Sourcing Nova Scotia Birth/Baptism

Question

Could someone please access a birth record for Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, for ?  Or, please advise regarding the error report?

Regarding his parents, Sophia Boutelier Gould and her husband William: I haven't found birth or baptism records for their children, including  James F. Gould, Gould-4016, b. in Nova Scotia @1802 or 1812?

Please squint at the lettering on the tombstone:  what IS that birthdate?

Thanks for your help!

Comments

The headstone on the profile you listed reads:

James F. Gould born October 23, 1802 Died December 12, 1901 aged 99

Martha Gould born April 18, 1826, Died May 4, 1907 age 81

Fred E. Gould born August 23, 1856 Died January 24, 1881 age 32

Luella M born June 9

Emma G born July 8

Willie F Heath born Feb 20

Answer 1

I increased magnification by over 200% it looks like either 32 or 82 I do not see it as a 1 or 0 because there is a definite indent like in a 3 or 8 on the right side... the left side is harder to tell...

Comments

Thanks very much!  I'm planning to dig into more sources -- for James' kids -- later this week.

In an unusual twist, I discovered that James had moved to Vermont from a newspaper article.  His younger sister (age 18) had died while visiting her brother James in Vermont. I think she died during the river crossing.  

• Death - Newspaper - New Hampshire Statesman, Concord, New Hampshire, dated 15 Jan. 1853: n.p. 19th Century U.S. Newspapers. Web. 2 Aug. 2016.

Regards, Janine

Answer 2

His death record states: Death date December 12, 1901, St. Johnsbury, VT.

Aged 99 years 1 month 20 days which makes his calculated dob as October 30/1, 1802.  https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DZTW-LDN?i=3475&cc=1784223

Answer 3

Hi Janine, 

Most of my ancestors from 1749 on were in Nova Scotia, and I can confirm that formal birth and baptism records were really spotty during the period your James Gould was born. After the American Revolution there was a serious shortage of doctors and clergy in Nova Scotia, and some communities went years between visits - that was part of the reason the three universities were founded by the deacons and leading members of the Anglican (Dalhousie), Baptist (Acadia) and Catholic (St-FX) churches.

It is possible that there may be family records or other genealogical notes in the archives in Halifax or Sydney that are not available online, but I'm on the West Coast and can't offer to help you there. 

When I reach the end of my resources, I simply look at all the information available and make a reasonable decision, I clearly explain my rationale in the Wikitree bio, and invite other researchers to contribute. Sometimes other descendants do contact me with missing information. Its usually anecdotal, but sometimes leads to another source.

In this case you seem to have a pattern of Census information showing he was born around 1812, and a worn headstone that seems to have been transcribed 1802. I wonder if people usually lie about their birth dates on a census to appear older (when they are young), or to appear younger (middle age)?  Does the truth come out in old age, or do people start adding years to their brag?

I think this 1880 census may also be the same family, but I'm not sure it helps (except for a possible sister for Martha). When the names were carelessly recorded, I wonder if the other information was also wrong?   

 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8W4-PQC)

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