 Ancestry’s New DNA Matches by Cluster Feature in Beta Ancestry has just introduced a new feature for their AncestryDNA Pro Tools subscription called Matches by Cluster — a tool currently in Beta testing. This new option automatically organizes some of your DNA matches into groups that most likely share a common ancestor. If you’ve ever explored DNA clustering methodologies such as the Leeds Method or used third-party tools for cluster analysis, you’ll recognize the concept: grouping matches based on how they share DNA not just with you, but also with each other. Here’s an overview of how this new Ancestry feature works, what it currently offers, and my initial impressions after exploring it. How It Works Matches by Cluster analyzes your DNA matches and organizes them into clusters. The goal is to help you visualize and understand groups of people who may descend from the same ancestor or ancestral couple. Currently, the feature works within a specific range:
What I Noticed When I tested this feature on my own DNA results, Ancestry created seven small clusters for me — a mix of maternal and paternal side groups. The groups were relatively modest in size:
Currently, the clusters seem to center on matches connected to second great-grandparent couples, which may help those who are still establishing the broader framework of their DNA connections.  Ancestry DNA Match by Cluster Example- Groups Additional Insights
Who Might Benefit from This? This new clustering tool seems especially well-suited for:
Looking Ahead Because Matches by Cluster is still a Beta feature, it will be interesting to watch how it evolves. The ability to create custom clusters based on cM ranges or targeted matches will make this tool far more flexible and potentially more powerful down the road. If Ancestry expands this feature to include all matches across a broader cM range, it could become even more useful for identifying connections beyond the 2nd great-grandparent level and help visualize deeper ancestral ties that may not yet be obvious. Final Thoughts As with all tools, the value of Matches by Cluster depends on where you are in your research journey. For those newer to DNA or just beginning to get comfortable with organizing matches, this tool could offer helpful direction. For more advanced genealogists, it may serve as a supplemental tool while we wait to see how Ancestry expands its capabilities in future updates. I’ll be keeping an eye on this feature as it develops and will share further insights as new options are rolled out. Have you tried Matches by Cluster yet? I’d love to hear about your experiences and thoughts on its potential for your research! More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
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6/29/2025 LiveMemory™ Now Available on the MyHeritage Website: Bring Your Photos to Life—Right From Your DesktopRead Now A cherished holiday memory brought to life: MyHeritage’s LiveMemory™ feature now available on the web If you’ve ever wished you could step inside a treasured family photograph, MyHeritage is making that dream even more accessible. After a successful launch on the MyHeritage mobile app last November, LiveMemory™—a tool that transforms still photos into short, lifelike video clips—is now available directly on the MyHeritage website. As part of the MyHeritage Friends program, I had the opportunity to preview the new web-based version of LiveMemory™ ahead of its release. I’m excited to now share that this powerful feature is officially available for everyone to use--no mobile app required! What Is LiveMemory™?LiveMemory™ uses advanced AI to animate entire scenes from old photographs. Unlike earlier tools that focused on facial animation alone, LiveMemory™ takes it to the next level by bringing movement and subtle action to the whole scene. A photo of your grandmother at her sewing machine, a child at the beach, or a birthday celebration frozen in time—LiveMemory™ reimagines those moments in motion. Since its launch, over half a million animations have been created by users all over the world. It’s been moving, emotional, and inspiring to see family memories animated with such heart. What’s New with the Web Version?The newly released desktop version of LiveMemory™ includes several exciting additions:
How to Use LiveMemory™ on the WebGetting started is simple:
A Few of My Own LiveMemory™ TrialsAs part of the MyHeritage Friends group, I had early access to LiveMemory™ and tested it out on a variety of photos—some with more natural results than others. I found that clear, close-up portraits tended to work best with the AI animations, especially when the subjects were facing the camera. Here are a few examples from my own family photo collection that I tried using the new web-based version of LiveMemory™: Grandma with Her Two Young Sons (Circa 1944) This sweet black-and-white photo features my grandmother holding my father and uncle on her lap. The LiveMemory™ animation gently brought out movement in my grandmother’s expression and added a lifelike quality to the scene—like stepping into a quiet afternoon in the 1940s. A Visit with Santa (Circa 1955–1957) This charming snapshot shows my mother as a child sitting on Santa Claus’s lap at a department store during the holidays. The LiveMemory™ animation gave the scene a subtle sparkle of holiday magic—adding a little laughter and movement as if he were asking her want she wanted for Christmas. Christmas Morning (Circa 1962) Here’s one from my mother’s teenage years—she’s about 14 in this photo, sitting in front of the family’s Christmas tree with her three younger brothers. This busy holiday