Do you create a research plan when beginning work on a new location or family line? In the past, I’ve primarily relied on a checklist, but it wasn’t tailored to specific locations.
Recently, I came across a Facebook post by Steve Little in the Genealogy and AI group, where he discussed AI’s deep search capabilities for generating location guides. In his blog post, Fun Prompt Friday: Locality Guides, he shared detailed instructions on the prompts he used to create one.
Intrigued by this approach, I decided to test it using ChatGPT’s Deep Search GPT. By following the suggested prompts, I successfully generated a Locality Guide for Ontario County, New York.
Ontario County, New York, established in 1789, has a rich history and offers a wealth of resources for genealogical and historical research.
NOTE: In his RootsTech presentation AI Genealogy: Year Two, Steve Little indicated that he used a $200 chatbot that I don’t have access to. However, I tried the prompts anyway and below is the locality guide I was able to produce:
1. Geographic & Historical Overview
- Formation and Boundary Changes: Ontario County was formed from Montgomery County in 1789. It has since been partitioned to create several other counties, including Steuben (1796), Genesee (1802), Livingston (1821), Monroe (1821), Wayne (1823), and Yates (1823). newyorkfamilyhistory.org
- Major Towns and Villages: The county seat is Canandaigua. Other significant towns include Geneva, Victor, Phelps, and Naples.nysl.nysed.gov+2newyorkfamilyhistory.org+2ontariocountyny.gov+2
2. Record Repositories & Research Facilities
- Ontario County Records and Archives Center (RAIMS): Houses inactive records from county departments, including historical documents. ontariocountyny.gov
- Ontario County Clerk’s Office: Maintains land records, court documents, and other official records. newyorkfamilyhistory.org
- Ontario County Historical Society and Museum: Offers exhibits and archives related to the county’s history.
- Local Libraries: Many public libraries in Ontario County have genealogy and local history collections. newyorkfamilyhistory.org
3. Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, Death)
- Civil Registration: New York State began collecting vital records in 1880. Records post-1880 can be obtained from the New York State Department of Health. For records prior to 1880, consult the municipality where the event occurred. newyorkfamilyhistory.org
- Church Records: Local churches may have baptism, marriage, and burial records predating civil registration.
- Cemetery Records: The Ontario County Historian’s Office provides information on local cemeteries. ontariocountyny.gov
4. Census & Population Records
- Federal Census: Available for 1790-1940 (excluding 1890). Accessible online through platforms like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. newyorkfamilyhistory.org
- State Census: Records for years such as 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925 are available. Some earlier records are lost. newyorkfamilyhistory.org
- Indexes: The Ontario County Records and Archives Center provides census indexes for various towns and years. ontariocountyny.gov+6ontariocountyny.gov+6newyorkfamilyhistory.org+6
5. Land & Property Records
- Deeds and Mortgages: The Ontario County Clerk’s Office maintains land transaction records. newyorkfamilyhistory.org
- Chattel Mortgages: Records from 1830-1860 are available, detailing personal property used as collateral. ontariocountyny.gov
6. Probate, Wills, and Court Records
- Surrogate’s Court: Handles probate records, including wills and estate files.
- Court Records: The RAIMS holds various court documents, including partition cases from the Court of Common Pleas (1796-1886). ontariocountyny.gov+3ontariocountyny.gov+3ontariocountyny.gov+3
7. Church & Religious Records
- Denominations: Ontario County has a rich religious history, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Episcopal congregations.
- Repositories: Local historical societies and libraries may hold church records.lifewire.com+1newyorkfamilyhistory.org+1
8. Military Records
- Service Records: The RAIMS has placed many historical records online, including Civil War documents. familysearch.org
- Pension Applications: Available through national archives and some local repositories.ontariocountyny.gov+1ontariocountyny.gov+1
9. Newspapers & Periodicals
- Local Newspapers: Titles like the “Ontario County Journal” and “Daily Messenger” have been published in Canandaigua.
- Archives: The New York State Library and local historical societies hold microfilm copies of these newspapers.nysl.nysed.gov
10. Immigration & Naturalization Records
- Naturalization Records: Indexes are available through the Ontario County Records and Archives Center. ontariocountyny.gov+7ontariocountyny.gov+7ontariocountyny.gov+7
- Passenger Lists: Accessible via national databases and archives.
