1851 census and specified ages

[Westy11]

I am searching for Richard WAIN baptised 1796 in Market Bosworth,Leicestershire.

I located a Richard WAIN in Market Bosworth in the 1851 census howver hs age was given as 52 incicating a birth around 1799.  This doesnt fit with the age I am seeking even though the location does

I was wondering if there was a rounding up or someother variation given to ages for the 1851 census?

Westy

[Mike in Cumbria]

I am searching for Richard WAIN baptised 1796 in Market Bosworth,Leicestershire.

I located a Richard WAIN in Market Bosworth in the 1851 census howver hs age was given as 52 incicating a birth around 1799.  This doesnt fit with the age I am seeking even though the location does

I was wondering if there was a rounding up or someother variation given to ages for the 1851 census?

Westy

Three years apparent discrepancy by the age of 52 isn't at all unusual.

[Westy11]

Thanks Mike

[KGarrad]

Age, and dates of birth, simply weren't that important to people in the 1800's
Quite often, people only had a rough idea of their age - and that's what they told the enumerator.

[Westy11]

very interesting Kay.

westy

[Mike in Cumbria]

Kay

[KGarrad]

very interesting Kay.

westy

I'm a chap! And my first name most definitely isn't Kay

[Westy11]

Thanks K

[CarolA3]

I was wondering if there was a rounding up or someother variation given to ages for the 1851 census?

Simple answer - no.  1841 required ages over 15 to be rounded down to the nearest multiple of five, but from 1851 onwards all ages were supposed to be recorded accurately.  Obviously the census taker would have to take the head of household's word for it, and as K(evin) says, ages weren't as important in the 'olden days'

As an example my ancestor, whose date of birth was noted at his baptism, had these ages in census and death records (true age in brackets):

1841    20    (17, would be rounded to 15)
1851    30    (27)
1861    40    (37)
1871    52    (47)
1881    64    (57)
1891    73    (67)
1899    73    (75)  Informant on death cert was his daughter.

Carol