Thursday, July 17, 2025

52 Relatives: 2nd Great-GrandAunt Hannah Hazel (Oatley) Chase (1832-1907) of New England

Hannah Hazel Oatley was born on 1 May 1832 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island.[1-2]

(Edwin and Hannah Chase gravestone, Bartlett Cemetery #1, K illingly, Conn.,
courtesy of Find A Grave)

Hannah H. Oatley married Asahel Edwin Chase (1829-1874) on 30 September 1849 in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[3-4]  He was the son of Asahel Edward and Lucretia (Brown) Chase.  Asahel Edwin Chase was born on 4 March 1829 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut.

Asahel Edwin Chase and Hannah Hazel Oatley had the following children:

  • James Edwin Chase, born 16 September 1850, South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States; married Ella Francis Mitchell, about 1874, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; died 17 June 1930, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
  • Jane Chase was born about 1851 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
  • Nancy Chase was born about 1852 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
  • Henry Francis Chase, born 1 May 1852, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; married Sophie A. Newton, about 1873, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; died 13 July 1927, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
  • Caroline Chase, born 20 November 1853, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; died 7 November 1873, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
  • John Alfred Chase, born 2 August 1855, East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; married Amey Jane Wade, 9 August 1876, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States; died 27 April 1917, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
  • Charles Olin Chase was born on 14 April 1857 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States. He died on 7 October 1874 at the age of 17 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
  • Vernon C. Chase, born 28 November 1858, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; married Jennie Frances Newton, 25 July 1878, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; died 1917, Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
  • Bertha H. Chase, born about 1861, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; married Caleb Williamson Wheaton, 1879, Connecticut, United States; died 1922, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
  • William Elmer Chase, born 20 June 1862, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; married Estelle Mathews, about 1883, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; died 2 March 1949, California, United States.
  • Jennie O. Chase was born on 1 January 1864 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.  She died on 10 December 1890 at the age of 26.
  • Amy Champlin Chase was born on 4 September 1865 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.  She died on 22 September 1888 at the age of 23 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
  • Edgar Arthur Chase, born 20 August 1869, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; died June 1948.
  • Attie May Chase, born 3 August 1870, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States; married William F. Vincent, 28 January 1889, Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died 28 August 1891, Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

In the 1850 United States census, the Asel H. Chase family resided in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut with the Asel Chase family.[5]  The household included:

  • Asel E. Chase - age 25, male, a farmer, born Killingly Ct.
  • Hannah Chase - age 18, female, born So. Kingston R.I.

In the 1860 United States census, the Edwin A. Chase family resided in East Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[6]  The household included:

  •  Edwin A. Chase - age 30, male, a farmer, $200 in real property, $1000 in personal property, born Conn.
  • Hannah Chase - age 28, female, born Conn.
  • Jane Chase - age 9, female, born Conn., attends school
  • Henry Chase - age 8, male, born Conn., attends school
  • John Chase - age 5, male, born Conn., attends school
  • Caroline Chase, age 6, female, born Conn., attends school
  • Charles Chase - age 3, male, born Conn.
  • Olin Chase, age 2, male, born Conn.

In the 1870 United Stated census, the Edwin A. Chase family resided in West Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[7]  The household included:

  • Edwin A. Chase - age 42, male, white, a Farmer, $3000 in real property, $1000 in personal property, born Conn.
  • Hannah Chase - age 38, female, white, Keeping house, born Conn.
  • James E. Chase - 20, male, white, farm laborer, born Conn.
  • Henry F. Chase - age 18, male, white, Works in Cotton Mill, born Conn.
  • John A. Chase - age 16, male, white, Farm Laborer, born Conn., attends school
  • Chas. O. Chase - age 14, male, white, Farm Laborer, born Conn., attends school
  • Caroline Chase - age 13, female, white, At home, born Conn.
  • Vernon Chase - age 11, male, white, born Conn., attends school
  • Bertha H. Chase - age 9, female, white, born Conn., attends school
  • William Chase - age 7, male, white, born Conn., attends school
  • Jennie Chase - age 5, female, white, born Conn.
  • Amy Chase - age 4, female, white, born Conn.
  • Edgar A. Chase - age 2, male, white, born Conn.

Asahel Edwin Chase died 7 November 1874 in Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts at age 45. 

