TECHNOLOGY TUESDAY ~ Using AI to transcribe old probate records

Image created by ChatGPT

We all are aware that AI is and has been being used in genealogy for some time now. 

Whether you’ve embraced it or avoided it, is a personal decision.

I like to explore new technologies as they are available and have been tinkering with AI for about a year now. 

What I’ve been doing is nothing compared to other genealogists who have jumped in whole hog with both feet. A good example of that would be our friend and blogging guru, Randy Seaver of Geneamusings.  If you want to see what he has been experimenting with I encourage you to visit his blog. He has an entire section/tab devoted to this subject.

For my part I have used it to transcribe some obituaries and probate records and to create a few images. I used both ChatGPT and CoPilot for those tasks. With excellent success.

This week I used ChatGPT to transcribe a handwritten probate from 1745, for my paternal 7^th great grandfather, Richard Everett. Please click here to see a post about this ancestor.

Here is what the probate record looks like.

(Please click on any image to enlarge it)

First 2 pages of probate record for Richard Everett - 1745

What I found was that I’m getting better at using this tool.  Better at asking the questions in a way that gets me the results I am looking for.

I began by uploading the first double page of this probate and asking “please transcribe this document exactly.”

ChatGPT asked a question about layout, I answered and got my transcription. 

However, as I read through it (which is critical so that we can catch errors or hallucinations).

General definition of hallucinations when referring to AI  

“AI hallucinations are incorrect or misleading results that AI models generate. These errors can be caused by a variety of factors, including insufficient training data, incorrect assumptions made by the model, or biases in the data used to train the model.”

There was a phrase that AI used over and over in the transcription, that did not appear in the original document.  I then asked this – 

“can you please re read this document and remove the words "sheeps for life" as that phrase does not appear in the document. Try to read the document again and do a better job of transcription”

Much to my surprise (because I haven’t done this process a lot) Chat did what I asked and the next version was nearly perfect.

I was then asked if I wanted a full cleaned transcript of all pages as a continuous document, including OCR that is searchable.

I answered that I would love that.

Here is a portion of the text from the image above, created by ChatGPT.  I found a couple of errors and will make the corrections as necessary.  But, what a time saver this is for us.

That was done and then I was asked – “Would you like me to create a genealogical abstract and analysis next — summarizing heirs, relationships, property, and inferred family structure (standard NEHGS-style abstract)? That would make it ready for citation or inclusion in a compiled genealogy.”

Again I said yes.  And I was truly amazed at the summary Chat created for me. 

This entire analysis is 5 pages. But, what a way to summarize what was in this will, including relationships.  

I'm so impressed!

🕮 Genealogical Abstract & Analysis

CONCLUSION – I am convinced that I will continue to use AI as my virtual assistant in my research. I hope you will give it a try.  And, please do let me know if you do.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl
Copyright ©  2010-2025   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

FOLLOW UP FRIDAY ~ The Last Will & Testament of Cornelius Fisher 1699 Massachusetts

 

A FOLLOW UP TO A BLOG POST I WROTE 3 JAN 2017 – You may read it here 52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS–Week #1–Cornelius FISHER, Sr. (1629-1698/99) of Wrentham, Massachusetts

Cornelius Fisher, Sr is my husband, Ron’s, 7^th great grandfather. 

When I wrote that blog post in 2017, I promised to transcribe it and blog about it. How time flies.

If words are spelled “incorrectly” or differently than we would spell them today, I left them as is. 

I've highlighted family names in yellow so they are easy to locate.

Here is an image of the beginning of the will.

