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changing ages

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Katherine

Katherine Report 10 Oct 2007 23:08

Ive got an ancestor who changes his ages quite a lot on the census. in 1861 his dob is 1820 then in 1871 its 1810 and 1881 is 1811. Are there any reasons why someone would do this if it was intentional and not just a mistake.
Thanks

Kath

Heather

Heather Report 10 Oct 2007 23:15

Well most of them change ages I wouldnt worry about the one year - it may even be that his birthday fell either side of the census dates for each of those.

Surprised about the earliest being the youngest in comparison, they usually knock years off as they get older. It may be info was given by someone who just guessed at his age. As long as everything else ties in and you have backed it up with certificates etc. then its nothing to be over concerned about :) He didnt get married to a younger woman around that time, did he?

I take it you looked at the actual image for the first census as the transcriber can often get it wrong if its obscured by an enumerator tick or something.

Katherine

Katherine Report 10 Oct 2007 23:21

Im sure its the same person in 1861 as the other family members are the same, I dont have any certificates with his age on as they are from ireland and i have no idea which part. They are in liverpool in 1861 with their first child born in 1855 there. I have no record of them before that, I cant find then marrying in england so probably they married beofre they moved here

Ozibird

Ozibird Report 10 Oct 2007 23:38

Sometimes if there is a 10 year difference it is a mistranscription due to collator's marks on the original. Have you been able to view the image? If not perhaps you can put up the information & someone will do it for you.

Ozi.

LindaRSJ

LindaRSJ Report 11 Oct 2007 01:00

I have one in my tree who was mistranscribed as a 54yr old housekeeper living with a single 41 yr old man. She was actually only 14yrs old. Guess the transcriber couldn't believe what he/she was seeing.

Linda

Katherine

Katherine Report 11 Oct 2007 14:15

Im sure is right, its written very clearly..