A lot people didn't read, so might not have even been able to make use of a record that was written down. And in Quebec the baptism date was more important than the date of birth. A lot of my ancestors gave that on records. Even in my parents' era, they had baptism certificates, not birth ones, and had to apply for them when they came to Ontario. Usually if the names match up and the ages are within five years or so, I assume it's the person I'm looking for. I had one branch on my dad's side who didn't know when they came to Canada like, four years after they came to Canada, but then on the next census, were totally accurate about when they came to Canada, so I'd like to know how they were confused four years later but fine nine years later.

The 1931 Canadian census should be up next year some time and I'm hoping that will help with a few questions I have, too. The 1950 American census might help me as well, since a lot of the confusing generation went to New Hampshire.