A Summer Night’s Engagement

 

On Thursday night, quite warm though it was, the juices were flowing. We were all engaged and equally interested in various topics in our weekly Zoom session.

Steve started the ball rolling by demonstrating some mind-mapping software, Miro, which could generate ideas using AI. First, we watched a video of this in action. Then Steve used the 'free' version of the software to construct a course on photography - what should the topics be and in what order. He could even tailor this to have a certain length or number. This gave me some ideas for projects I'm interested in such as the needs to perform a video tour of Morley Town Hall.

Moving on, Alan mentioned that the magic buzzword for many these days is Collaboration, possibly brought on by Lockdown-Zoom.  By sharing a document within a group and allowing for disciplined suggestions, a document can be formulated by sharing it online. Suggestions can be made, and modifications added as appropriate. It has greater appeal than a flurry of emails back and forth. Sharing has become important, and I use it more and more, thanks to the demonstrations I've seen while a member of this group.

Alan also queried the use of hashtags. What do they mean? It was by no means easy to find an answer, but a YouTube video helped. Folk who use Social Media extensively favour it as a means of publicising a social view, a product, or a particular person.

AI returned when Steve showed how ChatGPT, which has a ‘Questions and Answers’ format, can be used in helping to construct ideas for projects. Once more he took his interests of Photography courses and explanation of technical matters. Later I used it myself with profit to explore my interests in Local Heritage.

Since we're all old codgers it's natural that we have some loss of hearing and, once again, Steve showed how this varied with age. Also, some women are more softly spoken than men and this can lead to difficulties in comprehension when talking with them. I wondered if any device could compensate for this difference.

Finally we looked at some group photos on the MCA website after Fred told of his interest in finding a photo from the VE Day parties 1945. As Steve pointed out, making photo galleries online can be a poisoned chalice. It can bring renown to a group or area but it is practically impossible to prevent anyone from copying the photos. Some groups feel they can make more money by publishing booklets of well-chosen and unusual subjects since few are prepared to pay for copiable photos.

The evening showed that the advent of AI is causing mixed emotions. We now know that it can be a useful and valid tool.  But the growing worry is uncertainty of future development. Can we control it to prevent it from taking overall control over us?  Can one group use it to its advantage and the detriment of others?

Old Morley Document from 1675

Some time ago,our friend, Steve Thompson of Get Technology Together, Leeds, gave us an old document, dated 1675. Our specialist at Transcribing at Morley Community Archives  is Jane Sheehan.  Here are her comments and the result of her comprehensive study.

She says it deals with a property complaint over some 'seiling' in a house. This may be 'ceiling' but the note appears to be a dispute about poor workmanship. The matter was referred to John Hallway and Thomas Mottley and it was agreed that Robert Hall should pay John and Elizabeth Mettcaffe £1 5s. The document is the signed acknowledgment that this has been paid. It is signed by John and Elizabeth (with their marks as they can't write) and by Matthew Aveyard (who also has a mark) and John Hallway.

Jane has made a thorough study of this with the following results: it appears to be merely a proof that Robert has paid the fine and witnesses attest to this. Robert Hall and John Metcaffe are both from Morley. She cannot find any evidence of a bigger dispute. She has looked at Marriage records, trying to find out about the relation between John and his wife Elizabeth. Some possibilities have been found but nothing of great substance. The strongest possibility is that the couple were John Metcaffe and Eliza Wharton who married in 1669 in Leeds but extra archival work would be necessary to give this more weight.

Jane says she has transcribed it exactly as it appears in the document,including two words which have been crossed out. She has also underlined any word extensions so that Rob becomes Robert and ye becomes the.  There is one word on line 17 which she cannot read. It begins with p and ends with nall but she can't make out the letters in between.

Here is the result:

Transcription

 

1.         Whereas (upon difference ariseing between Robert

2.         Hall and John Metcaffe both of Morley about some

3.         seiling in a house Robert Hall bought of him) it was

4.         referred by them to John Hallway & Thomas

5.         Mottley who agreed it thus that in consideration

6.         of the sume of one pound five shillinges for goods

7.         the sayd John Metcaffe & Elizabeth his wife

8.         should ingage themselves to acknowledge a fine

9.         at the pleasure of Robert Hall after he have payd

10.       them the sayd sume of one pound five shillings

11.       without demanding any thing therefore

12.       Now know the that I John Metcaffe & Elizabeth

13.       my wife doe acknowledge the receipt of the sume

14.       of one pound five shillinges from Robert Hall and

15.       in full satisfaction for whats left in the house

16.       and the acknowledgement of a fine and doe hereby

17.       ingage in the p_nall sume of ten poundes that

18.       that the fine shall acknowledged without any

19.       further demands In Wittnesse wherof wee have

20.       hereunto set our hands & seales this twentieth day

21.       of Aprill one thousand six hundred seventy five

22.       sealed & delived in

23.       the presence of us

Matthew Aveyard his mark MA                           John Mettcaffe his mark I

John Hallway                                                        Elizabeth Mettcaffe her mark LM

 

Thank you Steve!