Have been banging my own head, trying to figure out Stillman Guptill, m. 14-Jan-1869, to Rebecca Ann (nee Hinds) King. When they married, both were listed as widowed. He was, however, listed aged 50, no 65! She was 30, and had been married around 1850s to Armenus (or similar) King, who died in 1868, leaving her with 4 living children. Stillman was surely a sea captain, and based on others digging, he was owner of a schooner called the "Dove". In 1871, there was a "Dove" schooner that was lost at sea, but we find Stillman living in 1871 census in Lower Horton, Kings Co, NS:
Stillman Guptill 50 b. NB
Rebecca A Guptill 33 NS
Matha A King 12 NS
Daniel King 10 NS
James King 8 NS
Caroline King 5 NS
Otis Guptill 1 NS
This age fits with the marriage record in 1869, rather than that 1851 Census at Grand Manan, NB.
HOWEVER, it is interesting to note, many have shown Stillman as married 4 times. In his 1869 marriage record, he is actually listed as Stephen vs. Stillman (not sure how significant that might be), b. Grand Manan, and listed parents as Wm. and Mary (which would fit with the 1804 Stillmana). He owned the Dove, purchased in 1875 (so a different ship of the same name). It is rumored he died at sea in 1881. We find his WIFE, Rebecca (definitely listed as married in 1881 census, but not showing Stillman enumerated in that same household. Was he then, at sea, and is that why some show he died then? She is a widow by 1891, surely. So, wherever he died, it was between 1881 and 1891. So, the question for me is, IS this that Stillman in the 1851 Census, aged 46, that only gains 4 years of age by 1871? Similarly aged in his 1869 marriage record? Might there have been another William and Mary on GMI that had a son named Stillman, who was not enumerated in 1851? He seemed to always be at sea, but some might say the same for the 1804 Stillman (or ARE they the same man?) I can see if he was edging his age by a few years, say, to 1810, but by the interpretation of a FEW researchers, who make him the same as the one in that 1851 census, who married Mary Ellingwood, well, that seems an awfully big stretch. As for the 1805 Stillman from Maine, I think those are surely two different men. Is the 1819-1821 Stillman b. GMI, married and lived in Kings Co, NS, a third one? "
My friend is descended from Stillman's son, Otis, who married Mary Wheadon. Poor Otis was a mess by 1930, and died after 20 years in an asylum, in 1950. Have seen an article on how he was a "maniac" planning to kill a dozen or so people because God had apparently spoken to him.
Thankfully, have not seen evidence of this in later generations, though a Pearl Guptill, b. @1902, d. 1929 in a similar hospital, but was afflicted with epilepsy, vs. insanity/senility as Otis was.
Would be interested to know if anyone has managed to figure out the STILLMAN conundrum. I have seen mention that there were two born in 1804-1805 timeframe, one of GMI the other of Maine. Has anyone managed to fully separate Stillman (Stephen), s/o William and Mary, b. GMI 1818-1820 or so? Would be interested in any ideas on just how to keep these three apart, rather than have one man marrying 4 women, with evidence that surely one married two. Just unsure which bride Stillman (1820-ish) married before his 1869 marriage to Rebecca? Had he been widowed, three times??? Was he really ballsy about maintaining his youth, once he settled in NS? Since Rebecca was born in about 1830, he was already 10 years older, at least, she must have lied on the marriage record, as well, as she was surely closer to 38 or 39 when they married. She died in 1916, West Brooklyn/Wallbrook, Kings Co, NS, aged 86 as Beckie Ann Guptill. Buried at Lockhartville (where Stillman's "Dove" was registered in 1875), her son, Frank, was informant.
I have a lot more information, but so much is tentative on Stillman, due to so many variables!
Cheers,
Jared