William Edward Richmond is a name that requires careful historical research. Unlike a widely documented public figure, several people across different countries and generations appear in records under this same or closely similar name. Therefore, a reliable biography cannot simply combine search results into one story.
The supplied competitor links identify a William Edward Richmond who reportedly lived from 1876 to 1966. However, historical searches also reveal other men with the same name and very different dates, families, and places. One FamilySearch result, for example, identifies a William Edward Richmond born in Brooklyn in 1879 and deceased in Connecticut in 1961. That is clearly a different person and demonstrates why exact identity matching matters.
Consequently, the strongest approach is to treat William Edward Richmond as the exact target subject while separating verified information from conflicting or unconfirmed genealogical claims.
Who was William Edward Richmond?
William Edward Richmond was a historical individual whose identity appears in online genealogy and memorial databases. The available information supplied for this article associates the target individual with the lifespan 1876 to 1966.
However, those dates alone do not establish a complete biography.
Historical records frequently contain people with identical names. In addition, transcription errors, incomplete family trees, merged database profiles, and copied memorial information can produce misleading biographies. Therefore, the name William Edward Richmond should not automatically be connected with every census, marriage, military, or death record carrying those three names.
The National Archives explains that United States federal census records from 1790 through 1950 are valuable building blocks for family-history research. It also recommends working backward from the most recent available census when tracing an individual.
That research principle is especially important here. A biography of William Edward Richmond should begin with the target’s documented dates and then test each additional claim against location, relatives, occupation, and other identifying details.
Why is William Edward Richmond difficult to identify?
The main challenge is name duplication.
Search results reveal multiple individuals called William Edward Richmond. One indexed genealogy record identifies a man with that name who was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 6, 1879, married Helen Trevelyan Pillans, and died in Connecticut in 1961. That person cannot automatically be treated as the 1876–1966 William Edward Richmond because the dates do not match.
Another indexed record identifies a different William Edward Richmond born in Great Yarmouth, England, in 1875 and deceased in Lowestoft in 1923. It also names a spouse and two children. Again, the lifespan differs substantially from the target dates.
Therefore, a responsible article must reject the temptation to combine these records.
This is where historical research differs from ordinary celebrity biography writing. A famous actor may have thousands of articles that clearly refer to one person. By contrast, genealogy often requires researchers to prove identity record by record.
What records can help verify William Edward Richmond?
Several types of records can help establish the correct identity.
First, census records can show an individual’s approximate age, birthplace, household members, occupation, and residence at a particular point in time. The U.S. National Archives maintains guidance for accessing federal census materials and explains that public census records currently extend through 1950.
Second, vital records can provide birth, marriage, and death information. However, the value of a record depends on whether the individual can be matched through additional details rather than name alone.
Third, cemetery and memorial records can help identify a burial location and death date. Yet, memorial databases should ideally be checked against official records, obituaries, cemetery registers, or original documents.
Fourth, family trees can provide useful research leads. Nevertheless, user-submitted genealogy trees should be treated as secondary clues unless their underlying sources can be independently examined.
For readers researching the name themselves, the National Archives census research guide provides an authoritative starting point for historical U.S. census research. The U.S. Census Bureau’s family-history resources also explain how historical census information becomes available to researchers.
William Edward Richmond and the 1876–1966 dates
The dates 1876–1966 form the central identifying information supplied for this William Edward Richmond profile.
If those dates are accurate, Richmond lived through a remarkable period of historical change. He would have been born shortly after the American Civil War era and died during the 1960s.
However, historical context should not be confused with biography.
It is reasonable to say that a person living from 1876 to 1966 experienced an era that included industrial expansion, two world wars, the Great Depression, and major technological change. Yet, there is currently insufficient reliable evidence to claim that this specific William Edward Richmond personally participated in any of those events.
Therefore, this article does not invent a military service record, occupation, or personal role in major historical events.
That distinction keeps the biography accurate. Context can explain the world around a person, while verified records must establish what the person actually did.
Where can researchers look for census evidence?
Census records are often among the most useful sources for distinguishing people with the same name.
The National Archives states that the federal government has conducted a census every ten years since 1790. It also explains that the National Archives makes historical census schedules available through its research systems and partner services.
