then i would go with family history and a tombstone any day over a census but would note the possible error for future researchers! Charlie Rosanne Vrugtman wrote: > I'm curious about the "accuracy" of the Census reports. My uncle SWEARS > that Henry S. Goad was born in 1840. That's what all the (local) history > books/reports say, that's what the family history says, and that is, in > fact, what it says on his tombstone. (My brother, uncle, aunt and I toured > a number of family cemeteries on Sunday and I have pictures!) However, 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 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Charles Gregory [mailto:gregoryc@charter.net] > Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 8:05 PM > To: TNSMITH-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [TNSMITH] Re: books for sale > > Yes we have a very generous group of smith county volunteers > and the money folks put up for the census project as well as > other projects and the transcribers are the proof.... > > thanks to all the smith county volunteers!!! > > Charlie @ the website > > Jenny M. Calvin wrote: > > >>The censuses (1820-1930, excl. 1890 obviously) are available on cd from >>SK Publications for $30 for all of them. What a deal! Many, many >>thanks to those who helped to make these available. I've spent *many* >>late nights digging. . . . :-) >> >>Jenny > > > > ==== TNSMITH Mailing List ==== > Add Your Surnames to Our Smith County Surnames Page at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnsmith/tngen/surnames.htm > > > > > ==== TNSMITH Mailing List ==== > Submit Your Family Pictures, Biographies, Histories > Wills, Fokelore, To The Smith Co Web Project > http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnsmith/ >

Very interesting. We were always taught that the record closest to the actual event was the most accurate. Seemingly the parents should know best when the child was born. So bible records would be the most accurate. And the census year they first appear in SHOULD be accurate, except the census info could have been given by a neighbor if the family wasn't home - or by one of the children if the parents were out in the fields working. I have a problem with death records because usually the ones giving the info for them - even for tombstones - had nothing to do with the actual birth of the person they are reporting on. Guess that's why we have to check so many records - and try to sort out the "real" info. Diane in Indiana > then i would go with family history and a tombstone any day > over a census but would note the possible error for future > researchers! > > Charlie