Like my photo that I used for this post?
It was generated by ChatGPT! I told it that I wanted an image of a female genealogist researching on her computer with a thought bubble of what she was thinking. I wanted her to be imagining her 1840 ancestor plowing in his field by his cabin. After a few tweaks, that is what I got! So much fun to play with. 🙂
Now for the real reason for this post! I wanted to show you how to try out the FamilySearch.org’s Full Text Search capabilities that have been out for about a year. I’d like to also show you how I ask AI to create summaries to help me understand the document I am reading.
Let’s get started!
I am researching my ancestor, Isaac Gramling, who came to Indiana in 1849 and wanted to see what records I might find for him using FamilySearch Full Text Search.
Below is the screenshot after I logged into FamilySearch.org and clicked on the FamilySearch logo on the top left to make sure I had the home page. The FamilySearch Labs on the bottom right hand of the screen is what you should try out (Turquoise box). Click on “View Experiments.”
See the circled block below?
The yellow circled area is where you will want to go in order to search the available collections of hand written documents. If you have never used Full Text Search, then your button will say, “TRY IT.” Go ahead and click on that.
Here is where the fun begins.
Below is a screenshot showing the top of the page that you will see. Isaac Gramling is the ancestor that I am interested in learning about so I typed his name in quotation marks. Adding quotation marks forces the filter to look only for names that match the name as typed. From some previous research, I had noted that he had moved from Starke County, Ohio to Indiana in 1849 and I wondered how long he might have been in Ohio.
Yes! Lots of Results.
Below is another screenshot showing the first three things that listed in the Search Results. In this case, I believe that Isaac Gramling is a unique name so all the results are for my ancestor. (happy dance!)
Most times, this is NOT the case so I usually have to click on the filters to zoom into the area I would like to focus on. I could have clicked on “Place”, then “United States of America”, then “Ohio”, and finally, “Starke County.” This would exclude all the results except for Starke County, Ohio. (Note: the Filters are in the upper left hand of the screen under the words, “Results (42).”)
Now let’s see what this document looks like.
Below is the screen that comes up next. Notice the transcription of the entire document is showing on the right hand side of the screen and the words, “Full Text” are highlighted above the transcription. In order to get the Image Group number information, you will need to click on “Group Data” right next to “Full Text.” (See the next screenshot)
Just remember that the transcription runs from the left side of the document to the right hand side. In this case, the transcription includes two different pages and they are NOT related. So I had to scroll down until I found the beginning of the 2nd page. This is where I began to copy the transcription for the right hand side of document. (Click and hold the mouse while moving the cursor down to the end of the document! Right click with the mouse and choose COPY.)
FamilySearch.org / Image Group Number 008331238, Stark Co., OH Deeds 1842-1897, Mortgage Record Volume #29 , Image 519 of 734, pg 231.
You can click HERE to see this exact page in FamilySearch.org (but you have to be logged into FamilySearch first!)
We’re not finished without the Citation.
The citation came from the “Group Data” option and below you can see what it will look like on the right hand side of the screen. If you want to go back to the Full Text transcription, just click on that option. In order to get the citation and be able to come back to this exact screen, I usually write down all this data (as shown above.)
Can’t understand what it says? Let’s ask AI for help.
Now let’s add it into Claude.ai (or ChatGPT, doesn’t matter) to get an idea of what is actually going on in this document. You will need to set up an account first in order to get started!
I tried out Claude.ai and here are the results! First I gave it some instructions and then copied the part of the transcription from FamilySearch that applied to my document and pasted it into Claude (2nd paragraph below).
Below are the two things that I typed and/or pasted:
You are a professional genealogist. I would like a summary of the following 1843 Starke County, Ohio transaction.
