Genealogy Chat

My ggrandmother was born dec 1880,and died october 1969 aged 88, i have the notice of interment from the cemetery confirming this.... So why would she give the wrong age on her marriage cert?? she married in sept 1909 which would make her 29,which is old enough to marry without needing consent from anyone, yet cert states she is 31. Any ideas please Nicky.x

I think she would have been 28, not 29!! How old was the groom? Merry

Hi Merry yes sorry 28, the groom says 32 and i have his death cert for 1923 which gives his age as 45 which could be right depending on the month he was born with the year being 1878. I do have a cert for the groom but not 100% if it's the right one. I know the info depends on who gives it and it's not always correct but surely there would be no reason to lie if you were old enough to marry? Nicky.x

Nicky My rellies ages are all very fluid, just depends how old they were feeling on the day I think!! She may have wanted to appear closer in age to her hubbie - thats why Merry asked for his age, don't worry its not uncommon. Rachel

LOL I wonder if i could pass for 31 today,even though i feel more like 91 thanks Nicky.x

My granny's death cert is right for the number of years, but completely the wrong birth date! Have a feeling my auntie may have registered the death and she liked a drink or two! Lisa

The age at death will just be whatever age was supplied by her family, so it could be that they were wrong, but if you are sure you have found her birth registration, then the age on the marriage cert must be wrong. Kate.

Ages on documents tend to vary so much and it doesnt help when you have a Great Great Grandmother who decided to have 3 birthdays (all quoted by family members who all state that she thought she was like the Queen and would be different) - but at last I have her official birth certificate which shows a completely date of the month for her.

We attach a great deal of importance to our ages and are unlikely not to know our age at any given moment. That wasn't always the case in the past and you may not have thought about the matter at all. Think of the sum 1919 - 1880. There's a 9 and a 0. I could very easily have a 1, think well, I can't be 21, I must be 31. If you're put on the spot and your mental arithmetic isn't good, you could easily get flustered like that, or remember a certain birthday occurring when another event took place and wrongly dating that event. When Ancestry asks for Date of Birth, I have the devil of a job, working things out from, say, age at death and I usually get it wrong.

Maybe they asked the groom both the ages?? You know what men are like!! Merry

Thank you all yes must be a MAN THING! lol, I just thouhgt maybe if her's is wrong then his could be as well because i'm still not sure if he birth cert i have for him is the right one. Nicky.x