The census records for Lorenzo D. (L. D.) Austin are inconsistent concerning his and his wife's birth years. I wonder if some kind expert could solve this for me. Edith Austin Moore's book says, on p. 76 and p. 149, that he was the son of Mosher (Job) Austin, and was born in 1826, and that he married Catherine -. (Actually her maiden name was Blake, per the affidavit of their son, John P., for a Civil War Pension.) The 1850 Census for Painted Post, Steuben Co., NY, shows the following: (See also Moore's Notebook 2, p. 40): L. D Austin, age 24 Catherine, age 22 John P., age 6 (My g grandfather) Ancel, age 5 Susan, age 3, Lorenzo, age 1/12. Now look at the 1855 State Census for Milo, Yates Co., NY: Lorenzo Austin, age 43 Catherine, age 42 John, age 12 Ancel, age 11 Susan, age 8 Lorenzo, age 1. Next, see the 1860 Census for Newfield, Tompkins Co., NY: Lorenzo Austin, age 74 Catherine, age 50 Susan, age 13 Lorenzo, age 5 Lee, age 4 Maryietta, age 1. Lorenzo and Catherine's gravestone in the Newfield Village Cemetery shows: Lorenzo, died April 19, 1867 Catherine, 1815-1885 Louisa, Our Daughter, No dates. Lorenzo and his sons John and Ancel all served in the Third NY Light Artillery Regiment in the Civil War. The Civil War Service Records of Lorenzo have a copy of his enlistment muster role, dated 1861, giving his age as 42, and also contain a letter he wrote in 1862 asking for leave because his wife was gravely ill, leaving "five small children who in case of her death will be left helpless and without protection". This is in his handwriting. The muster rolls show a gap of service from June, 1862 to March, 1863, so it appears he obtained the leave. There must have a child born after Marietta in 1859. The Moore Book, census, army and gravestone records show the various recorded birth years of the couple are: Moore book, Lorenzo, 1826 1850 census, Lorenzo, 1826, Catherine, 1828 1855 census, Lorenzo, 1812, Catherine, 1813 1860 census, Lorenzo, 1796, Catherine, 1810 Lorenzo, Muster role, 1819 Catherine, Gravestone, 1815. You can see my problem. The ages of the Lorenzo and Catherine jump all over the place, but the names and ages of the children seem to be consistent with census records five years apart. Can there be three Lorenzo Austin's in the Finger Lakes Region, all with a wife named Catherine, and all with children with the same names and ages? Seems unlikely. Both John and Ancel received pensions, and I have copies of the records. Ancel died without children, because of the nature of his wounds in the War. He stated in an affidavit dated February, 1898, that he married Matilda J. Aldridge on Sept. 19, 1869. He stated that she died Jan. 10, 1911. His pension records seem to show that he tried to request an increase in his pension in 1914, on the basis that he was 70 years of age. He was unable to prove this, and received no increase. He was dropped from the rolls in June, 1928 because of his death. Ancel stated that his sister Marietta's married name was Shoe. I have more information about John P. which I can share. Carl Hommel