19 December 2023

Accentuate the Positive 2023

Geneameme 2023 - front image on book generated using Microsoft co-pilot,
book image and text added in Photofunia

Each year Jill, GeniAus puts out an invitation to bloggers to Accentuate the Positive in the form of a geneameme that provides a range of prompts to reflect on our year in genealogy, and celebrate our successes. 
Below is my response to some of the prompts followed by ChatGPTs modification of my words.

1. On re-reading my mother's memoir I discovered some forgotten details.

2. In 2023 I reconnected with a living cousin when he emailed me to thank me for the research done on my mother's paternal line.

3. I'm pleased I replaced Twitter for genealogical discussion with Mastodon the social tool that is open source, has no advertising and a growing body of family history and genealogy users.

4. I was pleased that I finally purchased and read Your DNA guide by Diahan Southard

5. I enjoyed my journey to South Australia to visit five of my siblings in March 2023 not only for the opportunity to catch up with them but also to record some of the events in their lives for future generations.

6. I am pleased that I have been a member of Queensland Family History Society, receiving their newsletters and updates as well as having access to their online programs and data. This has helped me get an overview of ideas for our local group.

7. I made several DNA discoveries thanks to two siblings who tested and gave me control of their test results. These tests revealed connections with higher matches than showed in my matches list and thus enabled me to determine the correct lineages from sets of 2x gt-grandparents solving a couple of longstanding genealogical mysteries.

8. An informative Facebook group I have joined is We Are [enjoying our family histories] and while I have not yet committed to spending more on genealogy it is very interesting to see the development of this software with the ability to integrate blog posts with dynamic family trees, media and much more.

9.. Trove has helped me follow many marriages and deaths of descendants of my 2x gt-grandparents overcoming challenges such as missing records and gaps in historical data.

10. AI was new to me but I learnt so much from reading, experimenting and from presentations given by Andrew Redfern and Carole McCulloch.

11. The best value I got for my genealogy dollars was my membership of Genealogy South Australia.

12. It felt good to contribute to our local group by providing some classes and some technical expertise. I was pleased to be recognised outside the group by being asked to present sessions on a couple of topics for three different genealogical societies this year.

13. It was wonderful to catch up with genimates Pauleen and Fran for a recent lunch.

14. I wouldn't be without my Canon flatbed scanner as I continue to digitise documents and photos relevant to our lives and those of our ancestors.

15. I rewrote and updated some stories about our O'Dea ancestors who arrived in South Australia in 1854. This was distributed via email as a pdf attachment for close relatives.

16. I got a thrill from opening someone's eyes to the potential of using a variety of technology tools for genealogical purposes.

17. Another positive I would like to share is the continuing satisfaction I get from pursuing our families shared histories.



I asked ChatGPT to use the above text with the prompt acting as a professional genealogy blogger summarise my year
Here's the response: 

Genealogy Blogger Year in Review: A Journey of Rediscovery and Connection

As the year draws to a close, reflecting upon my genealogical journey in 2023 brings a wave of satisfaction and meaningful connections. Here's a summary of the highlights and discoveries that defined my year:

1. Rediscovering Family Narratives:
Revisiting my mother's memoir proved to be a treasure trove, unearthing forgotten details and enriching my understanding of our family history.

2. Reconnection through Research:
An unexpected email from a living cousin expressing gratitude for my research on my mother's paternal line led to a heartwarming reconnection, highlighting the power of shared family narratives.

3. Embracing Mastodon for Genealogical Discourse:
Replacing Twitter with Mastodon for genealogical discussions brought a sense of community. The open-source platform, free of advertisements, facilitated engaging conversations with a growing community of family history enthusiasts.

4. Empowering DNA Research:
Reading "Your DNA Guide" by Diahan Southard proved to be a pivotal moment, empowering me with insights that enhanced my DNA research capabilities.

5. Journey to South Australia:

March 2023 marked a memorable journey to South Australia, not only for the joy of reuniting with five siblings but also for recording significant events in their lives for future generations.

