[Genealogy] Excited about AI for Full-Text, A Forgotten Picture, Courthouse Lessons
Michael John Neill
mjnrootdig at gmail.com
Mon Oct 12 09:41:11 CDT 2026
Genealogy Update
12 October 2026
** Excited About Upcoming Using AI to Help with Full-Text Search
** Upcoming Presentations--save and order early!
** A Forgotten Picture
** Courthouse Lessons
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Excited About Upcoming Using AI to Help with Full-Text Search
-------------------------
I'm really excited about our upcoming webinar on using Ai to assist with
the full-text search functionality at FamilySearch. There are a variety of
ways one can waste time with Artificial Intelligence or use it to create a
variety of fictional materials.
That's not what we will be doing.
AI can help you with your full-text search. Can help you make certain you
are searching in a variety of ways, can help make certain you are not
leaving good search terms out of your search, and can facilitate tracking
the search process.
Scroll down in this email to learn more.
Don't Miss Our Upcoming Presentations
*prices go up after initial release*
*** Using AI to Maximize Your Full-Text Searching*
*** BLM Tract Books and 2026 Search Site Update*
*** US Local Land Records*
*** More Land Platting with AI*
*** Getting Most from US Census Records*
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Using AI to Maximize Your Full-Text Searching
-----------------------------------
Enhance your Full-Text Searching with AI!
*Using AI to Maximize Your Full-Text Searching at FamilySearch*
Are you getting the most from full-text search? Are you considering all the
options? Are you feeling overwhelmed even though you know what the purposes
of all the boxes are?
AI can help organize and structure your full-text searches at FamilySearch.
It can be used to create a customized research log to track all the various
searches you perform at the site and all you need to do is indicate the
search was performed and what the results were.
It is still important for you to know how full-text search at FamilySearch
works–you cannot effectively problem solve if you don’t–but AI can make
your full-text searches more efficient. The best use of full-text search is
using it to find as much as possible–not just the low hanging fruit that
one often finds when simply typing in a name. Could there be more that you
could find with full-text search?
We will see in this presentation how to use AI to take your use of
full-text search to the next level.
You will get the most out of this presentation if you are already familiar
with how to use full-text search.
Order a copy of the AI presentation only–release date of 18 October
2026–for $16.99
<https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=QUZM9TS8GBEVQ>
(introductory rate).
Order a copy of our other full-text search presentations:
-
Full-Text Search at FamilySearch
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2026/08/05/updated-familysearch-full-text-search-webinar/>–download
immediate
-
Full-Text Search at FamilySearch with Common Names
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2025/11/04/common-names-at-familysearch-full-text-webinar/>–download
immediate
------------------------------------
BLM Tract Books and 2026 Search Site Update
-----------------------------------
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tract Books and the 2026 BLM Land Patent
Search site update
This presentation will discuss what the BLM tract books are (they keep
track of complete and incomplete federal land transactions), how to search
them on FamilySearch–there are multiple ways (focusing on manual searches
for when the indexed do not work), what clues can be gathered from these
records, accessing additional records suggested in the tract books,
documenting your searches of these books. Also included will be a
discussion of the current iteration of the Bureau of Land Management
Federal Land Patent search site.
Presentation to be released on 18 October–$17.99
<https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=UQKGYQSX63Z3Y>
------------------------------------
US Local Land Records
-----------------------------------
*Land records have you confused? We have the answer.*
Reading the Deed Books: US Local Land Records for Genealogists
There are a lot of records your ancestor may have avoided being listed in.
But if he bought or sold land, there was a record created to document that
transfer and a copy of that record was probably made at the local court
house. Even if your ancestor never bought or sold the land he owned, he may
appear in local land records. Deeds are some of the most reliable records
we have, and genealogists overlook them all the time.
This presentation covers the land records kept at the county and town level
in the United States and the general structure and form of a deed itself
along with land record terminology. We'll talk about how the records are
usually organized, how to use grantor and grantee indexes (and what to do
when they fail you), and why the record you need might be sitting in a
parent county formed fifty years earlier. Local land records are not just
deeds, we'll look at mortgages, releases, powers of attorney, and the land
divisions that followed a death.
We'll also spend time on what a deed can tell you beyond the sale itself.
The legal phrasing often hides useful clues, and the details people skim
past, like witnesses, neighbors, or a wife releasing her dower, can point
to relatives and connections you didn't know about. We will look at
examples from a variety of US locations.
Searching these records can always be done onsite, but we will also talk
about accessing them where possible via FamilySearch (including manual
browsing and using full-text search where applicable).
You should be comfortable with basic research before signing up.
Presentation and handout included.
Receive recording only by 19 October 2026 for $15.99
<https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3M24AP7JGYQG2>
Purchase recording for delivery by 19 October 2026 and participate in a
one-time question and answers session regarding land deeds on 26 October
starting at 7:30 pm central time via zoom
<https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3M24AP7JGYQG2>
.
