Using AI to Transcribe Old Wills
Using AI tools can help genealogists with their research and make the most painstaking and meticulous of tasks more efficient. Consider, for example, transcribing an eighteenth century last will and testament containing archaic spelling and phrasing, and the legal terminology of the time. Not an easy process, especially when the document is written without much punctuation in handwriting that is difficult to decipher and features old-fashioned letter formations and abbreviations.
This article describes how ChatGPT was used to help transcribe the 18th-century will of Joseph Elderfield, a Yeoman from East Garston in Berkshire, which was written in 1791.
Deciphering Handwriting
The first step was to explain what was required and that an image of the will could not be uploaded. ChatGPT suggested the following option:
- Option 1: Type what could be deciphered
- Option 2: Describe the layout
- Option 3: ChatGPT provides a template to compare the content against
Having selected option 3, answers to the following questions were then provided as much as possible:
- Does it begin with “In the Name of God Amen” or something similar?
- Does it mention burial wishes or skip straight to bequests?
- Who is named as executor or beneficiary?
- Does it include land (real estate) or only personal goods?
- How many witnesses are listed at the end?
With this information, ChatGPT created the following template.
In the name of God, Amen. I, Joseph Elderfield of East Garston do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following.
First, I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping through the merits, death, and passion of my Savior Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life. And my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named. And as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in his mercy hath lent me, my will and meaning is the same shall be employed and bestowed as hereinafter by this my will is expressed.
Item, I give and bequeath unto [name/relationship] the sum of [amount in words] pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto [him/her] by my executors hereinafter named within [number] months next after my decease.
Item, I give and bequeath unto [name/relationship] all my [specified items or property] to [him/her] and [his/her] heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto [name/relationship] the sum of [amount in words] pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid to [him/her] at the age of [number] years or on the day of [his/her] marriage, which shall first happen.
And I do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint [names] to be executors of this my last will and testament, and do revoke and make void all former wills by me heretofore made.
This template became the base for analysing the will in sections. ChatGPT’s suggestions were applied to the handwriting and passages that had been deciphered were entered back into the chat so that it was able to keep a record of the text so far transcribed.
Line by line, the contents of the will were deciphered, often through a conversation with ChatGPT like this to identify individual words:
We think it is, “In the name of God, Amen. Joseph Elderfield of East Garston in the county of Berks Yeoman being of sound mind {word 1} and understanding God be praised do make and ordain this {word 2} to be and {word 3} my last will and testament in manner following” What could the three {something} words be?
Let’s break down the likely candidates for the missing words based on common phrasing in wills from that period:
- {word 1}: The phrase is often “memory” or “disposition”. Common wording is “being of sound mind, memory, and understanding.”
- {word 2}: The missing word here is often “will”, as in “do make and ordain this my last will.”
- {word 3}: The word here is often “declare”, as in “to be and declare my last will and testament.”
The handwriting for {word 1} does look like “being of sound mind, memory, and understanding.” {word 2} is not “will”. {word 2} looks like “pointing” and {word 3} looks like “routdin”.
We need to establish {word 2} and {word 3}. They are not “pointing” and “routdin”. What could they be?
Let’s try to determine what the words could be by considering the context and common legal phrases used in wills from that time period.
The phrase “do make and ordain this {word 2} to be and {word 3} my last will and testament” is likely to be formal legal language. Possible Options:
- {word 2}:
“writing”: “do make and ordain this writing to be and…”
“instrument”: “do make and ordain this instrument to be and…” - {word 3}:
“declare”: “do make and ordain this writing to be and declare my last will and testament…”
“publish”: “do make and ordain this instrument to be and publish my last will and testament…”
The chat continued in this way and at times, handwritten copies of individual words were digitised and uploaded to assist with the deciphering.
Please verify if “unto” fits the handwriting and context for {word 6}. If it does, we can move on to the next word. If not, please provide more details, and we can refine it further.
No, “unto” does not fit. This is {word 6}:
Looking at the image of {word 6}, it appears to be “him.” This fits the context of legal phrasing in the will.
Over time, the process became easier as the different letter formations became familiar and easily identifiable. Books like Teach Yourself Palaeography also helped with this.
Structuring the Transcription
Once the transcription was complete, the text needed improving so that it could be read more easily. It contained no punctuation and words spelt differently from how they are today. ChatGPT was therefore asked to improve the document’s readability by correcting spelling, adding punctuation and using modern day language.
In the Name of God Amen I Joseph Elderfield of East Garston in the County of Berks Yeoman being of sound mind memory and understanding God be praised do make and ordain this writing to be and contain my last will and testament in manner following whereby ffirst and principally I committed my soul to Almighty God my Creator who gave it and my body I commit to the earth from whence it was taken to be decently interred in a plain and Christian like manner according to the usage of my ffamily by my executor hereinafter appointed out of my effects and afsitts …
In the Name of God, Amen.
I, Joseph Elderfield of East Garston in the County of Berks, Yeoman, being of sound mind, memory, and understanding, God be praised, do make and ordain this writing to be and contain my last will and testament in the following manner:
First and principally, I commit my soul to Almighty God, my Creator, who gave it, and my body I commit to the earth from whence it was taken to be decently interred in a plain and Christian-like manner according to the usage of my family by my executor hereinafter appointed, out of my effects and assets.
Summarising the Will
The final step was to go through the will and identify the beneficiaries, their relationship to Joseph, their legacy and any conditions of this. The use of ChatGPT made this easy, and it was asked to summaries the will in a table and instructions were provided regarding the contents of each column.
Conclusion
The process of transcribing Joseph Elderfield’s will was made easier with the use of ChatGPT, but it remained a collaboration between human and AI.
ChatGPT was able to suggest possible words, help decipher legal phrases and provide historic and linguistic insights, but human intervention was necessary to help with handwritten letters, proper names, and ensuring that the original intent of the will was preserved. Even then, certain words could not be deciphered.
Whilst human judgment is not entirely replaced, AI significantly speeds up the process and improves the accuracy of transcription and translation. It is worth considering the use of AI as a research assistant that combines its efficiency with human analytical skills to yield the best results.
