Ages in census Returns

[RJ_Paton]

we often blame our ancestors for being a little hesitant with the truth concerning their ages at Census returns but a cousin of mine unearthed the following official instructions to enumerators

Directions to Enumerators.
For infants under one year of age,state the number of months.
>From one year to 15 state the age on the last birthday.
For persons 15 years and upwards,write as follows,instead of the exact
age.
For persons between the ages of --->
15 and 20 write 15
20   "   25   "     20
25   "   30   "     25
30   "   35   "     30
35   "   40   "     35
40   "   45   "     40
45   "   50   "     45
50   "   55   "     50
55   "   60   "     55
60   "   65   "     60
65   "   70   "     65
70   "   75   "     70
No instructions for those over 75 but I imagine it follows the same
procedure.

[Boongie Pam]

Hiya Bob,

Thanks for posting these instructions - really useful.

I think these applied to the 1841 census but later ones tried to get the right ages.

Cheers,
Pam

[Ticker]

Bob.  That's fascinating.  I knew that ages tended to be rounded but didn't realise there was specific guidance.  Thanks.

[Lloydy]

Thank you Bob.

Very interesting and I've made a copy as, no doubt, it will be very useful