Two different dates of birth?

[tn17]

Hi everyone

On my tree, I have a John James McMahon, b 1883. He was baptised on 1 April, 1883, and his date of birth was given as 20 February. On his birth certificate, his date of birth was given as 27 February (the birth was registered on 20 April). Has anybody found this kind of thing on their tree, and which one should I put more faith in?

Thanks,

TN

[philipsearching]

Hallo, TN

I think you have to go with the information on the birth certificate.

Philip

[MarieC]

The birth certificate is the official record, so it's probably more likely to be right.  Of course, you can't trust that 100 per cent!  Mistakes can be made equally easily by clergy and by registrars.

I can't currently think of a third check you could do... 

MarieC

[trish251]

Is it possible the 20 April registration would have resulted in a fine for a birth on 20th February? I'm sure a couple of folks on here  know all the rules - I shall have to see if I can find any details - but someone else may better know where to look. It is a rare time that I probably disagree with MarieC - I would probably use the date on the baptism. Did he perchance serve in WWI - that may provide the DOB that he used when asked.

Trish

[toni*]

you had 6 weeks to register a birth otherwise a financial penalty was implicated.

[trish251]

Are you sure Toni? I just found the legislation & it seems to indicate 3 months - this is a link given by Stanmapstone  who has given me much assistance on these types of things. I'm starting to agree with MarieC again 

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/acts/1874Act.htm

Upon the registration of a birth when the child is more than three months old, if it is not more than twelve months old, to superintendent registrar two shillings and sixpence, and to the registrar (unless the delay is occasioned by his failure to issue requisition, or otherwise by his default) two shillings and six-pence,

(Act of 1874) - unless there was a later one before 1883.

Trish

[toni*]

will check it out when i get home!

[andycand]

Hi
Is the baptism info from the original parish record? or from a transcription such as on the IGI. If you haven't seen the actual church record I would do so.  Also, did the birth certificate come from the GRO in Southport or the local office? If it came from the GRO I would try and check the local registration office. It's possible that they made a mistake when forwarding the quarterly information. Who actually registered the birth?
If everything checks out I would tend to go with the baptism, firstly because it was closer to the birth and secondly because whoever registered the birth might have been alone whereas at a baptism there would have been other family members to correct a mistake.
Andy

[aghadowey]

Have often found there is a difference in dates on baptism records and birth certificate. As either can be incorrect I would refer to both 20 Feb./27 Feb. with a note for each source to explain both dates. You could check local newspaper to see if birth was announced in paper altough most people would not have put a birth in the paper.