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the rounding down of ages in the 1841 census......
| Profile | Posted by | Options | Post Date |
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Ed | Report | 15 Jan 2007 18:39 |
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can anyone tell me how widespread the practice was ?. |
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Pete | Report | 15 Jan 2007 18:44 |
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The ages of people over 15 years old were usually rounded down to the nearest 5 years. Therefore, someone who was actually 24 years would have their age listed as 20, and someone who was actually 27 years old would have their age listed as 25. Most follow this, but exception (usefully) occur. Pete |
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An Olde Crone | Report | 15 Jan 2007 18:47 |
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Ed It was supposed to be universal! However, some enumerators either didnt understand the instructions, or forgot them when filling in the forms. I would say the majority were rounded though. OC |
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Ed | Report | 15 Jan 2007 18:48 |
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thankyou, i suspected that may have occurred. |
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** Cheggle | Report | 15 Jan 2007 18:51 |
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Luckily for me quite a few of my ancestors have non-rounded ages recorded in 1841... doesn't stop me being stuck with them though! |
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MickT | Report | 15 Jan 2007 20:16 |
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As far as I can recall, adult ages were then reckoned in 'Lustres'. a period of five years. Would have been a lot more difficult if they'd used decades. Mick |
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SueMaid | Report | 15 Jan 2007 20:25 |
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Well, that would explain why I have two 15 year olds and one 16 year old in a family. I knew they were siblings because of the 1851 Census and I knew the 15 y.o.'s weren't twins but I was still a little confused. Susan |
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