
My latest post, William Jamieson – Fishery Officer, is a return to an earlier piece I wrote about him. William is my 4th great‑grandfather, and coming back to his story has felt surprisingly personal, almost like spending time with him again after learning a little more about the life he led.
I’ve gathered new details since I first wrote the post, and I’ve also been using the tools available to me now, including AI, to help shape his story with more care and clarity. I know not everyone is comfortable with the idea of using AI in family history work, and I understand that. For me, it’s simply another way to look more closely, to bring forward details I might have missed, and to let the lives of long‑lost ancestors feel a little more vivid, especially through the use of images that help imagine their world.
Revisiting this piece reminded me how much I’ve enjoyed discovering William’s life, the work he did, the places he knew, the choices that shaped his days. Rewriting it has given me the chance to bring him a little closer, to let him feel more present on the page. I hope this version carries some of that closeness with it.