Why might the information in a register of the poor contradict information in other records?

There are several reasons why this may be so.

Where an individual was ill or elderly he or she might have been able to give only vague information to the Inspector of the Poor.

Some applicants gave false information in order to qualify for relief (for example someone born in Ardrossan parish but applying in Glasgow might state that he or she was born in Ireland, in order to obtain relief rather than being sent to Ardrossan or his or her application being referred to Ardrossan).

Clerical error might result in a place name being mis-spelt or located in the wrong parish or county.