Michael John Neill has actively researched his genealogy forever forty
years, descends from generations of land-owning farmers, and has utilized
land records in his own research extensively during that time. He is a
former community college math instructor with a master’s degree in
mathematics.
------------------------------------
More Land Platting with AI
-----------------------------------
This session will expand on the “Metes and Bounds with AI” presentation. It
will include additional and more convoluted examples of metes and bounds
properties, discuss platting out properties in federal land states
involving sections and townships, and include an example of a metes and
bounds description in a federal land state. This session presupposes that
the listener has a basic understanding of land record terminology and knows
how to locate land deed records as those topics are not a part of this
presentation.
Release date: 15 October 2025.
Early order price: $18.99
<https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=C4JG43VE263BW>
Order includes audiovisual file and handout.
---------------------------------------------------------
Getting the Most from US Census Records
----------------------------------------------------------
This session will help you to get the most from United States census
records–covering from 1790 through 1950. We will start with what you should
do when you find any census enumeration–which is not to transcribe it. We
will highlight the questions asked, talk about using enumerator
instructions, see how to get as much from a census enumeration as possible,
determine when a census suggests other records be searched, and more.
We will cover typical errors and how those arose, concerns about
reliability of the informant (did they just guess at information?), reasons
why people lie, and more.
We will talk about research strategies for people who are difficult to
find, ways names get written and transcribed and how to formulate a census
search plan those individuals who are difficult to locate.
The presentation will last approximately ninety minutes. Purchase includes
media file and handout.
Pre-release order price is $15.99.
<https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=H4MQXGKGGXM9U>
Release date: 16 October 2026.
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A Forgotten Picture
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[image: image.png]
I had forgotten this picture even existed.
The undated picture is of Trientje (Behrens) Sartorius who was born in
Weene, Ostfriesland, Germany and died in 1926 in Quincy, Adams County,
Illinois. Ulferts was her “middle” name in a sense. It was not a middle
name in the way that people typically think of them. It actually was a
patronym based on the name of her father, Ulfert Behrens.
Trientje came to the United States as a child with her parents, married
Hinrich Sartorius, and raised her family on a farm near Golden, Adams
County, Illinois. After their children were grown, she and Hinrich spent
some time in Quincy after they retired, which is where she died. She and
Hinrich are buried in Golden.
This picture is in the possession of one of Trientje’s numerous
descendants. She and Hinrich had eleven children, nine of whom left
descendants of their own. Trientje, later anclicized to Tena, was passed
down as name to several of Trientje’s descendants, including my
great-grandmother Trientje (Janssen) Ufkes. Trientje was named for her own
grandmother, Trientje Ulferts (Claassen).
Trientje’s adult children died over quite time span–from 1913 until 1979.
As a child I can remember my mother telling me that my great-grandmother
still had an aunt living. At the time my great-grandmother seemed ancient
(she was in her early eighties and I was not quite a teenager) and the
thought she had an aunt by birth still living seemed nearly impossible to
me. It wasn’t.
Records on the children of ancestors may contain information on their
parents. The death of Trientje’s daughter over fifty years after her own
death serves to remind us that those records may have been created half a
century or more after our actual person of interest died. And those later
records could contain significantly more detail.
And you should always reach out to your distant kinfolk. They may have
pictures that you do not.
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Courthouse Lessons Learned
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[image: image.png]
*This was reprinted from the former *Ancestry Daily News–it originally ran
8 August 2000. It’s just as true today as it was then.
I recently was fortunate enough to visit two courthouses located a distance
from my home. Both experiences were good, and they brought to mind some
things worth remembering when visiting any courthouse.
*Things Might Be Misplaced*
One courthouse indicated that they had the records I wanted, but that those
particular records were in a sub-basement and were somewhat disorganized.
There had been a flood a few years earlier, and all the records were saved,
but keeping everything in the correct order played second fiddle to saving
the records from the coming water.
*Things Might Be Lost Forever*
One courthouse caught fire in the 1860s, and most of the records were
saved. Unfortunately, the defendants’ and plaintiffs’ indexes to the civil
court records didn’t make it. However, there was one partial work still
intact. The civil court order books were available, and the years each book
covered were written on the spines. Each volume was indexed by defendant
only, and this was a difficulty. A partial way to get around this would
have been to look in the individual books for the years of interest. If I
had located an interesting case, I would have had the dates that various
court actions had been undertaken for that case—and perhaps a case file
number. With the case file number, I could have accessed the correct packet
of court papers. Even with the dates of court action, I could have pulled
the boxes containing cases for that time period and manually gone through
the boxes looking for information on the specific case. This approach is
not as fast as using the defendants’ and plaintiffs’ indexes, but it is
better than nothing.
*Is It Really Gone?*
The estate record index for one potential relative in Missouri in the 1870s
indicated that the case file was empty. Darn! I was hoping for something in
the packet that might mention his children or possibly the man I thought
was his brother. Later, in looking through the index of guardianships, I
located a guardianship for his children. The file contained all the estate
settlement information on the father (inventory, accountings, list of
heirs, etc) that at one time had likely been in the “empty” file.