The Probate of the Will of Cornelius Fisher late of

Wrentham deced and Administration granted thereon

Unto his Sons Cornelius Fisher and Eleazer Fisher

Executo^rs in the same Will names

Cornelius Fisher Probate

2523

William Stoughton Esq duely appointed and comissionated to be Judge of the Probate of Wills, and for granting Letters of Admin

On the Estates of person deceased having Goods, Chattel, Rights or Credits in the County of Suffolke within his Ma^tys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.  To all unto whom these pyents shall come, Greeting.  Know ye that on the Fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord on thousand Six hundred ninety nine Before me at Dorchester in the County afors^d The Will of Cornelius Fisher Sen. Late of Wrentham in the County husbandman deced to these present annexed was proved, approved and allowed.  Who having while he lived and at the time of his death Goods, Chattels, Rights or Credits in the County afors^d And the Probate of these Will and power of committing – Administration of all and Singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights & Credits of the deceased and also the hearing examining and allowing the ____ of the same, by virthue thereof, of right appertaining unto me The Administration of all and Singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits the deceased and his Will in any manner concerning was committed unto his two sons Cornelius Fisher and Eleazer Fisher 

Executors in the Will named.  Well and faithfully to administer same, and to dispose thereof according to the Will. And to make a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits of the deced. And to exhibit the same into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the County afors^d at or before the Fifteenth day of December next ensuing.  Also to render a plain and true ___ of theirs Administration upon Oath in Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and the Seal of the Court of Probate Dated at Dorchester afors^d the day and year first above written.

In the name of God amen.  In the year of our Lord one thousand six ninety and nine, the third day of February.  I Cornelius Fisher Sen in the Town of Wrentham in the County of Suffolke in New England Husbandman being aged and _____ in body but sound in my understanding, condiering my mortalitie desire to set my house in order Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all forms Wills Improvis I commit my Soul into the hands of Jesus Christ my only mediator and my body to the Grave to be decently buried by my Executors hereafter named.  Item I do give to my dear and wel beloved Wife Sarah Fisher my best bed and furniture sufficient for it for her use during her natural life.  Item I do give to my eldest Son Cornelius Fisher my homestead to wit, my home Lott, pasture and Orchards and Buildings and one halfe of my meadow at pine plain, and all my meadow near the Sawmill and three cow common right in the Common Sand in Wrentham aforesaid  On this condition that he take this for his portion and maintain his mother in Law the whole term of her natural life with what she shall stand in need of for Food, Cloathing and Physick, and what else may be needful, suitable and convenient for an aged person or else pay or cause to be paid to her or her order six pound a year __wit Forty Shillings in money and four pound insuch currant pay as The shall have need of during her life and other ___ to wit, at the choice of my wife Sarah Fisher, and also pay to the rest of my children twenty five pound, Vis To my son Eleazer Fisher five pound; To my Daughter Leah five pound; To my daughter Experience five pound: To my daughter Anna five pound; and To my daughter Sarah five pound, and all this within one year after my Wife decease. Item I give to my Son Eleazer Fisher one halfe of my meadow at pine plaine the prive of it to be discounted in his portion  Item I give to my Son in Law Benjamin Hall my meadow Land at Stoney brooke the price of it alike to be discounted in his portion Further my mind and my Will is that all the rest of my Estate both in Sands and moveables Goods and Chattels be equally divided amongst my children First Eleazer and Sarah and Experience and Anna & Sarah they each of them reckoning or accounting of what they have received in part of their respective portions, First Eleazer Eight pound beside the meadow above named; Anna six pounds, Leah six pounds Experience three pounds, Sarah Seven pounds.  Finally my mind and my Will is that my children agree in love as to the premises and to that end do order, and my mind and Will is that if any of the he or she that unjustly make disturbance or not sit downe in quiet by this my will shall loose the one halfe of his or her part above mentioned and to be divided among the rest  I do nominate and appoint my two sons Cornelius Fisher and Eleazer Fisher to be sole executors and In Confirmation hereof I have set to my hand and seal Cornelius Fisher and a Seal In presence of Jn Ware Robert Ware John Maccal.

In Inventory of the housing and lands, goods & chattels of Cornelius Fisher, Sen. dec’d in Wrentham taken June the 20^th 1699.