6. Queensland Family History Society Membership:
Being a member of the Queensland Family History Society provided valuable insights, newsletters, and access to online programs, shaping ideas for our local genealogical group.

7. DNA Discoveries:
Taking control of my siblings' DNA test results led to several breakthroughs, unravelling mysteries and connecting with distant relatives, enriching our family tree.

8. Exploring Innovative Genealogy Software:
Participation in the Facebook group "We Are [enjoying our family histories]" introduced me to innovative genealogy software, sparking interest in the evolving landscape of tools that integrate blog posts, dynamic family trees, and media.

9. Trove Triumphs:
Trove played a crucial role in overcoming challenges, helping trace marriages and deaths of descendants by bridging gaps in historical data.

10. AI Exploration:
Venturing into the realm of AI for genealogical purposes, learning from experts like Andrew Redfern and Carole McCulloch, opened new dimensions of understanding and application.

11. Value in Genealogical Memberships:
The most rewarding investment proved to be my membership with Genealogy South Australia, offering unparalleled value for my genealogy endeavours.

12. Contributing to the Local Genealogical Community:
Sharing expertise through classes and technical contributions to the local group not only felt fulfilling but also led to invitations to present sessions for three different genealogical societies.

13. Memorable Gatherings:

Lunch meetings with genimates Pauleen and Fran added a personal touch to the genealogical journey, creating lasting memories.

14. Essential Tools:
The Canon flatbed scanner remained an indispensable tool, facilitating the digitization of documents and photos vital to preserving our family's history.

15. Sharing Ancestral Stories:
Rewriting and updating stories about our O'Dea ancestors, distributed via email with PDF attachments for close relatives, ensured the preservation and dissemination of our shared history.

16. Inspiring Others:
The joy of opening someone's eyes to the potential of technology tools for genealogical purposes was a gratifying experience, fostering a sense of community and shared exploration.

17. Continuing Satisfaction:
Above all, the continuing satisfaction derived from delving into our family's shared histories remains the driving force, reaffirming the profound importance of preserving and celebrating our roots.


Back to my own words: ChatGPT is quite wordy and suggests more than one lunch with genimates, but can be used to improve some of my blog posts, or make suggestions for individual sentences. I would definitely take out some of its excessive use of adjectives. The headings certainly make for easier reading. 

How have your experiences been with ChatGPT or other AI tools?

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

20 August 2023

From Castlepollard to Adelaide

John Smyth : A great-grand uncle

A renowned speaker and gifted administrator who died young - John Smyth.

Early years
In December of 1824 near Castlepollard in County Westmeath, Ireland, John was born to the Catholic couple Francis Smyth and Mary McCormick. His birth marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would touch the lives of many.

He attended Mr. Brady's Classical School in Cavan during his early years.(1) By the time he was 17,  eight younger siblings had been born; Anne, Thomas, Mary, James, Michael, Biddy, Francis, and Margaret. Edward, his older brother, had been born in 1823, a year before John.

Education for the priesthood
In 1846 at age 22, John entered the Diocesan Seminary of Navan in Meath. After a year’s study he went to the College of the Propaganda in Rome and was ordained as a priest on June 10, 1852.(2)
His ordination marked a pivotal moment in his life and that of his brothers, Edward, Thomas and James. 

Immigration
John was recruited by Bishop Murphy to serve in the diocese of Adelaide many thousands of miles from his home and family. John arrived in Melbourne in April 1853 (3)with another young priest Peter Hughes and then took the ship “Chilian” to Adelaide which berthed in May just a few weeks later. (4) Just 2 weeks after arriving in Adelaide, both John and Peter are listed as attending a levee held by the Lieutenant Governor to celebrate Her Majesty's birthday.(5)

A working life
Evidence of early effective speech making is afforded in this report of a fund raising function for St Francis Xavier's Cathedral. (6) John spent most of his career in Adelaide as he was appointed Administrator for the diocese. In his subsequent role as Vicar General, he managed the clergy and the business affairs of the church. He often travelled to the country areas, laying foundation stones for new churches, or preaching at the opening of these new churches. 