snapshot translated surprisingly well with LiveMemory™, adding a flicker of excitement and animation to what was clearly a joyful, gift-filled morning. Three Generations in One Frame (Circa early 1950s) This family group photo includes my father as a boy of about 10, along with his older sister, her husband and their baby, my grandfather, and one of my dad’s older brothers. The LiveMemory™ animation added subtle gestures that made it feel like a candid moment from a family gathering rather than just a posed portrait. Why Try LiveMemory™?LiveMemory™ isn’t just a novelty—it’s an emotional, sometimes breathtaking experience. For genealogists, family historians, and anyone curious about the past, it offers a new way to connect with ancestors and loved ones on a deeper level. Whether you’re creating clips to share at a family reunion or using them to inspire the next generation’s interest in family history, this tool adds something fresh and powerful to your storytelling toolbox. Final ThoughtsThe new web release of LiveMemory™ makes this feature more accessible than ever before. Whether you’re revisiting photos you’ve animated before or trying something new with one of the creative effects, it’s the perfect time to explore how technology can deepen our connection to the past. Give it a try on the MyHeritage website, and don’t forget to share your results using #MyHeritage and #LiveMemory. I’d love to hear what moments you’ve brought to life! More MyHeritage, AI, and Other Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more MyHeritage, AI in Genealogy, and other family history and genealogy resources under the MyHeritage, AI in Genealogy, Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Bringing ancestor stories to life with AI tools and family history visuals What if your ancestors could speak to you? Not just through letters, photos, or census records—but in their own voice, telling their story in 30 seconds or less? That’s exactly what I set out to explore in a recent AI experiment: combining real ancestor research with cutting-edge (and free!) AI tools to create short, emotionally engaging ancestor videos. These clips aim to preserve and share family stories in a way that’s fast, fun, and surprisingly powerful. Whether you're looking for a new way to engage your relatives—or just want to bring your family history research to life—this technique might be just the creative spark you need. What Is the "Ancestor Voice Clip" Project?This project is part of an ongoing experiment I’m conducting to explore new, low-effort but high-impact ways of sharing family history through AI. The concept is simple: take a moment from your ancestor’s life, craft a short script in their voice, and then bring it to life with AI narration, images, and video editing tools. The result? A 30-second digital storytelling experience that can grab attention, stir emotion, and even get younger generations asking questions about their roots. Two Examples I Created▶️ Example 1: A Near-Death Experience Story: In this clip, Samuel recounts a frightening accident that nearly cost him his life. AI Tools Used:
▶️ Example 2: Returning to Butchering Story: After nearly 15 years of farming in Missouri, Samuel decided to sell his farm in 1892 and return to his original trade—meat cutting. AI Tools Used:
Why This Works
How You Can Create One Too: Step-by-StepWant to give it a try? Here’s a general workflow that you can follow: 1. Upload or Prepare Your Ancestor Profile Start with a short narrative or bullet points about your ancestor—perhaps from an existing ancestor biography or a family history summary, or just upload a PDF of your Ancestry or MyHeritage ancestor profile page. 2. Generate a 30-Second Script Use ChatGPT (or another writing assistant) to help craft a short monologue in your ancestor’s voice. Think first person—like they’re telling you a story themselves. Example Prompt: “Write a 30-second script in the voice of Samuel Steinman, who sold his Missouri farm in 1892 to return to butchering.” 3. Create a Voice Clip Use a tool like ElevenLabs (free accounts available) to generate audio from your script. You can choose from many realistic voice styles or customize your own. 4. Upload an Ancestor Image Optional, but impactful: upload a portrait or symbolic image of your ancestor to visually represent them. This helps personalize the voice clip. 5. Create Symbolic AI Images (Optional) Ask ChatGPT or another AI image platform to generate visual backdrops or symbolic scenes that reflect your ancestor’s story—like a dusty butcher shop or a Missouri farmhouse at dawn. 6. Put It All Together in Canva (or similar) Upload your audio, images, and text into a free platform like Canva to assemble the final video. Canva makes it easy to animate text, add transitions, and export the clip for social sharing. Expanding the Experiment: Two More Tests Using MyHeritageAfter the initial voice-to-story clips using ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, and Canva, I expanded the experiment by testing two more creative approaches—this time using MyHeritage’s AI features. Each of the new clips used the same short scripts and the same AI-generated ancestor photos, but each followed a slightly different path. ▶️ Test #2: Using MyHeritage DeepStory In this version, I uploaded my ancestor photos and the script into MyHeritage's DeepStory tool. DeepStory animates a still photo and adds a lifelike voice narration using its built-in AI features—no ElevenLabs needed. The result? My ancestor appears to speak directly to you, narrating his life story in his own words. It's seamless, intuitive, and very emotionally effective.
