Accuracy in the 1841 census

[andrewalston]

Sometimes we get frustrated at the ages given in the 1841 census.

But can anyone find an age more accurate than this one?

It's in the wrong column though, as the child went on to be named Isaac!

[Maiden Stone]

What's not in doubt is the answer yes for born in county column.

[Rosinish]

Very useful in the event of no baptism.

It's great when we find things which are almost unique.

Annie

[Treetotal]

Not many people can say that they had an ancestor who born the day that the 1841 census was taken.
Carol

[Guy Etchells]

Sometimes we get frustrated at the ages given in the 1841 census.

But can anyone find an age more accurate than this one?

It's in the wrong column though, as the child went on to be named Isaac!

But is it accurate?
You seem to be assuming the census was filled in at Midnight. Sun/Mon. 6/7th June, 1841, giving the day & time of birth as Sunday 6pm, but if it was filled in when the schedules were delivered or collected it could be up to a week before or up to a week later.
As with all other information we need supporting evidence.
Cheers
Guy

[chempat]

Not as accurate, but I did know this lady.

My mother-in-law is described as 'Baby' on 1911 census, aged 1 month.
She was born on 6th March, so that was pretty accurate.

I was surprised that they had not decided on a name by then.

[coombs]

Yes, I agree with Guy, it is not always as cut and dried as you may think and the schedules could have been collected a few days prior to or after the census. The only way to be sure would be to obtain the birth cert.

[BenRalph]

There are quite a few people on the censuses that died after the census was filled out and have had 'died' and things put in.

[coombs]

Yes, in the 1851 census for Dennington, Suffolk, I came across a man (Edward or Edmund) cannot remember surname, and it said he died April 2nd. So the census took place on 30th March, and was probably collected a few days later. Any descendants of this man did not need to buy his death cert then if they wanted to know the date of death.