 Very Rev. John Smyth (Vicar General); seated on the left in the front row next to the
Rt. Rev. Bishop Laurence Bonaventure Sheil. https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+11338


John's elder brother Edward arrived in the colony in 1859 followed by younger brother Thomas and then James in 1864.  In 1865 John laid the foundation stone for St Benedict's Church at Pinkerton's Plains within the neighbourhood where his brothers farmed. (7)

In 1869 the priests of the diocese expressed their thanks to John for his thoughtful and effective administration of the diocese in the two year absence of the Bishop. He was presented with a gold snuff box containing 50 sovereigns along with a written testimonial.  (8)

By 1870 John expressed hope for leave to visit his mother in Ireland after news of his father's death earlier that year. Alas he fell ill, perhaps it was the constant pressure of work. After three months of poor health he died on 30 June 1870.  (9)  

Extensive obituaries appeared in the newspapers of the day extolling his virtues and the sense of loss that the colony had suffered. (10)  A lengthy funeral procession followed.(11) (12)

Tributes
"His people, who mourned him so, built in his memory the mortuary chapel in the cemetery, in the vault of which his remains rest." (13)
Smyth Memorial Chapel, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide
https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/heritage-places/west-terrace-cemetery-john-smyth-memorial-chapel-west-terrace-adelaide/

 In 1885 George Loyau wrote of John Smyth that "as a preacher and platform orator he possessed an amount of eloquence and earnestness that were always effective."(14)

John Smyth's story summarised briefly here, was one of devotion, a life dedicated to serving God and his fellow human beings.


REFERENCE LIST

Early years and from Navan to Rome
(1) 1870 'DEATH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC VICAR-GENERAL.', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 30 June, p. 2 Edition: LATE EDITION,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196732180 

(2)  1906 Byrne, Monsignor F., History of the Catholic Church in South Australia, Archive CD Books p.83

Arrival in Melbourne
(3) 1853 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 18 April, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4791740 

Arrival SA
(4)  1853 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 7 May, p. 2.  , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38463395 

Attendance at Levee
(5)  1853 'HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 25 May, p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38463456 

Fundraising for building of cathedral
(6) 1854 'PORT ELLIOT AND WELLINGTON.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 31 January, p. 3.   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48550830 

Laying foundation stone at St Benedict’s, Pinkerton Plains
 (7) 1865 'PORT ADELAIDE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27.', Adelaide Observer (SA: 1843 - 1904), 30 September, p. 5.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159498126 

Presentation recognising service as Administrator and Vicar General
 (8) 1869 'PRESENTATION TO THE VERY REV. JOHN SMYTH.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 12 January, p. 3.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31985687

Death
 (9) 1870 'DEATH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC VICAR-GENERAL.', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 30 June, p. 2. (LATE EDITION), https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196732180/22384727  
 
 (10) 1870 'Family Notices', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 30 June, p. 2. (LATE EDITION), viewed 19 Aug 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196732172 

Funeral
(11) 1870 'Advertising', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 30 June, p. 2. (LATE EDITION), viewed 19 Aug 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196732182 

(12) 1870 'FUNERAL OF THE LATE R.C. VICAR GENERAL.', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 4 July, p. 2. (LATE EDITION), http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196732288 

Recollections
 (13)  1923 'Very Rev. John Smyth, D.D., V.G.', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 26 October, p. 4. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167743817

(14)  Loyau, George E.. Notable South Australians; Or, Colonists, Past and Present. Australia: Carey, Page & Company, Printers, 1885. P 234-235  Available Google books

Genealogy Snapshot

Name: John Smyth
Parents: Francis Smyth and Mary McCormick

Relationship to Carmel: Great-grand uncle, brother to Gt Grandfather Edward Smyth
  1. Gt. Grandfather: Edward Smyth
  2. Paternal Grandmother: Elizabeth Smyth
  3. Father: Edward Horgan
  4. Carmel
This post first appeared on https://earlieryears.blogspot.com/

27 June 2023

Ten years ago

Finally at rest. 