▶️ Test #3: MyHeritage LiveMemory + ElevenLabs + Canva This version used a more layered approach:
This test gave me more creative control over the voice, visual pacing, and transitions. It combined the realism of ElevenLabs with the animation capabilities of LiveMemory, all wrapped in Canva’s design tools. Why These Extra Tests MatterThese variations show that there’s no single “right way” to do this kind of storytelling. Each tool—whether ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, MyHeritage DeepStory, LiveMemory, Grok, or Canva—brings something unique to the table. You can mix and match them depending on your comfort level, creative goals, and the type of story you want to tell. Whether you want a fast, all-in-one experience (like DeepStory) or more control and polish (like combining LiveMemory with Canva), the technology is there—and much of it is free or low-cost. What This Project Is (and Isn’t)This isn’t meant to be a polished documentary or in-depth biography. It’s a bite-sized memory, intended to spark curiosity, open the door to conversations, and inspire further exploration. It’s an experiment—one I’m continuing to test, tweak, and improve with each new ancestor story. And the best part? It’s totally free (or very low-cost), accessible to beginners, and endlessly customizable. Why This Might Be the Hook Your Family NeedsIf you’ve ever struggled to get your kids, siblings, or cousins interested in family history, this might be the answer. One well-timed 30-second story—told in a familiar-sounding voice, with compelling visuals—might connect in a way that a 40-page research report never could. Whether you’re a genealogist looking to share your work more meaningfully or a curious beginner looking for a creative spark, these tools open up a new frontier for storytelling. Want to Try It? I’m Happy to Help.If you’re curious about trying this with your own ancestors, feel free to reach out or drop a comment. I’d love to share what I’ve learned—or even walk you through the process step-by-step. Together, let’s explore new ways to make our family history speak—literally. Because even a 30-second voice from the past can echo for generations. More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #AncestorVoices #AIinGenealogy #ElevenLabs #ChatGPT #Canva #DigitalPreservation #CreativeGenealogy #FamilyLegacy #PreserveYourStory #AncestorStories #FreeGenealogyTools
6/8/2025 Uncovering a Legacy: African American, Native American, and Cherokee Freedmen AncestryRead Now Blended legacy: Portraits representing African American and Cherokee ancestry with the Trail of Tears in the background, honoring a powerful and complex family history Every so often, a genealogy case opens a door not only into a family’s past, but into the very heart of American history. This month, I had the privilege of working on a client case that stands out as one of the most fascinating and meaningful in my career—an extraordinary journey into ancestry that intersected African American history, Native American identity, Cherokee tribal heritage, and the legacy of slavery and survival through the Trail of Tears. As a professional genealogist, I’ve worked with African American families for many years. But this case took me into new and profound territory: tracing a lineage that included African Americans enslaved by Cherokee citizens, Cherokee Freedmen, free African Americans born well before the Civil War, “Intruders” in Indian Territory, and Cherokee ancestors themselves. One of the client’s 4th great-grandfathers, an enslaved African American, was documented as having been part of the Trail of Tears, and there may be more who were forced westward alongside him. This powerful ancestral story, woven through overlapping cultural and historical threads, became a case study in complexity, resilience, and historical truth. A Client’s Search for Her Roots Brittany approached me with a desire to know more about her paternal grandmother, who had died when her father was only about 6 years of age. With only limited information—her grandmother’s name and where she thought she was born and lived—she had struggled, like many descendants of slavery, to get past the genealogical roadblocks of the late 1800s. The 1870 census, often the earliest record available for African Americans, had always been her stopping point. Through careful research, I was able to build her tree back to her 4th great-grandparents, uncovering extraordinary stories along the way. One of the most powerful discoveries: an enslaved, by the Cherokee, African American ancestor who lived through the Trail of Tears, and another line of African American ancestors who had been free nearly a century before Emancipation. “Diane was able to locate census records, newspaper clippings/articles, Dawes Rolls records, marriage records, and death records dating back to the mid-1800s. Her research has helped me to feel empowered... I’ve never felt that before.” — Brittany Douglass, June 5, 2025 Exploring the African American & Native American Line One branch of Brittany’s ancestry told a layered and often painful story—one that included not only Cherokee Freedmen (African Americans who were formerly enslaved by Cherokee citizens and later adopted into the tribe), but also individuals classified as "Intruders" (those living in Indian Territory without tribal citizenship), enslaved African Americans, Cherokee Indians, and guardians assigned to freed people. This case required accessing and interpreting a wide variety of records related to both African American and Cherokee heritage:
The Free-at-Birth African American LineIn contrast to the complexities of tribal identity and enslavement, another branch of Brittany’s family revealed a powerful and lesser-known reality: African American ancestors who were free long before the Civil War. These families lived in North Carolina and surrounding states, owning land, engaging in community life, and navigating legal systems that continuously threatened their status. This line includes not only her direct ancestors, but also their extended networks--neighbors, guardians, church associates, and others who shared surnames or social ties. These clusters of people often served as informal safety nets, and researching them can provide the missing context needed to break through 19th-century barriers. Key records consulted included:
