Mystery over William Bower's Date of Birth

I have learnt a lot about my Grandfather William Bower but have not found the registration of his birth believed :o be 23.10.1866.

Summary of Records To Date

The following summary shows an inconsistency in the year Wiliam Bower was born:

1. Entry in 1871 Census

Age given as 4 - with an October birthday would give DOB as 1866

2. Entry in books of Training Ship "Exmouth"

22.5.1878 (age 12)- would give DOB as 1865

3. bp 9.8.1879 (age 13) - DOB given as abt 1866

4. Entry in 1881 Census

On Training Ship "Exmouth" age 13 - would give DOB as 1867

5. Naval career 1885-1895

DOB given as 23.10.1867 and he signed on in 1885 age 18 for 10 years

6. Marriage 1897 - gave age as 26! - would give DOB as 1870/1

7. 1939 Register of England and Wales

DOB given as 23.10.1866

8. Died 2.12.1948 Age 82 - giving DOB as 1866

I think that is far as I will get in proving the DOB was 23.10.1866.

Colin Bower
17 June 2021

Where the Bowers lived and what they did

Places where William Bower lived