Whether we realize it or not, we have likely used AI technology, even in our genealogy research. Now, thanks to ChatGPT 3.5 and the experimentation of other genealogists, one can turn a timeline into a biography.
Randy Seaver used a RootsMagic report to demonstrate this in his post, Writing an AI Narrative Report in ChatGPT for David Auble (1817-1894). He based his attempt on Brenda Leyndyke’s post Writing a Family History Story Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) (posted 6 November 2023 on her Journey to the Past blog).
Since I often use the narrative reports from RootsMagic, I had to see how this worked in order to compare the AI report with the RootsMagic report.
Like Randy, I used the ‘timeline’ report to generate my ‘list of facts’. I did turn the endnotes off for this attempt. I then copied the directions Randy used substituting the family information for Washington Marion Crawford.
Write a biography of Washington Marion Crawford (1838-1889), son of Nelson G. Crawford (1808-1`864) and Martha Smith (1815-1871), husband of Mary Foster (1842-1929) and father of Ida Kate Crawford (1862-1934), Judson Foster Crawford (1866-1949), Carrie A. Crawford (1870-1886), Lida A. Crawford (1871-1945) and Nelson G. Crawford (1881-1957) with the following facts:
RootsMagic 9 TimeLine Report
Age Date Event 0 21 Apr 1838 Birth: Warren, Indiana, United States 12 1 Jul 1850 Residence: Marion Crawford was listed on the 1850 census in the household of Nelson Crawford. Marion was listed as a 12 year old male born in Indiana.; Washington Township, Warren, Indiana, United States 21 1859 Land-Purch: land being the W1/2NW1/4 S24T22NR10W containing 80 acres from Nelson G. Crawford and Martha his wife for $1000; Warren, Indiana, United States 21 4 Mar 1860 Marriage: Mary Foster-191; West Lebanon, Warren, Indiana, United States 22 1860 Residence: In 1860, Washington Marion Crawford was listed on the census as a 22 year old head of household living in Jordan Township, Warren County, Indiana. Also listed in the household was his 17 year old wife, Mary.; Jordan Township, Warren, Indiana, United States 23 3 Aug 1861 Military: began military service as a Sergt in Co. H 2nd Regiment New York Cavalry Volunteers 23 27 Aug 1861 Military: The 2nd New York Cavalry was better known as the “Harris Light Horse” 25 30 Jun 1863 Military: last paid for military service 25 22 Sep 1863 Military: was captured; Liberty Mills, Orange, Virginia, United States 25 Bet Sep 1863 and Mar 1864 Military: was imprisoned; Belle Isle, Lancaster County, Virginia 25 Bet Mar 1864 and Nov 1864 Military: was imprisoned; Andersonville Prison, Macon County, Georgia 25 Bet 1863 and 1864 Religion: converted by Boston Corbett and John McElroy while imprisoned 26 Nov 1864 Military: imprisoned ; Charlesteon, South Carolina 26 7 Dec 1864 Military: paroled; Florence, Florence, South Carolina, United States 26 8 Dec 1864 Residence: was furloughed home for sixty days to live; Warren, Indiana, United States 26 8 Apr 1865 Military: was mustered out as a Sergeant; New York, New York, United States 27 22 Jun 1865 Will: was named in the will of his father, Nelson Crawford,; Warren, Indiana, United States 27 Aft 1865 Member: life member of the Illinois State Association of Union Prisoners of war; Illinois, United States 28 1866 Residence: According to his request for a pension; Jordan Township, Warren, Indiana, United States 29 1867 Residence: According to his request for a military pension ; Washington Township, Warren, Indiana, United States 29 Jan 1868 Religion: joined the M.E. Church; West Lebanon, Warren, Indiana, United States 29 18 Jan 1868 Land-Sold: being the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 24 Township 22 North Range 10 West for $2400 to James H Crawford; Warren, Indiana, United States 31 24 Jul 1869 Pension: for his military service during the civil war 31 25 Feb 1870 Military: was granted a ‘Certificate to Disability of Soldier’; Chambersburg 33 Bet 1871 and 1873 Residence: Pike Township, Warren, Indiana, United States 35 1873 Residence: According to his application for a military pension; Washington Township, Warren, Indiana, United States 42 1 Jul 1880 Residence: Marion Crawford was listed as the head of household on the 1880 U.S. Census. According to the census, Marion was a 42 year old farmer who was born in Indiana. Also in the household with him were his wife, Mary; son, Judson; and daughters, Ida, Carrie and Lida.; Washington Township, Van Buren, Iowa, United States 42 Oct 1880 Member: of the Illinois