1903 Marriage Record of Della Gerner and Thomas Fletcher

Della Gerner is another of Fred and Elvira (Bartley) Gerner's children.  She is the sixth child and third daughter.  She was born in Putnam County, West Virginia, in 1879.  She is standing with her younger brother Paul in this (very blurry) photo.

I met Aunt Della once when I was a young child.  I have the vaguest memory of her being a good-natured, jovial person.  Her grandson confirmed that impression.

Della married Thomas C. Fletcher in 1903.  She and her sister Alma applied for marriage licenses on the same day.  It seems that they were married one day apart but there's a bit of uncertainty when I look closely at this marriage record.  (Details in Comment and Observation section below.)

This is a transcription of Della and Thomas's marriage record which is available here, at FamilySearch's Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950 (with a free FamilySearch account).

No. 7650
Thos. C. Fletcher born in Butler Co.
on the 2" day of October A.D. 1877 residing at Broom [Bruin?] Butler Co.
and a Driller by occupation not related by blood or marriage
to the person whom he desires to marry
never married before
and Della Gerner born in Virginia Pa
on the 17" day of Feb A.D. 1879 residing at Fairview
a [blank] by occupation [blank] married before
And now this 28" day of Oct. 1903. Marriage License issued in legal form.
Consent of [blank] residing at [blank]
and [blank] residing at [blank]
      Filed this 28" day of October 1903
      Duplicate Certificate returned and filed this 28 day of Oct 1903 showing
marriage ceremony to have been performed by Albert D. Lero
on the 29 day of Oct 1903.

Observations and Comments

• Della was 24 and Thomas was 26 when they married, perhaps a little older than was common in 1903, especially for the bride.
  
• A close look at this marriage record reveals contradictory information.  The marriage license was filed on October 28, 1903.  The duplicate certificate was filed on October 28, 1903.  The marriage ceremony was performed on October 29, 1903.  It's unlikely that the certificate would have been filed before the marriage occurred.  No doubt there is some explanation, perhaps a clerk's inattention or possibly the handwriting isn't clear, but it leaves me questioning the marriage date.  If you click on the photo and enlarge it, perhaps you will see something different from what I see?
  
• I haven't looked yet but I hope a local newspaper published an engagement or marriage announcement for Della and Thomas.
  

As mentioned above, the image of this marriage record was found at FamilySearch.  The physical record of the license was filed with the Register of Wills, Mercer County, Mercer, PA, in Marriage License Docket, Volume 9, 1902-1905.

- –Nancy.

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