My great grandmother could never keep her kids' birthdays straight. She filed for delayed birth certificates for her three youngest while she was applying for a CW pension in the 1880s. Then, not getting the pension, she admitted them to an orphanage--and gave yet another set of birth dates. I've always just used the date my grandfather had on his SS and driver's license--also the date on his tombstone--but it is NOT the date (year and month off) on his official birth certificate!

Karen Dale
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Cynthia McDaniel<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
  To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
  Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 10:55 AM
  Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Cemetery records


  I also have found that cemetery records (including tombstones) can be
  inaccurate.  My grandfather is identified on his tombstone as 2 years older
  than he really was.  The tombstone was prepared through information from the
  family who depended upon one of the family Bibles.  However, census records
  and his driver's license all show him to be 2 years younger as does a second
  family Bible.  

  The moral is that this information is useful to get you in the ball park but
  be alert to human error even on the part of family members.  

  Cynthia McDaniel

  To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
  http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html<http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html>

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html