10 years ago at age 101, our mother closed her eyes on 27 June 2013 for the last time. 

Two of her seven living children were by her side. Days later we all gathered for her final farewell.

From Ngallo to Hamley Bridge, Alma to Bumbunga, “Pine Creek” Linwood, Tarlee and Riverton, her years were lived on farms and in small rural towns in South Australia.

Toasty warm fires yielded fluffy sponges, fruity cakes and sometimes sticky toffee treats for fetes.  
Bubbling pans of fruit produced tasty jams and preserves.
Steaming coppers and weighty irons produced wrinkle free clothes.
Busy hands patched hole ridden clothes and sheets. Sock darning filled any spare moments.
Late night dressmaking clothed her daughters. Men’s work clothes were mended, patched and repatched, shirt collars turned.

Such were the everyday tasks of our busy mother. Later years brought modern appliances, conveniences and leisure time to fill with hobbies and enjoy the grandchildren.

Throughout the years, those both lean and plentiful, my parents were sustained by their faith.
Mum, we miss you and are grateful for all you did for us.

Memorial card for Hannah Horgan


This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

26 May 2023

No longer Doubting Thomas

Chart demonstrating some O'Dea DNA relationships

At the end of April 2023 I was still unsure if I had the correct Thomas O'Dea as the son of my gt -gt. grandparents Patrick and Mary O'Dea who arrived in South Australia in 1854.

Now through the wonders of DNA I have confirmed this connection through not just the two DNA matches found with his descendants through Ancestry, but also another one found through MyHeritage. 

The diagram above was created in  Word using the hierarchy SmartArt feature to demonstrate the relationship of some of my DNA matches to myself. I found this video by Julie Cahill Tarr useful.

The black labels at the side down to 3rd cousin level indicate relationships across each line. 

The last two black labels indicate relationship to me.  DNA match 1 and DNA match 4 are indeed 4th cousins to each other, but they are my 3rd cousins once removed, meaning they are one generation away from me.

Whilst on the subject of DNA matches I see MyHeritage has some new "Theory of Relativity" matches. There they use existing family trees to suggest the way matches may exist. I have managed to confirm a few of these matches but several rely on an incorrect identification of my mother's grandmother. Some indeed are just "theories."
With a wide range of DNA tools available to the researcher it is indeed an interesting time to further extend one's family tree.

MyHeritage now displays that I have 879 people in my family tree who have a common ancestor and hence share DNA with me. Of these 879 just a few have taken DNA tests.

MyHeritage chart


This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

5 May 2023

Sugar, coal and coast

The long road north
After 42 years since a last trip north there was much to see on the route Rockhampton to Mackay. No more putting hands on the windscreen to avoid the stone chips that flew into us all those years ago. Now a decent highway with B-Doubles by the dozens, the road freight trains that substitute for Australia’s lack of adequate train networks.

Our first stop after passing through rugged cattle country with few signs of habitation along the way, was at the Waverley creek rest area. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere but specifically 170km from Rockhampton, still 160km distant from  Mackay this is a well cared for and much needed roadside stop in a long stretch. We were easily amused seeing these promotional icons outside the hotel Koumala.





ST LAWRENCE
Further along a short turn off the highway saw us in St Lawrence. A small community with some interesting older buildings.
A beautifully maintained Isaac Shire Council building



A view of times past and present - general store






Clairview is on the water, further up the coast and here we saw colourful conveniences. The community appears to be about 90 houses spread along the foreshore with many large sheds for boats and fishing gear.





Before Sarina we turned off the highway hoping to see Hay Point, the huge bulk coal port. The outlook is closed but from various spots along the road we could see the lengthy coal trains pulling in to the gigantic loaders. We counted at least 24 bulk carriers standing out to sea.

