Life after Divorce

In 1936, Rose Winterfeld filed for divorce from her husband, George Schoenberg, in Hudson County, New Jersey. The reason for the divorce was abandonment after only three months of marriage. She wrote that she had no knowledge of his whereabouts.

Ninety years later, could we find out what became of George, using records that may not have been available to Rose? Yes!

George Schoenberg and Rose Winterfeld married in Hoboken on December 7, 1926. He was 21 years old and resided at 175 Coles Street in Jersey City. She was 20 years old and resided at 212 Seventh Street in Hoboken.

Marriage record 1926
George Schoenberg and Rose Winterfeld

In the 1930 federal census records, Rose and George were not living together as a married couple.

Rose was enumerated in Hoboken with her mother and siblings. She was working as a stenographer for an insurance agent. Her marital status was single.

1930 federal census
Rosie Winterfeld, single, age 23
living in Hoboken with her mother, Fannie, and siblings

Like Rose, George returned to his family of origin. In 1930, he was listed in Jersey City in the household of his father, Simon Schoenberg, and step-mother, Clara Blumenfeld. Also residing here was his brother, Samuel. George's occupation was a salesman; Samuel's was "display art."

1930 federal census
George Sc[h]oenberg, age 23, single

In 1936, Rose filed for divorce from George. She wrote that George left her after only a few months of marriage and that she did not know where he was.

Divorce complaint 1936

"She was lawfully married to George Schoenberg, the defendant in this cause, on the 7th day of December, 1926, by Adolph Carsten, recorder of the City of Hoboken, at Hoboken, New Jersey."

"Defendant deserted her on or about February 1st, 1927, ever since which time and for more than two years last past, the said defendant has wilfully, continuedly and obstinately deserted her."

After being granted a divorce in February of 1937, Rose remarried to William Kaub in May.

1937 marriage record
William Kaub and Rose Winterfeld
Hoboken, New Jersey

Rose died in Florida in 1987. William Kaub died in 1961 in New Jersey.

Where was George Schoenberg, the estranged and missing first husband of Rose, when Rose sought a divorce in 1936?

George was 350 miles west in Pittsburgh with a new family.

In the 1940 federal census, George was married to Lillian Levey. They lived in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with their two daughters, Ronella, age 6, and Judith, age 1. The older daughter was born before George was divorced from Rose.

1940 United States Federal Census. Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
George Schoenberg was employed as an insurance agent.

A few months later, a legal notice in the Pittsburgh Press served to notify George that Lillian had filed for divorce.

Legal Notice

To George S Schoenberg Respondent:

Take notice that the case of Lillian

Schoenberg against you for divorce a

vinculo matrimonii, at No 2146, July

Term, 1940, Common Pleas Court, Allegheny

County, Pennsylvania, will be tried at the

City-County Building, Pittsburgh, Pa,

when called, or as soon as is convenient

to said Court. I, Edward Roth, Attorney

for Libellant, 508 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.

George returned to his father's home in Jersey City, which is where he registered for the World War II draft on October 16, 1940.

Draft registration card World War II for George Schoenberg
Resided at 175 Coles Street, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
Born July 16, 1907 in New York.
Employed by A S Beck Shoe Company.

In 1945, Corporal George Schoenberg married Lelia Fritz in Atlantic City, Atlantic County, New Jersey. His occupation was salesman and he was divorced once.

1945 marriage record
Corporal George Schoenberg and Lelia Fritz, widow of Oliver Alder
Atlantic City, Atlantic County, New Jersey

Lelia and George moved to Florida. Lelia died in 1986. George Schoenberg died in 2006.

Here's the twist.

In the 1950 census in Pittsburgh, George's ex-wife and daughters were living with Sam Schoenberg- George's brother.

1950 federal census
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Sam Schoenberg, age 41. Lillian Shoenberg, wife, age 38.
Ronella, daughter, age 16. Judith, daughter, age 11.