In the 1880 United States census, the Hannah Chase family resided in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[8]  The household included:

  • Hannah Chase - white, female, age 48, widow, Keeping house, born Rhode Island, father born R.I, mother born R.I
  • Jennie Chase - white, female, age 16, Daughter, single, At home, Idiiotic, cannot read or write, born Connecticut, father born R.I., mother born Conn.
  • Amy Chase - white, female, age 14, Daughter, single, At home, attends school, born Connecticut, father born R.I., mother born Conn.
  •  Edgar Chase - white, male, age 13, single, Son, At school, attends school, born Connecticut, father born R.I., mother born Conn.
  •  Abbie Chase - white, female, age 9, Daughter, single, attends school, born Connecticut, father born R.I., mother born Conn.
  • William Chase - white, male, age 18, Son, single, works on farm, born Connecticut, father born R.I., mother born Conn.

 In the 1900 United States census, Hannah H. Chase resided in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut in the Henry F. Chase household.[9]  

  • Hannah H. Chase - Mother, white, female, born May 1832, age 68, widowed, 12 children born, 7 living, born Rhode Island, father born Rhode Island, mother born Rhode Island, can read, write and speak English.

Hannah Hazel (Oatley) Chase died 5 May 1907 in Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.[2]  She is buried with Edwin A. Chase in Bartlett Cemetery #1 in East Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut.[2]  Her children Charles O. Chase, Amy C. Chase and Jennie O. Chase share their burial plot and gravestone. 

SOURCES:

1. Harry J. Oatley, The Oatley Family in America and Their Descendants (Providence, R.I. : The Oatley Family Association, 1970), page 40, Jonathan Oatley family sketch.

8. Find A Grave, imaged,  (https://www.findagrave.com), Bartlett Cemetery #1, East Killingly, Conn., Hannah H. Chase (1832-1907) memorial # 36226129.

3.  Killingly, Connecticut, "Killingly Births, Marriages and Deaths" (Register at Killingly Town Hall, Danielson, Connecticut), Volume 2, 1849-1881; Page 53a, E.H. Chase and Hannah H. Oatley marriage entry, 30 September 1849.

4. "Connecticut, Marriages, 1630-1997", imaged, FamilySearch,  (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7PY-ZY2), E.H. Chase and Hannah H. Oatley entry, 30 September 1849.

5. United States 1850 Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, Killingly, page 710 (penned), Asel E. Chase and Hannah Chase family; imaged, "United States, Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M68B-PN8).

6. United States 1860 Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, East Killingly, page 25 (penned), page 510 (stamped), Edwin A. Chase household; imaged,"United States, Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHRM-R8K).

7. United States 1870 Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, West Killingly, page 57 (penned), page 413 (stamped), Edwin A. Chase household; imaged. "United States, Census, 1870", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN75-RVK).

8. United States 1880 Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, Killingly, ED 129, page 8D, Hannah Chase household; imaged. "United States, Census, 1880", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFZQ-453).

9. United States 1900 Census, Windham County, Connecticut, population schedule, Killingly, ED 516, sheet 2B, Hannah Chase household; imaged. "United States, Census, 1900", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DCB9-KV).

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Hannah Hazel Oatley (1832-1907) 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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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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Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Genealogy Education Bytes - Week of 10 to 16 July 2025

  Welcome to Genealogy Education Bytes, posted on Wednesday afternoon for the past week, where we try to highlight some of the most important genealogy and family history education items that came across my desktop since the last issue.


1) Upcoming Conferences and  Institutes 

* Conference Keeper Calendar - has many links to register for  and/or view conferences and institutes.

*  2025 Kentucky History and Genealogy Conference (KYGS) ($$) -- 8-9 August 2025 -- In-Person (Kenton County, Kentucky)

*  2025 New York State Family History Conference (NYG&B) ($$) -- 19-20 September 2025 -- In-Person (Kingston, N.Y.) and Virtual.

2 ) Upcoming Seminars, Webinars and Online Classes (times are US Pacific):

* Conference Keeper Calendar - has many links to register for and/or view seminars, webinars and classes.

*  FamilySearch Library Classes and Webinars (Free)

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for a week) - Tuesday, 15 July, 5 p.m.:   Civil War Records: What is a Reasonably Exhaustive Search? by Craig R. Scott.
 
*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for a week) - Wednesday, 16 July, 11 a.m.:  Tracing Scots Ancestors Before 1855 by Alison Spring.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for a week) - Friday, 18 July, 11 a.m.:  Strategies for Sorting Out and Documenting Mexican Names and Families by Colleen Robledo Greene.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for a week) - Wednesday, 23 July, 11 a.m.:  Unlocking Notation Codes on Alien Passenger Lists by Elizabeth Williams Gomoll.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (members only) - Friday, 25 July, 11 a.m.:   10 Advanced Ways to Use AI in Family History by Andrew Redfern.
 
