Chart to Figure Birth Years
The early United States Censuses (1790-1840) did not place a person’s age, rather an age range. So it can be difficult to fi
gure approximately year when a person was born.
The Colonial Roots online site has done up a chart to assist you to figure those birth years. It breaks down what age range each census had. The one with the least was the first one in 1790. It has those over the age of 16 and those under the age of 16. True, quite a spread. 
Later censuses improved each decade to include a smaller range. By 1840 there are thirteen ranges, ten years apart and then the chart show what years those cover.
Use each census you locate an individual within an age range to see the progression. By comparing, you could hopefully narrow down birth years within just a few years (3 to 4 years).
The chart would be good to print and keep a copy handy.
Related FamilyTree.com genealogy blogs:
Other Methods to Locate Ancestors in the Census
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