Using AI for Metes and Bounds Deed Analysis Do deeds with metes and bounds descriptions give you headaches? You are not alone. We will see how to use AI to help with drawing properties, analyzing deed transactions, noticing patterns, and more. Our presentation is easy-to-follow, down-to-earth, and practical. This presentation is not about how to find land records. We will assume you already know how to do that. Topics covered will include: Participants are encouraged to send Michael a limited number of questions after they have viewed the presentation. Release date 23 August 2026. Pre-order price $21. Post-release price $27.00. Handout included which will include commentary and prompts that were used. The presentation is approximately an hour long and can be viewed more than once.. Order yours today. […]
Newspaper gossip columns may reference “neighborhoods” that have no clearly defined boundaries and do not appear on a map. It’s not just a rural problem. Urban areas can have these vaguely defined neighborhoods as well. Determining where these areas are approximately located is not impossible. The easiest solution is to ask area residents if they know where the area is or was located. Researchers familiar with the area may be able to help as well. Local libraries, historical and genealogical societies may also be able to provide suggestions. If those approaches are not successful, look for names of “residents” of these areas mentioned in the gossip columns in contemporary census records, city directories, or other records that provide some sort of residence and see where they are living. […]
There are several things to consider before uploading a series of genealogical documents to Notebook or any form of AI.This is a suggested list. Make certain the documents do not contain information on living individuals–sensitive as well as general information about living people should not be uploaded to any AI system. Do not upload DNA results. Have read over the documents to the point where you have a working knowledge of the information they contain. Use file names that will help AI to understand what the document is and reference it correctly in any discussion. Examples include: If uploading pages from the same document, include numbers These filenames are just examples and underscores are optional (I just prefer to use them out of habit). Modify them as you […]
My great-aunt sang at a wedding in northern Indiana in 1963. While I was somewhat surprised she was singing instead of playing the organ (which was more common for her), it is not an earth-shattering piece of information. For me what was more interesting was that it listed a residence for her of which I was unaware. There are other details in the wedding write-up that make it clear it is her to which the write-up is referring, so I don’t have the wrong person. But it gave me a new residential clue in trying to learn more about her life in the 1950s and 1960s. Any reference in a newspaper can be a clue, one just has to stop for a minute and think about what is […]
When analyzing a genealogical record, determining if the item being viewed is an original or derivative source is one key component of that analysis. Sources are generally considered “original” if they are in their first form (or an accurate digital reproduction thereof). Derivative sources are ones that are transcriptions of other sources (derivative or not) or are a compilation of information from a variety of sources. Original sources can be wrong or right. The same goes for derivative sources. I once read “typed sources are derivative.” That’s not necessarily true. Marriage records from the late 1700s that are typed are an obvious transcription. A will from 1930 that is typed could very well be the original. The same of a birth certificate from 1930. Handwritten records can be […]
Announcing! Due to several requests, we’ve developed this class on using Notebook for Genealogy. Notebook for Genealogy–A Four Session Pick Your Own Problem Course With Michael John Neill Our focus is on being practical, exhibiting sound genealogy methodology, and demonstrating responsible use of Notebook (Google’s suite of AI tools) in genealogy research. This course is for those who would like guidance and suggestions in how to use Notebook and have a place to get feedback and additional direction. Course Prerequisites & Required Materials You should have digital records for one ancestor or a father-mother-children family, including every extant record available. Course Format & Zoom Sessions Class Focus & Weekly Assignments Community Discussion & Communication Important Dates Registration & Tuition Develop your AI skills today!
If your ancestor states that he is aged 60 on 2 April 1900, that doesn’t mean he was born in 1840. Someone who says he was 60 on 2 April could have: Or anywhere in between. That is assuming an age of 60 on 2 April 1900 was correct. The accuracy of his age is another story altogether.