3) Recent Podcasts:

*  Ancestral Findings Podcast:  



*  Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen:  Tracing Diseases: Epidemics Shaped Our Family Trees?


4) Recent YouTube Videos

*  Aimee Cross - Genealogy Hints:  QUICK Way to FIX Place Locations on Ancestry



*  BYU Library Family History Center: Resources for Learning How to Do Genealogical Research




*  Denyse Allen ~ Chronicle Makers:  10 sources of free historical images (plus an AI tip)





*  Gen-AI and \Genealogy Made Simple:  This Easy ChatGPT Trick Can Change Your Job Future!







*  Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems:  End Genealogy Overwhelm: My Personal Breakthrough!

*  National Genealogical Society:  July 2025 Culture Conversation with Jari Honora
*  National Genealogical Society:  How You Can Help Support Records Preservation and Access



*  Society of Genealogists:  Researching in East Yorkshire


5) Did you miss the last post in this series - Genealogy Education Bytes -  Week of 3 to 9 July 2025?  


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NOTE:  If  I missed an upcoming conference or webinar, or a useful podcast or video, in this time period, please let me know in a comment or an email. 

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 your comment 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 and may not appear immediately. 

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ABC Biography of #37 Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth (1789-1857) Of New England

 The Claude (now Sonnet 4) artificial intelligence tool can be used to write family-friendly biographies of my ancestors that might interest and engage my relatives and descendants to help them learn about and understand their ancestry. Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is one ancestor biography.

1) I have written genealogical sketches for almost every known ancestor back 9 generations in blog posts based on 38 years of genealogical research in my 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies series. The genealogical sketch for my 3rd great-grandmother, Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth, #37 on my Ahnentafel List), including family members, record abstracts and sources, is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 30: #37 Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth (1789-1857).


(AI ChatGPT4o image of a Townsend family  in 1836)

2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached the PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestor using the plus (+) icon, and then prompted the AI tool with: You are an expert genealogist. Please create a biography based on information in the attached file, including parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places), summarize life events, and add historical facts as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members.

3)  Here is the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 biography:

Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth (1789-1857):

A Life in 19th Century New England

Early Life and Family Origins

Hannah Sawtell entered the world on November 6, 1789, in the picturesque town of Brookline, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. She was the first child born to Josiah and Hannah (Smith) Sawtell, who had married that same year. The young family was just beginning their journey in the newly formed United States, as Hannah's birth came just thirteen years after the Declaration of Independence and during George Washington's first presidency.

Hannah's birth was officially recorded in the Brookline town records as "Hannah Sartell daughter of Josiah Sartell and his wife Hannah born November 6th 1789." The spelling variations of the family name—Sawtell, Sartell, and Sawtelle—were common in an era when standardized spelling was still evolving.

A Large and Growing Family

Hannah was the eldest of nine children, making her a natural leader and helper in the bustling Sawtell household. Her siblings were:

  • Josiah Sawtell (1791-1871), who lived to be 80 years old
  • Mary Sawtell (1793-1833), who died at 40
  • Chester Sawtell (1795-1872), who lived to 77
  • Esther Sawtell (1797-1859), who lived to 62
  • Horace C. Sawtell (1799-1825), who tragically died young at 26
  • Neuma Sawtell (1803-1826), who also died young at 23
  • Walter Sawtell (1806-1857), who died the same year as Hannah
  • Price Sawtell (1810-1891), the youngest, who lived to 81

Growing up as the oldest child in such a large family during the early 1800s meant Hannah likely shouldered considerable responsibility helping to care for her younger siblings. This experience would serve her well when she later raised her own large family.

The Family's Migration to Massachusetts

The Sawtell family's story reflects the westward migration patterns of early 19th-century New England. By 1800, when Hannah was eleven years old, the family had moved from Brookline, New Hampshire, to Mason, New Hampshire. Four years later, in 1804, they made a more significant move when Josiah Sawtell purchased land in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

This relocation to Massachusetts represented the family's pursuit of better opportunities and more fertile farmland. Townsend, established in 1732, was a thriving agricultural community that would become Hannah's home for the rest of her life.

Marriage and New Beginnings

At age 20, Hannah married Zachariah Hildreth on October 21, 1810, in Townsend, Massachusetts. Zachariah, born April 10, 1783, was seven years her senior and a local farmer. The marriage intentions were recorded on September 5, 1810, when "Mr. Zachriah Hildreth Jr. and Miss Hannah Sartell of this Town" formally announced their intention to marry.

