Dessie Pearl Hardee - Birth Year?

After finding conflicting data on my grandmother's birth year I decided to write up a research paper to help sort everything out. Below is my attempt to get everything on paper.

What is Dessie Hardee’s year of birth?

I do not believe there is a birth record for Dessie Pearl Galttana.

Dessie is first found in the 1910 U.S. Federal Population Census (1) as D.P. Golttana, age 7. We know from all her children that her birthday was July 31. The 1910 Census was taken on April 1910 so she had not had her birthday for that year yet. Which would make Dessie born in 1902.

In the 1920 U.S. Federal Population Census (2) she is listed as Dessie P. Goltana age 16. The 1920 Census was taken on 3 & 5 Jan., so Dessie had not had her birthday for that year yet. Which would make her born in 1903.

Dessie married Joe Hardee on 17 Dec 1923. (3)  No age is listed on the marriage record. 

The Birth Certificate for J. A. Hardee (4) shows he was born 16 May 1926 and Dessie was 22. Dessie had not had her birth date for that year so that would make her born in 1903.

However, in the 1930 U.S. Federal Population Census (5) it is stated that Dessie married at age 20. Since she married in December of 1923 that would make her born in 1903. Joe is listed as being married at age 21. Joe was born 6 Jan 1902 so the 1903 birth year would be correct if they are one year apart.

In the 1930 U.S. Federal Population Census(5) she is listed as Dessie P. Hardee age 26.  The 1930 Census was taken on 26 April. She had not had her birthday yet so this would make her born in 1903.

The Birth certificate for Linda Jane Hardee (6) shows she was born on 14 August 1944 and Dessie was 41. That would make Dessie born in 1903.

Her Death Certificate (7) states she died in 1981 and was age 78, and she was born 7/31/1902.

The Social Security Death Index (8) shows her birth as July 31, 1903.

Conclusion

Two records (1910 Census and her death certificate) show her birth year as 1902. However, all other records point to 1903.  When I visited my Aunt Bonnie (Dessie's daughter) in Texas and showed her my Hardee data, she stated I had listed Dessie’s birth date of 1902 incorrectly. I believe the 1903 date is correct.

To Do

I need to contact the living children of Dessie to see what date they have. 

Check Oklahoma records to see if there may be a birth record for Dessie.

(1)     1910 U.S. census, Tarrant, Texas, population schedule, Decatur, enumeration district (ED) 165, sheet 2b, dwelling 39, family 39, J. C. Golttana and household; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 Jul 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624. 

(2)     1920 U.S. census, Texas, population schedule, Precinct 5, enumeration district (ED) 165, p. 2a, dwelling 24, family 25, John C. Galtana and household; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 Jul 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll T625. 

(3)     Tarrant, Texas, marriage certificate no. 56397 (1923), Joe Hardee-Miss Dessie Gilttana. 

(4)     Tarrant County, Texas, birth certificate no. 15078 (1926), J. A. Hardee. 

(5)     1930 U.S. census, Wise Co., Texas, population schedule, Newark, enumeration district (ED) 249-14, sheet 9b, dwelling 205, family 170, Joseph A. Hardee and household; digital images (accessed 6 Jul 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626, roll 2406. 

(6)     Tarrant, Texas, birth certificate no. 3545 (1944), Linda Jane Hardee.

(7)     Texas Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 13696 (1981), Dessie Pearl Hardee; Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics. 

(8)     Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database(accessed 6 Jul 2012), entry for Dessie Pearl Hardee, 1980.