State Association of Unioin Prisioners of War; Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois 45 21 Nov 1883 Affidvit: James Miller submitted an affidavit regarding confinement in Andersonville and resulting disability for him; Macon, Macon, Missouri, United States 46 12 Jun 1884 Residence: His brother, James H. Crawford, expected him; Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 46 Sep 1884 Occupation: Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 46 31 Mar 1885 Land-Purch: paid $2 at Garden City, Kansas land office toward SE 1/4 S31 T28S R26W containing 160 acres; Ford, Ford, Kansas, United States 47 6 May 1885 Member: Lewis Post of the Grand Army of the Republic; Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 47 30 Jul 1885 Occupation: commenced building the foundation of a boarding house, north of his present location on 2d Avenue; Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 47 8 Apr 1886 Charity: $1 to Home of the Friendless in Leavenworth; Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 48 23 Jul 1886 Land-Purch: lot no. 37 in Prairie Grove Cemetery; Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 49 Dec 1887 Member: was an officer of the Lewis Post of the Grand Army of the Republic; Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 50 1888 Member: on the membership roles of the Lewis Post G.A.R.; Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 50 12 Sep 1888 Land-Purch: lots 6, 7 block 47 from W. J. Fitzgerald; Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 51 1889 Residence: Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 51 31 Jul 1889 Occupation: selected to look after the soldier’s home; Fort Dodge, Ford, Kansas, United States 51 12 Aug 1889 Land-Purch: made his final payment for SE 1/4 S31 T28S R26W or 6th PM containing 160 acres; Garden City, Finney, Kansas, United States 51 23 Aug 1889 Death: Fort Dodge, Ford, Kansas, United States 51 27 Aug 1889 Burial: Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States 51 1889 Pension: 52 27 May 1890 Land-Purch: Land title was transferred from the United States to Washington M. Crawford for the SE 1/4 of 31-28-26 52 27 May 1890 Land Entry: Homestead Certificate No. 1180 Application 4505 for the SE 1/4 of Sect 31 Twp 28S R26W containing 160 acres was filed; Garden City, Finney, Kansas, United States
After copying the directions and facts list into ChatGPT, it quickly generated a report.
Washington Marion Crawford was born on April 21, 1838, in Warren, Indiana, United States, to Nelson G. Crawford and Martha Smith. At the age of 12, in the year 1850, he was listed in the household of his father on the census in Washington Township, Warren County, Indiana.
In 1859, at the age of 21, Washington Marion Crawford purchased land, acquiring the W1/2NW1/4 S24T22NR10W containing 80 acres from his father and mother for $1000 in Warren, Indiana. The following year, on March 4, 1860, he married Mary Foster in West Lebanon, Warren, Indiana.
By the age of 22, in 1860, Washington Marion Crawford was the head of his own household, living in Jordan Township, Warren County, Indiana, with his 17-year-old wife, Mary. Around this time, he also began his military service as a Sergeant in Co. H 2nd Regiment New York Cavalry Volunteers, famously known as the “Harris Light Horse.”
His military journey included being captured on September 22, 1863, at Liberty Mills, Virginia, and subsequent imprisonments at Belle Isle, Andersonville Prison in Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. During his imprisonment between 1863 and 1864, he converted to religion under the influence of Boston Corbett and John McElroy.
In November 1864, Washington Marion Crawford was once again imprisoned, this time in Charleston, South Carolina. He was later paroled on December 7, 1864, in Florence, South Carolina, and furloughed home for sixty days to live in Warren, Indiana. He was mustered out as a Sergeant on April 8, 1865, in New York City.
After the Civil War, in June 1865, he was named in the will of his father, Nelson Crawford, and became a life member of the Illinois State Association of Union Prisoners of War.
In 1866, he resided in Jordan Township, Warren, Indiana, and in 1867, he lived in Washington Township, Warren, Indiana. Washington Marion Crawford joined the M.E. Church in January 1868 in West Lebanon, Warren, Indiana.
On January 18, 1868, he sold land, being the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 24 Township 22 North Range 10 West, for $2400 to James H Crawford.