11. Ethnic & Social History Resources
- Local Historians: The County Historian’s Office and municipal historians provide insights into ethnic communities. ontariocountyny.gov
- Historical Societies: Organizations like the Geneva Historical Society offer resources on local social history. newyorkfamilyhistory.org
12. Online & Digital Resources
- FamilySearch: Offers extensive records and tools for genealogical research. lifewire.com
- USGenWeb Project: Provides detailed state-by-state records, including those for Ontario County. lifewire.com
- AccessGenealogy: Features general ancestry and specialized records, including those relevant to Ontario County. lifewire.com
- 13. Research Strategies & Tips
Overcoming Record Gaps:
Burned or Lost Records: Some early town records may be missing or incomplete due to courthouse fires or mismanagement. Alternative sources like church records, newspapers, and land deeds can help fill gaps.
Boundary Changes: Since Ontario County was originally much larger, records for early settlers may now be found in Steuben, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Wayne, or Yates Counties.
Name Variations: Early records may contain spelling variations of surnames, especially among immigrant communities.
Alternative Record Sets:
Tax Records: Available in cases where census data is missing or insufficient.
Voter Lists: Useful for tracking individuals between census years.
Business and Occupational Records: Ontario County had industries like milling, farming, and wine production, which generated employment records and directories.
Using Online Tools Effectively:
Ontario County GenWeb Project (NYGenWeb) contains digitized records and local history resources.
New York State Archives Digital Collections (Digital Collections) hold original state-level records relevant to Ontario County.
FamilySearch and Ancestry have digitized land, probate, and census records.
Local Experts & Societies:
Ontario County Historical Society (OCHS) has researchers and volunteers who can provide insights into local family histories.
Local genealogists and county historians are often available through historical societies or public libraries.
Conducting On-Site Research:
Visit town halls, churches, and cemeteries to access records that are not yet digitized.
Explore manuscript collections in local archives for personal letters, diaries, and estate inventories.
Engage with the local community for oral histories, which are valuable for family history research.
Conclusion
Ontario County, New York, offers a rich collection of genealogical and historical resources, from vital records and probate files to church registers and military documents. Understanding where and how to access these records is crucial for researchers tracing their family history or studying the region’s past. By leveraging online databases, local repositories, and alternative records, genealogists and historians can uncover valuable insights about Ontario County’s people, places, and events.
This locality guide is designed to be a foundational resource that can be expanded upon in future genealogical reports, historical essays, and content for digital platforms.
After listening to Mark Thompson’s RootsTech 2025 session, Learn Genealogy Faster and Easier with Artificial Intelligence, I decided to try his long prompt.
You are an expert genealogist and researcher.
Your speciality is creating locality guides that I can use to support my genealogy research efforts. A locality guide is a regional research guide for a particular county.
I am an experience genealogist. I seek to learn more about a particular county for a research project.
You’re tasked with listing both the top online digital collections and physical repositories available for this county.
Present the information as sections organized by categories. When relevant, use the categories and subcategories provided below. Provide your findings in a concise list of bullets and sub-bullets within the appropriate category or sub-category.
Wherever possible, provide the name of the source as a hyperlink so that it is easy for me to investigate and confirm it myself.
Please consider the following categories and subcategories when searching for research resources in the specified location.
Historical Background
Overview of the area’s history, including significant events and periods.
Information on the area’s founding, development, and any major changes over time.
Geography
Current and historical maps.
Descriptions of the area’s physical and administrative boundaries over time.
Information on changes in place names and jurisdictions.
Record Types
Each of the following sections should include details on the types of records available, years covered, whether indexes exist, and how to access them (online, offline, or both).
Vital Records
Births
Marriages
Deaths
Divorces
Census Records
Land and Property Records
Probate Records
Military Records
Court Records
Tax Records
Immigration and Naturalization Records
Church Records
Cemetery Records
Newspapers and Obituaries
City Directories
School and Education Records
Photograph Collections
Repositories and Archives
Major repositories holding relevant records (e.g., state archives, local libraries, historical societies).
Contact information and access policies for each repository.
Online Resources
Links to online databases and digital collections.
Information on subscription sites and free resources.
Local Genealogical and Historical Societies
Contact information.
Overview of resources and services offered.
Libraries and Museums
Information on local libraries and museums with genealogical collections.
Specialized Resources
Information on resources specific to certain ethnic groups, religions, or other communities within the area.
Research Tips and Strategies
Advice, or guides, for conducting genealogical research in the region.