For William Edward Richmond, a researcher would ideally compare multiple census entries rather than relying on one record. The process might include checking:
- An individual’s age in each census
- Birthplace and parents’ birthplaces
- Spouse and children’s names
- Occupation
- Residence
- Immigration status, where applicable
- Consistency between census years
For example, a 1900 census record might identify an unmarried young adult, while a 1910 or 1920 record could show a spouse and children. A later 1940 or 1950 record might confirm the same family structure.
The National Archives online census resources explain where researchers can locate census material by year and provide links to major research pathways.
Can William Edward Richmond’s family be confirmed?
Not completely from the currently verified material available for this article.
The existence of multiple people with the same name makes family identification especially risky. A spouse or child listed on one online profile may belong to another William Edward Richmond entirely.
For example, the 1879–1961 FamilySearch profile names parents, a wife, and three children. Those relationships may be valid for that specific Brooklyn-born individual, but the different birth and death dates mean they cannot automatically be transferred to the 1876–1966 subject.
Similarly, the 1875–1923 Ancestry result identifies a different set of parents, a spouse, and two daughters. That record likewise appears to represent another man.
As a result, the family history of the target William Edward Richmond remains unconfirmed unless a source can connect the 1876–1966 dates with the same parents, spouse, children, and place.
This is an important research finding rather than a weakness in the biography. It is better to leave an uncertain family connection unresolved than to publish the wrong relatives.
Did William Edward Richmond have a notable public career?
No sufficiently reliable evidence currently establishes a major public career for the exact 1876–1966 William Edward Richmond.
Search results produce information about other men named William Richmond, including politicians, business figures, and historical personalities. However, those people should not be merged with the target individual merely because their names overlap.
For example, Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, has a biography of a William Richmond born in 1869 and deceased in 1956. That person was a rabbiter, stock manager, meat exporter, and company director in New Zealand. The dates and biographical details identify him as a different individual.
This comparison shows why search engines can create false connections. A search for “William Richmond biography” may return a prominent historical figure, while the actual subject is a different person with a similar name.
Therefore, this article does not attribute a political, business, sporting, military, or entertainment career to William Edward Richmond without direct evidence.
How should genealogy claims about William Edward Richmond be evaluated?
A useful method is to rank claims by evidence.
Verified claims have strong support from official or near-primary records that clearly match the person’s name, dates, and other identifiers.
Qualified claims have some support but require caution because the record does not fully eliminate the possibility of another person with the same name.
Conflicting claims come from sources that disagree on dates, places, or family relationships.
Estimated claims include approximate birth years derived from ages in census records.
Rejected claims belong to clearly different people with mismatched dates or identifying details.
The U.S. Census Bureau notes that historical census records can contain extensive family-history information, while the National Archives emphasizes using census materials as part of a broader research process.
Therefore, no single online family tree should become the entire foundation for a biography.
Was William Edward Richmond connected to Bill Richmond?
No reliable evidence supports automatically identifying the target William Edward Richmond with Bill Richmond, the famous British bare-knuckle boxer.
The name similarity can create confusion, especially because “Bill” is often a nickname for William and “Richmond” is a common surname. However, historical identity requires more than a similar name.
The target dates of 1876–1966 also differ from the lifespan of the boxer commonly known as Bill Richmond. Therefore, any claim that these men were the same person should be rejected.
This distinction also affects Wikipedia linking. There is no need to force an unrelated person into the target biography simply to create a link. The relevant Wikipedia context should instead be used carefully and only when explaining the separate historical figure named Bill Richmond.
Readers can consult the Wikipedia page for Bill Richmond to understand that separate historical figure and avoid confusing him with William Edward Richmond.
Why conflicting genealogy profiles should not be merged
Online genealogy is extremely useful, but it can also amplify mistakes.
A single incorrect family tree can be copied by another researcher. Over time, the same error may appear on several websites and begin to look like independent confirmation.
For that reason, researchers should ask several questions:
- Do the birth and death dates match exactly?
- Does the record show a consistent location?
- Are the parents consistent across records?
- Does the spouse match?
- Do the children fit the timeline?
- Is there an original record behind the online summary?
- Could the entry belong to another person with the same name?
The National Archives provides research guidance because historical records need interpretation rather than simple copying. Its census resources also show that records are spread across multiple years and collections.
Therefore, the best biography of William Edward Richmond remains evidence-led rather than assumption-led.
