Treasure Chest Thursday: Marriage of Abraham Zimmerman and Jean Morris

Jean Morris (sometimes known as Jeanette) was my paternal grandmother Dora's younger sister. She was the second child of Isidore and Sarah Myers Morris and was born in Labun, Russian Empire.

Bronx County, New York, Certificate and Record of Marriage no. 3441 (18 May 1927), Abraham Zimmerman and Jean Morris, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.

Items shown in red text are items I will be discuss further, below.

[1st page]
Groom: Abraham Zimmerman
Residence: 70 Hooper St.
Age: 27
Color: White
Single, Widowed or Divorced: Single
Occupation: Salesman
Birthplace: NYC
Father's Name: Morris
Mother's Maiden Name: Anna Fine
Number of Groom's Marriage: 1st

Bride: Jean Morris
Residence: 1311 Hoe Ave.
Age: 23
Color: White
Single, Widowed or Divorced: Single
Maiden Name, if a Widow: [blank]
Birthplace: Russia
Father's Name: Isadore
Mother's Maiden Name: Sarah Myers
Number of Bride's Marriage: 1st
 
I hearby certify that the above-named groom and bride were joined in marriage by me, in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, at 14388 Prospect Ave Tefereth Israel Synagogue, in the borough of Bronx, City of New York, this 18th of May, 1927.

                                                        Signature of person performing the ceremony:
                                                                                   /s/ Rabbi Carl Stave
Witnesses         } Jacob L. Fingert     Official Station: 926 Simpson St.
to the Marriage } David Schlager         Residence: 955 Whitlow Ave

[2nd page]
WE hereby certify that we are the Groom and Bride named in this Certificate, and that the information given therein is correct, to the best of our knowledge and belief.
                              /s/Abraham Zimmerman  Groom
                              /s/Jean Morris  Bride  

Signed in the presence of  /s/ Jacob L. Fingert
and /s/ David Schlager

While Abraham Zimmerman used the name Abraham on all official documents, he was known to the family as Al Zimmerman. 

Jean probably made herself a bit younger than she actually was. The following table compares Morris sibling ages on their 1910 manifest, the 1915 New York State census and the 1920 U.S. census. 

	1910 Manifest [1]	1915 Census [2]	1920 Census [3]
Dora	13	19	[separate household]
Jean	10	16	20
Max	9	14	18
Murray	6	11	16
Esther	4	9	13
Saul	---	---	2

 
According to these records, she was born in 1899-1900. Yet, her age on the marriage certificate would indicate birth in 1903-1904. That would have made her younger than - or the same age as - her younger brother Murray.

Notes:

1."New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 11 January 2012), manifest, Vaderland, Antwerp to New York, arriving 7 June 1910, p. 1, Sure Morris family; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715.
2. 1915 New York State Census, New York County, New York, Enumeration of inhabitants, Block 3, ED 2, AD 28, Page 125, Line 38, Isidor and Sarah Morris family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : 7 June 2012); New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
3. 1920 U.S. Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, Enumeration District 1262, sheet 6B (lines 97-100) and sheet 7A (lines 1-3), dwelling 14, family 134, Isadore and Sarah Morris family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 February 2008); NARA Microfilm Series T625, roll 1219.