My Mary FINNEGAN Sekel research is progressing, but her age is all over the place, making a birth record a real challenge. What I have on her (actual records) is two marriage records now: one is unclear with the age either 21 or 29 as it's smudged and faded, the other through the church doesn't mention her age, but the other facts all add up so that I am certain she is "mine". I also have her cemetery record, death notice, and death certificate. In December 1910, she is said to have been 41 on the death records. I have the 1900 census which gives a birthdate of May 1871, age 29, married 15 years, and the 1910 census which gives an age of 55. Her parents on death records are listed as the late James FINNEGAN and Rose FITZPATRICK. I've been unable to locate her one son's birth record; he was born in 1887. Here's what I've got to show the tentative connection between Mary and Rose & James FINNEGAN. 1880 Census, 708 Sutherland Avenue Peter FITZPATRICK, James FINNEGAN and his wife Rose, James' sons Patrick and James (both glass blowers) and his daughter Mary A. (23, laundress), and his LARNEY grandchildren (their father died in NJ, not sure about their mother but their mother was Alice). ***Annie LARNEY is most likely the witness named in Mary's marriage record, so this record seems to be my Mary in many ways, though the middle initial is wrong and the age is off (or all other ages are off!) One thing to note though: if she was truly 23 here, then the age is a pretty good match with her marriage record. In 1882, I have located the above in the city directories: Peter FITZPATRICK is a laborer living at 708 Sutherland; James & James & Patrick FINNEGAN are all at 708 Sutherland (occupations match census). In 1884, the entries are the same with one exception: one James is gone, an entry for Rose FINNEGAN, widow, 708 Sutherland is in its place, and I've located a July 1883 death record for James FINNEGAN who was age 70 and residing at 708 Sutherland. In 1884, I'm a bit puzzled, for there is a Peter FITZPATRICK at 708 Sutherland as well as James & James & Patrick FINNEGAN at 708 Sutherland (no Rose, widow, but one too many James'). Then in 1886, I'm further confused as none of those at Sutherland are on Sutherland any longer; they are all on different streets, with the 1887 directory placing the FINNEGANS on 2829 Alter Street (Rose, widow, & James & Patrick). If Peter FITZPATRICK is still living, he is no longer living with this family; I'm not finding a good match for him and didn't get a chance to look up his death record. Rose FINNEGAN is listed in the directories for the last time in 1893, and I've not yet checked for her death record either. Now, in 1887, I have my first SEKEL entry: Max SEKEL is by this time married to Mary FINNEGAN, and they are residing at 2902 Alter. Two big questions, if you're still with me: was there a street name change? Sutherland to Alter? Or did they all just move? The other is: how would you establish a connection between Mary FINNEGAN Sekel and the above elder James & Rose FINNEGAN, for I am seeing similarities that make me believe this may be the correct family. I'm thinking of checking all births for Mary FINNEGAN (who might also according to one marriage record be Miriam Elizabeth) from 1855 through 1868. I've already checked 1869 through 1872 with no matches. Every time I think I've "found" her, I then discover I'm wrong with the exceptions of those items listed at the start, and even they aren't consistent.