Mill, $300 in personal property, born Conn..
• Emily J.  Edson - age 19, female, white, Keeping House, born Conn.
• Ira A. Edson - age 17, male, white, Works in Cotton Mill, born Conn.
• Willie Edson - age 2/12, male, white, born Conn., birth month April

In the 1880 United States census, the Ira Edson family resided in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[6]  The household included:

• Ira Edson - white, male, age 64, married, Works in Cotton Mill, born Connecticut, father born Conn., mother born Conn.
• Nancy  Edson - white, female, age 61, Wife, married, Keeping House, born Rhode Island, father born R.I., mother born R.I.
• Herbert W. Roper - white, male, age 23, Son-in-law, married, Works in Cotton Mill, born Connecticut, father born Mass., mother born Conn.
• Anetta Roper - white, female, age 29, Daughter, married, Works in Cotton Mill, born Connecticut, father born Conn., mother born Conn.

Nancy E. (Oatley) Edson died on 13 January 1892 at the age of 73 in East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.[2,7] She was buried after 13 January 1892 at Bartlett Cemetery #1 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.[2]

Ira Edson died on 17 June 1895 at the age of 79 in East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.[8] He was buried after 17 June 1895 at Bartlett Cemetery #1 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.[8]

SOURCES:

 1. Harry J. Oatley, The Oatley Family in America and Their Descendants (Providence, R.I. : The Oatley Family Association, 1970), page 64,  Nancy Oatley family sketch.

2. Find A Grave, imaged,  (https://www.findagrave.com), Bartlett Cemetery #1, Killingly, Conn., Nancy Oatley Edson (1818-1892) memorial #36226165.

3. Killingly, Connecticut, "Killingly Births, Marriages and Deaths" (Register at Killingly Town Hall, Danielson, Connecticut), Volume 2, 1849-1881; Page 1a, Ira Edson and Nancy E. Oatley marriage, 5 February 1837.

4. 1850 United States Federal Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, Killingly, page 374 (stamped), dwelling #647, family #703, Ira Edson household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

5. 1860 United States Federal Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, Killingly, page 116 (penned), dwelling #889, family #976, Ira Edson household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing  1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.

6. 1870 United States Federal Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, Killingly, page 29 (penned), dwelling #192, family #240, Ira Edson household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.

7. 1880 United States Federal Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, Killingly, ED 129, page 18 (penned), dwelling #172, family #214, Ira Edson household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls. Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

8. Find A Grave, Bartlett Cemetery #1, Killingly, Connecticut, Ira Edson (1815-1895) memorial #36226163.

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

Nancy E. (Oatley) Edson (1818-1892) is my 2nd great-grandaunt and sister of my 2nd great-grandmother, Amy Frances Oatley (1826-1864).  

I have posted over 500 genealogical sketches of  my ancestors back through the 7th great-.grandparents and a number of close relatives.  Information about her father, Jonathan Oatley (1790-1872) in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 39: #46 Jonathan Oatley (1790-1872).

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 add links to 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. 

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/05/52-relatives-2nd-great-grandaunt-nancy.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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