Mary Florence/Lockett age

[MeirSoul]

I was wondering if anyone could help. I think I have found my great x4 grandmother Mary Lockett (born Mary Florence) as being the daughter of Richard and Amelia Florence born in Newport Shropshire in 1820 but on all the censuses she appears to have being born in around 1822-1825. She married John Lockett in Keele Staffordshire and lived mostly in the Newcastle-under-Lyme area.  I'm 99% sure it's the same person because everyone else in the household matches up as siblings etc. Does anyone know why there would be a difference in her stated age?

[Mabel Bagshawe]

There's a number of possibilities I can think of, without looking at records

People weren't always sure of their ages/dates of birth at that time

There was a Mary Florence born c1820 who died, and her parents called a later baby Mary as well (very common then)

For some reason she thought it would be better to seem a few years younger than her actual age (eg if her husband was a bit younger)

[CaroleW]

She married Lockett on 9.2.1846 - full age - St John the Baptist Keele - father Richard

Looks like she had a sister Eliza who married Luke Parker on the same day at the same church - father Richard

Baptism of Eliza shows parents Richard & Emily

Eliza Florence  Baptism Date 27 Jul 1817 All Saints,Dilhorne,Stafford,England
Father    Richard Florence
Mother    Emily


Mary Florence Baptism Date 21 May 1820
Baptism Place    Newport, Shropshire, England
Father    Richd Florence
Mother    Emily Florence

[goldie61]

As Mabel has said. there could be any number of reasons why ages may differ at this time.
We are so used to giving our date of birth for so many reasons these days, that we forget it was not the same 200 years ago.
Remember there were no such thing as birth certificates in 1820, and many people could not read and write to any great degree, (perhaps enough to write their name),  and could not have kept records of dates of birth of their children. If they had several children, it became even more unlikely they would remember all of their births. "You were born in the year of the great flood" may not have been terribly helpful if then several years had a great flood!

What year did she marry John Lockett? what does her age say?
Perhaps it says 'of full age', which is never very helpful.

[CaroleW]

Marriage details shown in my reply above.  Transcription only - original cert not online

[goldie61]

MeirSoul no doubt has a copy of the original showing something for Mary's age.

[MeirSoul]

MeirSoul no doubt has a copy of the original showing something for Mary's age.

Unfortunately not just "full age"

[goldie61]

MeirSoul no doubt has a copy of the original showing something for Mary's age.

Unfortunately not just "full age"

That's not helpful!