Daily AncestorBorn Aug 1842, but only 57?
1900 U.S. Census, Collinsville, Madison County, Illinois, enumeration district 45, sheet 3A
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Relationship | Color | Sex | Month | Year | Age at last birthday | Whether single, married, widowed, or divorced
Boarder | W | M | June | 1878 | 21 | M
Boarder | W | F | July | 1881 | 18 | M
Head | W | M | March | 1838 | 62 | [illegible]
Sister | W | F | Aug | 1842 | 57 | S
The sister on the last line, Ophelia Baker, was born in Aug 1842. Why does the census give her age as 57, not 58?
Correct
Not quite
Every age in the 1900 census is the age on census day, June 1, 1900. Ophelia would not turn 58 until August, so 57 is correct. Her brother, the head on the line above, born in March 1838, had already had his birthday and is 62. The 1900 census is the only one that gives the month and year of birth for everyone.
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