Search for content in message boards

Looking for divorce record of my father

Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 18 May 2014 2:18AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 28 Jan 2015 2:56PM GMT
I'm trying to find the record of my father's divorce to his first wife - he died in '83. Don't have ex-wife's name, but I was told condition of divorce was that he give up parental rights to child she was pregnant with at time of the divorce. So I am trying to find our sister (I have 3 sibs). I know he was a professor @ Princeton University at that time, but not sure if he lived in PA or NJ. I'm guessing the marriage & divorce took place sometime between 1940-1958 (he married my mom in 1959). No idea where to start....

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 29 May 2014 2:42AM GMT
Classification: Query
What was your father's name? Newspaper records are a wonderful source!

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 31 May 2014 4:22PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 28 Jan 2015 2:57PM GMT
Surnames: Bozorth
My father was Richard Groth Bozorth. I've dug pretty far in what's available publicly and have come up completely empty, although he was a public figure. I know he married my mother in PA in 1958 and that sometime between 1947 - 1958 he married and divorced his 1st wife. There was a daughter from that marriage who is possibly my sister. Do records ever get sealed for a divorce? What little I was told was that a condition of the divorce that he give up all rights to the child she was pregnant with - due to the child possibly not being his. Apparently he agreed to it. I've contacted his employer during that time period and they are checking archives to see if any name is listed as a wife (other than my mother's) and talking to their legal dept to see if I'd even be permitted to view these records. I am about 95% sure he married in PA, but haven't verified this.

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 2 Jun 2014 4:21PM GMT
Classification: Marriage
Edited: 28 Jan 2015 2:57PM GMT
Surnames: Schwesen
I just found this! I hope this helps!! I will keep searching around!!

Date: Monday, June 25, 1945 Paper: Repository (Canton, OH) Page: 12

Miss Marian Joan Schwesen, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Henry J. Schwensen of Blackburn Rd, Avondale, was married June 9 to Mr. Richard Bozorth of Philadelphia, Rev. Herman Sidener performed the ceremopny in St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a colonial gown of white net and mouselline de sole and a strand of pearls, gift of the bride groom. She carried a prayer book toped with Stephanotis, Miss Katherine Ann Chapin, maid of honor, wore an aqua blue tafeta gown and Miss Ann Gibbons and Miss Jacqueline Bonnot, bridesmaids, were attired in pink net and teffeta gowns. All wore flower arrangements in their hair and carried colonial bouquets. First Lt. Robert Johnson of Philadelphia was best man and Pfc. William King and Pfc. Thorpe Klump Jr. of Cleveland served as ushers.
A reception in the home of the bride's parents followed the ceremony, after which the couple left for a trip to New York. They will reside at 44 Vandeventer, Princeton, NJ. Among the out-of-town guests were Dr. Bozorth, Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Tattersall, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Kennedy and son, Douglas, Mrs. Mary Reese and Mr. George Tattersall, all of Elyria. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Schwensen and Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Seeger of Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Noble of Hamilton; Mrs. Harrison Gibson and daughter Dian, of Akron; and Miss Ann Christianson and Pfc, and Mrs. Willaim King of Cleveland.

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 2 Jun 2014 4:26PM GMT
Classification: Lookup
Edited: 28 Jan 2015 2:57PM GMT
I just found their Divorce record that was granted.


Date: Saturday, March 12, 1949 Paper: Repository (Canton, OH) Page: 8

Richard Groth Bozorth of Germantown, Pa., and Marion Schwensen Bozorth of Blackburn rd, Avondale, Canton.

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 2 Jun 2014 6:46PM GMT
Classification: Marriage
Edited: 28 Jan 2015 2:58PM GMT
I found her marriage notice right after their divorce. She did not waste anytime!!

Date: Sunday, April 3, 1949 Paper: Repository (Canton, OH) Page: 40

After a week long honeymoon at The Greenbrier ant White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., Mr. and Mrs. Carlton M. Shafer Jr. (Marion Schwensen Bozorth) have returned to the city. They were married March 19 in First Methodist Church by Rev. Clarence R. LaRue. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Henry Schwensen of 3515 Blackburn rd, Avondale, and the late Dr. Schwensen. Mr. Shafer is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. M.

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 2 Jun 2014 8:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
Ann, wow....I have searched for many hours but come up empty. Obviously I am a genealogical rookie of sorts! I don't know how you tracked all that info down but, I am so very grateful!

I now have something to go on to search for our sister. I never heard back from my father's former employer (Univ of Penna) but was told they would have to check with their legal department, so I am guessing since it's been 2 weeks the answer was a big fat no, lol!

Since you obviously know what you're doing, would you suggest any reading I might do to try to learn how to better do this?

Again, thanks so much....to see the names staring at me (and I do recall the last name Schwesen, though I thought it was Swensen, going on 30 yr old memory, obviously faulty) was a heady feeling.....

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 3 Jun 2014 1:31AM GMT
Classification: Query
I am very happy to help you. I have had to search for many divorce records through the years! I am a member of Geneaology Bank and Newspaper Archives. That is where I found all the info. I have another artical to email you. I didn't have time to copy this one since I got busy at work. Luckily my husband is my boss! I will try to do it on my iPad.

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 3 Jun 2014 1:55AM GMT
Classification: Query
I think this might be the missing link!
Attachments:

Re: Looking for divorce record of my father

Posted: 3 Jun 2014 2:04AM GMT
Classification: Query
Susan Shafer must have been born in the 1940's since she was homecoming queen for her college. It was in November 1967. She was not born in the 1950's since that would put her in high school and your father would not have been her real dad since their divorce was official in 1949. This might be your unknown sister!
per page

Find a board about a specific topic