Two Deep-Dive Cluster Studies To build on this research, I am currently conducting two focused deep-dive studies, using cluster analysis to fully explore both lines: Study #1: African American & Cherokee Line This study includes not just the Freedmen and tribal members, but also:
This study examines:
Records and Repositories Utilized This case drew on a wide spectrum of genealogical records, archives, and online tools, including but not limited to: Record Types:
A Legacy Reclaimed This case was not just about finding records. It was about restoring stories—stories of freedom and displacement, survival and endurance, family and identity. It was about giving a modern-day descendant a tangible connection to those who came before her and showing her that her family’s legacy is not only powerful—it’s real, documented, and enduring. “Diane’s research has made me feel like I have a strong family legacy, and I’ve never felt that before.” If you’re struggling to find your roots, particularly if your ancestors were African American, Native American, or both, know this: the journey may be difficult, but your family’s story is out there. And it deserves to be found. More African Amercian GenealogyMore Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More Genealogy Records6/1/2025 Exploring Google NotebookLM for Genealogy: An AI-Powered Research and Storytelling AssistantRead Now Exploring Google NotebookLM for Genealogy: An AI-Powered Research and Storytelling Assistant In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and genealogy, few tools have excited me recently as much as Google NotebookLM (short for “Language Model”). Designed as a powerful, AI-enhanced note-taking and research assistant, this tool is not only versatile but genuinely fun to use. Over the past few days, I’ve had the opportunity to test out its features, run multiple experiments, and explore its potential for genealogy, client work, family history storytelling, blogging, and even podcast creation. Here’s a look at what I discovered—and why this tool may quickly become one of your favorite digital companions in genealogical research. What Is Google NotebookLM? Google NotebookLM is an AI-powered notebook environment designed to help users understand, organize, and interact with their sources. It works by uploading or linking to your research materials—whether that be documents, PDFs, blog posts, URLs, or a combination of these. The AI then enables you to generate summaries, timelines, FAQs, study guides, audio overviews, and even creative outputs like presentation drafts or mind maps. You can think of it as your personal research assistant that reads, processes, and reflects back insights from the content you give it. How I Tested Google NotebookLM for Genealogy To evaluate its effectiveness for genealogical research, I created four notebooks focusing on different kinds of sources: 1. Using URLs as Sources
2. Blog-Based Notebook from a PDF
 Google NotebookLM Blog Commentary Example 3. Ancestor Profile & Research Summary PDFs
 Google NotebookLM Ancestor Research Example  Google NotebookLM Ancestor (Samuel Steinman) Research Mind Map Example 1  Google NotebookLM Ancestor (Samuel Steinman) Research Mind Map Example 1-2  Google NotebookLM Ancestor (Samuel Steinman) Research Mind Map Example 1-3  Google NotebookLM Ancestor (Samuel Steinman) Research Mind Map Example 1-4 4. Expanded Family Unit Research
What Can You Do With It? Here are some of my favorite features—and how I think genealogists can benefit from each: ✅ Generate Summaries Instantly turn long-form blog posts, research notes, or PDFs into a short and clean summary—perfect for client reports or family history write-ups. ✅ Create Study Guides This feature is ideal for genealogical lectures or self-paced learning. Upload materials related to a topic—say, U.S. Census research—and NotebookLM can produce a study guide with key concepts, takeaways, and learning objectives. ✅ Timelines Upload an ancestor profile, then generate a timeline of life events, residence changes, or historical context. Great for visualizing migration paths or summarizing a person’s life for storytelling. ✅ Briefing Documents Useful for prepping for presentations, consultations, or writing, these documents highlight the most important content in your source and synthesize it for quick reference. ✅ Mind Maps Visually organize related people, events, or themes in your research. Helpful for identifying clusters of activity, neighborhood patterns, or overlapping timelines. ✅ Source Guide Summaries & Discussions Let the AI pull out key topics, themes, and facts from a group of sources and engage with it like a thought partner—perfect for refining your analysis. ✅ Audio Overviews By far one of the most exciting features: NotebookLM can generate an audio summary of your notebook, reading out insights and highlights across your sources. You can download these as .wav files. Pro Tip: I took these audio clips and ran them through Adobe Podcast AI, which allowed me to polish them into high-quality MP3 podcast episodes. I even turned them into audigram videos (animated captioned transcripts) and posted them on YouTube using custom background images. This is a game-changer for genealogists looking to share research in accessible, engaging formats. How Genealogists Can Use NotebookLM The possibilities are vast, but here are a few practical ideas for everyday family historians and professionals:
NotebookLM: The Specs As of now, the date of this post (free version):
