Analysis: Is the John Williams in the Guelph City Directory 1873 [D05546] the John Williams born 1829?

Question: Is the John Williams in the Guelph City Directory 1873 [D05546] the John Williams born 1829?



Details/Background: There is a John Williams on page 120 of a Guelph City Directory from 1873 [D05546]. He is listed as a carpenter and living on Northumberland near Glasgow. The question is, is he the same John Williams born in 1829, the son of Thomas Williams and Sybil Foxwell?

Analysis:
Argument(s) for:
• The Williams family in general, and John Williams in particular have a prior connection to the city of Guelph
• In the 1871 census, his occupation is listed as carpenter as well [D01565]

Argument(s) against:
• In the 1871 census he is living in Owen Sound [D01565], although he shows up later on living in Little Current, Algoma [D01544] so he did move around a lot at the time.
• In most other sources other than the 1871 census he is listed as being a brewer.

Conclusion: There is not enough evidence either way at this time to rule for or against the John Williams in the Guelph City Directory being the same one.

Sources:
[D01544] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932 Reel 23: 30, 1049, Williams-Hatton; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 12 May 2018). Rec. Date: 9 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 12 May 2018.

[D01565] 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 37, sub-district 01-g, Owen Sound, p. 28, dwelling 105, family 109; RG 31; digital images(accessed 5 May 2018). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 5 May 2018.

[D05546] Guelph City Directory 1873, 1873: 120; digital images, Ancestry.ca accessed 24 Feb 2019. Rec. Date: 24 Feb 2019. Cit. Date: 24 Feb 2019.