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Have you ever looked at a historical document and wondered, How do I turn this into a story? You're not alone! Many genealogists struggle to move from facts and figures to captivating narratives. What if the process was easier than you think?
In this writing challenge, I'll demonstrate how to transform a simple passenger list into a lively story about Elizabeth Lambert's immigration journey. Follow along as I share the highlights of my process, and then check out the full video for the nitty-gritty details.
Menke, Jim, and Doris Menke, compilers. Ship Lists of Passengers Who Departed Europe for Henry Castro's Colony, Texas, 1842-1847. (n.p.: n.p., 1971) Page 9 [Image 18] Digitized by FamilySearch, (Accessed 4 Dec. 2024).
A Simple Process to Turn Records Into Stories
Writing a family history doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a glimpse of the six key steps I use in this family history writing challenge:
Source Citation - Start with a proper citation for your document. Whether you prefer Evidence Explained-style or another consistent format, this is your foundation. In Elizabeth's case, I created a citation for the passenger list that documented her family's voyage from France to Galveston, Texas.
Transcription - Transcribe or translate the document. This ensures you've captured all the details, and it gives you a clear, searchable text to work with. For Elizabeth's story, I manually transcribed the passenger list to better understand its structure and contents.
Understand the Document - Dig into the context. What kind of record is it? What details can you confirm or question? In this case, understanding the passenger list as a derivative source helped me recognize its limitations and prompted deeper research.
Rearrange the Document - Extract key details and start grouping them into categories—names, ages, locations, relationships, and events. For Elizabeth's story, this step helped me move beyond data to narrative possibilities.
Mark Up the Document - Highlight questions, connections, and gaps. For instance, I asked about distances traveled, cultural and economic context, and even the social dynamics aboard the ship.
Add More Details - Research brings the story to life. Details like the ship's route, the biographical background of fellow passengers, and the possibilities of moving to a new Texan settlement add richness to Elizabeth's narrative. Did she meet other children on the journey? What challenges did her family face upon arrival? These questions guided my revisions.
Family History Writing Challenge - From Passenger List to Story Draft
Through this process, Elizabeth Lambert's story grew from a transcription to a vibrant tale. Notice how the following transcription becomes a draft (see below):
Lambert Family of 6
Birth/residence - Romagne, Meuse
Jean Batiste 38, profession Farmer, property $1,000
Marguerite Chopin 35
Jean Batiste 6
Nicolas 3 mo
Elizabeth 7
Catherine 4
By layering details about her family, the ship's passengers, and their destination, I turned a few brief details into a dynamic narrative. And while the draft isn't perfect (writing is all about revision!), it's a great starting point.
Want to experience the full transformation? Watch the video where I detail each step before creating the following ChatGPT-enhanced draft focusing on Elizabeth's perspective. I'll share how I used AI tools ethically and how you can, too.
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Here's the Story Revised With ChatGPT's Help
I crafted a prompt to trigger ChatGPT to turn all of my research and the original transcription into a narrative. Here's what I wrote:
"You're an experienced family history writer who takes genealogical details and notes and turns them into a cohesive story. Please don't editorialize as you revise this text into a narrative about the migration of Elizabeth Lambert to Galveston, Texas from Romagne, France. The text below seems to focus on her father Jean Batiste Lambert. Please revise to focus on Elizabeth as the central figure in the story."
Elizabeth Lambert's Journey to America
In November 1842, seven-year-old Elizabeth Lambert embarked on a life-changing journey from her home in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France, to the distant shores of Texas. The Lamberts—Elizabeth, her parents Jean Batiste and Marguerite, and her younger siblings Jean Batiste (6), Catherine (4), and infant Nicolas—traveled over 400 miles from their rural village to the bustling port of Le Havre. There, they boarded the ship L'Ebro, captained by Perry, to cross the Atlantic.
Elizabeth, likely curious and wide-eyed, absorbed her father's tales of the New World. Jean Batiste Lambert had already visited Galveston in 1841, purchasing a town lot and laying the groundwork for their new life. Now, he was returning to bring his family to America, leaving behind the graves of his parents and two siblings, as well as Marguerite's lost family members. The emotional weight of leaving France behind was softened by the promise of opportunity in Texas.
A Long Voyage Across the Atlantic
For seventy-five days, the Lambert family sailed alongside 113 other passengers from various parts of France, especially the Meuse region. Among them were familiar faces—Joseph, Jean Marie, and little Octavie Willemin, neighbors from Romagne—offering a sense of community on the long, arduous voyage. Elizabeth may have found companions her own age, such as Hortense Ponceles and Augustine Le Comte, with whom she could share the adventure and distractions from the monotony of endless waves.
The ship carried a diverse group, including farmers, merchants, and even a shepherd, each with different dreams and means for building a new life in Texas. Some passengers, including Elizabeth's father, brought modest savings, while others carried small fortunes. Sadly, not all would complete the voyage; some succumbed to illness during the journey. By the time L'Ebro reached Galveston on January 6, 1843, its weary passengers were grateful to step onto solid ground, even if the foreign land felt strange and uncertain.
Choices at the Threshold of a New Life
Upon arrival, the Lambert family faced a critical decision. One of their fellow passengers, Jean Batist Le Comte, was headed to Castroville, a new colony west of San Antonio. Promised land, supplies, and provisions by Henri Castro, Le Comte planned to join the settlement despite the challenges of hostile Comanche territory and the need to build homes and communities from scratch. Elizabeth may have overheard her father weighing this option, imagining the journey into the Texas hill country and the hardships that lay ahead.
For Jean Batiste Lambert, however, the risks outweighed the promises. After months at sea and with four young children, including a three-month-old baby, the idea of trekking another 240 miles into unsettled wilderness seemed daunting. Instead, the Lamberts remained in Galveston, a port city already bustling with activity and opportunity.
A New Home in Texas
Jean Batiste's decision not to join the Castro Colony shaped Elizabeth's childhood and future. The family established themselves near Galveston, acquiring property in Harris County by 1848. Jean continued to pay taxes on land he owned, and his probate records in 1855 show the family's roots firmly planted in the region.
Elizabeth grew up surrounded by the vibrant mix of cultures and industries that defined early Galveston. By the time she married in 1848, her new husband—a French Canadian immigrant—had already begun building a life in Texas. Together, they started a new chapter, blending the heritage Elizabeth had brought from France with the pioneering spirit of their adopted homeland.
Her journey across the ocean, and her father's choice to settle in Galveston, defined the course of Elizabeth's life. While others continued on to build Castroville, Elizabeth's story unfolded in the port city where her family chose stability over uncertainty, carving out their place in the growing patchwork of Texas history.
Even More Family History Writing Challenges
Curious about other writing challenges? Dive into past projects where I tackled different types of records and uncovered new ways to tell family stories. Leave a comment sharing your thoughts on this process or your favorite documents to write from—I'd love to hear from you!
Let's make family history fun and inspiring, one story at a time.