In 1941, Allegheny County issued a license to marry to Samuel Schoenberg and Lillian Levey Schoenberg. Her previous husband is not named, but she clarified that she was divorced November 30, 1940. The decree was included in the images in this collection at Ancestry.

In 1951, Samuel Schoenberg and Lillian were divorced.

Divorce Proceedings

Divorces granted Thursday were:

SCHOENBERG, Lillian from Sam

In 1974 Lillian remarried to George Burkett. She died in 1979.

Samuel Schoenberg died in 1988.

George had a history of going missing. In 1910, when he was a toddler in Jersey City, he wandered off with his younger brother, Sam.

1910 newspaper article September 21, 1910 Jersey City
George, aged three, and Samuel, aged two
wandered away from the front of the grocery store-residence

New York City Jury Census 1816

My fourth great grandfather, Garrett Smith Duryea (1777-1834), was a cartman and grocer in New York City. (The name is spelled with variations throughout records.)

In between the federal decennial census, individual locales ran their own enumerations of inhabitants.

In 1816, New York City created a Jury Census- people who were possibly qualified to serve on a jury.

A search tool for this collection is at Ancestry while images are on the website of the New York City Department of Records and Information Services. 

The address of a person in the jury census is provided by the index at Ancestry. To find this entry in the images, you need to look page by page, or find the possible ward by using a map from this time. Garrit S Duryee was living at 168 Maiden Lane, according to the index. On a map from 1817, Maiden Lane was in Ward 2. (Some streets lie in more than one ward.)

Map of New York City 1817
The New York Public Library Digital Collections

This jury census is different from the federal census in that it provides the exact age of the subject. Garrit was 39 years old in 1816, which matches a year of birth of 1777. His occupation was grocer and he had no exemptions from jury service.

The second page provides details about the household. He was a freeholder of more than 100 pounds (not dollars). This could have been 134 Delancey Street, which he purchased in 1807. Four males and three females lived in this household in 1816. The males were probably Garrett and his three sons, Rulief, John, and Stephen. One of the females was likely my fourth great grandmother, Ann Cornell (1784-1871). The other females could have been servants, siblings, mothers, or daughters who died young and are not named in any records discovered yet.

New York City city directory
Images online at The New York Public Library Digital Collections

The 1816 New York City city directory provides Garrett's address as 168 Fly-market. His address changed often.

For comparison, in 1810 Garret Deryea lived in the tenth ward, probably on Broome or Grand, based on the city directories for this time period. He was the male between the ages of 26 and 44. The two young males were probably his sons John and Rulief. One of the females was probably his first wife, Charity Horton.

In the 1820 census, the household had grown.

Rulief was about 16 years old and the oldest living child. Next were John, Stephen, Garrett Junior, and Jacob. Because the rest of the household is not named, we cannot know if these were the children represented by these counts.

The rest of the household was probably a mixture of other relatives. Some of the young males might be undiscoverable children who died young.

Or the numbers might be wrong.

Note: this is not the same Garret Duryea (1750-1825) who lived in Orange County, New York.

Businessman of Newark, New Jersey

Newark is New Jersey's largest city. Founded in 1666, it became a manufacturing hub by the late 1800s.

Herman Lutter (1860-1924) resided in Newark after his arrival from Germany in 1881. He was my second great grandfather.

He manufactured wagons - the kind that horses pulled to transport humans and products.

His business was mentioned in a book from 1894, Newark Handsomely Illustrated.

