William Campbell: Vital Statistics and Dates
The dates derived from various Canadian records for William Campbell (1819-1897) strongly support a date of birth early in 1819. William Campbell, son of Sylvester Campbell and Helen Mason, was baptized on 26 March 1819, suggesting he was born a few days or weeks earlier in 1819.
Canadian Census 1851/1852 - William's stated age is 33
- age at census resolves to birth in 1819
Canadian Census 1861 - William's stated age is 42
- age at census resolves to birth in 1819
Canadian Census 1871 - William's stated age is 52
- age at census resolves to birth in 1819
Canadian Census 1881 - William's stated age is 62
- age at census resolves to birth in 1819
Canadian Census 1891 - William's stated age is 72
- age at census resolves to birth in 1819
Death Registration 1897 - William's reported age is 78
- age at death resolves to birth in 1819
Tombstone Inscription 1897 - William's reported age is 78
- age at death resolves to birth in 1819
These data strongly suggest a date of birth for William Campbell in January or February of 1819. The reporting is consistent over six decades and presents a fairly strong case for William Campbell being born in 1819 in the Aberdeen area of Scotland. This closely matches with the details of the birth of William Campbell, son of Sylvester Campbell and Helen Mason. In fact, this is, in my opinion, quite possibly, the best match for date and location of all the competing claims to William Campbell, the son of Sylvester Campbell and Helen Mason baptized on 26 March 1819 in Aberdeenshire.
THESIS: The William Campbell (1819-1897) who is tracked over six decades of census records following through his life in Canada is the strongest contender for being the son of Sylvester Campbell and Helen Mason due to both the consistency of his year of birth being reported as 1819 and the place of his birth repeatedly designated as Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Sylvester Campbell and Helen Mason's son, William Campbell, was baptized on 26 March 1819 in Drumoak, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
ANTITHESIS: The strongest "antithesis position" would be that the William Campbell who came to Canada is someone with an almost identical date of birth, possibly a cousin, and not the son of Sylvester Campbell and Helen Mason. However, to date, based solely on this type of data, no stronger candidate has emerged to claim Sylvester Campbell and Helen Mason as parents.
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