The wedding ceremony was performed by Reverend David Palmer, and the marriage record notes the union of "Zachariah Hildreth Jnr to Hannah Sartell" on that October day. This marriage would span nearly 47 years and produce nine children, making Hannah and Zachariah pillars of the Townsend community.

Motherhood and Family Life

Hannah's role as a mother began in 1811 and continued for over two decades. She and Zachariah welcomed nine children, all born in Townsend:

  • Aaron Hildreth (March 11, 1811 - June 11, 1884) - Their firstborn lived to be 73 and married Sophia Adams in 1833, continuing the family line in Townsend.
  • Clarissa Hildreth (August 18, 1814 - September 16, 1819) - Their first daughter tragically died at just 5 years old, a heartbreaking but all-too-common occurrence in an era when childhood mortality was high.
  • James Hildreth (May 3, 1817 - April 13, 1892) - He married Nancy Jane Shattuck in 1840 and lived to be nearly 75, eventually settling in Lunenburg, Massachusetts.
  • Clarissa Hildreth (January 24, 1820 - July 24, 1852) - Named for her deceased sister, this Clarissa married Samuel Dana Baldwin in 1840 but died young at 32 in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire.
  • Elizabeth Hildreth (April 26, 1822 - August 7, 1910) - She married twice, first to David C. Wilder in 1844, and after his death, to Joseph Chaffin in 1856. She lived the longest of all Hannah's children, reaching 88 years old.
  • Milo Hildreth (August 17, 1824 - June 3, 1893) - He married Frances Jane Hooker and eventually moved to Portland, Maine, where he died at 68.
  • Moses Hildreth (December 27, 1828 - June 25, 1893) - He married Lurenia Amanda Whitcomb and settled in Northborough, Massachusetts, where he died at 64.
  • Edward Hildreth (April 30, 1831 - April 26, 1899) - He married Sophia Newton and lived in Leominster, Massachusetts, dying just four days before his 68th birthday.
  • Harriet Augusta Hildreth (July 25, 1835 - July 7, 1850) - The youngest and another tragic loss, Harriet died at just 14 years old in Northborough, Massachusetts.

Life in 19th Century Townsend

The Hildreth family's life in Townsend reflected the rhythms of rural New England agriculture. The 1850 census shows Zachariah as a farmer with $1,000 in real property—a substantial sum for the time, indicating the family's solid middle-class status. Hannah, then 57, was managing the household while their youngest daughter, Harriet, was still attending school.

During this period, Townsend was a thriving agricultural community. The town's economy was based on farming, with many families like the Hildreths working the land that had been cleared by earlier generations. The community was close-knit, with everyone knowing their neighbors and participating in local church and civic life.

The Final Years

The 1855 Massachusetts State Census provides a poignant glimpse into Hannah's later years. At 65, she was still living in the family home with Zachariah, now 72, along with their daughter Elizabeth (now Elizabeth Wilder after her marriage) and Elizabeth's young daughter Nancy. This multi-generational household arrangement was typical of the era and provided both practical support and family continuity.

Hannah's health began to decline in her final years. She developed paralysis, a condition that would ultimately contribute to her death. Despite her physical limitations, she remained surrounded by family who cared for her with the devotion typical of close-knit 19th-century families.

Death and Legacy

Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth died on January 13, 1857, at the age of 67 years, 2 months, and 7 days. The death record notes that she was married, had been suffering from paralysis, and was born in Brookline, New Hampshire, the daughter of Josiah and Hannah Sawtell. Just nine days later, on January 22, 1857, her husband Zachariah followed her in death at the age of 73.

The couple was buried together in New Cemetery in Townsend, Massachusetts, alongside two of their children who had predeceased them—their daughters Clarissa (died at 5) and Harriet Augusta (died at 14). Their burial records were carefully maintained in the town's vital records, ensuring their memory would be preserved for future generations.

Historical Context

Hannah's life spanned a remarkable period in American history. Born during George Washington's presidency, she lived through the War of 1812, the westward expansion, the industrial revolution's early stages, and the growing tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War. Her death in 1857 came just four years before the war that would divide the nation.

As a farm wife and mother of nine in rural Massachusetts, Hannah represented the backbone of early American society—the women who raised large families, maintained households without modern conveniences, and created the stable communities that allowed the young nation to grow and prosper. Her story is one of countless women whose contributions to American history are recorded not in grand gestures but in the careful raising of children and the maintenance of family bonds across generations.

