Genealogy Forum UK

I know the ages were rounded up (or down) to the nearest 5 years on the 1841 census, but if the ages were not multiples of 5, what does this mean?
I have a census that is a possible for a Joseph Woodall.

My problem is that in 1851 he's born about 1830; 1861 about 1826; 1881 about 1826 and 1901 about 1827.
In 1841 his age is given as 8, and therefore born about 1833. The census is the only one I can find with Samuel Woodall as father, as given on his marriage certificate (age is given as full). In 1851 he's living in Dixons Green, Dudley.

1841 Census: Dixons Green, Dudley Worcestershire

WOODALL, Samuel M 35 1806 Worcestershire
WOODALL, Jane F 30 1811 Worcestershire
WOODALL, William M 15 1826 Worcestershire
WOODALL, Sary F 14 1827 Worcestershire
WOODALL, Mary F 12 1829 Worcestershire
WOODALL, Susan F 10 1831 Worcestershire
WOODALL, Joseph M 8 1833 Worcestershire
WOODALL, Thomas M 1 1840 Worcestershire

Hi Sue, think I am right in saying that children under 15 were given their correct age, but you have to remember that Dad's who were often drunk gave the enumerator the information to fill in on the Census, if he was there of course, other wise it would have been Mom who was probably far too stressed out to worry about ages, time was not an issue then like it is today, a lot of our ancestors did not know exactly when they were born, that is why we get a lot of discrepancies on death certificates, because their children did not know either, you can't be too precise regarding ages, have to give them at least a five year window. Linell.

Thanks Linnell, I'll mark this as a possible, need more info to confirm mother - unfortunately Woodall was a pretty common name!

Sometimes the wrong age was given if The Poor Laws meant some of them would end up in the workhouse.

The workhouses never got access to the information but that didn't stop some being paranoid

Hi Sue, I am sure I read somewhere that Woodall/Woodhouse were one of the same further back in time, not sure which was the generic name I found a Thomas Woodall in the Land Tax Records for RR in 1791 and Joseph was there in 1829, only two Woodalls listed. Linell.