Pre-Marriage Investigation

• Hermosillo, Mexico, 1839

• Solemnity of Hermosillo, the eleventh day of the month of May of one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine. Before me appeared a man who said his name was Leonardo Limón and who, to better serve Our Lord God, intends to enter a second marriage, the first having ended due to the death of Ma. Loreto Zurratequin, with Ma. Manuela Bernal. For this purpose, after explaining to him the seriousness of the Sacrament of Marriage and the obligation to tell the truth, he was asked if he knew of any impediment to this marriage, to which he responded that there was none, thus being assured that everything was proceeding justly [unclear portion here]. Having examined the matter according to the pastoral instruction, I ordered to call as recorded in the 8th book of this solemnity, he being twenty-six years of age, widower of María Loreto Zurratequin, and originally from and residing in this parish, son of Don Cayetano Limón and María Francisca López, now deceased; and who indeed wishes to marry Miss María Manuela Bernal, with whom he has no impediment by consanguinity or affinity that would hinder their spiritual union; that he has made no promise of marriage to anyone else, and less [??] initiated legal proceedings against this current marriage. Having completed the required period of charity. He was seriously and maturely advised of all that marriage entails, and attempted...due to the seriousness and solemnity of this declaration, I affirm in ancient form, he ratifies what was stated and being unable to sign, it was signed
  
  Juan Franco Maldonado
• In the same city, day, month, and year. Before me appeared Miss María Manuela Bernal, and proceeding according to God and pastoral instruction, as required, she was informed according to divine and other laws, and affirmed under her faith to speak truthfully regarding all that she knows and would be asked, and upon examination according to the pastoral instruction, it was noted that she is recorded in book 8 of this parish, thirty-nine years of age, daughter of Matías Bernal, already deceased, and Juana Ochoa; and that she indeed desires to marry Mr. Leonardo Limón, with whom she has no impediment of kinship by consanguinity or affinity that might render their spiritual union licit or illicit; that she has no pending marriage engagements with any other person, nor has previously entered into such engagements, nor any other solemn bond of charity or religion, nor does she have any canonical impediment obstructing the marriage she intends of her own free will; I affirm this is the truth, and I declare in the ancient form that she affirms and ratifies all that was her declaration, and as she could not sign due to not knowing how, I signed it as proof of the same.
  
  Juan Franco Maldonado
• Immediately following that of Leonardo Limón, for the information sought in the present matter, the witness, citizen Pedro Araiza, originally from this city and residing in the same locality as the declarant, was informed according to divine and other applicable laws, affirming under oath that he would speak truthfully regarding everything he knew or was asked; upon being examined according to the pastoral instruction on the matter, he said: His name, as previously mentioned, is Pedro Araiza, married, forty-four years of age, who has known the groom since childhood, and he knows that the groom intends to enter into a second marriage; that he is not aware of any reason, having never known them to have kinship or any impediment of consanguinity, affinity, spiritual or illicit relationships, nor any pending marriage engagements; he is not aware of either of them having any pending engagements with any other person, much less engagements celebrated with a sibling of the other, nor have they taken any simple or solemn vows of charity or religion, nor do they have any other canonical impediment preventing the marriage they seek to freely enter into. He affirms this is the truth under oath, reaffirming his statement, which he signed along with me as proof of this.
  
  Juan Franco MaldonadoPedro Araiza
  
• Following immediately upon that of Leonardo Limón, he presented as witness Mr. Eusebio Salgado, whom he knows. Brought to this tribunal, informed of the seriousness of the oath, he declared and was instructed according to divine and other applicable laws, affirming under oath to tell the truth in everything he knew or was asked; upon being examined according to pastoral instructions concerning the matter, he said: His name, as previously mentioned, is Eusebio Salgado, forty years of age, who has known the groom since childhood and knows they intend to marry, and he has nothing to reveal against them, having never known them to have any kinship or any impediment of consanguinity or affinity, whether illicit or spiritual kinship; he is unaware of them having any pending engagements with another person, much less having previously entered into such engagements with a sibling of the other, nor have they taken any simple or solemn vows of charity or religion, nor does he know of any canonical impediment that would prevent them from freely entering into the marriage they intend. He affirms this to be the truth under oath and reaffirms all his statements, signing along with me in proof thereof.
  
  Juan Franco MaldonadoEusebio Salgado

Marriage Record

• Hermosillo, Mexico, 1839

• In the Parish Church of this City of Hermosillo, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of May, of one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, having previously completed the ceremonies prescribed at the time of the high mass, as expressed at the end of the corresponding matrimonial investigation registered in book 5 of matrimonial investigations on page 62 verso, and there being no impediment found, having verbally expressed their mutual consent freely, I, Don Juan Franco Maldonado, Priest of the same City, married and blessed in facie ecclesiae Mr. Leonardo Limón, resident of this city, widower of María Loreto Zurrateguin, who died three months ago and was buried in this Parish, son of Cayetano Limón and María Francisca López, both deceased; with Miss María Manuela Bernal, unmarried, resident of this city, daughter of Matías Bernal, deceased, and María Juana Ochoa. Witnesses present at this act were Eusebio Salgado and Juan Apodaca; with godparents Pedro Araiza and María Águeda Bernal. And for the record, I sign.
  
  Juan Franco Maldonado