In consideration of the sum of ninety five Dollars in hand paid by William M. Klippard I have bargained and sold , and do hereby sell and convey to said Wm M. Klipportthe goods and chattels mentioned in the Schedule hereunto annexed . In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of January A.D. 1843 . Isaac Granding Possession of said goods delivered by Isaac Gramling to William M. Klippert by the delivery to said William M. Klippert of one mantle clock in the name of the name of the whole in my presence David Bower ┃ Schedule of property referred to in the above bill of sale one yoke of Oxen , one Wagon , one plow , one harrow three cows , thirteen head of sheep , and six acres of wheat in the ground , one Bearow & the above mantle — clock one grind stone , two log chains , six chairs and one lot of bords & plank at Hildebetes Mill — Provided always and these presents are upon this condition , that whereas the said Isaac Gramling is indebted to the said William M. Klippert in the sum of ninety five dollars payable on the 28th day of January in the year 1843 , with interest from date for one year by note of even date herewith the said W. M. Klippert served his apprenticeship with said Gramling for the term of three years by contract at three dollars per month & on settlement said Gramling was due him said $ 95 , 00 , Now if the said Isaac shall punctually pay said sum of money with the interest when the same shall become due then this conveyance to be void , otherwise to be in full force the said Isaac Gramling is to retain possess ion of said property until said debt becomes due and upon default of payment of said money shall redeliver the said property to the said William M Kleppert The State of Ohio ⎬ Stark County ⎬ Before me Adam Kimmel a Justice of in and for said County personally appeared the above named Isaac Gramling & acknowl edged the signing & Sealing of the above mortgage to be his Voluntary act and deed , this 28th day of January A.D. 1843 . Recd Jany 28. 1843 at 12 M Adam Kimmell ┃ Recorded same day S. P. Arnold Lynch Recorder ℗
Be prepared to be amazed!
Below is the summary that was produced almost instantly. I have to admit that I struggle to understand legal terms so it has been really helpful to run some of the legal documents through AI. The Summary was performed by Claude 3.7 Sonnet on 4/3/2025.
1843 Starke County, Ohio Transaction Summary
This document describes a mortgage agreement (structured as a bill of sale with redemption rights) from January 28, 1843, with the following key details:
Parties Involved:
- Seller/Mortgagor: Isaac Gramling (also written as “Granding” in one instance)
- Buyer/Mortgagee: William M. Klippard (also written as “Klippert” and “Kleppert”)
- Witness: David Bower
- Justice: Adam Kimmel (also written as “Kimmell”)
- Recorder: S.P. Arnold Lynch
Transaction Type:
This is a conditional bill of sale functioning as a mortgage. Isaac Gramling sells property to William Klippard for $95, but Gramling keeps possession of the property with the right to void the sale by repaying the debt when due.
Property Transferred:
- One yoke of oxen
- One wagon
- One plow
- One harrow
- Three cows
- Thirteen sheep
- Six acres of wheat “in the ground”
- One “Bearow” (bureau/chest of drawers)
- One mantle clock (specifically used for symbolic delivery)
- One grindstone
- Two log chains
- Six chairs
- Lumber (“lot of bords & plank”) at Hildebetes Mill
Terms:
- Amount: $95.00 plus interest for one year
- Due Date: January 28, 1843 (same day as the document, suggesting it might be immediately due or there’s a clerical error)
- Origin of Debt: William Klippard served a 3-year apprenticeship with Gramling at $3 per month, and upon settlement, Gramling owed him $95
- Possession: Gramling retained possession until the debt became due
- Default Provision: Property to be delivered to Klippard if payment is not made
Recording Information:
- Acknowledged before Justice Adam Kimmel/Kimmell on January 28, 1843
- Received and recorded by S.P. Arnold Lynch, Recorder, on January 28, 1843 at 12 noon
This transaction represents a common 19th-century practice where a bill of sale with redemption rights was used as a form of secured lending, functioning similarly to what we would now call a chattel mortgage.
My Thoughts.
In the search results, I also found Isaac Gramling listed as an heir in his father’s will, located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Because I hadn’t added any filters at all and his name was unique, I found quite a few deeds in Starke County, Ohio and Berks County, Pennsylvania, where his family had lived.
This has been such a big help to me. I’ve read a lot of deeds over the years, but there are certain wordings that I just don’t fully understand. This is where I can use all the tools available to help.
I’d love to hear if you give this a try and especially if you find something exciting!
