The clerk, enumerator, or records official may not have followed the directions they were given.
Based on those instructions, my parents (whose parents lived in Illinois, but whose nearest hospital was in Iowa) should have had Illinois listed as their place of birth in the 1950 census. Their place of birth is listed as Iowa.
Sometimes directions are not followed.
One response
Very true. And in 1940, the X with a circle around it indicated who gave the info to the enumerator. I know my paternal grandmother gave the info for her family. I am guessing my maternal grandmother did the same, but on the page where mom’s family is enumerated, there is not one X with a circle on the whole page. Not even one. So clearly not following directions!