The meticulous records kept by the Hildreth family, including entries in the family Bible now preserved by the Northborough Historical Society, demonstrate the importance they placed on maintaining family history and connections—a tradition that allows us to remember and honor Hannah's life more than 165 years after her passing.

4) A poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth (1789-1857) can be found in "Hannah's Thread" -- A Family History Poem, Song and Podcast Created by Artificial Intelligence. The song created from the song lyrics can be played in that blog post, and heard in "Hannah's Thread" on Suno.com.

5) An audio overview (essentially a podcast created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool) discussing the life of Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth (1789-1857)  can be heard in:   https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/f25a8b9c-62a1-42b4-aa76-9e56af75cab8/audio.
 
6)  I edited the Claude biography text to add more family detail and correct minor errors.  Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write.  I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts gleaned from my research."  The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including local and national historical events and social history detail.   

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver


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, and may not appear immediately.

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Randy and the Cat in About 1950 in San Diego -- (Not So) Wordless Wednesday #878

 I found another priceless (to me) photograph in my computer file folders:


In about 1950, my brother Stan and I loved to play with cap pistols.  In this photograph, I am looking at the camera (it was probably my grandfather taking the photo) and the cat is distracted by something off the right side of the photograph.  I'm wearing my cowboy hat (Hopalong Cassidy?), a long sleeve shirt, short pants, and my pistol holster.  There were so many places to hide on this block and we were always outside playing games of some sort.

I know exactly where this is - the northeastern corner of 30th Street and Hawthorn Street.  The walkway that I'm standing on is the entry to where the old Carringer house stood when it was on the corner.  At the top of the photo, I see the Carringer modified two-story house (now 2115 and 2119 30th Street) beyond the wall covered with vines.  We lived in the upper apartment and my grandparents lived in the lower apartment in 1950.  Between the wall and Hawthorn Street is the vacant lot where we played games and picked berries off the bushes (off the photo to the right.  The palm tree that was planted after the house was built is in back of me - it's in the photographs from the 1910 to 1930 time period. 

This photograph is a part of my family history.  I enhanced and colorized it using the MyHeritage photo tools.  

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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.    I moderate all comments and they may not appear immediately - please write only one comment.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 9 to 15 July 2025

Welcome to Genealogy News Bytes, posted on Tuesday afternoon for the past week, where we try to highlight the most important genealogy and family history news  items that came across our desktop since the last issue.    


1)  Genealogy and Family History News Articles:











2)  DNA/IGG-Related News Articles





4)  New or Updated Genealogy Digital Record Collections:







5)  Did you miss the last post in this series?  See Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 2 to 8 July 2025.   Read all recent Genealogy News Bytes posts here.  

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


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: "What Factors Caused Samuel Vaux's Moves From New York to Wisconsin (1854) to Missouri (1868) to Kansas (1878)?"

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.

Several ancestral families of mine migrated from the eastern states to the midwest statesx in the 1850 to 1900 time frame.  I wondered why they moved several times and asked the free AI tools for the factors that may have caused the moves.  I used my 3rd great-grandfather Samuel Vaux (1816-1880) and his residence history as the subject for this query.  Samuel Vaux's genealogical sketch is in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 47: #54, Samuel Vaux (1816-1880).

My Prompt was:  "My 3rd great-grandfather, Samuel Vaux (1816-1880) was a farmer.  He married Mary Ann Underhill in 1838, and they had six children beteen 1840 and 1854.  He resided in Aurora, Erie County, New York in 1850, moved to Burnett, Dodge County, Wisconsin in 1854, moved to Platte, Andrew County, Missouri in 1868, and moved to Blue Rapids, Marshall County, Kansas before 1880.   What factors might have caused each move?"


(AI ChatGPT4o created image of Samuel Vaux family  in 1860 Wisconsin)

Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 response:

Looking at Samuel Vaux's migration pattern, each move likely reflected the westward expansion opportunities and challenges of 19th-century America. Let me break down the probable factors for each relocation:

New York to Wisconsin (1854) 

Samuel's move from Aurora, Erie County, New York to Burnett, Dodge County, Wisconsin was part of a massive demographic shift during the 1850s. In the 1850s, two-thirds of immigrants to Wisconsin came from the eastern United States, with early migration to Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota from the east came disproportionately from New England and New York. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 had created a direct transportation corridor that made Wisconsin accessible to New York farmers seeking opportunities.

