Lots of the records were destroyed as you know, but I'm thinking that some tried deliberately to confuse. I have three of OH's grandfather's siblings RC Baptisms and while the mother is the same and the father's Surname is the same, his Christian name is different. One of his brother's is named Bartholemew and he was always known as Michael.. Grandfather never knew his proper year of birth.. when he wrote to his brother in Ireland he said When were you born because I'm older than you. He did put an age on his marriage cert but I think that was a guess.