In 1869, he began receiving a pension for his military service during the Civil War and was granted a ‘Certificate to Disability of Soldier’ on February 25, 1870, in Chambersburg. Between 1871 and 1873, he resided in Pike Township, Warren County, Indiana.
By 1880, at the age of 42, Washington Marion Crawford was listed as the head of the household in the 1880 U.S. Census in Washington Township, Van Buren, Iowa, with his wife Mary, son Judson, and daughters Ida, Carrie, and Lida.
In October 1880, he became a member of the Illinois State Association of Union Prisoners of War in Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois. On November 21, 1883, an affidavit was submitted regarding his confinement in Andersonville and resulting disability by James Miller in Macon, Missouri.
In 1884, he was expected by his brother, James H. Crawford, in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas. In September 1884, his occupation was recorded in Dodge City. He continued to be active in land transactions, purchasing land in Garden City, Kansas, in March 1885.
Washington Marion Crawford was a member of Lewis Post of the Grand Army of the Republic in Dodge City by May 6, 1885. In July 1885, he began building the foundation of a boarding house north of his present location on 2nd Avenue in Dodge City. His charitable activities included a $1 donation to the Home of the Friendless in Leavenworth on April 8, 1886.
On July 23, 1886, he purchased a lot in Prairie Grove Cemetery in Dodge City. In December 1887, he held an officer position in the Lewis Post of the Grand Army of the Republic in Dodge City and remained on the membership roles in 1888.
On September 12, 1888, he made a land purchase of lots 6 and 7 in block 47 from W. J. Fitzgerald in Dodge City. In 1889, he was still a resident of Dodge City and was selected to look after the soldier’s home on July 31.
Tragically, Washington Marion Crawford passed away on August 23, 1889, in Fort Dodge, Ford, Kansas, at the age of 51. He was laid to rest in Dodge City on August 27, 1889. Following his death, a pension continued to be granted.
On May 27, 1890, land title for the SE 1/4 of Section 31, Township 28S, Range 26W was transferred from the United States to Washington M. Crawford. Additionally, on the same date, a Homestead Certificate No. 1180 Application 4505 for the SE 1/4 of Section 31, Township 28S, Range 26W, containing 160 acres, was filed in Garden City, Finney, Kansas, United States.
Chat GPT Report
This a quick and easy way to generate the narrative. I like the way the ChatGPT produced narrative flows compared to the narrative report produced by RootsMagic. (NOTE: I have my settings configured to put each fact in a separate paragraph.) Unfortunately, ChatGPT does not handle the endnotes. Thus, if I want a footnoted report, I would either have to go back and insert them manually or continue to rely on the RootsMagic report (shown below).
Washington Marion Crawford1 was born on 21 Apr 1838 in Warren, Indiana, United States.2–7
RootsMagic Narrative Report
He was the son of Nelson Garret Crawford and Martha Smith.8–9
Marion Crawford was listed on the 1850 census in the household of Nelson Crawford. Marion was listed as a 12 year old male born in Indiana.10
In 1859, he bought the land being the W1/2NW1/4 S24T22NR10W containing 80 acres from Nelson G. Crawford and Martha his wife for $1000 in Warren, Indiana, United States.11–12
He married Mary Foster on 4 Mar 1860 in West Lebanon, Indiana.4,7,13–20
In 1860, Washington Marion Crawford was listed on the census as a 22 year old head of household living in Jordan Township, Warren County, Indiana. Also listed in the household was his 17 year old wife, Mary.21
Washington began military service as a Sergt in Co. H 2nd Regiment New York Cavalry Volunteers on 3 Aug 1861 .22–25
The 2nd New York Cavalry was better known as the “Harris Light Horse”.14,26–27
On on 18 Dec 1862, Ida Kate Crawford was born in Warren, Indiana, United States.18
He was last paid for military service on 30 Jun 1863 .28
On 22 Sep 1863, he was captured in Liberty Mills, Orange, Virginia, United States.23–24,29–30
Washington was imprisoned between Sep 1863 and Mar 1864 in Belle Isle, Lancaster County, Virginia.23,30–31
He was imprisoned between Mar 1864 and Nov 1864 in Andersonville Prison, Macon County, Georgia.23,30–32
He was converted by Boston Corbett and John McElroy while imprisoned.31
In Nov 1864, Washington was imprisonedin Charlesteon, South Carolina.23,30
He was paroled on 7 Dec 1864 in Florence, Florence, South Carolina, United States.14,23,31,33
On 8 Dec 1864, he was furloughed home for sixty days to live in Warren, Indiana, United States.30,34
On 8 Apr 1865, Washington was mustered out as a Sergeant in New York, New York, United States.24,35–36
On 22 Jun 1865, he was named in the will of his father, Nelson Crawford, in Warren, Indiana, United States.9
He was a life member of the Illinois State Association of Union Prisoners of war.37
According to his request for a pension, Washington lived in Jordan Township, Warren, Indiana, United States in 1866.23
He became the parent of Judson Foster Crawford born on 15 Apr 1866.18
According to his request for a military pension, he still lived in Washington Township, Warren, Indiana, United States in 1867.23
Washington joined the M.E. Church in West Lebanon, Warren, Indiana, United States.31
He sold land being the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 24 Township 22 North Range 10 West for $2400 to James H Crawford on 18 Jan 1868 in Warren County, Indiana.38
On 24 Jul 1869, he was granted a pension for his military service during the civil war .39
On 10 Feb 1870, a child named Carrie A Crawford was born in Warren County, Indiana.