Final Thoughts: A Research Assistant in Your Pocket Google NotebookLM is still evolving, but its current feature set already offers an incredible amount of support for genealogical professionals, researchers, and bloggers. Whether you’re compiling research, creating content, or just trying to organize your thoughts and findings, this AI tool acts like a personalized assistant—one that reads your sources, listens to your needs, and responds with meaningful output. If you're looking to experiment with AI and haven’t yet tried NotebookLM, I highly recommend giving it a test drive. You may be surprised at how much it can enrich your research, storytelling, and creative process. Have you tried Google NotebookLM yet? What features are you most excited about—or curious to try? Let me know in the comments, and stay tuned for a follow-up post where I’ll share some real examples from my test notebooks, blog-to-podcast experiments, and ancestor research timelines! More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
5/18/2025 Revisiting My Roots: Tracing the Life of My 6th Great-Grandfather, Michael Howlett (Hulet, Hulett, Hewlett)Read Now A peaceful colonial New England scene, evoking the rural landscape of 18th-century Connecticut where Michael Howlett (Hulet) once lived. For the past three days, I’ve done something I don’t often get to do: focus entirely on my own family history. And not just any part of it—but a line I haven’t seriously worked on in over a decade. What began as a quick revisit turned into a deep dive that consumed my every spare moment, and it reminded me why I love genealogy so much. So today’s blog post is a little different. It’s the first in what I hope will be an ongoing series documenting one ancestral line at a time, beginning with my 6th great-grandfather: Michael Howlett—a man whose descendants carried the name in many forms, from Hulet to Hulett, Hewlett, and back again. 🧬 Meet Michael Howlett (Hulet, Hewlett, Hulett, Hulet)Michael Howlett was born around 1677, likely in Newton, Massachusetts—though some sources point to Boston. His parents were John Howlett and Abigail (Powell), and in 1704, Michael married Experience Newton in Newton, Massachusetts. Together, Michael and Experience raised a large family--nine children born over a 20-year span. Around 1708, the family moved to south Killingly, Connecticut, where Michael purchased land and helped shape the early history of that area. It is unknown when he died (as I have not found any record of it), but many have him passing away around February 1774 in Killingly at the age of 98, which would mean he lived an impressively long life (not likely for that time). 🏡 A Man of the Land—and of the CovenantOne of the fascinating records I uncovered was Michael’s adult baptism at the Putnam First Congregational Church (then known as North Killingly Parish) on December 15, 1717. That same day, he entered into the church covenant and was officially admitted as a member. This detail—often overlooked in genealogies—offers insight into both his faith and community involvement. That community, by the way, was not without its tensions. South Killingly, during Michael's time, was known for irreconcilable religious differences that made life there less prosperous and more turbulent. Yet Michael remained, raised his family, and contributed to the settlement’s development. 📜 Children of Michael and Experience (Newton) Hulet:
*Note: Since all the vital records are abstracts of some kind, I will be using "about" for the dates found in them. Josiah married a Lydia (Lydia Unknown at this time and no marriage record has been found) and had 12 children; although, they seem quite old to have had the later children, but records show these children to be born to a Josiah and Lydia and they are the only Josiah and Lydia in the area and are on the records with other family members. All of their children were born in Killingly CT. Impressively, he d. after 1797, according to his sister, Experience's dated will. Children of Josiah and Lydia:
Daniel married Abigail Unknown and they had one child (only 1 child listed in his will and the same child being the only one found in vital records) who was born in Killingly CT. Daniel d. 1789 Killingly CT, according to his probate (his will was dated: 7 Jul 1789 and inventory of his estate was taken in Sep). Children of John and Sarah:
Nathaniel married Susannah Unknown and they had 5 children, the 1st being born in Killingly and the rest in Plainfied. He d. sometime between Jan-May 1790 (his will was dated 21 Jan 1790 and the inventory of his estate was taken 1 May 1790). Children of Nathaniel and Susannah:
John married Sarah Searls on 4 Dec 1746 in Killingly CT. All of their children were born in Killingly CT. Children of John and Sarah:
Oliver (my 5th great grandfather) married 1st Sarah Bensley, who died 8 FEB 1759 in Killingly and had 5 known children (with a possible 6th that some others have but I have found no record of), and 2nd Elizabeth Searles (possibly a sister to his brother’s wife-still looking into it) on 15 Nov 1759 in Killingly. All of their children were born in Killingly CT. Impressively, he d. after 1797, according to his sister, Experience's dated will. Children of Oliver and Sarah:
Experience married Ebenezer Kingsbury on 23 Feb 1743/4 in Plainfield CT and she died on 6 Nov 1803 in Plainfield CT. According to their wills, census records, and negative findings in vital records, they had no living children. 🔍 Research Tools and Resources
I’ve also been evaluating secondary sources with caution. While many compiled genealogies list children like Michael or Nehemiah, I treat them as unconfirmed until supported by documentary evidence. These phantom ancestors are a good reminder that names in trees aren’t always facts—they’re hypotheses that need testing. 📜 Notes of Records Used
