While figuring out the connection with a DNA match, I came across two marriage records for a couple.
On September 12, 1942, Joseph De Figlio (1920-1984) and Anita Whitley (1924-1998) were married in Irvington, Essex County, New Jersey. "Remarried 7-15-50 Newark" was written on this Certificate of Marriage. The officiant was William Lawrence Siebert (1876-1949), a German Evangelical Lutheran minister.
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| Joseph DeFiglio and Anita Whitley married September 12, 1942 in Irvington, Essex County, New Jersey. Groom's parents- Anthony De Figlio and Mary Cavateca. Bride's parents- William Whitley and Mary Shalvoy. Witnesses- Henry Bosset and Mrs R L Russomanno. Officiant- William L Siebert. |
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| Reverend William L Siebert in the 1942 Newark city directory, 42 South 12th. |
Five children were born to this couple in the 1940s.
The remarriage was on July 15, 1950 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. They were both listed as single, never married before. The officiant this time was a Catholic priest, John D Kearney (1909-1989).
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| Joseph C De Figlio and Anita C Whitley married July 15, 1950 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. Groom's parents- Anthony De Figlio and Mary Caropezza. Bride's parents- William Whitley and Mary Shalvoy. Witnesses- Wilbur Leicht and Mary Leicht [born Whitley]. Officiant- Dr John D Kearney, OP. |
Why did they remarry? Did they need to have a ceremony in a Catholic church? Renewing vows?
Note the remark on the first record from 1942, that the couple remarried. Where was this document kept that someone was able to return to it and write a note about the second ceremony?
Also note the file number. It begins with the number 9. The index of marriages is available on Ancestry and Internet Archive (thanks to Reclaim the Records), but the certificates are not. It is helpful to know that remarriages are given file numbers that start with the number 9.
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| Index of Marriages, 1950 New Jersey. File numbers beginning with 9 indicate a remarriage, though not necessarily to each other. Place of marriage is not the zip code. See Bring Out Yer Dead for the legend. |
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| Microfilm containing marriage records, 1950 New Jersey. Remarriages were filmed together and begin with the number 9. Available at the New Jersey State Archives for in-person viewing. |
