OHAUGLAI-L Archives

From: Elaine McConnell <>
Subject: Re: [OHAUG] Michael Woolery
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 21:01:35 -0500

Dan,

It is not unusual for birth dates to be wrong in census records. The
Census was mandated to be taken between certain dates. When the census
taker came to a house and the residents were not at home, he asked a
neighbor for the information or filled in the information as he knew it.
Also, if a child or servant answered the door and there was noone else
there who could answer the questions, that person answered them. That
is why wrong names, incorrect sex of individuals, and seemingly false
ages are in the Census.

In the 1880s travel was slow. The census taker wasn't going back to
secure the information, so he did the best he could. If noone could
furnish him the information, the house was skipped. If you know your
ancestor was in a certain area when the Census was taken and he isn't in
it, It doesn't mean that he didn't live in that area, it means the
Census taker skipped him.

The information on Michael Woolary's tombstone is probably correct.
Also, Andrew was the son of Michael. I don't know why he was missing in
the 1850 Census unless he was not at home or the Census taker skipped
him.

Elaine

wrote:
>
> Elaine,
>
> I copied the Union Township 1860 census for Michael WOOLERY also and see a
> discrepancy with the 1850 census I had copied previously. The 1850 census
> listed Michael WOOLARY as aged 39. (This is probably where the wrong date of
> birth came from) and the 1860 census lists his age as 46. I'm not sure this
> age of 46 in 1860 is quite correct as he died 1-20-1875 and was 62 years old.
>
>
> Dan Woolary
>
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This thread:

• [OHAUG] Michael Woolery by <>

  • Re: [OHAUG] Michael Woolery by Elaine McConnell <>