A Note on Name Variations In colonial New England, surname spelling was far from standardized. This line alone has appeared in records as Howlett, Hewlett, Hulett, and Hulet—sometimes even in the same family or generation. Don’t let spelling limit your searches! 📚 What’s Next? In the next post in this series, I’ll shift the spotlight to Michael’s son and my 5th great-grandfather, Oliver Hulet, exploring his life, marriages, and their children—many of whom began to move into western Massachusetts and beyond. This series is part research log, part narrative, and part resource guide. I hope it inspires you to revisit your own lines with fresh eyes or perhaps helps you discover a new connection. Feel free to follow along—and if you’re a descendant or fellow researcher on the Hulet/Howlett line, I’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned for the next chapter in this family story. *Note: This post will be updated when there are new research findings, so it may constantly change. Have you ever returned to an old family line after years away and found something new? Or are you working on early New England ancestors too? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
 A Genealogy Breakthrough: The Power of Digitization, OCR, & Newspaper Archives For over a decade, I’ve researched the life of my 3rd great-grandfather, John Neilson Beveridge, a Scottish coal miner who immigrated to Pennsylvania in the mid-19th century. While I had been able to trace his birth, marriage, and children in Scotland—and later his death in the U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules—his life in America remained elusive. Until now. This week, I made an unexpected and powerful discovery: two digitized newspaper articles on Newspapers.com that shed new light on his final years in Pennsylvania. These are the only articles I’ve ever found about him in the United States. And they add significant context, mystery, and emotion to his story. 1. The Death Notice — February 1880The first article appeared in The Pittsburgh Post on February 9, 1880. It is a death notice for John Beveridge, revealing more than just his passing: “John Beveridge, a coal miner, died at Wilkinsburg on Saturday, from congestion of the lungs, which was brought on by a severe cold contracted at a meeting of the strikers. Out of these facts arose even a rumor that the man had died of starvation.” This short but striking obituary does more than list a death—it places John in a moment of labor unrest and hints at difficult living conditions. I had already located his death via the 1880 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedule, which recorded February 1880 and the cause as pneumonia. But this article not only confirms that data—it deepens it. The phrase “a meeting of the strikers” suggests he was actively involved in labor movements, possibly advocating for better conditions during a time of growing tension between miners and mine owners. The mention of a rumor of starvation paints a grim portrait of economic struggle, perhaps worsened by illness and hardship in Wilkinsburg.  John Beveridge Death Notice: February 9, 1880 2. The Attack — April 1855The second article is far more dramatic and emotional. It recounts a brutal attack on John Beveridge and his wife Margaret, which occurred around midnight at their home. The details are shocking: “Brutal Outrage. A Scotchman, named John Beveridge, Boss minor at the works of Brook & Beury, at Branchdale, narrowly escaped with his life from an attack by a party of Irish men (so he recognized them,) on Tuesday night last. According to his story (in short,) before Esq. Reed, of this place, next day, the assailants, three or four in number, attacked his house about midnight, battered down the door, fired a pistol at his wife, discharged the contents of another in his arm, and beat him in the most violent manner—his life being saved most probably, by his accidental falling in the scuffle through a hole into the cellar, whence he escaped. The party then riddled the house with stones—the wife and children having secreted themselves in the upper story. No specific cause is assigned for the attack. Beveridge bears a generally good character. Another aggravated case occurred at the new mines, on the Forest Improvement Co.’s lands, on Monday. The workmen have been on a “turn-out” there for some two weeks. One of them, (we have not learned the name,) who complained that his wife and child were sick, and that he could not afford to remain idle, went to work; when a party went into the mines, brought him out, and shamefully beat him. No arrests have been made here, either, so far as we know. — Pottsville Miners’ Journal.” Reading it for the first time was definitely horrifying. For years, I had puzzled over why Margaret and the children returned to Scotland after immigrating to the U.S. in August 1850. They are clearly documented back in Scotland by the 1861 census, and one of the daughters later migrated to Australia. I had always wondered: Why would a wife and mother return to Scotland without her husband? While this article may not offer a definitive answer, it certainly provides possible context. The trauma of the assault, the risk to the family, and John’s declining condition may have influenced Margaret’s decision to return to the familiarity—and perhaps safety—of her homeland.  John Beveridge and Family Attacked-1855 Why This Find Matters These two articles, newly indexed and only now discoverable thanks to ongoing digitization efforts, are a perfect reminder that you should always revisit your searches. Digitized newspaper collections continue to grow, and the accuracy of search functions improves as OCR technology advances. It’s also a testament to how much depth and color newspapers can bring to our family history. A death that was once just a record of time and cause has become a human story involving labor activism, illness, and hardship. A family mystery about a return migration is now potentially tied to an act of violence that once made headlines. This experience reinforces several genealogical lessons:
