How often are civil records wrong?

[dathai]

David is 60 in 1911
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Waterford/No__1_Urban/New_Street__part_of_/672052/

[Krazykat87]

I think David Power a sailor not tailor is trying to confuse us says he's only 40 he was a widower married again in 1883 to Margaret Cahill
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Waterford/Waterford_Town/New_street

Hang on if he is 40 in this census then he can’t be 60 in in 1911

David is 60 in 1911
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Waterford/No__1_Urban/New_Street__part_of_/672052/

[dathai]

David is more likely to be 60ish in 1911 and telling porkies in 1901
possibly this man born 1850s ?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mva/

[Krazykat87]

That then means he’s wife is lying too as there is 10 year between them.
I’m really unsure about that one

Thing is there is so many power families in Waterford during that time and that’s what has made it difficult for me too

[Sinann]

I would have though 1901 is more likely to be correct as the old age pension was introduced in 1909 leading to a lot of people lying on the 1911 census.
He may of course have had different reasons to lie in 1901. I haven't looked at the detail of this thread.

[dathai]

Wonder is he Thomas Martin Power born 1st Jan 1875 at John St to David a sailor and Mary Barron
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1875/03111/2141015.pdf

April 14th 1873 St John's Church David Power age 20 son of Thomas to Mary Barron dtr Patrick Barron
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1873/11274/8135412.pdf

also a Mary 20 Dec 1879 too many to look through on civil certs
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGP3-1XH

[Krazykat87]

Yes this was my issue as there are tons of Thomas and David powers in Waterford.
I wish they had had a more unusual first name then it may not be so difficult to trace who is the right one etc etc

[hallmark]

Yes this was my issue as there are tons of Thomas and David powers in Waterford.
I wish they had had a more unusual first name then it may not be so difficult to trace who is the right one etc etc

That's where addresses come into play!

[Krazykat87]

Yes this was my issue as there are tons of Thomas and David powers in Waterford.
I wish they had had a more unusual first name then it may not be so difficult to trace who is the right one etc etc

That's where addresses come into play!

Yes and I wish my family had left me a road map but only gave me the childhood home they grew up in which is a lot later than any of this info sadly