Genealogy Chat

Hi, can anyone help with this? i have been looking for my G.Grandfather in 1881, well i think i have found him, he was James Henry Churchill born Long Compton Warwick Sept 1865 [i have his birth cert], by my reckoning he would have been 15-16 in 1881, on the census i have [if i have got the right person!] he is down as aged 20! he's not living at home, he is a border, his full name is not registered just 'James Churchill', was it compulsary to put the full name? and why would he lie about his age? mind you, from what i have on him, i don't think he knew how old he was!! or what year he was born!! thanks for any help, Chris.

Well if everything else matches. Not unusual for a lodger's details not to be known fully to the landlord who probably gave the details to the enumerator. Ive had my Jonas Horstead entered as Thomas when he has been lodging (landlord a bit hard of hearing??). Still thats better than the lists and lists of 'Mariner' age unknown, place of birth unknown which you find at many a boarding house.

I've found ages 'lied' about too, sometimes seems just not sure, sometimes I think to get a certain job? I've looked at early Army barracks census and every single boy is listed as exactly 15 - suspicious? did you have to be 15 to join up?