Thursday, January 23, 2025

ChatGPT and Robert Patterson

I recently performed an exercise using ChatGPT and a couple of my own pages as sources, to see what sort of summary this version of Artificial Intelligence (AI) would produce. ChatGPT is the AI tool created by Open AI and can be accessed at https://chatgpt.com/. I use this AI tool for work related items on occasion, so I use the paid version which costs about $20 per month. I'm NOT an AI expert. But as a Web Technology professional and instructor, I do need to learn as much about it as possible.

In my exercise, I chose three pages on my website as source pages for AI to reference, and asked it to create a 500-word article summarizing the content on those pages. Here is the input I gave ChatGPT.

use the content from the following pages and write a 500 word article summarizing the content. The pages are http://www.wespatterson.com/p/his-mark-r.html and http://www.wespatterson.com/p/patterson-robert-d1775sc-bio.html and http://www.wespatterson.com/p/patterson-robert-d1775sc-will.html

The following article is what the AI tool produced for me, including sources after each paragraph (except for the final conclusion paragraph). I thought I would share this with you to see what sort of inspiration YOU may glean from this.

Here's a screenshot of the tool in use, followed by the article it produced.

Robert Patterson, an ancestor of Wes Patterson, is a figure of considerable interest due to his distinctive use of the "R" mark in his signatures, his migration patterns, and his familial connections. Born between 1705 and 1711, Robert was first documented in Sussex County, Delaware, where he was described as a "yeoman" in 1732, indicating his status as a landowner. During this period, he purchased 106 acres from Matthew Ozburn Jr. Wes Patterson

In 1738, Robert and his wife, Sarah, sold this Delaware property and relocated to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, settling near Linville Creek, close to present-day Harrisonburg. This move was part of a broader migration pattern of families seeking new opportunities in the expanding American frontier. While in Augusta County, Virginia, Robert's presence is noted in several legal documents. Notably, on May 29, 1754, he participated in the appraisement of Benjamin Copeland's estate, alongside Joseph Bryan and John Brown. His signature on this document was marked with an "R," a practice he consistently employed, leading some to mistakenly attribute "R" as his middle initial. However, this was simply his unique signature mark. Wes Patterson

By 1770, Robert had moved to Tryon County, North Carolina. On February 1 of that year, he issued a disclaimer relinquishing any claim to his mother's property on Linville Creek in Virginia. This document further exemplifies his use of the "R" mark in his signature. Wes Patterson

Robert's family connections are intricate and noteworthy. His daughter, Sarah Patterson, married Joseph Black. Their daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Black, later married her first cousin, John Patterson, who was Robert's grandson through his son Thomas. This union exemplifies the close-knit nature of families during that era. Wes Patterson

In 1775, Robert Patterson passed away in York County, South Carolina. His will, dated that year, provides valuable insights into his family structure and the distribution of his estate. The document names his eldest son, Thomas, and grandson, John, as beneficiaries. Additionally, it mentions his daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Joseph Black. The will serves as a crucial piece of documentation for genealogists tracing the Patterson lineage. Wes Patterson

In summary, Robert Patterson's life journey from Delaware to Virginia, then to North Carolina, and finally South Carolina, reflects the migratory trends of 18th-century American settlers. His consistent use of the "R" mark in legal documents distinguishes his identity among the many individuals bearing the common name "Robert Patterson." The familial connections detailed in his will further enrich the historical narrative of the Patterson family, offering a window into the complexities of kinship and inheritance during that period.

 

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