Washington was granted a ‘Certificate to Disability of Soldier’ on 25 Feb 1870 in Chambersburg.40
He lived in Pike Township, Warren County, Indiana between 1871 and 1873.23,41
On 22 Dec 1871, a child named Lida A Crawford was born in Warren County, Indiana.18
According to his application for a military pension, he lived in Washington Township, Warren, Indiana, United States in 1873.23
Washington was a member of the Fleming Post #316 in Indiana.42
Marion Crawford was listed as the head of household on the 1880 U.S. Census. According to the census, Marion was a 42 year old farmer who was born in Indiana. Also in the household with him were his wife, Mary; son, Judson; and daughters, Ida, Carrie and Lida.43
In Oct 1880, he was a member of the Illinois State Association of Unioin Prisioners of War in Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois.44
On 29 Oct 1881, Nelson Garfield Crawford was born in in Warren, Indiana, United States.18
On 21 Nov 1883, in Macon, Macon, Missouri, United States James Miller submitted an affidavit regarding confinement in Andersonville and resulting disability for him.45
His brother, James H. Crawford, expected him to move to Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.46–49
In Sep 1884 he was in Dodge City.50
Washington paid $2 at Garden City, Kansas land office toward SE 1/4 S31 T28S R26W containing 160 acres on 31 Mar 1885 in Ford, Ford, Kansas, United States.51–52
He was accepted as a member of Lewis Post of the Grand Army of the Republic on 6 May 1885 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.31,53–55
On 30 Jul 1885, he commenced building the foundation of a boarding house, north of his present location on 2d Avenue in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.56–57
Washington donated $1 to Home of the Friendless in Leavenworth on 8 Apr 1886.58
He witnessed the death of Carrie A Crawford on 20 Jul 1886 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.59–65
He purchased lot no. 37 in Prairie Grove Cemetery on 23 Jul 1886 in Dodge City.66
Washington was an officer of the Lewis Post of the Grand Army of the Republic in Dec 1887 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.42
In 1888, he was on the membership roles of the Lewis Post G.A.R. in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.67
On 12 Sep 1888, he purchased lots 6, 7 block 47 from W. J. Fitzgerald in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.68
Washington lived in Dodge City in 1889.69
On 31 Jul 1889 he was a selected to look after the soldier’s home in Fort Dodge, Ford County, Kansas.70–75
He made his final payment for SE 1/4 S31 T28S R26W or 6th PM containing 160 acres on 12 Aug 1889 in Garden City, Finney, Kansas, United States.76
Washington died on 23 Aug 1889 in Fort Dodge, Ford, Kansas, United States at the age of 51 .3–4,6–7,18,77–86
He was buried on 27 Aug 1889 at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City.6–7,81,83,87–88
He received pension in 1889 .89
Homestead Certificate No. 1180 Application 4505 for the SE 1/4 of Sect 31 Twp 28S R26W containing 160 acres was filed on 27 May 1890 in Garden City, Finney, Kansas, United States.90–91
Land title was transferred from the United States to Washington M. Crawford for the SE 1/4 of 31-28-26 on 27 May 1890 .92
In Dec 2022, the assigned yDNA haplogroup was R-FT99108 in the R1b-01A Admillan group.