This is not a tip about Oklahoma or phrases that rhyme. Do you track favorite sayings of your relatives–particularly those who were a part of your immediate family? Some of them might not be quite as short as “okie-dokie” which my Mother often used. There might have been ones like: These phrases can provide some insight into the person for those who never knew them. And for those of us who did know them, occasionally seeing the phrases or being reminded of them can bring back fond memories. It’s not always about preserving memories for those who will come after us. Sometimes it’s good to preserve memories for ourselves. Recording these (or other memories of our own) can be a good genealogy activity when you have tired of […]
My 3rd great-grandmother’s sister had a baby a few years before that same sister married her husband in the 1860s. Court records from the estate of the baby’s grandfather (the father of the sisters) make it clear that the grandparents raised the baby–not the baby’s father nor the baby’s mother and her subsequent husband. The child grew to adulthood and have children of her own. One researcher decided to change the child’s date of birth, the couple’s date of marriage, and the baby’s last name in order to make it appear to be the husband’s child. Report what you find, but don’t change what you locate in order to present a different story from the reality.
Unlock your family history with the power of AI! Michael John Neill’s presentation, “Genealogy Problem-Solving with Notebook,” provides a comprehensive guide to using Google’s free NotebookLM platform to revolutionize your research.The presentation is down-to-earth, practical, and…not full of AI hype and exaggeration. This session explores how genealogists can upload up to 50 diverse sources—including PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, and even audio files—to create a centralized research hub . Neill demonstrates practical applications such as analyzing 1860 census enumerations to identify family structures and migration paths, as well as synthesizing complex War of 1812 bounty land files . Participants will learn to generate high-quality outputs like family history monographs, infographics, and interactive slide decks directly from their documents. Beyond technical setup, the presentation emphasizes responsible AI use. Neill offers […]
In your quest to find genealogical information, artifacts, photographs, and the like have you reached out to living relatives? Or has your search concentrated on what is online–either in databases or trees of other researchers? You may think you have no relatives, but if you are looking for pictures or the like from your third great-grandparents, chances are that you are not the only descendant that couple has. Any of them could have information. And while it may be impractical to reach out to all of them, reaching out to some with the simple question “do you or anyone in your family have old pictures?” may be worth the effort. Everything is not online. Your may have a relative with undigitized photos just waiting to be discovered.
It’s always important to analyze genealogical information as you find it…instead of waiting until you have that big pile stacked with “exciting” discoveries. It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and sometimes overlook other discoveries or make mistakes along the way. Taking time to analyze helps to reduce the chance of making those errors. That’s one of the things we talk about in “Is Your Process the Problem?” Analyzing and comparing as we find is one of the best ways to prevent heading into an incorrect lineage, connecting people to incorrect spouses, or making other errors. Don’t wait to analyze what you’ve found.
My mother has approximately 12 years of daily calendar entries in various day planners and other similar fill-in notebooks. How to preserve them is a concern. The entries are short and usually revolve around the weather, farming, who called, who visited, and other short snippets of daily life. They are not diaries with long, detailed entries. So how to preserve them? I’ve decided to take pictures of each page instead of scanning them. I realize that scanning can create higher quality images. I also realize that I’m not reproducing photographs here. My goal is to preserve the text and taking photographs will be much faster than scanning. That makes the likelihood that I actually complete the project higher. And to me actually getting it done matters. That time […]
We’re updated and revised this presentation from years ago. Are your family history searches hitting frustrating dead ends? In Is Your Process the Problem?, professional genealogist Michael John Neill breaks down the unseen research traps—from unexamined assumptions and target “grazing” to missed source details—that keep researchers stuck. Discover how to transition from passive data gathering to active analysis—this presentation is practical, easy-to-follow, and down to earth. Whether you need to streamline your source citations or break through long-standing genealogical brick walls, this practical session will help you refine your methodology, eliminate costly research habits, and get clear results. We will look at common research pitfalls, ways to avoid those pitfalls, and a research process to provide structure to your family history searches. Genealogical breakthroughs require shifting from passive […]
From a while back: Many marriage records give no hint that one of the parties had been married before. This 1852 marriage certification gives nary a clue that the bride was a widow, over forty, and the mother of several children. Assume nothing. Lack of a “Mrs.” or “Miss” before the bride’s name usually means nothing.
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