This is a rough transcription of his inventory.  Many words I am unable to read.  The total came to £242,,19,,8

His wearing cloaths 4^th his armes & ammunition

His homestead, housing and land, pasture & orchards

His outlands and meadows and common rights

Brass and pewter, linnon, books

Ironware, earthenware and glasses

Spinning wheels and cards  wooden ware

Linnen yarne and flax  Joyner ware

Chairs and cushions ___a remnant of cloth

4 meal sacks 8 grain caprenters tools

Husbandry tools & tacklin   a pigeon net

A barrel of cyder   a cyder mill and press

Cash  Coppers ware  Lumber

Cattle  Bovine

An old pillion

Appraised by John Fairbank, Sam’l Fisher, John Ware

By the Hon^ble William Stoughton Esq. Judge of the probate __Cornelius Fisher and Eleazer Fisher sons and executors of the last will and testament of Cornelius Fisher late of Wrentham husbandman deed exhinited the above written, and made oath that it contains a just and true inventory of the estate of the deceased so far as hath come to their knowledge and that if more hereafter appears they will cause it to be added.

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl
Copyright ©  2010-2024   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

 

 

 

 

FRIDAY FINDS ~ The will of my 6th great grandmother– Mary Ann Redding nee Poage (abt 1760-1826)

In some recent connections made via Family Search and Rootstech, I am looking at some of my more distant lines.

Today, it’s my maternal 6^th great grandmother –Mary Ann POAGE.

I’ve already published the probate record for her husband, James Redding and you can read it here FRIDAY FINDS ~ The will of James Redding (abt 1755-1815)

His wife, Mary Ann Redding nee Poage also left a will and named her sons-in-law as heirs.

This will was located here West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985

Name	Mary Ann Redding
Residence Place	County of Pocahontas, Virginia
Will Date	17 Oct 1823
Probate Date	Feb 1826
Probate Place	Pocahontas, West Virginia, USA
Inferred Death Year	1826
Inferred Death Place	West Virginia, USA
Item Description	Wills, Vol 1-2, 1822-1852

Probate record for Mary Ann Redding - 1823

Here is my transcription of the will.

I Mary Ann Redding of the County of Pocahontas and State of Virginia make this my last will and testament revoking all others. I do will and Bequeath my personal estate in the manner and form following first after my funeral expenses and just debts are paid I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Richard Hutson twenty dollars, secondly I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law John Denason six dollars and thirdly I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law Thomas Denason fifty dollars and fourthly I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law William May fifty dollars, and fifthly I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law John May one hundred and twenty dollars, together with all my goods and all my chattled in my possession at the time of my death, and likewise I do constitute and appoint John May to be the executor of this my last will and testament as witness my hand and seal this seventeenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and twenty three

Signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us

Daniel Sharp                     

Thomas Lamb?
Pocahontas County February court 1826 This last will and testament of Mary ann Redding was proved in court by John May the executor therein named and proven by the oaths of Daniel Sharp and Thomas Lamb subscribing witnesses thereto and was ordered to be recorded.

Teste

Josiah Beard

You might notice both in this record and the one for her husband, James, that they had 5 daughters and four of them married brothers.

Sally Redding married John Dennison

Elenor Redding married Thomas Dennison

Mary Ann Redding married William May

Hannah Redding married John Simpson May

and Elizabeth Redding married Richard Hudson (my ancestors)

As difficult as it may be to ascertain some of the words in an old probate record, it often gives us plenty of information.  We can identify family members, witnesses and perhaps get an idea of the year of death.  Although many wills are not probated until years later.

The next question is whether I can take this line back one more generation?  Can I locate and confirm the parents of either James Redding or his wife Mary Ann Poage?

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2022   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

FRIDAY FINDS ~ The will of James Redding (abt 1755-1815)

In some recent connections made via Family Search and Rootstech, I am looking at some of my more distant lines.

Today, it’s my maternal 6^th great grandparents – James REDDING and Mary Ann POAGE.

It seems both of them left wills.  Those records list their daughters’ names, both given and married surnames.  This is extremely helpful when searching for our female ancestors.

Here is James’ probate/will record.  From Virginia, U.S. Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900

James Redding probate record - 1815 Virginia

Here is my transcription of the record. 

