1939 Register

[LizzieL]

I've found a few of my ancestors with their birth year a year out. Anyone else had this?

I've had a few like that including my grandfather's two elder brothers who were twins: according to '39 register they were both born on 17th Jan but a year apart
The correct year of birth was 1885, but one put 1884. Strangely this twin's wife's age was also a year out, and the same way (1 year earlier than it should be). She put 8 Dec 1883, but her birth was registered Q4 1884.

[Geoff-E]

I found some twins the other day (living apart), births registered Q1 1902, they both appear in the 1939 register as born 26 Dec 1900.  Their deaths gave DoB as 26 Dec 1901.

[groom]

I think a lot may be to do with the fact that people then weren't constantly being asked for their date of birth every time they filled in a form! So they may have known what day they were born but not the exact year.

[Ellenmai]

My Great Grandparents DOB's were mixed up by the enumerator on the 1939 Register, I didn't realise this until I received my Great Gran's Birth Certificate, so I had spent years looking for my Great Grandfather with the wrong date. On saying that I still haven't found his birth family. 

[Ellenmai]

I think you'r right there Groom and also there was a lot of illiteracy too.

[pharmaT]

One  of hubby's ancestors was transcribed as being born in 1909 when he was born in 1889.  In the transcriber's defence mind you the date on his entry is very badly smudged.

[Ellenmai]

At last I have had a reply from FindMyPast and as promised here is the reply. They have opened the details without a death certificate, I pointed out the fact the person concerned was well over 120 and therefore the details shouldn't have been closed in the first place. There was a long delay as they said they would get back to me and didn't, but when I sent a third e-mail asking what was the delay they said they had sent me two e-mails and opened the information and please would I give them a rating  On the transcription they just transcribed the name and stated sex unknown (to lazy to have a look at the original and put all the details which would have taken a few minutes)
I feel better now I have a moan to you all about the saga, but could I ask for your help with one more thing on this subject? In the date of birth for the person mentioned it has a tick above both day and date but the year has changed from 97 to 95 and also added NR37A ZJB 27.5.49 has anyone an idea what this means? 

[rosie99]

They did the adjustment to change the year on  27.5.49

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/1939-register-enumeration-districts
ZJB is Denbighshire   Colwyn Bay   MB

NR37A 
Possibly the reference to locate the information provided to do the adjustment

[Ellenmai]

Thanks Rosie very helpful as always