*Do They Speak Your Language?*
Bear in mind that the courthouse staff might not be familiar with the terms
you use. If the individual does not understand what you are talking about
at first, try describing the record. Different counties may use slightly
different names for different records, and a description may trigger a
connection to the record you need. The county might also have some type of
record you did not think to ask for. Asking for civil court records is a
good idea, but if the query is met with a blank stare, mention that you are
looking for divorces, partitions, or whatever it is you are interested in.
This may give the staff the clues they need to help you.
*Are They Familiar with the Old Records?*
Some office staff members may be more familiar with old records than their
co-workers. In other offices, no one may be familiar with the old records.
Gently ask if it is possible to view indexes or other finding aids. Some
offices may bring the indexes to you at the front counter. Others may say,
“Come on back and have a look.” It varies. I always gently say, “I see
you’re kind of busy . . . I don’t mind looking myself.” Sometimes it works
and sometimes it doesn’t, but being overbearing, demanding, and rude should
not be your first plan of attack.
*Always Ask Before You Copy*
In some offices, copying is self-serve. In others, it is not. If it is
self-serve, use care when making photocopies—some records are extremely
brittle. Find out the cost per page before making copies. Some places
charge per sheet; if that is the case, determine if you can copy two-sided
documents front and back, thus reducing your copy expense.
*They Might Have Pressing Work*
In one county, I wanted to access records from the coroner’s office. The
coroner was in, but was dealing with a fatality that had happened a few
hours earlier. I left him the information I had along with my name and
address. Obviously dealing with the fatal accident took priority over my
1921 coroner’s inquest request. Some county courts hold court every day,
and “court days” are not a problem. In smaller or more rural counties,
“court day” is busier than usual, and office staff may be dealing with the
current schedule of cases. Non-court days may be extremely slow, and if you
can find out beforehand which days these are, you may be better off—on a
“slow day” you may have an easier time getting your questions answered.
*Do Not Wear White Clothes*
At one courthouse, I was allowed into the basement where many of the older
records were kept. However, it was dusty and dirty. Dress clothes were
definitely not needed for work in this environment. Had my wife been
wearing heels, climbing around and stepping over boxes and other materials
would have been difficult. Dress as if you were going to a “work” day at a
church or school. Don’t wear anything really ratty, since the office staff
might not take you as seriously. But also don’t wear anything too “dressy,”
since it might hinder your ability to work with the older records.
*Where Can You Eat?*
One county seat I visited was in a very small town with no restaurant. This
didn’t go over very well with my wife and children. Fortunately, there was
a diner in a nearby town. Determine before making a trip if there is a
motel in the town or in a town nearby. Will you be driving thirty miles for
a chain motel? If you are used to interstate travel and a choice of motels
and eating establishments at nearly every exit, you may be in for a rude
awakening if your courthouse travel takes you into rural, isolated
territory. Juice boxes and pre-packaged food that does not melt in your car
or in your hands may “tide you over” until your research at the facility is
complete.
*Smile, Be Personable, and Make Chit-chat*
In some courthouses, you may be the only entertainment. While it’s not
necessary to put on a show, being friendly and making a certain amount of
“small talk” may significantly impact your ability to access records. In
one office, the more I made small talk, the more records the clerk happened
to mention that he had in his “personal” collection of published materials
that he happened to keep at the courthouse.
------------------
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--------------------
Webinars
--------------------
Ready-to-Go Webinars from Michael–download immediate:
-
AI as a Genealogy Consultant
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/using-ai-as-a-genealogy-consultant/>
--New!
-
Creating Children’s Stories from Genealogy Events
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/creating-childrens-stories-from-genealogy-information/>
-
Creating Families from pre-1850 Census Records
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/creating-families-from-pre-1850-census-records/>
-
DeedMapper webinars
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/deedmapper-intro-and-more-deedmapper-webinars/>
-
FamilySearch Catalog
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2026/02/19/using-the-familysearch-catalog-webinar/>
-
Farming Ancestor webinars–landowner and non-landowner versions
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/rooting-around-for-farmers-and-tenants-and-laborers/>
-
Female Ancestors
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/researching-female-ancestors/>
-
Full-Text Search at FamilySearch
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2026/08/05/updated-familysearch-full-text-search-webinar/>
-
Full-Text Search at FamilySearch with Common Names
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2025/11/04/common-names-at-familysearch-full-text-webinar/>
-
How Errors Get in Records
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/how-errors-get-in-records-webinar/>
-
Illinois Genealogy Research
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2026/03/10/genealogy-research-in-illinois-webinar/>
-
Metes and Bounds With AI–platting and analysis
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/using-ai-for-metes-and-bounds-deed-analysis/>
-
Unburying Funeral Home Records
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/unburying-funeral-home-records/>
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Michael John Neill
Genealogy Tip of the Day
PO Box 17
Henderson, IL 61439
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