Daniel F. Bickerstaff's 1916 Marriage Record

Daniel F. Bickerstaff is one of my maternal grandmother's younger brothers.  He and Aunt Cory lived down the street from us during my childhood years.  I thought they were husband and wife.  I was surprised to learn that they were not spouses, but siblings who began sharing a house after their parents died.  It wasn't until I began working on family history, when I asked my aunt what she knew about Uncle Dan, that I learned that he had been married.  And divorced.  My aunt told me the marriage didn't last long.  I was pleased to find his marriage record to Mary Lauretta Sanford at FamilySearch.

This is an image of their marriage record.  A transcription is below.

Page 104
Marriage Record.
Probate Court, Trumbull County, Ohio
In the matter of
Daniel F. Bickerstaff
and                                          No. 4983 Marriage License.  Application.
Mary Lauretta Sanford
The undersigned respectfully make..... application for a Marriage License for said parties, and upon oath state___:
That said Daniel F. Bickerstaff is 21
years of age, on the 9th day of April 1916,
his residence is Niles, Ohio
his place of birth is Steubenville, Ohio
his occupation is Tinner at Trumbull Steel Co.
his father's name is Edward Jesse Bickerstaff
his mother's maiden name was Mary Thompson
that he was not previously married ..., and
that he has no wife living.
That said Mary Lauretta Sanford is 21
years of age, on the 22nd day of January, 1916,
her residence is Niles Trumbull County, O.,
his place of birth is Niles, Ohio
her occupation is Forelady at Wilson Mfg. Co.
her father's name is Dominick Sanford
her mother's maiden name was Rose Elliet
that she was not previously married, ... that she has no husband living.
That neither of said parties is an habitual drunkard, epileptic, imbecile or insane, or under the influence of any intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug.
Said parties are not nearer of kin than second cousins, and there is no legal impediment to their marriage.
It is expected that Squire Ormsby is to solemnize the marriage of said parties.
Daniel F. Bickerstaff [signature]
Mary L. Sanford [signature]
Sworn to before me and signed in my presence, this 28th day of October 1916
Nellie B. Elder, Deputy Clerk.
----------------
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.    No. 4983    The State of Ohio, Trumbull County
I do hereby certify, That on the 28 day of October A. D. 1916, I solemnized the Marriage of Mr. Daniel F. Bickerstaff with Miss Mary Lauretta Sanford
W. O. Ormsby    Justice of the Peace, Warren O.
File and Recorded, Feb. 16, 1917    E. O. Dilley Probate Judge.

This record can be viewed here at FamilySearch, with a free account.  It is included in the record collection, "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016."

Observations and Comments

• Dan and Mary were married in October, 1916, but didn't file the marriage record until February, 1917.
  
• It's interesting to note the several additions to the record:  "Lauretta" was inserted both times her name was written at the beginning of the document and "Edward" was inserted before the rest of Daniel's father's name.  On many documents Edward Jesse Bickerstaff signed his name "E. J. Bickerstaff."  I have no doubt these were inserted at the time the record was created.
  
• About Daniel's birth date.  On the record above he claims to have been 21 in 1916.  Jefferson County birth records give his date of birth as April 9, 1897.  With that date of birth, his age on October 28, 1916, would have been 19 years 6 months 19 days.  Why the change?  Would his parents not have given consent?  Or had he presented himself as older when he first met Mary?  Or...?
  
• The marriage did not last long.  In the 1920 U.S. Census, Daniel was listed as living at home with his parents.  And in the interim, Dan served in the Army during World War I, again having falsified his birth date.
• "Squire Ormsby" signed himself as W. O. Ormsby and was Justice of the Peace in Trumbull County, Ohio.  Squire seems an unusual term of respect, even in 1916, and in the United States.
  
• Do present-day marriage records include any statement similar to this?  "That neither of said parties is an habitual drunkard, epileptic, imbecile or insane, or under the influence of any intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug."

-–Nancy.

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