This person has a birth date of <date>, which does not match the date from <range>

FrankLittle

For the 1841 census in England and Wales, ages over 15 years old should have been (but were not always) rounded down to the nearest 5-year interval.

Calculated birth-years should therefore normally be in the form of a range; the actual year of birth falling within that range.

When such an indexed 1841 census source is added, the date in the index will normally show a range. The algorithm should check that the birth year given in the Birth entry for a person falls within that range.

Even though it is true that a 'before' birth date (i.e. from the baptism date) cannot be definitively placed within that range, it is still surely likely to be correct. The added value of the message is therefore unclear:

This person has a birth date of before 27 May 1823, which does not match the date from 1822 to 1826.

See: Hannah Shield (before 27 May 1823 – 3 April 1869) ID: KVYZ-749

FrankLittle

I checked by adding dates for her husband, Robert Hind KVYZ-7W1, and the issue is indeed caused by the 'before' date.

RobertTest

So the index gives the birth date as "from 1822 to 1826". which are not identical letters and numbers as "before 27 May 1823." I'm wondering if the exact date "May 27 1823" would be acceptable? Would "1823" be acceptable? Would "from 1824 to 1825" be accepted?

Can the algorithm see that all of these are consistent with the indexed information?

FrankLittle

The issue is apparently caused by the 'before' addition to the birth date. I tested this on the husband's entry. His Christening entry is for 28 May 1826.

For the Birth entry I added as a source the 1841 census with its birth-year indexed as 'between 1822 and 1826' (due to ages above 15 years rounded down to the 5-year interval).

I already had as sources for his Birth entry the census for 1851 (birth year calculated as 1827) and 1861 (birth year calculated as 1826).

If I use 'before 28 May 1826' for the birth date, I get as Quality commentary:

• the birth date is imprecise.
• This person has a birth date of before 28 May 1826, which does not match the date from 1822 to 1826 (the 1841 date range ).
• This person has a birth date of before 28 May 1826, which does not match the date 1827 (the 1851 census calculated date from the age)
• This person has a birth date of before 28 May 1826, which does not match the date 1826 (the calculated birth year from the 1861 census).

If I use just the year 1826 as his birth date, I just get:

• The birth date is missing a month.

The Quality system does not seem to bother about the one-year difference from the 1851 census (which is good, I think) and accepts it is within the range for the 1841 census (which makes sense, since it is).

Adding the month but no day it states - the birth date is missing a day. (Fair enough.)

Adding 'about 28 May 1856' does not seem to cause comments from the Quality system. (Or the system stopped responding to my changes, perhaps.)

Rhonda Budvarson

@FrankLittle thank you once again for your thoughtful feedback. A ticket has been issued for this :)

FrankLittle

Again, my thanks.