Genealogy Chat

Sandra, please do not worry overmuch about 1 years age difference. A lot of people did not seem to know HOW old they were! Many were illiterate, or their parents were, or their parents had died etc etc. I can't think of 1 ancestor I have found where the date of birth on death, marriage and census match up to birth cert! Unless you are talking about John Smith from London you probably have the right one. Of course, the more entries you have for him the better as will help to confirm relationships around him. Good luck and don't lose sleep!! Maz. XX

Elaine thats him. Thankyou Notts Hinds some moved to Islington. The Birth certificate says Basford. Not put on GC Site yet. Sandra

Bye Bye for now. If I succeed I will let you know. Then someone else might get lucky. Sandra

Thanks Sarah will try that right now, and look at Census later. Sandra

Thanks Elaine, Thanks Kathryn, I didn't know about that thanks very much will give it a whirl. Sandra

Sandra 1837online is a pay-per-view site where you can look up the births, marriages and deaths for all of England and Wales. It doesn't give you the exact date, but you will at least know which quarter and which year he was born in.

Go to links on left hand side and click on family search address. If you need any help just shout and I'm sure someone will help you. Sarah.

Sarah where do I find 1881 Census. Do I just type in Google or is there a better way. Sandra

Hi Kathryn, Would 1837 Census not be a little early as he was not born until 1870/71. Just a thought not being cheeky. Sandra

Sandra. Have you checked the 1881 census to see if he's on there?. Sarah.

Hi May, Yes it is weird. I know the census has errors but I cannot work this one out. I am wondering if perhaps he had wedding nerves or the person who wrote the marriage certificate just guessed at his age, perhaps just going off the year of birth and got their sums wrong. Sandra

Sandra, I have had relatives who have lied about their age on marriage certificates. Also, record keeping wasn't as accurate then as it is today. Do you have anything else like census entries to double check with. My instinct would say that 1 year difference isn't a lot but if you have other sources you can check that it's the right one.

One year is nothing. Lying about one's age was a national past-time, especially if there was a huge age difference between the bride and groom, or they weren't quite legally old enough to marry. If everything else on the certificate looks right, it probably is the correct certificate. PS You could check 1837online. If he were registered in 1870, then he obviously can't have been born in 1871!

Sandra, I have exactly the same thing. I have a marriage certificate for my grandfather which states he is 29 in 1907. The birth certificate says he was born 1877 not 1878. Like you not sure what to do. May

Hi everybody. I am trying to find my Grandads Mums name. I was sent a Birth Cert. from GRO at Southport with a slip which said possible John Thomas Hind. I have Marriage Cert for him which is correct. But it says he was 26 which makes him born 1871.(married 2nd October 1897. Birth Cert. says 1870, Born 22nd June. Could this be true, or did he make a mistake for age on Marriage cert. and should have said he was 27. Or do you think I may have wrong Birth Certificate. Many thanks if you can help, Sandra