Interesting! My Irish ancestors have their birthdates all over the place. There were 2 John Byrnes in Somerville Ma.USA in the 1860s - one from County Meath and one from Monaghan. They must have been about 5 years apart in age.Every document had different birthdate and years - the various census's naturalization papers etc. I didn't think I would ever figure out which one was mine until I found their wives maiden names and found that the witnesses to his US Naturalization was his wife's 2 brothers. I have also been told that once registration started people were responsible for registering the births and fined if they didn't do so by a certain date.To avoid paying the fine they often they lied about the true date of birth. I would guess then that a person would give one date and their documents would have another. Cheryl ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dr. Jane Lyons" <sniliaghin@iol.ie> To: <IRL-GALWAY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 3:58 AM Subject: The age that people said they were.... >I came across a very interesting statement recently - and - I think, that >those of you who have birthdates for your ancestors should bear this in >mind. > > The statement was made in a Court of Law - an Assize hearing in October of > 1845 in Co. Offaly (King's). A man called Martin Doran, being questioned > by a solicitor as to an occurrence on some land that he claimed to be his. > > "Cross examined by Mr. Mitchell - I hold three acres and three roods of > land ; I can't exactly tell my age; but I think I am twenty five ; I don't > know who is the landlord of the......" > > I found the few words re his age very interesting. "I think I am 25" > > Do you? > > Jane > ______________________________