I James Redding of the county of Bath and state of Virginia, do will and bequeath my real and personal estates in this _____and form following after my funeral expenses and just debts and ____

I will and bequeath to my wife Mary Ann Redding all my goods and _____all which she shall dispose of in her lifetime as she may think proper. I likewise bequeath to her all my notes and bonds and ___of these notes and bonds as ___as they are collected she4 shall pay to my daughter Elizabeth Hudson Ten Dollars likewise to my daughter Sally Dennison, ten dollars, likewise to my daughter Mary Ann May ten Dollars, likewise to my daughter Eleanor Dennison ten Dollars, and likewise to my daughter Hannah May ten Dollars. I likewise bequeath to my wife all the ready money that is in my possession at the time of my decease . I will and bequeath to my son in law John May all my lands to him and his heirs forever.  I do _____ and appoint Joseph Wooddell Senior and William Warwick to be executors of this my last will and Testament. Signed sealed and published this fourth day of November one thousand eight hundred and fifteen.

James Redding's name and his mark

In presence of

Daniel Kerr

Wm McRenny

Robert Kerr

Bath County December court 1815

This will and testament of James Redding was presented in court by the executors therein named and _____by the Bath ____ heir and William McReney and _____to be recorded

As difficult as it may be to ascertain some of the words in an old probate record, it often gives us plenty of information.  We can identify family members, witnesses and perhaps get an idea of the year of death.  Although many wills are not probated until years later.

In this case, I already had the names of James’ five daughters.  I also had what I believed to be the names of their husbands.  Having them listed in this record confirms the married names for me.

The next question is whether I can take this line back one more generation?  Can I locate and confirm the parents of either James Redding or his wife Mary Ann Poage?

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2022   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

AMANUENSIS MONDAY~Probate record for Isaac Frampton Jr died 1860, age 18

What does Amanuensis mean?
To put it simply, it means a “person employed to write what another dictates or copy what has been written by another.”

Today I will transcribe the last will & testament for Isaac Frampton, Jr.  He is the youngest person in my tree for whom I’ve located a will/probate record. 

Isaac Frampton, Jr. was the son of Isaac Frampton (1790-1859) and Jane MANN (1805-1857).  He was the youngest of 7 children born to this couple.  His parents, one brother, James and one sister, Barbory J. all predeceased him. 

(click on any image to enlarge it)

Here is my transcription to the best of my ability to read this record.

Isaac Frampton will:                                                                                             347

In the name of God amen I Isaac Frampton of the County of Cabell and State of Virginia being of sound mind & memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail & transitory life do therefore make ordain publish decree this to be my last will and testament that is to say first after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged I direct my executors, who are hereafter named first to have my body interred beside the ____ of my father & mother then to inclose the grave w an iron railing having first erected a neat tombstone over my remains  I give and bequeath to Charles Everett the entire use controll & benefit of my whole landed estate proceeds of the present years crop all moneys due by note document or otherwise for the next two ensuing years the money notes acounts & __ with my sorrel filley & my bed and beding to be his forever  I next give & bequeath to my Sister Rebeca J EVERETT the forty acre field including the two lots & houses now ocupied by H McCULOUGH bounded on the East by the farm of the late G L Busing on the south by the James river & Kanawha turnpike on the west by the land runing from said turnpike to the Ohio River & on the North by the Ohio River to be hers forever then at the expiration of the two years above mentioned I give & bequeath the residue of my ___estate to be divided equally between David Frampton Hyram Frampton & Charles T Everett by each one paying to Ephram Frampton the sum of one hundred dollars Likewise I make constitue & ____Charles T. Everett & H McCulough to be Executors of this my last will & Testament there by revoking all former wills by me made in writing where of I have here with subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 27 day of September A D 1860

Cabell County court clerks office Oct 1st 1860 The last will & testament of Isaac Frampton decd was this day presented in court the same is ordered to be recorded  A copy teste H H Wood clk

For such a young man, age 18, to have to write a will is sad.  What did he died of?  The only cause of death I have for the other family members, is his father Isaac Sr., who died of Dropsy.  That was recorded in the 1860 Mortality schedule.

Of those mentioned in Isaac’s will, sadly, both his brothers, David & Hiram and his brother-in-law, Charles Everett, all died in 1861.  Again, wondering how did they die?  David was 29 yrs, Hiram was 30 and Charles Everett was 32.