Approaching Sarina sugar canefields appear. The mill dominates the town. Travelling north of there any flat land is covered in kilometres of waving sugar cane.

Walking in central Mackay I managed yet again to put my thumb in front of the camera when photographing one of the bridges that cross the Pioneer river.



At Slade Point, we had fabulous views from Lambert’s Lookout, 360° out to the Whitsundays and south to Hay Point.

To complete the day we visited Mackay Harbour and Marina dominated by a giant breakwater wall and marina accomodation towers. The hundreds of huge catamarans and others in marina indicate the wealth of this area and its reliance on the tourist trade. 
 

24 April 2023

Doubting Thomas



No, not the biblical Thomas, he who had doubts. 

My doubts centre around Thomas O’Dea. 

He was a brother of my gt grandfather John who arrived in South Australia with his parents Patrick and Mary on the ship Time and Truth in 1854. On the passenger list, Thomas’ age is given as 21 which provides a birth estimate of 1833 or 32 depending on the date on which the list was assembled..
His brother John was listed as 19 and sisters Mary 17 and Margaret 8. 

I have plenty of DNA matches down the descendant lines from John, Mary and Margaret but at this stage none that I can identify as descendants of Thomas. Perhaps I have the wrong Thomas in my tree. Could it simply be that none of his descendants have taken a DNA test? Probably not. 

Back to the drawing board to investigate several of the other Thomas O’Deas who were in South Australia in the same period.

But which Thomas O’Dea is he? 

First step, I eliminated all the Thomas O'Deas who did not have a Patrick listed as father.
I eliminated those who were born too early or far too late to fit  a five year time frame of birth from 1829 - 1834 given that ages were often indeterminate on shipping, marriage and death records.
From 25 Thomas O'Deas  in South Australia, I was now down to a list of three.

First on the list is a Thomas O'Dea of Canowie who in 1881 was returning to his farm from Jamestown when he fell out of his cart and was killed. (1) He was listed as being 52 years old and married. This would put his birth about 1929. Reading other articles about the O'Deas at Canowie, three brothers are listed on adjacent farms, Patrick and John being the other brothers. 
Our Thomas did not have a brother Patrick and I know for certain that his brother John was living at Pinkerton Plains much further to the south.

The second Thomas under consideration died at the age of 45 in Adelaide in 1874. He was not married., and the land title later in this post eliminates him from consideration.

I am left with Thomas O'Dea who died in 1914.
This Thomas O’Dea married Bridget Hill in Kapunda on 4 November 1856 where Thomas was listed as age 24 with his bride 18. 

His obituary in 1914 records:

Mr. Thomas O'Dea, sen., an old resident farmer of the Terowie district, died recently at the age of 85 years. The deceased was born in Clare, Ireland, and arrived in South Australia about 60 years ago. From Bagot's Station he went to Pinkerton and Alma Plains, and engaged in farming operations. Thirty-seven years ago he took up land near Terowie, and later removed to Nackara, where he stayed until the death of his wife, 11 years ago, when he returned to Terowie and lived with his daughter (Mrs. T. O'Dea). About eight months ago he had an attack of paralysis, and had been an invalid ever since. Four sons and five daughters survive. (2)
  • The Pinkerton Plains beginnings fit as his brother John moved there with his wife just after their marriage in 1863.
  • Being in the colony for 60 years also fits the 1854 arrival.
  • Age at death - 85, a small discrepancy. I have been unable to locate a birth record for him in County Clare.
  • This land title places Patrick with his sons Thomas and John on a block of land of 81 acres, numbered 300 in the Hundred of Mudla Wirra in 1864. (Pinkerton Plains)



Further down the land title gt gt grandfather Patrick is listed as having died in June or July of 1867. 

According to the 1914 obituary above,  Thomas moved to Terowie with his wife Bridget and their growing brood of children about 1877. At that stage his brother John already had 5 children too, so more land would have been needed to support the growing families.  The last 4 children born to Bridget and Thomas have Terowie as their birth location, so perhaps the move was made in 1875.

