2026 #52Ancestors, Week 9: Conflicting Clues

William Pearson. 
Born 17 July...1877? 1878? 1879? 1881? 1883? 
Son of Emma Kate Green and George William Pearson?  Or John Winston Pearson?

There are conflicting clues for both questions, and while I've been able to solve the second question, the jury is still out on the first question.

We'll start with the 1900 census because that's where my journey began.  The 1900 Pulaski County, Illinois, census for my great great grandparents, George W. and Emma Kate Pearson, lists 7 children belonging to the head of the household.  William Pearson is listed as being 16 with a probable birth year of 1883.

Household members
George W Pearson 38
Emma K Pearson 38
Rosa Pearson 18
William T Pearson 16
Cora L Pearson 13
Benjamin D Pearson 9
Payton E Pearson 8
Harris I Pearson 6
Nettie W Pearson 3

As one does when first starting out in genealogy, I let Ancestry guide me, and the next hint I received for William was his WWI draft registration card.

This document indicates William's birth year is 1878, but what is much stranger is the line for his nearest relative - J. W. Pearson in Anderson, Indiana.  So, I searched for J.W. Pearson in Anderson, Indiana, and found this 1900 census.

John W Pearson 49
Zana Pearson 41
William Pearson 18
Earl Pearson 14
Bertha Pearson 3

First, why does this 1900 census offer a different birth year for William - 1881?  Second, who is J.W. Pearson? Third, why is William in two 1900 censuses in two different states???  The story of William's father can be found here, but long story short, John Winston Pearson and Emma Kate Green had been married before Emma Kate married George William Pearson.  William is John's child, and I can only presume he split time between his parents' homes.

With that mystery solved, I attempted to figure out exactly when William was born.  Emma Kate and John married in 1874.  Emma Kate and George married in 1883, so I felt the 1883 birth year was unlikely.   A WWII draft registration card suggested 1877.

We won't even go into who Mrs. Daggins is.  Maybe a landlady?  I have no idea.

William's death certificate offers a birth year of 1879.

It also lists George as his father, so take that with a grain of salt...

The only other clue I have is a U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index entry that states William was born 17 Jul. 1881.  I'm really not sure. I tried to use his full sister's age as a clue, but her birthdates didn't agree either.  She is sometimes older than William, sometimes younger.  I can only offer the following.  William was most definitely the son of Emma Kate Green and John Winston Pearson.  He was definitely born on July 17th, but the year could be anywhere from 1877-1882.  I doubt I'll ever know for sure.