When Marriage Certificates Lie

Ed and Maryann Covert married on Feb. 29, 1992. But their descendants may have trouble proving it.

“You could get married and the ceremony could be officiated that day by Washington law,” Ed said.

However, “The State of Washington made them declare either the day before or March 1 as their marriage date on their marriage license, as February 29 is not legal to declare in this instance,” explained his mother-in-law, Barbara Newbould, in an e-mail. “They chose March 1.”

Indeed, the Coverts’ wedding invitations say the ceremony is on Feb. 29, but their marriage certificate is dated March 1, 1992.

“It’s easy for me because I only have to remember my anniversary every four years,” Ed joked. [Link]

I Would Also Leap to That Conclusion

Florence Beatrice Stevens, born on February 29, 1904, has celebrated only 25 birthdays. Could she be the oldest living person born on a leap year day? Beverly (Mass.) Historical Society & Museum director Stephen P. Hall was put on the case.

I had to give this question some thought, because whenever you assign any “superlative” to a person you want to be on a strong footing. But the more I thought about it, to be an older “leap-year day” baby you would have to be at least 108 years old, (a very small percentage of the population) and also be born on the 29th of February 1900. The odds of someone still alive in 2008 and being born on leap year day 108 years ago are astronomical. [Link]