Final Thoughts These two articles, though brief, have transformed how I understand my ancestor’s journey. What had been a thin record of migration and death is now a textured story of survival, community strife, and possible tragedy. If you’ve hit a dead end with an ancestor, especially one in the 19th or early 20th century, it’s time to revisit the newspapers. You never know what might be waiting there—quietly waiting to be discovered. More on Genealogy RecordsMore Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 AI Handwriting OCR for Genealogy: Death Record Transcription Test and Review As genealogists, we know the value—and the challenge—of working with historical documents written in long-forgotten hands. Whether deciphering ornate script or interpreting fading ink, extracting the data we need from original sources takes time, patience, and a good eye. That’s why I was intrigued when I was invited to test Handwriting OCR, an AI-powered handwriting-to-text converter that promises to transform even the toughest handwriting into editable, searchable text with speed and precision. In this blog—the first in a new series where I’ll test this platform across different historical document types—I’ll be sharing my results and observations from using Handwriting OCR on two death certificates from my own family history collection. My goal? To evaluate how this tool performs when handling one of the most commonly used—and often difficult to read—records in genealogical research. Why Death Certificates? Death certificates are critical genealogical records. They typically include a wealth of information: full name, date and place of death, age at death, cause of death, and often key clues like parents' names and birthplaces. But they also present unique transcription challenges. The handwriting is often hurried, medical terminology is complex, and formatting varies by time and location. Most existing OCR platforms struggle to process these handwritten documents effectively, so testing death records seemed like a fitting place to begin. Case Study 1: Samuel Steinman, 2nd Great-Grandfather  AI Handwriting OCR- Death Certificate Example 1 *Note: Click to zoom in
Handwriting OCR did a surprisingly competent job transcribing this document, but several subtle errors did appear—mostly understandable given the script and formatting challenges. Here are the most noteworthy findings:
Final Thoughts on Samuel’s Record: Despite a few small inaccuracies, this was an impressive result for a handwritten death certificate. These are the kinds of records that most OCR platforms simply can’t handle at all, and here the AI provided a nearly complete transcription with minimal editing needed. A human still needs to verify every detail (as we always should), but this tool significantly reduces the time spent manually transcribing. Case Study 2: Mary Harriet (Hulet) Steinman, 2nd Great-Grandmother  AI Handwriting OCR- Death Certificate Example 2 *Note: Click to zoom in
Mary Harriet’s certificate introduced different layout and formatting challenges, including more structured government fields and handwritten entries nestled between printed form labels. Here’s how Handwriting OCR handled it:
Final Thoughts on Mary Harriet’s Record: Again, I was impressed. Despite some layout issues and detail-level inaccuracies, Handwriting OCR extracted nearly all the handwritten content with a high degree of readability. For genealogists, these transcripts are immensely helpful starting points, especially when working with challenging handwriting or in bulk. Takeaways from Testing Death Records on Handwriting OCR AI-powered transcription tools like Handwriting OCR are opening exciting new doors in genealogical research. While they are not perfect (nor should we expect them to be), what they offer is a huge leap forward in automating some of the more tedious aspects of our work. Here’s what stood out most in this first test:
For any genealogist who’s ever squinted at an old death certificate under poor lighting or spent hours transcribing by hand, this platform offers a welcome solution. It’s not a replacement for human verification, but it’s a powerful companion that can accelerate our workflows and help us focus more on the analysis, stories, and connections that make genealogy so rewarding. Coming Soon: Testing Handwriting OCR on Other Genealogy Documents This is just the beginning. In upcoming posts, I’ll be testing Handwriting OCR’s capabilities on:
Have you tested AI handwriting tools for genealogy? What worked (or didn’t) for you? Let me know in the comments! If you find that this would be a valuable addition to you genealogy research toolkit, Handwriting OCR will provide an exclusive offer code to all my blog readers! Just let me know! More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
4/6/2025 Exploring Ancestry’s New “Networks” Feature: A Powerful Tool for Connections Beyond the Family TreeRead Now Visualizing connections beyond the family tree with Ancestry’s Networks feature Ancestry recently unveiled a new tool that has the potential to reshape how we document, visualize, and analyze the relationships surrounding our ancestors. Simply called Networks, this new Pro Tools feature allows researchers to build out dynamic relationship webs that go far beyond traditional family lines. Announced at RootsTech and currently in BETA, Networks is already proving to be a valuable resource for exploring the people who interacted with, lived near, or were otherwise involved in our ancestors’ lives—even if they weren’t blood relatives. In genealogy, we often say that it takes a village—not only to raise a child but also to build out a meaningful, contextual family history. Networks offers a new way to capture that village. What Is the Networks Feature? Networks is designed to:
A Real-World Example: Using Networks for Census Boarders I first encountered the Networks feature while working on a client case, and I decided to give it a try right then and there. In the 1910 census, I found a family living together—husband, wife, children—and several other individuals listed in the household. Among them were three men marked as the husband’s “brothers,” and two boarders. Oddly, I had found no additional records linking the three supposed brothers to the family.  Ancestry Networks Example 1- Boarders and Possible Brothers That’s where Networks came in.  Ancestry Networks Example 2- Creating a Network Using the new tool, I added all of these individuals to a network linked to the head of household. I treated it like a research workspace: I tagged each person, added census data as media, and even began building out mini-profiles for the three “brothers” and the boarders. Whether the census taker made an error or the relationships are genuine but obscured, this feature gave me the freedom to explore those possibilities without needing to force these individuals directly into the family tree structure.  Ancestry Networks Example 3- Adding People, Media, Sources, Tags, and Stickies to Your Network  Ancestry Networks Example 4- Creating Stickies (Notes) for Your Network Key Features That Make Networks Useful
