New York, U.S., State Census, 1875

Validator (claude-sonnet-5-5, 2026-10-28): consistent, confidence 2/4, tier record.
The image shows Norman S Bentley, 44, head of household, born Oswego, at lines 28–34 of the left page, in a banker's household. The age fits a birth around 1831. The census cannot confirm the day and month, so it is consistent with the claim rather than a direct statement of it.
Matches: Norman S Bentley appears in the 1875 NY State Census, Brooklyn, Kings County, Second Dist., Twenty-Second Ward, family 162 (dwelling 437); Age appears to read 44, which implies birth about 1831 and fits the claimed 1831; Born in Oswego (NY), a plausible birthplace for a man born in New York; Household: wife Emily (42, born Pa), children Mary, George S, William and Daniel, with a servant
Limits: A census gives an age, not a birth date, so 31 March 1831 cannot be confirmed; The age of 44 implies a birth year of 1830 or 1831 depending on the enumeration date; it is not exact; The handwriting is faint, so the age and birthplace readings are approximate; The census does not identify this man as the specific Norman S Bentley (1831–1901) beyond the name and age, so linking him relies on other evidence