If one is willing to substitute a bibliography for actual endnotes/footnotes, then the bibliography can be printed with the timeline and added at the end of the AI generated report.
Curious as to how ChatGPT would handle multiple marriages, I asked it to create a bio for my 4th great grandfather, John Burke. I don’t have a lot of information about John Burke beyond the identity of his two wives and his sixteen children. Below is what I submitted for John Burke.
Write a biography of John Burke (1783-1842), son of Doctor William Samuel Burke (?-1832) and Elizabeth Nevers (1767-1842), husband of Ann Elizabeth Graves (1786-1831) and father of Henry Burke (1811-1845), Mary Ann Burke (1813-1872), Permilia Burke (1815-1846), John Graves Burke (1818-1904), William Carrol Burke (1819-?), James W. Burke (122-18786), Esom Logan Burke (1822-1877), Paradisia Burke (1824-1884) Franics Marion Burke (1826-1912), Franklin Parrott Burke (1828-1923), and Elizabeth Nancy Burke (1835-?) by his first wife Elizabeth Graves (1786-1831). He was the father of Jonas T Burke (1837-1866), Elvira Leonidas Burke (1838-1873) America Ornealo Burke (1840-1884), Matilda Burke (1841-?) and Meta Jane Burke (1841-?) by his second wife Jane Basham.
Timeline report from RootsMagic 9
Age Date Event 0 Abt 1783 Birth: Virginia 31 3 Nov 1814 Military: Tennessee Militia 32 13 May 1815 Military: 34 23 Sep 1817 Land Entry: for 17 acres of land that was surveyed; Tennessee, United States 37 1820 Residence: Jackson, Tennessee, United States 43 13 Sep 1826 Land-Purch: land being 50 acres on Cub creek; Jackson, Tennessee, United States 47 1830 Residence: Jackson, Tennessee, United States 52 23 Sep 1835 Marriage: Jane D Basham-10239; Jackson, Tennessee, United States 53 1836 Residence: Jackson, Tennessee, United States 57 1840 Residence: Jackson, Tennessee, United States 59 1842 Death: Jackson, Tennessee, United States 75 Feb 1858 Probate: Gainesboro, Jackson, Tennessee, United States 101 1884 Probate: Jackson, Tennessee, United States
While the generated report does not name the children, it does turn my little bit of information into a glowing report for John Burke.
John Burke (1783-1842) was born around 1783 in Virginia to his parents, Doctor William Samuel Burke and Elizabeth Nevers. He went on to lead a life marked by various significant events and contributions.
In 1814, at the age of 31, John Burke enlisted in the Tennessee Militia, showcasing his commitment to service. This period coincided with the tumultuous times of the War of 1812, and his involvement in the militia reflects his dedication to the defense of his community and country.
A year later, in 1815, he continued his military service, although the specific details of this engagement are not provided. His service during this time was likely influenced by the ongoing conflicts of the era.
In 1817, at the age of 34, John Burke entered 17 acres of land that had been surveyed in Tennessee, further establishing his connection to the land and the community.
By 1820, John was residing in Jackson, Tennessee, marking a shift in his life to a more settled existence. Over the years, he continued to engage with the land, purchasing 50 acres on Cub Creek in 1826, demonstrating his commitment to building a home and livelihood in Jackson.
John Burke’s family expanded over the years. In 1835, at the age of 52, he married Jane D Basham, marking a significant chapter in his personal life. This union brought about a new phase for John and his growing family.
Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, John and Jane continued to reside in Jackson, Tennessee, as evidenced by the census records of the time. The census of 1840, in particular, provides insight into the composition of his household during that period.
Tragically, in 1842, John Burke passed away in Jackson, Tennessee, leaving behind his wife Jane and their children. His death marked the end of an era, but his legacy lived on through his extensive family.
The probate records, both in February 1858 and in 1884, shed light on the legal and financial aspects of John Burke’s estate. These records indicate the continued relevance of his contributions and the enduring impact he had on his community.
John Burke’s life was one of service, commitment to family, and dedication to his land. His legacy was carried forward by his numerous children, who went on to play their own roles in the unfolding history of Jackson, Tennessee.
ChatGPT generated report
This should be fun to see how and where these types of reports are used!
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