Thomas LOVELL born 1852 or 1853 - which?

[q98]

Thomas LOVELL was born in West Kilbride, Ayrshire in either 1852 or 1853. In the 1861 Census (conducted 7th–8th April 1861), Thomas is recorded as 8 years old while in the 1871 Census (conducted 2nd–3rd April 1871) he is recorded as 18 years old. As his ages recorded in each Census appear to support the other, it is reasonable to assume that Tom was born during period April – December 1853.

However, therein lies the tale;
i. The “Denton Record Chronicle” of 14 September 1911, when reporting upon Tom’s passing noted his DOB as 5th May 1852.
ii. Tom’s headstone in Denton, Texas records his year of birth as 1852.
iii. A descendant advises that he was born 8th August 1852.
iv. In the USA Census of 1900, Tom’s entry reads: “Date of Birth – Month Year, May 1853”.

Therefore, there are five possibilities:
a. April – December 1853,
b. 5th May 1852,
c. 1852,
d. 8th August 1852, or
e. May 1853.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or data to confirm or discount any of the dates above.

[AndrewP]

Hi Jim,

In general, I have found that the younger the person was, the more accurate their age was given, but I accept that is a generalisation rather than a fact. In truth, none of the ages can be proven to be more accurate than any of the others. The most likely date of birth range is the whole range given by taking all of the ages you have from the various sources and producing the widest range. Even then, there is the outside possibility that these sources are all wrong and he was even older, or even younger than any of them give.

So unless you find a birth record, he was probably born some time in 1852 or 1853, with the strongest probability being 8th April 1852 to 7th April 1853 (the earliest data you have).

All the best,

AndrewP

[paddyscar]

Hi Jim:

You don't have his parents' names, so that you could do a search on the IGI looking for any children they had, do you?

Frances

[q98]

Many thanks for your replies. Being 1852 or 1853, there will be no BC and I have checked IGI and OPR to no avail.

Ah well, occasionally you have to "make do" don't you?

Thanks again.

[q98]

LATE BREAKING NEWS!

I have just received a scan from the gentleman's personal Bible which advises as follows:

""Tom Lovell. Died Sept 8th 1911 in Denton, Texas. Age 59 Years 4 Months 3 Days."

Is there a website or program that can calculate his Date of Birth, from his known lifespan?

Regards amd thanks.

[WilmaM]

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html

Duration calculation results
From and including: Wednesday, 5 May 1852
To, but not including : Friday, 8 September 1911

It is 21,674 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date

Or 59 years, 4 months, 3 days excluding the end date

[q98]

Many thanks for that quick answer. I was part way through a "pen 'n paper" calculation.

Many, many thanks.