Isaac is buried at Burlington Green Lawn Cemetery in Fayette, Lawrence, Ohio.  I've been to this cemetery and visited the graves of many family members, including Isaac.  You may visit his memorial here #66806705

If you think you might be related to anyone mentioned in this blog post, please contact me.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2021   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

AMANUENSIS MONDAY ~ The will of John VAUGHT (1761-1813)–husband of my maternal 5th great grandaunt and father of 11 children

What does Amanuensis mean anyway?
To put it simply, it means a “person employed to write what another dictates or copy what has been written by another.”

There are 24 people with the VAUGHT surname in my tree. Five of them bear that name through marriage.

Today I’m writing about John VAUGHT who married my 5th great grandaunt, Elizabeth MARTIN in about 1784 in Pennsylvania.  John’s brother, Gilbert Vaught married Elizabeth’s sister, Mary Martin.  It’s not unusual, as we know, for families to intermarry back then.  It’s less common as we go into the 20th century.

John Vaught was the son of Christian Vaught & Hannah Crum.  He was born in Maryland on 15 Dec 1761.¹  He married Elizabeth Martin in 1784.² John is listed in the Indiana DAR book on page 660 as having been in “Pvt in Capt. Wm. Wilson's Co. on duty in Penn's Valley in 1781.”

NOTE/TIP:  I had located a transcription of John Vaught’s will a few years ago.  While it is always nice to find such a thing, I don't like to settle for just a transcription if I don’t have to.  I would much prefer to see the actual entry in a will book, which may include additional information.  I would also prefer to transcribe the will myself.  Sure enough, today, I hunted until I located the images on Family Search.  The will was located in Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990, Muhlenberg, Will records, 1801-1814, Vol. 1, pages 170-173

(Click on any image to enlarge it)

Here is my transcription of the will of John Vaught in 1813

In the name of God Amen. I, John Vought, of the county of Muhlenberg and state of Kentucky being in low in health but of sound mind & memory do constitute and ordain this my last will and testament.

First of all I commit my soul to the Almighty God who gave it and my body I request to be buried in a Christian manner by my executors.

And as touching my worldly affects wherewith it has bin please God to gave I gave and bequeath them in a manner and form as as follows (viz.)

After all my just debts is paid First of all I gave and to my beloved wife, Elizabeth, the plantation whereon I now live during her natural life time & her widowhood together with all my farming utensils & stock of all kinds and all the household and kitchen furniture except such as I shall hereafter mention.

Secondly, I gave and bequeath to my daughter, Margaret, one horse and saddle and two cows also her equal part of all my estate at the decease of my widow including the above as part of her portion.
I also gave and bequeath to my son Abraham two hundred and fifty acres of land bought of Peter Myers, he the said Abraham is to pay fifteen dollars to my estate in good trade And it is further understood that this is his full portion of my estate.

I also gave and bequeath to my son, John, one hundred acres of land on the waters Rocky Creek entered and surveyed in the name of Benjamin Biggerstaff and patented in his name. I also gave a mare and one horse & saddle one cow and her increase which is to be considered as his full portion of my estate the above property he the said John has already received and has in his possession.

I also gave and bequeath to my daughter, Eleanor, one horse & saddle & two cows.

I also gave and bequeath to my daughter, Polly, one horse, saddle & two cows to to be raised at the expense of my estate.
It is also my will at the decease of my widow that the whole of my land and other property left be sold and equally divided among my children namely, Margaret Smith, Eleanor & Polly, Francis, Simon & Martin, Samuel & Christopher, the property mention & gave to Eleanor & Polly is considered a part of my equal proportion of my estate.

It is further to be understood that I have hereunto gave my son Abraham one mare & saddle which is also to be considered a part of his portion of my estate.

I do further ordain this my last will and testament revoking all others heretofore made by me and I do also constitute and appoint Elias Smith & my son John Vaught executors to this my last will. In witness thereof I have set my hand & seal in the presence of us June 11th day 1813.

The above & foregoing will was exhibited into court by the executors therein named and proven by the oaths of Gilbert Vaught and Thomas Foster two subscribing witnesses thereto to be the act and deed of John Vaught decd. whereupon the same is admitted to record.
Att. Chs. F. Wing C.M.C.

