Genealogy Chat

thank you all for your opinons as I have one on the 1881 census age 38 would make him born in 1843 in Marloborough Wiltshire and have found a birth that matches up would you take his age as in the 1881 census and not in the 1891 census. thank you Margaret

Sometimes it is v. difficult to read the ages on the census 3 and 5 often look similar. nell

Margaret, Some of my rellies ages are all over the place. My gggreatmother was 8 years younger than her husband some census she is 6 years younger. Their children gained and lost years on all the census, but the only reason I know for definite its them (as it is a common surname), is they lived in the same house for decades, when the children married then it was a bit tricky checking through the census, going by age, I have to look at people 5 years younger and older to determine which ones are mine. I reckon exact ages wasnt that important back then. Pat x

Margaret, It could be it was 33 in 1881 but transcribed as 38. Many times women seem to knock a few years off their age as time progresses. Crista

That is not unusual to find ages that do not correspond. Earlier census takers rounded ages, and although the practice was supposed to have stopped by the 1881 census, it still happened. Paul

Hi does anyone else get different ages on the census, Like in 1881 I have got someone age 38 and in the 1991 census he is 44 and the wife in 1881 is 34 is 42 although the children all seem the right age opinions please thank you Margaret