Common research challenges for this region and how to overcome them.The county I require this for is Hastings County, Ontario, Canada
When I ran this prompt in ChatGPT, I got the following information:
Historical Background
- Founding and Development: Ontario County was established in 1789, originally encompassing all of western New York State from the Pre-Emption Line to Lake Erie and from Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania border. Over time, it was divided into 14 separate counties. citeturn0search3
- Significant Events: The county was the site of the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua between the United States and the Six Nations of the Iroquois. Additionally, the 1873 trial of women’s suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony took place at the Ontario County Courthouse in Canandaigua. citeturn0search21
Geography
- Maps and Boundaries: Ontario County is located southeast of Rochester, bounded by Seneca Lake to the east and Canandaigua Lake to the southeast. It features both lowland regions in the north and hilly areas with hardwood forests in the south. citeturn0search10
Record Types
- Vital Records:
- Births, Marriages, Deaths: Marriage records from 1908 to 1935 are accessible through the Ontario County Records and Archives Center. citeturn0search4
- Census Records: Census data for Ontario County can be explored via the FamilySearch Ontario County page. citeturn0search2
- Land and Property Records: Property deeds from 1789 to 1845 are indexed and available through the Ontario County Records and Archives Center. citeturn0search4
- Probate Records: The Surrogate Court Records, including estate inventories, are maintained by the Ontario County Records and Archives Center. citeturn0search4
- Military Records: Revolutionary War pension application affidavits are part of the county’s archival records. citeturn0search4
- Court Records: The county archives house various court records, including partitions and guardianship records from 1805 to 1930. citeturn0search4
- Naturalization Records: Both 19th and 20th-century naturalization records are available at the county archives. citeturn0search9
- Church and Cemetery Records: Local historical societies, such as the East Bloomfield Historical Society, may hold church and cemetery records. citeturn0search8
- Newspapers and Obituaries: Historical newspapers can be accessed through local libraries and historical societies.
- City Directories: The Ontario County Records and Archives Center may have historical city directories in their collections.
- School and Education Records: Records may be available through local historical societies and the county archives.
- Photograph Collections: The Ontario County Historical Society Museum likely houses historical photographs.
Repositories and Archives
- Ontario County Records and Archives Center: This center provides access to a wide range of historical records, including vital, land, probate, and court records. citeturn0search9
- Ontario County Historical Society: Located in Canandaigua, this society offers museum collections, exhibitions, and a research library. citeturn0search19
- East Bloomfield Historical Society: This society maintains local historical records and offers research assistance. citeturn0search8
- Geneva Historical Society and Museum: Based in Geneva, this institution provides access to local history resources and exhibits. citeturn0search8
Online Resources
- FamilySearch Ontario County Page: Offers access to various genealogical records for the county. citeturn0search2
- Ontario County NYGenWeb: Provides historical records, including census, wills, land, and marriage records. citeturn0search6
- Internet Archive: Hosts digitized versions of historical texts, such as the “History of Ontario County, New York” by Lewis Cass Aldrich. citeturn0search5
Local Genealogical and Historical Societies
- East Bloomfield Historical Society: Offers resources and services related to the history of East Bloomfield. citeturn0search8
- Geneva Historical Society and Museum: Provides historical information and resources for the Geneva area. citeturn0search8
Libraries and Museums
- Ontario County Historical Society Museum: Features exhibits and a research library focused on the county’s history. citeturn0search19
Specialized Resources
- New York Genealogical and Biographical Society: Offers publications and resources pertinent to New York State genealogy. citeturn0search18
Research Tips and Strategies
- Utilize Local Repositories: Visiting local archives, libraries, and historical societies can provide access to unique records not available online.
- Explore Online Databases: Websites like FamilySearch and the Ontario County NYGenWeb offer digitized records and indexes.
- Consult Historical Texts: Books such as the “History of Ontario County, New York” by Lewis Cass Aldrich provide valuable context and information. citeturn0search5
- Contact Local Societies: Engaging with local genealogical and historical societies can offer insights and access to specialized resources.
Conclusion
Exploring AI-powered tools like ChatGPT’s Deep Search GPT has opened up new possibilities for genealogy research. By using the suggested prompts, I was able to generate a Locality Guide for Ontario County, New York, tailored to the specific needs of family history research in that area. This guide provided insights into historical records, repositories, local archives, and some genealogical sources—details that a generic checklist wouldn’t have covered.
This experience reinforced the value of adapting research methods to incorporate technology. While traditional checklists and research plans remain essential, AI-assisted tools can enhance efficiency and uncover resources we might otherwise overlook. Whether you’re exploring a new ancestral location or revisiting a long-standing research challenge, experimenting with AI-generated locality guides could be a valuable addition to your toolkit.
Research has come a long way. What I like about AI is it merely finds sources to review, opposed to providing data.
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