In a message dated 10/24/2005 10:35:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time, gregoryc@charter.net writes: , the > 1850 Smith County Census indicates that Henry was 8 years old at that > time--which would put his birth year at 1842. I've also seen 1842 in a > number of different places, so I don't know which is correct. Any > clues/suggestions? > > Rosanne (Goad) Vrugtman > St. Louis, MO ---- There could very easily be at least a 1 year discrepancy in age depending on the date of the census vs. the birthdate. What does the 1860 and 1870 census state? Missing an age by a couple of years wasn't difficult. If I had a boat load of kids, and I couldn't read or write to put their names and dates in a Bible, I'm not sure I would be 100% accurate on their ages. Census are good for many things, but ages is not it. I have one family that the ages are completely wrong and locations of birth are overseas where they were all born in KY or IL. Obviously a neighbor or landlord gave the information and just made something up. I know it's the same family due to other research. Sharon Tabor

Also I just want to add this didn't only happen in the 1800's , my Mom told me she remembers when she was a teenager and the oldest of 7 kids that the census taker came while her Mom was out and her Dad couldn't remember any of the kids birthdates! She is the one that told the census taker the info. This was out West also not in the south or the north! Marilyn > > > > ---- > There could very easily be at least a 1 year discrepancy in age depending on > the date of the census vs. the birthdate. > > What does the 1860 and 1870 census state? Missing an age by a couple of > years wasn't difficult. If I had a boat load of kids, and I couldn't read or > write to put their names and dates in a Bible, I'm not sure I would be 100% > accurate on their ages. > > Census are good for many things, but ages is not it. I have one family that > the ages are completely wrong and locations of birth are overseas where they > were all born in KY or IL. Obviously a neighbor or landlord gave the > information and just made something up. I know it's the same family due to other > research. > > Sharon Tabor > > > ==== TNSMITH Mailing List ==== > Volunteer To Transcribe For The Smith Co Census Project... > Already in Progress! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnsmith/tngen/census.htm >