MyHeritage yesterday introduced Scribe AI, a very exciting new feature that transcribes, translates, and interprets historical family documents and photos.
Anyone can use Scribe AI for free on a limited number of images at myheritage.com/scribe-ai, with extended use available to subscribers.
Simply upload an image file of a scanned handwritten letter, an old photograph, a gravestone, or a coat of arms, and Scribe AI will generate a clear transcription, translate it into your language if necessary, explain symbols and context, and suggest next steps for your research.
MyHeritage warns that their new feature is highly addictive — and I agree.
I own copies of a number of handwritten 19th-century Quebec notarial records. These records are incredible finds, but they can be tedious to read and decipher because of the handwriting.
So, I gave Scribe AI a try.
The following is what I saw after uploading my great-great-grandfather’s four-page lease agreement that he signed in February 1870.
AI Scribe provided historical context, details mentioned, key finds, and a full transcription of the document I uploaded.
Here’s some of what I saw after I uploaded the lease agreement.
…….
Historical context
You are examining a notarial lease agreement executed in the Province of Quebec, Canada, on February 22, 1870. This document formally records the rental of a residential property (a wooden house on Courville Street) in Montreal.
It provides valuable historical context regarding the socioeconomic status of the individuals involved, explicitly noting their working-class trades: James Young as a “brassfinisher” and Edwin Morey as a “printer.” The document’s creation by a Public Notary (P. Mainville) reflects the civil law tradition prevalent in Quebec, where notaries are responsible for drafting and archiving significant property and contractual agreements. The pre-printed form with handwritten fill-ins demonstrates the standardization of legal and real estate practices in late 19th-century Montreal.
Details mentioned
Principal Individuals
- James Young
- Role in Document: Lessor
- Occupation: Brassfinisher
- Residence: City of Montreal (A marginal note also references “St Jean Baptiste Village, parish of Montreal”)
- Edwin Morey
- Role in Document: Lessee
- Occupation: Printer
- Residence: City of Montreal
Associated Individuals
- P. Mainville
- Role in Document: Public Notary (N.P.)
- Residence: Parish of Montreal
- Smith
- Role in Document: Neighbor (property bounds)
- Casslet
- Role in Document: Neighbor (property bounds)
- Edward Gauthier (or representatives)
- Role in Document: Neighbor (property bounds)
Key Events
- Event Type: Lease Agreement
- Date: February 22, 1870
- Location: City of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada
Geographical Locations & Property Details
- Property Leased: A wooden house located at number 18 Courville Street, in the St. Lewis ward, City of Montreal. Bounded in front by Courville Street, in the rear by Smith, on one side by Casslet, and on the other side by Edward Gauthier.
Key Findings
This document is a one-year lease agreement between James Young (a brassfinisher) and Edwin Morey (a printer) for a wooden house located at 18 Courville Street in Montreal.
The lease was set to commence on May 1, 1870, for an annual rent of $78, payable in monthly installments of $6.50.
The agreement was officially notarized by P. Mainville on February 22, 1870, and includes standard stipulations regarding property maintenance, taxes, and subletting.dfaf
Transcription
(Note: Here, I’m only showing a portion because the document and transcription are lengthy.)
No 805. The 22d February 1870. Lease by Mr James Young to Mr Edwin Morey. Minute
Before the undersigned Public Notary duly commissioned and sworn in and for that part of the Dominion of Canada now constituting the Province of Quebec residing in the parish of Montreal.
Personally Appeared, Mr James Young, of the City of Montreal, brassfinisher.
WHO did and do hereby Let and Lease for the term of one year to be computed from and after the first of May next unto Mr Edwin Morey, printer of the City of Montreal present and accepting Lessee for himself, hereto during the said term, that is to say:
A certain wooden house situate in the St Lewis ward, in the City of Montreal, being the number eighteen in the Courville Street, bounded in front by the said Courville Street, in rear by a named Smith, in one side, by a named Casslet and in the other side by Edward Gauthier or representatives, with the use of the yard and every the buildings thereon erected.
…….
At first glance, I noticed one error. The ward was called St. Louis, not St. Lewis, but the writing certainly looks like Lewis.
The text is presented well, making it easy to read and understand. Instead of an endless run on words, without a break between paragraphs, each section is well laid out, such as part of the full text transcription displayed below.
Bottom line: I’m very, very impressed with MyHeritage’s Scribe AI. If you don’t hear from me for a while, you’ll know what I’m busy doing.
