In the past few years, I have not had many discoveries on the Lithuanian half of my family tree. Recently, I learned of a new resource, an index to the NYC Municipal Archives records on Marriage Applications from 1908-1929. I knew that my great-grandparents had married in 1915 in Manhattan and I was able to locate their names on the index, and order the actual three-page record from the NYC Municipal Archives.
These particular records contain a lot of information that is not on the actual marriage certificate. They have the physical address for the bridce and groom, their full names, country of biurthm age, occupation, names of the parents of the bride and groom, the signatures of the bride, groom and witnesses.
The archive charges a fee of $15 and a self-addressed stamped envelope to mail you a copy of the record.
The index is in alphabetical order, and each letter of last name is organized by month. In the below image - you can see Greivs, Izidorus under Groom. His record is listed in Volume 12, number 28120, Nov 10, 1915. This is not the date of the wedding, but the date that the bride and groom appeared with their application for license to marry. The actual wedding date was Nov 14, 1915.
Below is the State of New York Affidavit for License to Marry. No: 28120. Date of Marriage: Nov 14, 1915. Church: Lithuanian. Location: Broome St. Clergyman: Shestakas.
Izidorus Greivis (Groom) and Izabella Szetvitaite (Bride) applicants for a license for marriage, being severally sworn, depose and say, that to the best of their knowledge and belief the following statement respectively signed by them is true, and that no legal impediment exists as to the right of the applicants to enter into the marriage state.
From the Groom:
Full Name: Izidorus Greivis
Color: White
Place of Residence: 323 Spring St
Age: 22 (Jan 1915)
Occupation: Laborer
Place of Birth: Kovno Gub, Russia (Modern Day Kaunas, Lithuania)
Name of father: Antony
Country of birth: Russia
Maiden name of mother: Mary Stirbaite
Country of Birth: Russia
Number of Marriage: first
Former wife or wives living or dead: single\
If applicant is a divorced person: No
From the Bride:
Full Name: Izabella Szetvitaite
Color: White
Place of residence: 323 Spring St
Age: 22
Occupation: Labor
Place of Birth: Kovno, Gub Russia (Modern Day Kaunas, Lithuania)
Name of father: Joseph
Country of birth: Russia
Maiden name of mother: Petronela Kasparaviesete
Country of Birth: Russia
Number of Marriage: First
Former husband or husbands living or dead: Single
If applicant is a divorced person: No
Izidorus Greivis and Izabella Szetvitaite Subscirbed and Sworn to me this 11 day of Nov 1915 (Signature of Clerk)
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| Affidavit for License to Marry |
New York State Department of Health Certificate and Record of Marriage. Registered No 28120. Place of Registry: State of New York, County of New York, City of New York.
Know all Men by this Certificate, that any person authorized by law to perform marriage ceremonies within the state of New York to whom this may come, he, not knowing any lawful impediment thereto, is hereby authorized and empowered to solemnize the rites of matrimony between Izidorus Greivis, of City of New York in the County of New York and State of New York and Izabella Szetvitaite, of City of New York in the county of New York and State of New York and to certify the same to be said parties or either of them under this hand and seal in his ministerial or official capacity and thereupon he is required to return his certificate in the form hereto annexed. The statements endorsed hereon or annexed hereto, by me subscribed, contain a full and true abstract of all the facts concerning such parties disclosed by their affidavits or verified statements presented to me upon the application for this license.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said city at the Municipal Building this 10th Day of November nineteen hundred and fifteen.
Signature of City Clerk.
Full Name: Izidorus Greivis
Color: White
Place of Residence: 323 Spring St
Age: 22
Occupation: Laborer
Place of Birth: Kovno, Russia (Kaunas, Lithuania)
Name of Father: Antony
Country of Birth: Russia
Maiden Name of Mother: Mary Stirbaite
Country of Birth: Russia
Number of Marriage: First
From the Bride:
Full Name: Izabella Szetvitaite
Color: white
Place of Residence: 323 Spring St
Age: 22
Place of Birth: Kovno, Russia
Name of father: Joseph
Country of Birth: Russia
Maiden Name of Mother: Petronela Kasparoviesite
Country of Birth: Russia
Number of Marriage: First
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| Certificate of Marriage |
The written consent of the Parents, guardians or Person under whose care and government the Minor or Minors may be has been filed in the City Clerk's office in the Borough of Manhattan as provided by Section 15 of Article 3 of the Domestic Relations Law.
TO CLERGYMEN AND MAGISTRATES
The license and certificate duly signed by the person who shall have solemnized the marriage therein authorized shall be returned by him to the office of the town or city clerk who issued the same on or before the tenth day of the month next succeeding the date of the solemnizing of the marriage therein authorized and any person or persons who shall willfully neglect to make such return within the time above required shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars or more than fifty dollars for each and every offense.
I, Joseph Shastasas (Could have been Father Joseph Sestokas) a Priest residing at 32 Dominck St in the county of New York and State of New York do hereby certify that I did on this 14 day of Nov in the year A.D. 1915 at Our Lady of Vilna in the county of New York and State of New York solemnize the rites of matrimony between Izidor Greivis of NY in the county of New York and State of New York and Izabella Szetvitaite of NY in the county of New York and State of New York in the presence of Dominior Budveutis (Not sure of Spelling) and Ignae Kasparavedica (Not sure of spelling) as witness and license therefor is hereto annexed.
Witness my hand at Our Lady of Vilna in the county of New York this 14 day of November A.D. 1915.
In the presence of
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| License and Certificate |
Our Lady of Vilnius was a Lithuanian Catholic Congregation in Manhattan located right next to where the entrance to Holland Tunnel now is. The street address where Izidorus and Izabella lived was also very close to the Holland Tunnel - although the Holland Tunnel was not started until 1920 and completed in 1927. I would be curious to see what the neighborhood looked like before the tunnel.
