My Grandfather Enrique Chavez, died 25 Feb 1960. I know this because I have a photograph of his tombstone. On this same tombstone, it shows that he was 92 years old when he died. Enrique was married twice, first to Julia Zarate and then to Genoveve Romero. I have the 1904 marriage documentation from the church. Here is where things get strange. In this document, he is listed as a widower and his first wife is listed, Julia Zarate. His age is given as 45! His new wife Genoveva Romero, was 17 years old. I also have a copy of the Mexican 1930 Census, where his little family is documented correctly. His age however, in this document is listed as 60! The bottom line, I have three dates thusly;
25 Feb 1960 - 92 years old at death = 1868
1 Feb 1904 - 45 years old at wedding = 1859
15 May 1930 - 60 years old at Census = 1870
Any ideas?
Different Dates on Different Documents
Henric,
I don't know if this is your name but since there's no signature I'll use your
e-mail name.
My husband likes to say that his father was 40 years old for about 15 years. For
most of his children's births, it would list him as being the same age.
Sometimes people just guessed at their age. It was believed that he was born
around 1901 but we've never found a birth certificate. He was the oldest of 3
siblings and christening records are missing for half of the year of 1901.
Keep searching to see if you can find his birth record. I know this doesn't help
you on the contrary it leaves you with more questions.
Alicia,
San Jose, Calif
________________________________
From: "henricvs@gmail.com"
To: research@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Fri, February 25, 2011 10:34:26 AM
Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Different Dates on Different Documents
My Grandfather Enrique Chavez, died 25 Feb 1960. I know this because I have a
photograph of his tombstone. On this same tombstone, it shows that he was 92
years old when he died. Enrique was married twice, first to Julia Zarate and
then to Genoveve Romero. I have the 1904 marriage documentation from the
church. Here is where things get strange. In this document, he is listed as a
widower and his first wife is listed, Julia Zarate. His age is given as 45! His
new wife Genoveva Romero, was 17 years old. I also have a copy of the Mexican
1930 Census, where his little family is documented correctly. His age however,
in this document is listed as 60! The bottom line, I have three dates thusly;
25 Feb 1960 - 92 years old at death = 1868
1 Feb 1904 - 45 years old at wedding = 1859
15 May 1930 - 60 years old at Census = 1870
Any ideas?
Different Dates on Different Documents
have you looked for his baptism record???
On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 12:34 PM, wrote:
> My Grandfather Enrique Chavez, died 25 Feb 1960. I know this because I
> have a photograph of his tombstone. On this same tombstone, it shows that
> he was 92 years old when he died. Enrique was married twice, first to Julia
> Zarate and then to Genoveve Romero. I have the 1904 marriage documentation
> from the church. Here is where things get strange. In this document, he is
> listed as a widower and his first wife is listed, Julia Zarate. His age is
> given as 45! His new wife Genoveva Romero, was 17 years old. I also have a
> copy of the Mexican 1930 Census, where his little family is documented
> correctly. His age however, in this document is listed as 60! The bottom
> line, I have three dates thusly;
>
> 25 Feb 1960 - 92 years old at death = 1868
> 1 Feb 1904 - 45 years old at wedding = 1859
> 15 May 1930 - 60 years old at Census = 1870
>
> Any ideas?
Baptism
Yes, like crazy! I haven't had any luck. I found siblings, but not him. I've resorted to looking at all the books from the two places he could have been baptized, from 1868 to 1876. No luck.
Henry Chavez
Baptism
were was he baptized??, maybe I or someone here can be luckier than you..
On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 3:16 PM, wrote:
> Yes, like crazy! I haven't had any luck. I found siblings, but not him.
> I've resorted to looking at all the books from the two places he could have
> been baptized, from 1868 to 1876. No luck.
> Henry Chavez
Baptism
I think he was baptized in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, Mexico or Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Henry Chavez
Dates from Secondary Documents
Henry
This is a good example of what can happen in documents that are not primary references. In each of these three events the date is given based on someone's memory. As we know, our memories aren't perfect.
As a rule of thumb, I would consider the date given in the reference closest to the actual event as likely being correct. I would also note the discrepancies in the notes for that individual.
I have followed people in the US census. You would expect them to be exactly 10 years older in each succeeding census. It usually happens, but sometimes they are a little older, or little younger.
You would also expect the dates in birth or baptismal registers to be correct; however I've seen errors: in January of this year how many of us wrote January 2010 instead of January 2011? I know I did!
George Fulton
Pleasanton, CA