Was full age always full age

[heywood]

I linked an earlier thread in reply #8. Here is part of a post from there:

Here is a marriage for Michael Morrison and Bridget Walsh in February 1852.
https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632303#page/90/mode/1up

There are baptisms, Thomas, 1857; Margaret 1858; John 1860 all with father Michael, of Ballymote. Sadly, no mother’s name , no Mary and no Godparents.

There are several Morrisons in Ballymote in censuses. If I recall, a witness to the Colligan/Morrison marriage is Thomas Morrison and 1901 census shows Bridget Morison with stepson Michael and son Thomas living Newton Street.

In the previous thread, reply #9, it was noted that:

“There are a couple of skirmishes between Michael and Mary Colligan and Thomas Morrison of Newtown, Ballymote.

26th March 1896, Thomas v Michael and Mary, the witnesses are Thomas (presumably the complainant) and Bt Morrison (Bridget, I assume).”


Another incident in 1870 involves Michael Morrison, his daughter Mary and a connected one Michael and his son with Biddy as a witness.

I realise that the census age of Mary would mean that this could not be your Mary but if this is the Michael and Bridget with a son Thomas b 1857 - that age would also be wrong in the census.
Ages are often wrong.

[Maiden Stone]

The 2 available census have her as born either 1865 or 1871 so they do kind of support the birth year of 1867. Is it possible that the marriage record is inaccurate with her down as full age instead of minor?

An estimated birth year of 1871 is impossible if she married in 1879.

Many ages on 1901 and 1911 census of Ireland were inaccurate. They should be regarded as a guide not as gospel.
My GF and his siblings were of same vintage as your Mary Morrison. Their ages were at least a decade out on 1901 census; ages of 3 of them were more realistic but may not have been entirely accurate on 1911 census. GF went to England when he was a young man. His age was wrong on every census and his rate of aging slowed on censuses as he got older.  The brother next in age lived with him in England for a while and the brother's age was also "adjusted" on the census return.   
People were supposed to give their age at last birthday, if known, on a census return. The estimated year of birth is calculated by subtracting age from census year. If a person knew their age and the date of their birthday, and told the truth, and if their birthday was before the census date, then the estimated year of birth was correct. Taking my granddad as an example again, even if he'd told the truth about his age on every census, his estimated year of birth would have always been a year later than his actual year of birth because he was born in the second half of the year. My grandma always gave her correct age on a census return but her "estimated year of birth" was usually the year after she was born because she was born in May and a census was normally taken in March or April, a few weeks before her birthday.

Another elder brother of my GF put incorrect ages of 2 of his children on a census return. He had a big family, how was he expected to remember how old they all were? When one of his sons registered his mother's death, he underestimated her age by around a decade. She would have been a contemporary of your Mary Morrison.

An error in a marriage record is possible. However, it's unlikely that a 14 year-old would be mistaken for a 21 year-old.
 
Have you considered the surname variant Morrisoe?   

[Max2121]

The 2 available census have her as born either 1865 or 1871 so they do kind of support the birth year of 1867. Is it possible that the marriage record is inaccurate with her down as full age instead of minor?

An estimated birth year of 1871 is impossible if she married in 1879.

Many ages on 1901 and 1911 census of Ireland were inaccurate. They should be regarded as a guide not as gospel.
My GF and his siblings were of same vintage as your Mary Morrison. Their ages were at least a decade out on 1901 census; ages of 3 of them were more realistic but may not have been entirely accurate on 1911 census. GF went to England when he was a young man. His age was wrong on every census and his rate of aging slowed on censuses as he got older.  The brother next in age lived with him in England for a while and the brother's age was also "adjusted" on the census return.   
People were supposed to give their age at last birthday, if known, on a census return. The estimated year of birth is calculated by subtracting age from census year. If a person knew their age and the date of their birthday, and told the truth, and if their birthday was before the census date, then the estimated year of birth was correct. Taking my granddad as an example again, even if he'd told the truth about his age on every census, his estimated year of birth would have always been a year later than his actual year of birth because he was born in the second half of the year. My grandma always gave her correct age on a census return but her "estimated year of birth" was usually the year after she was born because she was born in May and a census was normally taken in March or April, a few weeks before her birthday.

Another elder brother of my GF put incorrect ages of 2 of his children on a census return. He had a big family, how was he expected to remember how old they all were? When one of his sons registered his mother's death, he underestimated her age by around a decade. She would have been a contemporary of your Mary Morrison.

An error in a marriage record is possible. However, it's unlikely that a 14 year-old would be mistaken for a 21 year-old.
 
Have you considered the surname variant Morrisoe?

That is really interesting with regard to year of birth and census returns something I will have to bear in mind.
I had not considered the variant Morrisoe as not heard of it before and also never thought of a variant as Morrison is on my grandmother's birth certificate and her mother's marriage record but I will see what I can find.
Bottom line really is, is there anyway of finding out who Mary Morrison's mother is?
Thank you once again for your advice, it is good knowing you people are out there willing to help

[heywood]

12th January 1880
Baptism of Mary Ellen Colligan - parents Michael Colligan and Mary Morrison
Godparents Thomas Morrison and Nannie ….