Is there a standard for estimating birth dates?

+9 votes
187 views
I'm using the idea that parents are about 30 (+/- 15) years older than their children. So, I use a birth year 30 years off, flag as uncertain, and note in the biography notes. Is that appropriate?
in Policy and Style by Peter Whalen G2G6 Mach 2 (26.4k points)

3 Answers

+5 votes
 
Best answer
I always use 20 plus or minus five years.for there birth year,same marriage year,

In many cases yours would work too.Would catch those who marry later.I have not

seen any hard fast rules regarding this.
by Wayne Morgan G2G Astronaut (1.0m points)
selected by Peter Whalen
I think this is specifically for New England pre-1800, but I seem to remember reading somewhere (sorry, don't remember the source ... may have been here).

Men married at 21 and women at 18.  First child was usually born about 1 year after marriage and subsequent children every 2 years.
Well I think the responses are making it clear there is no standard. :-)

much depends on context. What era? What geographical area? My experience is that colonial New England men were between 21-25 at first marriage and women were closer to 20.

but if you look at southern colonies , the women were younger at first marriage. 16, 17.
The era I've been dealing with is mostly 1800's. A common issues is when I find a good marriage record which connects three couples (includes maiden names).  Problem is that the parents' age aren't usuaually available. I've seen plenty of teen mothers as well as children born when parents are in 40's. Based on the distribution and feedback, I've been using 25.
+2 votes

I was just trying to find some information on how to estimate dates when several generations have blank dates, and I ran across your question from back in July.  There is a Help page that addresses this here.

And now I shall go ask a question addressing the final point on that page. :)

 

by Julie Ricketts G2G6 Pilot (481k points)
0 votes
I've done mine based on law here in New Zealand. For example, you have to be 16 to marry, so if I know marriage date, I say they must be younger than minus 16 years.

16 is age of sex. so also based on children less 16 years.
by Kirsty Ward G2G6 Mach 3 (35.9k points)

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