How to Access the Networks Feature As of now, Networks is available only to those with an active Pro Tools membership on Ancestry and can only be accessed through the Ancestry website—not the mobile app. There are multiple ways to get to it:
Why This Matters Genealogy is as much about social context as it is about names, dates, and places. Networks fills an important gap in our research process by giving us a structured, visual way to explore the people who encircled our ancestors’ lives—those who may have had deep personal, social, or economic significance but don't appear in a traditional family tree structure. The tool may especially prove useful for:
Final Thoughts While still in BETA, Ancestry’s Networks feature is a useful addition for genealogists at every level. It encourages critical thinking, offers flexibility, and considers the complexity of human relationships—something every family historian grapples with at some point. Whether you’re piecing together a mystery in the census, mapping out an immigrant cluster, or just trying to figure out who that “mystery boarder” might have been, Networks gives you a new lens to view your research through. And sometimes, that fresh perspective is just what we need to break through a long-standing brick wall. Have you tried the Networks feature yet? Share your experiences—I’d love to hear how others are using it in their research! More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 MyHeritage’s New Cousin Finder Feature Makes Finding Relatives Easier One of the biggest joys in genealogy is making connections—finding long-lost relatives, collaborating with family members, and discovering shared ancestry. MyHeritage has just made that process even easier with their newest tool, Cousin Finder. This innovative feature helps you identify and connect with relatives who share your ancestors—all without taking a DNA test! What Is Cousin Finder? Cousin Finder is a brand-new feature exclusive to MyHeritage that uses the power of family tree matches to identify your blood relatives. It builds upon MyHeritage’s Smart Matches, which compare your family tree with millions of others to find overlapping ancestors. But rather than leaving you to sift through endless matches, Cousin Finder does the work for you, automatically pinpointing the relatives who share a direct ancestral connection with you. How Does It Work? To take advantage of Cousin Finder, you’ll need a family tree on MyHeritage that includes Smart Matches with other trees. The more detailed your tree, the better your results will be! Here’s how it works:
Why This Matters for Genealogists For years, DNA testing has been a key tool in identifying unknown relatives. But not everyone has taken a DNA test, and not every match provides a clear relationship path. Cousin Finder fills this gap by using well-researched family trees to build connections based on documented lineage. Here’s why it’s a game-changer: ✅ Find cousins who haven’t taken a DNA test – Many genealogists have extensive trees but haven’t tested their DNA. Now, you can connect with them based on shared ancestry alone. ✅ See exactly how you’re related – Unlike DNA matches, which can sometimes be unclear, Cousin Finder provides a definitive relationship path based on family trees. ✅ Collaborate with newfound relatives – Once you find a cousin, you can message them (with a MyHeritage subscription) to share information, exchange records, and fill in missing branches of your tree. ✅ Expand your tree faster – Learning from relatives who have researched different branches of your family can help you uncover new generations, stories, and connections. How Is It Different from Smart Matches and DNA Matches? While Smart Matches highlight possible connections between trees, they can be overwhelming because of the large amount. Cousin Finder simplifies the process by extracting only your confirmed relatives, making it easier to focus on meaningful connections. Unlike DNA matches, which rely on genetic relationships, Cousin Finder works from family trees. While tree-based research requires verification, it offers a clearer picture of exactly how you’re related—something DNA alone can’t always provide. Getting Started with Cousin Finder You'll find Cousin Finder under the Discoveries drop-down, and it's free to use for all MyHeritage users, though reaching out to matches requires a subscription. It’s currently available on the MyHeritage website and mobile browsers, with app support coming soon. If you already have a tree on MyHeritage, now is the perfect time to explore Cousin Finder and see just how many cousins you have waiting to be discovered. And if you don’t have a tree yet—what are you waiting for? This tool makes it easier than ever to build, grow, and connect your family history.  How to Get to Cousin Finder Have you tried Cousin Finder yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences—drop a comment below! More MyHeritage and Other Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more MyHeritage and other family history and genealogy resources under the MyHeritage and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
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Author, Diane HenriksHi, I'm Diane Henriks, a professional genealogist, speaker, author, investigator, and the founder of Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family who... Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family: Family History and Genealogy BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! Categories
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