William Edward Richmond at a glance
| Category | Best-supported status |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Edward Richmond |
| Target lifespan | 1876–1966, based on the supplied identifying records |
| Dedicated public biography | Not independently established |
| Confirmed family | Requires further exact-record matching |
| Confirmed occupation | Not established by reliable evidence reviewed here |
| Military service | Not established |
| Public career | Not established |
| Major historical identity | Not established |
| Common-name problem | Significant; multiple people share the same name |
| Best research approach | Compare original records using dates, places, and relatives |
The table does not attempt to create missing information. Instead, it shows the difference between what is currently identified and what still requires documentary proof.
How to research William Edward Richmond accurately
A careful research sequence can produce better results.
First, start with the latest known record. For a person believed to have died in 1966, look for a death certificate, obituary, burial record, or probate material that identifies the person’s residence and relatives.
Second, use those details to locate the individual in the 1950 and 1940 censuses.
Third, continue backward through earlier census years. The goal is to establish one continuous identity rather than collecting every matching name.
Fourth, compare vital records. Marriage and death records can help connect a person with parents, spouse, or children.
Fifth, examine local archives. County libraries, historical societies, newspapers, and state archives may contain information that does not appear in general search results.
The National Archives provides a useful gateway for census research, while the Library of Virginia offers archival resources for researchers working with Virginia historical records.
What should not be claimed about William Edward Richmond?
Several popular biography details should not be published without stronger evidence.
There is currently no reliable basis in the material reviewed here to state his exact birthplace.
There is also no verified basis to name his parents, spouse, or children.
Likewise, an exact occupation should not be assigned merely because another William Edward Richmond worked in a particular profession.
Military service should also remain unconfirmed unless a service record clearly matches the 1876–1966 identity.
Finally, net-worth estimates, private addresses, and unsupported personal stories should be rejected.
These limitations are not unusual in genealogy. Many historical individuals left behind fragmented records, especially when they were private citizens rather than public figures.
Frequently asked questions about William Edward Richmond
1. Who was William Edward Richmond?
William Edward Richmond was a historical individual identified in the supplied records with the dates 1876–1966. However, his full biography requires careful verification because multiple people shared the same name.
2. When was William Edward Richmond born?
The target record identifies him with a birth year of 1876. Additional original records are needed to establish the exact date and birthplace with confidence.
3. When did William Edward Richmond die?
The target identifying information gives 1966 as his death year. Researchers should verify the exact date through a matching death, burial, obituary, or probate record.
4. Who were William Edward Richmond’s parents?
The currently reviewed evidence does not establish his parents with enough certainty. Other online records for men with the same name list different parents and lifespans.
5. Was William Edward Richmond married?
A marriage cannot be confirmed for the exact 1876–1966 subject without a record that matches his full identifying details.
6. Did William Edward Richmond have children?
The available evidence does not reliably establish the children of the target individual. Children listed on other William Edward Richmond profiles may belong to different men.
7. Was William Edward Richmond a public figure?
No major public career has been independently verified for the exact subject discussed here.
8. Is William Edward Richmond the same person as Bill Richmond?
No. The famous historical boxer Bill Richmond was a different person with a different life and historical period.
9. Does William Edward Richmond have a Wikipedia page?
No dedicated Wikipedia page has been identified for the exact 1876–1966 subject. The Bill Richmond Wikipedia page is included only to clarify the identity of a different historical person with a similar name.
10. Why do online records disagree about William Edward Richmond?
The most likely reason is that multiple historical individuals shared the same name. Genealogy databases may also contain transcription errors, incomplete records, or incorrectly merged family information.
The most reliable way to understand William Edward Richmond
The strongest biography of William Edward Richmond begins with a simple fact: historical research must distinguish evidence from repetition.
The supplied identification points to a man who lived from 1876 to 1966. Beyond that, several commonly searched details require further verification because the name appears in records for different people.
One William Edward Richmond was born in Brooklyn in 1879 and died in Connecticut in 1961. Another was born in England in 1875 and died in 1923. A prominent New Zealand businessman named William Richmond lived from 1869 to 1956. None should automatically be merged with the 1876–1966 subject.
Therefore, accuracy requires restraint.
Researchers should use the National Archives census resources, National Archives online census guide, and U.S. Census Bureau family-history information to trace a consistent documentary trail. These sources explain how historical census records can help connect dates, households, locations, and family relationships.
The result may eventually produce a fuller biography. Until then, the responsible account of William Edward Richmond should preserve the distinction between verified history, plausible research leads, conflicting records, and claims that must be rejected.
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