By 1850, western New York's agricultural land had become increasingly expensive and subdivided among multiple generations of families. The Genesee Valley region, where Erie County is located, had been settled since the 1790s, and good farmland was becoming scarce and costly. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Territory was actively promoting settlement through land agents and promotional literature distributed throughout New York State. The federal government was selling Wisconsin prairie land at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre under the Pre-emption Act of 1841, while similar quality farmland in New York was selling for $20-50 per acre.

Wisconsin's Dodge County offered particular advantages: it featured fertile prairie soils that didn't require the backbreaking labor of clearing forests, and it was situated along emerging railroad lines that would provide market access. The timing of Samuel's 1854 move coincided with Wisconsin's wheat boom, when the state was becoming known as "America's Breadbasket." Railroad construction was connecting Wisconsin farms to eastern markets, and wheat prices were strong due to international demand, particularly from European markets disrupted by the Crimean War.

Wisconsin to Missouri (1868) 

Samuel's move to Platte, Andrew County, Missouri in 1868 came at a pivotal moment in American history. The Civil War had ended just three years earlier, and Missouri was experiencing significant economic and demographic changes. During the war, Missouri had been a deeply divided border state, with guerrilla warfare and military occupation disrupting agricultural production and displacing many farmers.

By 1868, Missouri was actively recruiting settlers to rebuild its agricultural economy. The state offered several advantages: farmland was considerably cheaper than in Wisconsin, sometimes selling for as little as $3-8 per acre compared to Wisconsin's $15-25 per acre. The climate was milder, allowing for a longer growing season and different crop varieties. Missouri's river systems, particularly the Missouri River near Andrew County, provided excellent transportation for agricultural products to markets in St. Louis and beyond.

The psychological factor of "war weariness" may have also influenced this decision. Wisconsin had contributed heavily to the Union cause, losing over 12,000 men, and many communities were dealing with the aftermath of the war. Missouri, despite its wartime troubles, represented a fresh start and potentially greater prosperity. Additionally, there's evidence that many Wisconsin farmers were experiencing soil depletion from intensive wheat cultivation, making Missouri's virgin prairie soils particularly attractive.

Samuel's move may have also been influenced by family networks or community connections. Chain migration was common during this period, where one family member would relocate and then encourage relatives and neighbors to follow. The 1860s saw significant movement of Northern farmers into Missouri as the state worked to rebuild its agricultural sector.

Missouri to Kansas (before 1880) 

Samuel's final move to Blue Rapids, Marshall County, Kansas represented participation in one of the most significant land rushes in American history. The 1870s Kansas land boom was driven by several converging factors that made the state incredibly attractive to agricultural settlers.

The Homestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acres of free land to any family willing to settle and improve the property for five years. By the 1870s, Kansas had become the primary destination for homesteaders, with over 100,000 people claiming homesteads during the decade. The state's promotional campaigns were extensive and sophisticated, with immigration agents distributed throughout the Midwest and East, distributing pamphlets and testimonials about Kansas's agricultural potential.

Railroad development was crucial to Kansas's appeal. The Kansas Pacific Railroad reached the state in 1870, and by the mid-1870s, multiple rail lines crisscrossed the state, providing farmers with direct access to markets in Kansas City, Chicago, and beyond. The railroads themselves were major promoters of settlement, since they needed customers to ship agricultural products to make their lines profitable.

Climate and soil conditions in Kansas were promoted as ideal for wheat cultivation. The state's semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters was perfect for hard winter wheat, which was increasingly in demand for bread making. The deep, fertile soils of the Great Plains were being promoted as superior to the worn-out soils of older farming regions.

Blue Rapids, specifically, was located along the Big Blue River in Marshall County, an area that offered both fertile river bottom land and access to water for irrigation and livestock. The town was established in 1869 and by the 1870s was a thriving agricultural center with grain elevators, mills, and shipping facilities.

For Samuel, now in his 60s, this move likely represented both economic opportunity and family considerations. Many of his adult children may have been drawn to Kansas by the promise of free land, and family solidarity often influenced such decisions. The move also represented the culmination of a lifetime of westward migration, following the advancing frontier from New York through Wisconsin and Missouri to the edge of the Great Plains.

3)  The Claude Sonnet 4 response to the prompts was interesting and probably is accurate.  I asked the same questions of ChatGPT4, Grok, and Gemini and received similar responses.  

I like how the LLMs work - they answer the question, they organize the answers into sections, and they provide descriptive text that makes sense.  They are well-trained on historic events and social history.   

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page.  Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

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