Newark Handsomely Illustrated 1894
(Newark, New Jersey: The Consolidated Illustrating Co, 1894), 229

Text of above article from the book:

HERMAN LUTTER

Among the wagon builders of note in this city, is Mr. Herman Lutter whose well equipped works are located at No. 148 Baldwin Street. He is a first class builder of wagons and trucks - brewery, feed, ice, grocery and butcher carts -  which are his specialty, and manufactures to order all kinds of carriages. Mr. Lutter started about two years ago. The shops are thoroughly equipped with all the latest any best machinery and appliances. He employs six skilled workmen and the demand for his excellent wagons and trucks is steady. He manufactures for the leading brewers, grocers, etc., of the city. Repairing is done in all branches. Mr. Lutter's vehicles are all hand made, and renowned for their light running qualities and great durability. They are made from the best timber, substantially ironed, neatly fashioned, well proportioned and have no superfluous weight. A select stock of these is kept on hand at surprisingly low figures. Mr. Lutter is a practical, experienced mechanic who thoroughly inspects all his work which is always up to the highest standard. Mr. Lutter was born in Germany and came here thirteen years ago. He is actively connected with the United Lodge, the Knights and Ladies of Honor.

In the 1894 city directory for Newark, Herman had two entries:

His business at 148 Baldwin

His residence at 48 Baldwin

1894 city directory for Newark, New Jersey
Herman Lutter, wagon manufacturer.
Resided at 48 Baldwin; business at 148 Baldwin.
His brother was Otto, blacksmith, residing at 36 Beacon.

The wherabouts of Herman in the 1895 New Jersey state census remain a mystery. Personally, he was separated from his wife, Clara Uhl (1865-1955).

Twenty-two years later, in 1916, a booklet about industry was published to commemorate Newark's 250th anniversary. Herman ran an advertisement.

Telephone Connection
Herman Lutter
Manufacturer of Wagons and Automobile Bodies
Expert Repairing and Painting
141-143 Frelinghuysen Avenue
Newark, N J

Herman's wagon business morphed with the times. He had to manufacture automobile bodies in addition to wagons. And he had a "telephone connection."

In Herman's personal life, he was newly married. His second wife was Emma Neubauer (1864-1946), widow of Louis Grieser (1860-1906).

Pending Orders

Below is the list of records not available online that were ordered and not yet fulfilled.

The last published list was on February 12, 2024.

Death certificate of James Cummings, 1912

Requested of the New York State Department of Health. Form DOH-4384 mailed February 9, 2024.

$22 check. (Died in Catskill, Greene County, New York March 11, 1912.)

Death certificate of Jane Cummings, 1899

Requested of the New York State Department of Health. Form DOH-4384 mailed February 9, 2024.

$22 check. (Died in Catskill, Greene County, New York July 7, 1899.)

Death certificate of John Grant, 1882

Requested of the New York State Department of Health. Form DOH-4384 mailed February 9, 2024.

$22 check. (Died in Catskill, Greene County, New York December 27, 1882.)

Probate records of Jonas Long, 1837, and William Owens, 1853

Requested of the Richmond County, New York Surrogate's Court. Email dated June 25, 2023.

No fee at this time.

Death certificate of Mollie Schwartz, 1925

Requested from City of Bridgeport and State of Connecticut. Forms VS-39DST mailed April 6, 2023. (Same form number on both town and state forms.)

$20 each via money orders.

Update: April 20, 2024 received document from State of Connecticut. Still waiting for the copy from the City of Bridgeport.

Death certificate of Edward Sheeby [Edmond Sheehy], 1893

Requested of the New York State Department of Health. Form DOH-4384 mailed March 1, 2022.

$22 check cleared April 2, 2022.

Originally requested in 2015.

Town of Amenia provided an obscure ledger entry in 2023.

Monument for The Chinese Charitable and Benevolent Association of Newark

Among my grandfather's pictures was this image of a stone monument.

Stone monument.
"The Chinese Charitable and Benevolent Ass'n of Newark."

Inscribed on this stone are the words, "The Chinese Charitable and Benevolent Association of Newark." Chinese characters are below these words, but I do not read Chinese. (Translations welcome. Comment below.) Smaller upright stones appear in the background. This picture was probably taken in the 1940s or 1950s.

My grandfather lived in Newark, New Jersey. I asked various cemeteries in Newark if this stone was located on their grounds. No takers.

