Hobbit Ages
 

How old were Samwise, Pippin, and Merry when they set off from the Shire with Frodo? I know that Frodo was 50.

Sam was 35, Pippin was 28, and Merry was 37 or 38.

Sorry, you're a little off there, Firefoot:

Sam was 38.

Merry was 36.

Pippin was 28.

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

Oh, you're right, Merry was 36. But Sam was 35. He was born in 2983. They left in 3018. 3018-2983=35. So unless "The Tale of the Years" in Appendix B is wrong, Sam was 35.

According to the Family Tree in Appendix C, Sam was born in 1380 (Shire Reckoning) and left with Frodo in 1418...making him 38 years old.
However, in Appendix B, Sam was born in 2983 (Steward's Reckoning) and left with Frodo in 3018...making him 35 years old.

Well, I must say that I always thought of Sam as being older than Merry. Can't say I've ever noticed that little difference between the appendices before though.