When was Robert Dollin Born?

Robert Dollin was baptised in 1828 but in what year was he born?

The five sons of John Dollin and Mary Ann Gould were all baptised at St George Church, Dunster, Somerset, England. Their dates of baptism are as follows:

-- William Dollin (Dolland) - baptised on 19 Nov 1820
-- John Dollin - baptised on 8 Oct 1826
-- Robert Dollin and Henry Dollin - baptised on 9 Nov 1828
-- Thomas Dollin - baptised on 15 May 1831

However, children were not necessarily baptised in the same year as they were born. A family historian has told us that baptism was not a free service so families often arranged group baptisms. If a child was sickly, his baptism may also be delayed until his survival was probable.

The 1841 UK census suggests that Robert may in fact have been older than his brother, John.

William and Henry were absent from the household of John Dollin and Mary Ann Gould during the 1841 census. However, the ages of the other three boys in this census were given as:

-- Robert 15 years old
-- John 13 years old
-- Thomas 10 years old

In the 1841 UK census, the exact ages of children under 15 were supposed to be recorded. However, individuals over 15 were supposed to have their ages rounded down to the nearest five years, so that they could be recorded in statistical age bands. (Note that the ages of Robert's mother and father were recorded as 40 and 45 in the census, whereas their ages were only two years apart in the 1851 and 1861 census records.)

Robert is listed as 15 in this census record. This means that Robert could have been between 15 and 19 years old in 1841.

So In What Year was Robert Dollin Born?

-- According to the 1841 census, Robert Dollin was born sometime between 1821 and 1826.

-- According to his baptism record, Robert Dollin was born prior to 9 November 1828.

Overall the above evidence suggests that Robert Dollin, son of John Dollin and Mary Ann Gould, was born some time between 1821 and 1828.