Hi Donald, I came across something and was hoping to get your opinion:
We were discussing an Archibald Livingstone in Terrebonne County Quebec appearing on the 1851 census with father Neil (widowed) and a sister Sarah Livingstone, who I found from a genetic hit in the Ancestry DNA test. You mentioned an Archibald Livingstone from Kingston who married a Selina Scobell. Not sure if you have ancestry or not, but here's a link to a document I came across:
https://www.ancestry.ca/interactive/333 ... 422/152990
Title is "The Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men", published 1880.
It has a section about Archibald Livingstone in Kingston, his marriage to Selina Scobell May 16, 1854 (daughter of builder Sidney Scobell), and lists his birth at Montreal Aug 10, 1827, but most importantly lists his parents as Duncan and Christina (McPherson) Livingstone. It goes on to say his father was from Argyleshire, Scotland and his mother from Inverness. There is a bit more info about him as well - if that link doesn't work for you and you'd like a copy of the image and/or transcript I'd be happy to provide it.
On the Terrebonne census from 1851, Archibald's father was Neil, so I'm thinking this is not the Archibald that ended up in Kingston. If this proves to be the case (and the book is accurate), I don't think we can eliminate this Archibald from Terrebonne as possibly being my ancestor, solely based on the Kingston connection, but wanted to know what you thought.
Also, wanted to get your opinion on the following:
Based on available census and death records for my Archibald Livingstone, his birth year fluctuates:
* = what was on census
1861 28* abt 1832
1871 35* abt 1836
1881 49* abt 1832
1891 60* abt 1831
1901 65* not known 1835*
Death register shows he died 1 Apr 1907 and lists his age as 76 years, so born abt. 1831.
(Intersting to note that on the 1901 census there was a column for "birth day and month" and for Archibald "not known" was written by the enumerator). Could mean Archibald answered the question and didn't know, or the person answering on his behalf didn't know. At that time Archibald was living with his son (just the two of them). I bring it up only in passing, as either way I think it is interesting to note that his birthday wasn't known....
In the 6 data points we have, the majority (4 out of 6) put his birth year at 1831/1832.
I then look at what we know about the birth year of these Archibald individuals:
Archibald Livingstone, Grenville born 1 April 1836 (parish record confirming this)
Archibald Livingstone, my ancestor born abt. 1831/1832 (based on evidence above)
Archibald Livingstone, Terrebonne born abt. 1828 (1851 census showing age 24)
If we don't eliminate the Archibald in Terrebonne and look at that comparisson, the Archibald in Terrebonne is just as close a match as the Archibald from Grenville (if I discount the 1836 and 1835 dates, which represent 2 of the 6 listed birth dates we have).
Again, I only bring this up for discussion purposes, and as always really value and appreciate your opinion on this. Obviously doesn't bring me any closer to a final answer and I have a lot of research left to do.