Question - John’s will mentions 10 of the 11 children I have listed for him in my tree.  The only one not mentioned is Daniel, born about 1794.  Did he die?  Was he out of favor?  Had he already been given his portion of the estate?

With so many Vaught’s in my tree I am learning more and more about this family all the time.

If you are related to anyone mentioned in this post, I’d love to hear from you.

Sources: 1 - Raymond Martin Bell, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania Families & Records before 1800 Supplement  (N.p) Supplement: 16a in the original book.; 2 - U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

TAX & ESTATE RECORDS ~ What I learned at a seminar featuring Michael Lacopo

San Diego Genealogical Society

Guest Speaker: Michael Lacopo, D.V.M.

Session 1: More than the Census-Our Families did exist within those ten-year intervals

Session 2: Using Tax Records for Genealogical Problem Solving

Session 3:  Estate Files: Are you getting the most out of them?

Session 4: The German Immigrant experience in the 18^th Century

It’s always fun to attend classes, seminars and conferences.  In a dozen plus years, I’ve never attended one and walked away without more knowledge than I started with.  In addition to learning how to do research by actually doing it, and watching various webinars, I cannot say enough about attending seminars and conferences.

I wrote a blog post about this subject in 2014 and what I said still holds true today.

You can read it here SEMINARS, WEBINARS, SOCIETIES–WILL THEY HELP YOUR RESEARCH?

The San Diego Genealogical Society will be celebrating it’s 72nd year next month.  It’s still very active and up to date. Please visit our web page here San Diego Genealogical Society.

Our speaker yesterday was Michael Lacopo.  He has an impressive resume and once you attend one of his classes, you’ll want to hear him speak again. When I attended a class back in 2016 at Jamboree, I couldn’t wait for another opportunity to hear him lecture.  He’s knowledgeable, easy to understand and has a great sense of humor.

Here are some of the highlights from the seminar:

Session 1 – make sure you are paying attention to where your ancestors went during those 10 year intervals between U.S. censuses.  Michael pointed out, using real examples, the surprising movements that could occur during those intervals.  We all know that, contrary to what me might have been told, our ancestors didn’t always stay put.  There are many resources you can use to obtain information between censuses: tax records, land records, probate records, church records, voter and poll records and newspapers are just a few. 

Session 2 – Tax Records – I learned a lot during this session.  I’ve used tax records before, but not often.  And, I never understood the real value of them until Michael explained it.  I can’t possibly cover, nor do I want to duplicate, what Michael told us.  It is after all his presentation.  Here’s what I realized though – from tax records you can determine what kind of property your ancestor owned and where.  This could lead to you finding probate and land records.  Who was taxed in the same location as your ancestor?  Are they related?  Did your ancestor’s property increase or decrease between taxations?  Take a look, you won’t regret it.  I’m doing just that today and I’ve already located quite a lot of information.

Session 3 – Estate Files – I expect that most of you have looked at estate files, probate records, wills etc.  BUT, are you like me and just look for the actual will among those papers?  I always kind of skipped over the administration papers, bond papers and something called a Vendue List (an auction list of the value of items). Who bought items at the auction?  Michael shared that if a buyer came from a county over or some other long distance, they were probably related.  Why was there still activity going on for a probate 15 years after someone died?  It could have been the executors weren’t doing their jobs.  If there was more than one auction of items, check those names.  Did the same name show up again and again?  Probably a relative.  I now realize I may have missed some extremely important clues to family connections.  I have vowed, as of today, to change my ways.  Michael recommended and so do I, that you use Cyndi’s List as a place to find more links to estate files.  I have a lot of work to do now that I know better what to be looking for.

Session 4 – German Immigrant Experience – This was a case study for one of Michael’s ancestors who came to America from Germany.  But, the things we learned can apply to any immigrant experience.  Learning more about what our ancestors went through, just to get here, makes us appreciate all the more, their sacrifices.

I’ve been busy today revisiting tax & estate records for my own ancestors and my approach is completely different.  Thank you Michael.

YOU MAY FIND THESE POSTS HELPFUL

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON LOCATING A PROBATE RECORD ON FAMILY SEARCH

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2018   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION