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MyHeritage adds Canada, New Brunswick Marriages

This collection contains 1,335,251 marriage records from New Brunswick, Canada, between the years 1789 and 1950.

Records typically include transcriptions of the date and place of marriage and the bride and groom’s names. Additional information is in a linked image.

 

MyHeritage obtained these via FamilySearch which, as of 28 May 2024, has “Canada, New Brunswick Provincial Marriages 1789-1950” with 303,599 records in 268,525 image. FamilySearch also has three other browse only titles of New Brunswick marriages.

The Provincial Archives of New Brunswick (PANB), Fredericton is the ultimate source which lists these county marriage holdings online, with years and number of records.

County Council Marriage Records: Charlotte 1789 – 1839 8,166
County Council Marriage Records: Gloucester 1826 – 1887 29,046
County Council Marriage Records: Kent 1844 – 1887 9,974
County Council Marriage Records: Restigouche 1838 – 1878 2,042
County Council Marriage Records: Sunbury 1798 – 1887 2,606

PANB also has these province-wide marriage records online.

Index to Late Registration of Marriages 1920 – 1945 224
Index to New Brunswick Marriages 1847 – 1973 625,640

Why does MyHeritage list more records than the originating sources? Maybe it counts more than the number or marriages, or marriage partners, extending to parents and even witnesses.

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British Newspaper Archive Update for May 2024

The collection added 89 new or updated titles in May compared to 67 last month. That includes four new titles
The earliest date is 1768.

The collection now totals 78,379,006 pages, up from 76,888,420 in the April update. Thirty papers had more than 10,000 pages added.

TITLE DATE RANGE
Belfast News-Letter 1768-1769, 1771, 1773-1774, 1781, 1783, 1786, 1804, 1810-1815, 2000
Blyth News Post Leader 1999-2002
Bridlington Free Press 1987-1989, 1992
Daventry and District Weekly Express 1949, 1957-1963, 1994-2000
Derry Journal 2000-2002
Halifax Evening Courier 1966-1967, 1986
Larne Times 1992, 2000-2002
Littlehampton Gazette 1982-1984, 1986, 1988-1989
Londonderry Sentinel 1978-1983, 1988, 1991, 2000-2001
Louth Standard 1986-1989, 1993, 1997, 1999
Market Harborough Advertiser and Midland Mail 1994, 1997, 2000-2003
Matlock Mercury 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001-2002
Melton Mowbray Times and Vale of Belvoir Gazette 2000-2003
Morecambe Visitor 1989, 1992, 1995-1997, 1999-2000, 2002
Newton and Earlestown Guardian 1914-1919, 1923, 1931-1945, 1952
Northampton Chronicle and Echo 2000-2003
Northampton Mercury 1988, 1995-2003
Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph 1996, 1999-2002
Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald 1995-2002
Peterborough Evening Telegraph 1949-1968, 1970, 1987
Retford, Worksop, Isle of Axholme and Gainsborough News 1986-1988, 1996, 1999-2002
Ripon Gazette 1979, 1982, 1989, 1996, 1998-2000, 2002
Scarborough Evening News 1899, 1999, 2001-2002
Shields Daily Gazette 1993, 1995
Sleaford Standard 1997, 1999-2002
Southern Reporter 1980-1985, 1993-1994
Todmorden & District News 1933-1934, 1952-1979
Whitby Gazette 1988, 1990, 1995, 2003
Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 1988-1993, 1995-2003
Wolverhampton Express and Star 1963, 1994

 

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FreeBMD May Update

The FreeBMD Database was updated on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, to contain 290,897,027 unique entries, up from 290,683,241 on 25 April.

The years with more than 10,000 new entries are 1993, 1995-96 for births, 1992-95 for marriages, and 1993, 1995 for deaths.

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Exploring Genealogy Eyes GPT

Continuing with exploring the specialist GPTs available through ChatGPT 4.o.
Be sure to read to the end to find out how free access to ChatGPT4 can get you much of the benefit of Genealogy Eyes covered in this post.
Genealogy Eyes, by Steve Little, “Look(s) at images, photos, and documents through the eyes of a family historian. Try it from your phone! Take a snapshot of a cemetery headstone, document/record, or anything else, and, using the official ChatGPT app, upload the image, say a little about the image and what you want, and click Send.”

With 500 conversations, it’s rated 3.7

Conversation Starters suggested were:

What can you tell me about this image?
Can you analyze the history in this picture?
What genealogical insights does this document hold?
How does this image reflect family history?

Case Study

To explore the capability I uploaded the following image and asked “What can you tell me about this image?”

Here’s the response.

Image Analysis:

Description of the Whole Image: The image depicts a gravestone made of a light-colored stone, which has aged and weathered over time. The gravestone is situated in a graveyard, surrounded by other gravestones, some of which are visible in the background. The surface of the gravestone shows signs of erosion, but the inscriptions are still mostly legible.

Detailed Elements:

  1. Text Inscriptions:
    • Top Section:
      • “IN LOVING MEMORY OF”
      • “MAURICE COHEN”
      • “WHO DIED 1st JUNE 1951 AGED 87”
    • Middle Section:
      • “SADLY MISSED BY HIS DEAR WIFE SARAH, SON, GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN”
    • Bottom Section:
      • “GOD REST HIS DEAR SOUL”
      • There is a smaller inscription in Hebrew, which appears to be “שלום” (“Shalom”), meaning “peace.”
  2. Design and Decorative Elements:
    • The gravestone features decorative carvings along the sides, with a floral or vine motif.
    • The top edge of the gravestone is straight, with slight notches on either side, giving it a symmetrical look.
    • There is some discoloration and moss growth on the stone, indicating its age and exposure to the elements.
  3. Surroundings:
    • The ground around the gravestone is covered with gravel and small stones.
    • Adjacent gravestones are visible, indicating that this is part of a larger cemetery.

Genealogical Value:

  1. Individual’s Information:
    • The gravestone provides key information about Maurice Cohen, including his name, date of death (1st June 1951), and age at death (87 years). This information can be used to estimate his birth year around 1864.
  2. Family Connections:
    • Maurice Cohen is noted to be “sadly missed” by his wife, Sarah, his son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This indicates multiple generations and can help in tracing his family lineage further.
  3. Cultural and Religious Context:
    • The inclusion of Hebrew text and the name “Cohen” suggest Jewish heritage. The name “Cohen” often indicates a priestly lineage within Jewish tradition, which could be of particular interest in genealogical research.
  4. Location and Historical Context:
    • The cemetery location, gravestone design, and materials used can provide contextual clues about the region and time period. Further research into the cemetery records could yield additional information about Maurice Cohen and his family.

Next Steps for Genealogical Research:

  1. Research Census Records:
    • Look up census records around 1864 (birth year) and the early 1900s to find more details about Maurice Cohen’s household, including his wife Sarah and their children.
  2. Obtain Death Certificate:
    • The death certificate of Maurice Cohen could provide more details, such as his place of birth, parents’ names, and cause of death.
  3. Cemetery Records:
    • Investigate the cemetery records for more information about Maurice Cohen and potentially other family members buried nearby.
  4. Jewish Heritage Records:
    • Explore Jewish genealogy databases and records, which may have additional information on Maurice Cohen’s lineage, especially given the significance of the Cohen surname in Jewish history.

Follow-Up Options:

  1. Census Records Search 🔍: Explore census records to find more about Maurice Cohen and his family.
  2. Obtain Death Certificate 📜: Learn how to obtain a death certificate for detailed information.
  3. Cemetery Records Investigation 🪦: Delve into the cemetery’s records for broader family insights.
  4. Something Else? 🌟: Would you like to explore a different aspect of genealogical research?

I’m impressed, particularly with the translation of the Hebrew.

Would this capability be of use in your research?

Case Study with ChatGPT4

If you don’t have a paid subscription you can use the ChatGPT4 service. Uploading the same image and making the same request delivered the following response.

“This image shows the gravestone of Maurice Cohen, who died on June 1, 1951, at the age of 87. The inscription on the stone expresses loving memory and mentions that he is “sadly missed by his dear wife Sarah, son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.” The phrase “God rest his dear soul” concludes the inscription. The gravestone also features decorative elements such as floral designs and Jewish symbols, including what appears to be a menorah. The overall appearance of the gravestone, with signs of weathering and moss growth, suggests it has been standing for many years, reflecting its historical and emotional significance to the family and community.”

It will also provide a full transcription of of the gravestone on request, but without the translation of the Hebrew.

 

 

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Exploring Family Tree Expert GPT

Family Tree Expert GPT “answers family tree/genealogy/
ancestry questions using your uploaded GEDCOM (.ged) file (which you can export from most family tree software). This GPT doesn’t connect to third-parties (e.g. APIs) so your data stays within ChatGPT. Conversation data from this GPT isn’t used to improve OpenAI models.”

It has 400+ conversations and a 3.0 rating.

Suggested conversation starters are:

Can you tell me who John’s parents are?
What is the birth date of Alice?
Find all individuals with the surname ‘Smith’.
Show me the marriage details of Robert and Emily.

I uploaded a 1,778 person gedcom from RootsMagic . Querying the database I determined:

1,224 people have no death information
1,642 people have no burial information
109 have both death and burial information
10 have lived in Australia
14 have lived in Canada (not including myself!)
7 were born in Wales and died in England
22 people had last name A******* (anonymized)
10 people had middle name A*******
14 duplicates were identified of which 9 had no known last name.
240 were identified who are or should be in the 1921 census and were age less than 100 years.

Overall, even though some of the stats could be found through RootsMagic, there were others I could not.

Interesting.

 

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LAC Co-Lab Contributions: Recent Additions and Highlights

Every month, we report on the progress of Co-Lab Challenges. Recently, we’ve also been tracking the number of additional contributions made through Co-Lab. As of 21 May, 3,841 items in Collection Search were identified as Co-Lab-only contributions, an increase from 3,797 a month earlier.

LAC has provided a list of 62 new additions between 1 April and 24 May 2024,

  • 19 photographs
  • 19 art pieces
  • 3 documentary art items – maps and plans
  • 18 textual items – manuscripts
  • 3 other items

Co-Lab’s tasks include “transcribing, tagging, translating, and describing digitized records from our collection.” For the 41 image items (66%), this means tagging and describing.

For example, reference number 2919116, titled “Wellington Street near Bank Street, Ottawa,” likely has its contributed information within the Record Information – Details section.

Transcription, on the other hand, is more demanding. Item 5793108, “Letter to David T. Williamson from John and Annie Peters,” now includes a transcription of the handwritten letter on the final two pages.

In some additions, it isn’t clear what value has been added. However, aside from transcription, the tasks do not seem burdensome if you’ve found an item in your research that would benefit from enhanced tagging or description.

By contributing to Co-Lab, you can help enrich the records and make them more accessible for future researchers. Every little bit helps in preserving and enhancing our shared heritage.

 

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Exploring Open GeneaGPT

Open GeneaGPT, by Steve Little, is a Genealogy GPT based on a collaborative source-available instruction set. An assistant for family history researchers, genealogists, and the generally curious. It has a rating of 4.7 and has been used in over 400 conversations.

Suggested conversation starters are:

How do I get started with genealogy?
What basic skills does a genealogist practice?
How do genealogists verify genealogical conclusions?

Why and how do genealogists write about their results?

 

To verify genealogical conclusions it preaches the genealogical proof standard.

In writing about results it mentions:
(1) Genealogical Reports: These detailed documents outline the research process, findings, and conclusions. …
(2) Narrative Family Histories: These are more story-like documents that weave together genealogical facts with historical context, personal anecdotes, and family lore. …r audience.
(3) Pedigree Charts and Family Trees: Visual representations of lineage that can accompany written reports. …
(4) Case Studies: These are in-depth explorations of a particular research problem or family line, demonstrating methodology, analysis, and resolution. …
(5) Articles and Blog Posts: Shorter pieces that can focus on specific discoveries, research tips, or historical context. …(6) Books: Comprehensive works that cover extensive research on a family or a particular topic within genealogy. …You are invited to explore further: “Would you like to delve (sic) into one of these writing methods in detail, explore examples of genealogical narratives, learn about specific tools and resources for writing, or discuss another topic?”

I asked for the outline for a Genealogical Report. It suggested:
Title
Table of Contents
Introduction
Research Objective
Summary of Findings
Research Methodology
Detailed Findings
Analysis and Discussion
Conclusion
Appendices
Bibliography

I asked for an example. The result seemed reasonable. To be sure it wasn’t hullicinating I fed it information for a situation I knew about . The result was impressive. While there were errors and omissions they would be easy to correct.

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This Week’s Online Genealogy Events

Choose from selected free online events in the next five days. All times are ET except as noted. Assume registration in advance is required; check so you’re not disappointed. Find out about many more mainly US events at Conference Keeper at https://conferencekeeper.org

Tuesday, 28 May

2 pm: Ottawa Virtual Genealogy Drop-In. OGS Ottawa Branch
https://meet.google.com/nvz-kftj-dax

2:30 pm: How to do More Genealogy in Less Time with Goldie May, by Richard K. Miller for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/10558471

7 pm: Murder, Bigamy and New Beginnings: The Infamous Edward Wicklow, by Elysia DeLaurentis for OGS Wellington Branch.
https://wellington.ogs.on.ca/events/wellington-branch-murder-bigamy-and-new-beginnings-the-infamous-edward-wicklow/

Wednesday, 29 May

2 pm:  Capturing Their Stories, Part II: Next Steps with Your Family History Interviews, by Colleen Robledo Greene for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/capturing-their-stories-part-ii-next-steps-with-your-family-history-interviews/

Thursday, 30 May

8 am: Trouvez vos ancêtres à l’étranger sur MyHeritage, par Elisabeth Zetland pour MyHeritage et Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/webinaire-myheritage-en-francais-2/

6:30 pm:  A Guide to Custom Passenger Lists: 1820 – ca. 1891 (US), by Logan Knight for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/10557868

Friday, 31 May

Saturday, 1 June

10 am: Irish Research in the Digital Age. by Nuala Farrell-Griffin for OGS London and Middlesex Branch.
https://londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca/events/london-and-middlesex-branch-irish-research-in-the-digital-age/

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Exploring Custom AI Tools for Genealogy Research

Have you tried any of the specialized AI tools designed for genealogy and family history research? With the rise of advanced language models like ChatGPT, developers have created custom versions tailored for niche domains like genealogy. That’s not just human genealogy! By combining domain-specific instructions, curated knowledge bases, and fine-tuned skills, these AI assistants aim to provide enhanced capabilities for tasks such as record analysis, ancestry tracing, and family tree building.

Start by exploring the directory at https://chatgpt.com/gpts, which currently lists over 100 custom AI tools across various aspects of genealogy. Here are some of the top genealogy-focused offerings based on the number of conversations:

AI and Genealogy Research GPT: Explores how AI can assist in genealogical research, family tree analysis, and uncovering ancestry information. With 900+ conversations and a 3.9 rating, it’s one of the more popular options.

Open Genealogy GPT (Open GeneaGPT): A collaborative, source-available genealogy assistant for family history researchers and the curious. It has garnered 400+ conversations with a solid 4.7 rating.

Genealogy Eyes: This unique tool leverages computer vision to analyze images, photos, and documents through the lens of a family historian. Upload an image (e.g., a cemetery headstone or historical record) from your phone using the official ChatGPT app, provide context, and let the AI assist you. With 400+ conversations, it has a 3.7 rating.

While these tools offer intriguing possibilities, access is usually limited on the free tier. All these restricted access to paid subscription plans like ChatGPT Plus. As exploring and experimenting with the available capabilities can provide valuable insights into the potential of AI for genealogical research, at $20 US per month it’s something I can only recommend on a trial basis.

Have you had any experience with these or other custom AI tools for genealogy? Share your thoughts and findings in the comments!

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Evidence Explained Discount

This is following up on mentioning the 4th edition of Evidence Explained in last week’s review of WDYTYA magazine’s June issue.
There’s a 15 percent discount at Genealogical.com until May 30th as part of a site-wide sale.
So that you know, the hard copy version is not available outside the US.

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Military Monday

It’s War on the Streets of Paris is a post with a map on the Maps Mania blog,

Around 15% of Paris’ streets have names which are related to battles, soldiers and/or resistance fighters. Streets which are named for important battles are coloured green . Streets coloured blue are named after generals and other important military figures. Heroes of the French resistance are commemorated in the streets coloured red on the map.

The areas around the Arc de Triomphe and the Bastille-Arsenal both have a large concentration of streets bearing military related names.

It set me to thinking about streets in Ottawa commemorating the military. There’s Col By Drive, Wellington Street, Vimy Place (and Bridge), Juno Street, Pretoria Bridge, and Breadner Boulevard. How many am I missing?

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OGS Toronto Branch Presentation: The Trial of William Brass

At 7:30 pm on Monday, Toronto Branch’s May presentation, The Trial of William Brass, is presented by Carol Ufford in person and online.

In 1837, Carol Ufford’s third great-uncle, William Brass, was charged with raping a young girl. His defense attorney was young John A. Macdonald. Using documents from the Haldimand collection, the Upper Canada Sundries, and contemporary newspapers, Carol will tell William’s story—his early life, what lead up to the trial, the trial, and the aftermath.

Find out more and register at https://torontofamilyhistory.org/