The children of Thomas O'Dea and Bridget Hill

  1. Margaret 1858 - 1938 married (another) Thomas O'Dea in 1878
  2. Catherine Therese 1862 -1936 married Thomas Gabriel Fogarty in 1886
  3. Bridget Rose 1864 -1918 married John Stephen Eddy in 1889
  4. Patrick Henry 1867 - 1902 married Catherine Hegarty in 1891
  5. Ellen  1869 - 1947 married Thomas O'Connell in 1890
  6. Mary Anne 1871 - 1872
  7. John 1873 -1923
  8. Thomas Gerald 1875 - 1926 married Florence Lawn in 1911
  9. Martin Vincent 1877 - 1935 married Esther Ruth in 1906
  10. Frances Alice 1880 -1964 married William Edward Wilson in 1904
  11. Michael Joseph  1883 - 1938
Their mother Bridget, Thomas’ wife died in 1902. 
O'DEA.—On 8th September, 1902, at Terowie, Bridget O'Dea, wife of Thomas O'Dea, near Nackara, aged 64 years—fortified by the last Holy Sacraments. R.I.P  (3)

If you are a descendant of any of the above mentioned and have taken a DNA test, I would be delighted to hear from you. Perhaps you may be a 3rd cousin if I have indeed identified the correct Thomas O'Dea. 

I have a condensed list of descendants with the names of any of the living removed for privacy if you are a descendant of this couple I am happy to share the information. Any errors are mine and I await correction by a diligent researcher.

I hope to have a DNA connection on this line to confirm whether I have identified the correct Thomas O’Dea. My contact details can be found on the About page.


1. 1881 'JAMESTOWN, March 10.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 11 March, p. 6. , viewed 23 Apr 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43166366

2. 1914 'CONCERNING PEOPLE.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 20 May, p. 10. , viewed 23 Apr 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59400255

3.  1902 'Family Notices', Petersburg Times (SA : 1887 - 1919), 12 September, p. 2. , viewed 23 Apr 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124971283


This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

19 April 2023

Using AI on a wedding report

I recently read this most interesting article by Steve Little about extracting details from text using AI https://asheancestors.org/2023/03/20/ai-and-genealogy-using-chatgpt-to-glean-info-from-obits-articles-and-announcements/

I copied Steve’s instructions then added the text from a marriage report found in Trove. 

Thomas William Meaney in this report lived from 1895 until 1957. His marriage to Nora Silvy as detailed below took place on the 7 August 1929. He is my second cousin once removed. Thomas and Nora are buried in the St John’s cemetery in South Australia.

Instructions to ChatGPT

Assume the role of an expert, professional genealogist. Consider the genealogically relevant information that might appear in a wedding announcement. Below is the OCR text (correct for spelling) of an announcement. I would like to know about the stated relationships between people in the text. When you can with certainty, state the relationship between two people in the article. in a markdown table use the form PERSON ONE : PERSON TWO : RELATIONSHIP : INFORMATION. (Where INFORMATION is the quoted text in the article describing the relationship between the two people.

At St. Rose's Church, Kapunda, the wedding was celebrated of Miss Nora Silvy, third daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. J. Silvy, and Mr. Thomas Meaney, eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Meaney, of Freeling. The bride, who entered the church on the arm of Mr. William Silvy, her eldest brother, wore a frock of white crepe de chine trimmed with silver lace, her veil was worn cap fashion, trimmed with orange blossom, and she carried a bouquet of white and pink flowers with white streamers. Miss Mary Meaney (niece of the bride) was bridesmaid in a blue crepe de chine frock, with silver buckle, and posy on shoulder. She wore a silver head band, and carried a bouquet of blue and pink flowers and blue streamers. Father Bede officiated, and also played the wedding march. Mr. Lawrence Silvy (brother of the bride was best man. Mrs. Silvy (mother of the bride) wore a black coat and skirt with black hat to match. The bride and bridegroom left the church for the residence of the bride's sister (Mrs. J. Meaney) where the wedding breakfast was held. The toast of the bride, bridegroom, and bridesmaid and best man was proposed by Mr. N. Roberts, and the cake was cut by the bridegroom left the church for the residence of the bride's sister (Mrs. J. Meaney) where the wedding breakfast was held. The toast of the bride, bridegroom, and bridesmaid and best man was proposed by Mr. N. Roberts, and the cake was cut by the bride.

