When It Just Doesn’t Add Up
- Juliana Smith
We all have them—those ancestors whose records constantly contradict one another. (If you don't have one now, wait—you will!) We may even have several.
One of mine is Thomas Howley. Below is a summary of the information I have regarding his age and possible year of birth:
In 1860, he was 29 = born ca. 1831 (1860 U.S. Census)
In 1870, he was 30 = born ca. 1840 (1870 U.S. Census)
In 1880, he was 35 = born ca. 1845 (1880 U.S. Census)
In 1884, he was 43 = born ca. 1840-1 (Death Certificate)
OK, Tom, pick a year and stick with it!
Problems like this are common, and they are not restricted to just dates. There may be conflicting locations, or even conflicting names. So how do
we know what is correct? Here are some steps you can take to be sure you’re accurate.
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