Treasure Chest Thursday: Saul Wilson's Death Certificate

Bronx County, New York, Certificate of Death number 6662 (27 October 1923), Saul Wilson, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.

Saul Wilson passed away on 27 October 1923 of pancreatic cancer. Saul and his family has lived at this address (2086 Vyse Avenue in the Bronx) at least since 1917, as evidenced by his son (my grandfather) Joe's marriage and World War I Draft Registration.[1] 

Saul's death record provides a couple of items that I have seen no where else for Saul.

Birth Date: 1 August 1864 

The year of birth is in the ball park (as they say) and comports with estimates from census records. The 1900 U.S. Census, the only one that provides information on month of birth, indicates that Saul was born in March 1865.[2] My sense about the Wilson information on that census page is that it contains many errors. So, I don't give the birth months much credence. At this point there is no way to determine if either record, census or death record, is accurate in this regard.

General Nature of industry, business or establishment in which employed: Salesman - Paint & Varnish

Every previous record for Saul indicates that he was a salesman. Usually he sold dry goods or clothing. In the 1910 Census he is selling brushes.[3] By 1920 he is selling sweaters (probably related to the knitting industry in which both his sons worked).[4] Perhaps toward the end of his life he continued as a salesman, just changed his product.

Notes:  
1. New York County, New York, Certificate and record of Marriage number 31607 (31 May 1917), Jos. Wilson and Tillie Liebross, New York City Municiapl Archives, New York.

"World War I Draft Registration Cards. 1917-1918," digital images. Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 March 2008), card for Joseph Wilson, no. 59,  Kings County Draft Board 28, Roll 1754224.

2. 1900 U.S. Census, Columbia County, New York, population schedule, Hudson, Enumeration District 19, sheet 8A, family 172, Cyrus Wilson [Saul Wilson]; digital image, HeritageQuest (accessed via Maricopa County Library website - http://www.mcldaz.org/ : accessed 10 August 2008), citing National Archives Microfilm Series T623, Microfilm Roll 1019, Page 24.

3. 1910 U.S. Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, Manhattan, Enumeration District 489, sheet 19A, family 403, Saul Wilson; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 February 2008), citing national Archives Microfilm Series T624, Microfilm Roll 1020, Page 37.

4. 1920 U.S. Census, Bronx County, New york, population schedule, Bronx, Enumeration District 372, sheet 4B, family 83, Saul Wilson, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 February 2008), citing National Archives Microfilm Series T625, Microfilm Roll 1140, Page 28.