ChatGPT output

Person One

Person Two

Relationship

Information

Nora Silvy

J. Silvy (father)

Daughter

"Miss Nora Silvy, third daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. J. Silvy"

Nora Silvy

Mrs. Silvy (mother)

Daughter

"Miss Nora Silvy, third daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. J. Silvy"

Thomas Meaney

John Meaney (father)

Son

"Mr. Thomas Meaney, eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Meaney"

Thomas Meaney

Mrs. John Meaney (mother)

Son

"Mr. Thomas Meaney, eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Meaney"

William Silvy

Nora Silvy

Brother

"The bride, who entered the church on the arm of Mr. William Silvy, her eldest brother"

Mary Meaney

Nora Silvy

Niece

"Miss Mary Meaney (niece of the bride) was bridesmaid"

Lawrence Silvy

Nora Silvy

Brother

"Mr. Lawrence Silvy (brother of the bride was best man)"

J. Meaney

Nora Silvy

Sister-in-law

"The bride and bridegroom left the church for the residence of the bride's sister (Mrs. J. Meaney)"

From the given text, we can determine the following relationships:

  • Nora Silvy is the daughter of J. Silvy and Mrs. Silvy.
  • Thomas Meaney is the son of John Meaney and Mrs. John Meaney.
  • William Silvy is the eldest brother of Nora Silvy.
  • Mary Meaney is the niece of Nora Silvy.
  • Lawrence Silvy is the brother of Nora Silvy.
  • J. Meaney is the sister-in-law of Nora Silvy, as she is the wife of Nora's brother Thomas Meaney.

My thoughts

 The results clearly explain the relationships between the folks listed, however the text in red is an incorrect interpretation as the information highlighted in the table clearly states that Mrs J Meaney is the bride’s sister.

This was an interesting exercise for me but a reminder for me too, to always check the output of any AI tool or indeed any genealogical source. 

With AI tools already being used by the large genealogical record companies, it will indeed be interesting to observe how AI tools find their way into the everyday family historian’s toolbox. 

Gravestone of Thomas and Nora Meaney


This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

25 March 2023

Visiting siblings and Polish Hill

I've spent the last week focusing on my living relatives in South Australia rather than my ancestors or those who have passed away. It's been a pleasure to be in their company and catch up on their news as we all get older. 

On the side, there's always room for a little genealogy and history. 

Last Saturday, one of my sisters and I went to the Polish Hill Church Museum, which is not far from Sevenhill. 





Yes, there is a connection along the way to one of those Polish Catholic families who had migrated to Australia from the 1850s on. The community became known as Polish Hill where a small church was erected and the families gathered. The small church and museum have been carefully restored by the Polish community in South Australia and an excellent exhibition has been curated therein.

A report in the Northern Argus in 1893 recalls:

 Some years ago the country known as the head of Hill River, which lies between Sevenhills and Mintaro, was chiefly occupied by Polish farmers. These men did herculean work, clearing their holdings of much of the heavy timber, and utilising the land by cereal culture. Owing to the uneven nature of the country it was not well adapted for profitable wheat growing, and one after another sold out and went to fresh fields 1.

Another wave of Polish settlers arrived in South Australia after World War II and thanks to the descendants of those and the descendants of the earlier settlers this small building has been restored and  maintained.

A very large, heavy wooden set of Rosary beads
hang on the pew at the front of the chapel.

The site of the village now houses the premises of Hill River Estate Winery.

1.  1893 'No title', Northern Argus (Clare, SA : 1869 - 1954), 22 December, p. 2. , viewed 22 Mar 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97323395


This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

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