I queried FaceBook and was guided to East Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton, New Jersey. (Thank you M. J.)

An inquiry on the website of East Ridgelawn Cemetery confirmed that this monument is located there. Here is the contemporary appearance.

Those are indeed gravestones behind this larger memorial.

Short upright gravestones at East Ridgelawn Cemetery
in Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey.

This section is located along the fenceline of Fenlon Boulevard where Pennington Avenue terminates.

Years ago I determined that East Ridgelawn Cemetery was the setting of another picture taken by my grandfather- the stone of Emerson Lambert Nichols (1913-1935).

My grandfather took pictures of people in this area of the cemetery.

If anyone has further insight into this monument or the people in these pictures, comment below.

Deadly Boating Accident 1909

John ODonnell was a paternal uncle of my grandmother. He resided in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey.

From his gravestone, I had his date of death- September 3, 1909. He was nineteen when he died.

John O'Donnell
born July 9, 1890
Died September 3, 1909
Gravestone at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City, New Jersey

I found no death certificate in the New Jersey State Archives and no obituary in newspapers from Jersey City. The Bayonne Times newspaper for this time period was destroyed.

I expanded the search to include newspapers from all over. Newspapers in New York City and even Alabama carried articles about John's death.

John was employed as a deckhand on the tug boat R B Little. He was sleeping after working the night shift when his boat collided with another, bursting steam pipes. John awoke and attempted to escape the room in which he was sleeping. John was crushed and scalded. Accounts differ as to the timing of his death in relation to these traumas. The other man in the room, John Lavin, lived. I have not determined when he died.

Newspaper article from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, describing John's death as instant

Newspaper article from The Sun detailing John's attempt at escape before being scalded to death

Vital records for New York City are online, but not all years are available yet. 1909 is among the ranges of unavailable years for death certificates. Online indexes list a death for John ODonnell for September 3, 1909.

New York City index of deaths
entry for John ODonnell, 1909.
Son of Patrick [ODonnell] and Delia [Joyce].

Happy Birthday Beryl

 April 1st is the birthday of my paternal grandfather's sister, Beryl.

Beryl as a toddler

Picture of Beryl with her mother and maternal grandparents circa 1930.

Beryl was born "Baby" Lutter in 1918 at Newark Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. She was the second and final child of Howard Lutter (1889-1959) and Ethel Laurel "Laura" Winterton (1891-1962).

In 1935, a correction was filed amending the baby's name to Beryl Enid and the father's name from Harry to Howard.

Beryl married Harry Samuel Nanejian (1901-1986) in 1937 in Suffern, Rockland County, New York. They had one child and lived in Nutley, New Jersey.

Beryl as a young woman

Beryl's death certificate arrived from California. She died February 22, 1988 in Laguna Hills, Orange County. Her ashes were spread at Newport Beach. She received her memorial on Find A Grave.

Death certificate for Beryl Enid Nanejian, died February 22, 1989
in Laguna Hills, Orange County, California.
Processing time was two weeks. Cost was $24.
Ordered from California Department of Health.

Happy Birthday Grandpa

March 18 is the birthday of my paternal grandfather, Clifford Lutter (1915-1980).

Birth certificate of Clifford Lutter.
March 18, 1915 in Philadelphia.
Father- Howard Lutter. Mother- Laura Ethel Winterton.

Clifford was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1915. The story surrounding his birth was that his father, musician Howard Lutter (1889-1959), was performing in Philadelphia. Otherwise, the family resided in Newark, New Jersey.

On the anniversary of his birth, I am posting some newly discovered photographs of him. I had these photos for years from various sources, but I did not realize that he was the young person in these photos. I suspect they were taken in Holmdel, Monmouth County, New Jersey at the residence of his maternal grandparents, William Walling Winterton (1863-1932) and Catherine Butterfoss Dunn (1865-1944).

This could be a picture of Clifford Lutter with his sister, Beryl.
Beryl was born in 1918.

DNA Identifies Siblings Two Hundred Years Later

The family of origin is a mystery for Catherine Donnelly, born around 1833 in Ireland.

DNA connections may provide leads.

By 1860 Catherine was married to Michael Preston (1813-1904), also of Ireland, and lived in Pine Plains, Dutchess County, New York.

Catherine Donnelly and Michael Preston had at least six children:

- John (1857-1928) (my great great grandfather) married Bridget Sheehy

- Anna (1858-1892) married Charles Ultcht

- Bartholemew (born 1864) only seen in the 1865 New York state census in North East

- Mary Elizabeth (1866-1890) married Jeremiah Welch

- Hannah (1870-1947)

- Catherine Agnes (1872-1954)

A clue about Catherine Donnelly's origins appears through her daughter, Hannah, who never married. Hannah lived in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey with her "cousin," Anna Donnelly. Anna was born around 1887 in Pennsylvania to Anthony Mang and Rose Stuginwald, both of Germany. So Anna could not have been a cousin of Hannah Preston, whose parents were Irish. Anna's absent husband, George Donnelly, was more likely to be Hannah's cousin.

1930 federal census
Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
Hannah Preston, head; rents for $100; owns a radio; age 60; single; born in New York.
Anna Donnelly, cousin; age 47; [illegible marital status]; born in Pennsylvania.
Frank Donnelly, son of cousin; age 23; single; born in New Jersey.
Raymond Donnelly, son of cousin; age 22; single; born in New Jersey.

George Donnelly and Anna Mang were married in Newark in Newark in 1905. His parents were John Donnelly and Ellen Brady. He was 32 years old (born about 1873).

Marriage record George F Donnelly and Anna Mang.
Married March 6, 1905 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.

George Donnelly was last seen in the 1905 New Jersey State census in Newark. With Anna Mang (1887-1963) he had three children:

- Mary Donnelly (11 December 1905 - 21 April 1909)

- George Francis Donnelly "Frank George" (31 December 1906 - 12 February 1974)

- Raymond Anthony Donnelly (26 March 1908 - 18 March 1953)

Three-year old Mary was buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in East Orange. She died of Scarlet Fever at the Essex County Isolation Hospital in Belleville. 

Raymond never married. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in East Orange.

George Donnelly Junior married Imelda Heery in 1938 and had four children.

George's descendants share DNA with descendants of my Catherine Donnelly; everyone also matches descendants of George's sisters, Annie and Jennie. 

In the 1880 census, George, age 8, was enumerated with his parents, John and Ellen "Donley," in Bridgewater, Plymouth County. Ten of George's siblings were also listed.

1880 federal census
Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Household of John Donley [Donnelly]

If George Donnelly and Hannah Preston were first cousins, then George's father, John Donnelly, was a sibling of Hannah's mother, Catherine Donnelly.

Tree explaining cousin relationship between
Hannah Preston and George F Donnelly.
Birthdates are approximate years.

John Donnelly died June 21, 1921 in Brockton. His parents were listed as Bartholomew Donnelly and Ellen E Brady. (John's wife was also named Ellen Brady. Did both women share a name, or was this an error?)

Death certificate of John J Donnelly.
Died June 21, 1910 in Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
Father- Bartholomew Donnelly. Mother- Ellen E Brady.
Available on Ancestry.

Catherine Donnelly named a son Bartholomew. Was he named for his maternal grandfather?

Catherine Donnelly is a close relative, perhaps the sister, of John J Donnelly (1842-1910) of Brockton.

John Donnelly's daughter, Jennie (1868-1950), married John Joseph Reagan (1868-1944). Several of Jennie's descendants are also DNA connections.

Identifying the town of origin in Ireland and viewing records could help solidify Catherine Donnelly's connection to John Donnelly.

Shamrock crocheted by my grandmother
Jeannette ODonnell (1920-1993)