While Hazel’s early years as a wife and mother were captured in city directories, newspaper articles, and census records, the years following in the 1940s tell a more complicated story. A brief but telling record gives us a glimpse into a significant and difficult chapter in the lives of Hazel and Thure Bergquist: their divorce and the custody battle for their daughters.

Court dockets publicly available online at FamilySearch.org help frame this event.

On October 30, 1944, Thure appeared in Plymouth County Court, petitioning for custody of his two daughters, Elaine and Brenda. By January 29, 1945, Thure was granted custody, and the divorce was finalized. While this record offers us a snapshot of the legal proceedings, it leaves many questions unanswered. The specific details of the divorce, including the reasons behind it, remain unclear.

💡 Genealogy Tip! It is important to note that court dockets, like record indexes, guide the researcher to the original record, they do not provide all of the detailed required to achieve reasonably exhaustive research.

💡 Genealogy Tip! In cases of divorce or custody disputes, the original court records can be a goldmine for understanding family dynamics. These documents often provide insight into the lives of your ancestors during tumultuous times.

What This Record Tells Us

This brief record offers valuable insight into a pivotal moment in Hazel’s life:

• Custody Battle: Thure’s petition for custody and the eventual decision to grant him custody of Elaine and Brenda gives us an understanding of their family situation in 1944-1945.
• Divorce Proceedings: While the details of the divorce itself are not revealed here, the record provides a date and context for Hazel and Thure’s legal separation.
• A Glimpse into Hazel’s Life: The paternal custody decision, especially in the context of the time, raises questions about Hazel’s personal struggles—though the full story is still waiting to be uncovered.

This record leaves us with more questions than answers, but it’s a crucial piece in understanding Hazel’s life beyond the censuses and early family records. It’s a reminder that families are messy, with real people navigating difficult moments.

🧩 Future Research: While this index gives us an important starting point, there’s still much to uncover. The specifics of Hazel and Thure’s divorce and the circumstances surrounding Hazel’s custody loss remain unclear. To fully understand this chapter of Hazel’s life, seeking out the full divorce records at the Quincy court will be necessary. These records could provide more insight into the emotional and legal dynamics of the separation, shedding light on what happened during those years and offering a clearer view of Hazel’s struggles and resilience during this difficult period.

After their marriage on May 19, 1933, Hazel and Thure settled into life together in Quincy, Massachusetts. They lived at 33 Cranch Street, where they shared a home with Thure’s mother, Louise Nord. It was a tight-knit setup, one that likely helped the young couple balance work and raising a family during the Great Depression.

💡 Genealogy Tip! When reviewing census records, don’t just focus on the head of the household. Look at everyone in the family, including in-laws and extended family, like Thure’s mother, Louise, in this case. Their presence can tell you a lot about the family dynamics and help you track down other records.

Family Growth and Community Involvement

The early years saw the arrival of two daughters:

• Elaine Pearl Bergquist, born June 14, 1934.
• Brenda Louise Bergquist, born September 13, 1939.

Note the elder daughter’s middle name was after Hazel’s mother, while the younger was a namesake for Thure’s mother.

Evidence suggests that both girls grew up surrounded by a close-knit family, with both of their parents being actively involved in the local community. Thure belonged to the Rural Lodge of Freemasons, and Hazel was a member of the Junior Women’s Union in Quincy.

While Thure was active in the Swedish Lutheran Church on Granite Street, Hazel worshiped at the Central Baptist Church. Religious differences were not unusual in the 1930s and 1940s, especially in a time when families were often more focused on practical matters—like supporting one another through the Great Depression and raising children—than on religious divisions. In this case, it’s likely that Thure and Hazel respected each other’s traditions, possibly attending each other’s services at different times or finding other ways to support one another’s spiritual practices.

In 1935, Hazel was mentioned in a local newspaper as the matron-of-honor at her sister Muriel’s wedding. The Bergquists were clearly rooted in Quincy, and their participation in events like these shows how Hazel balanced her role as a mother with her community involvement.

The 1940 Census: A Glimpse into Their Life

The 1940 U.S. Census offers a snapshot of the family during these years. Thure, now 40, worked as a supervisor in the shipbuilding industry—an essential role in a city like Quincy, which was known for its bustling shipyards during World War II. Hazel, 30, was a stay-at-home mom, looking after their two young daughters. They rented their home at 33 Cranch Street from Thure’s mother, Louise, who owned the property. The $20 monthly rent (about $450 in 2025, adjusting for inflation) was modest, but it shows the financial arrangements that likely helped Louise cover her mortgage payment.

The census also reveals that Louise had an income in the year 1939, logically at surface value this would be the rent she collected. However, it’s also worth mentioning, from family lore we know that Louise worked under the table as a private washerwoman, and occasionally as a baker for hire. Whatever the source, any additional income likely contributed to the family’s overall stability during these years.

💡 Genealogy Tip! Census records can provide crucial details about occupations, income, and living arrangements. For example, Thure’s $2,340 income in 1939 (roughly equivalent to $53,000 in 2025) is a key detail for understanding the family’s financial situation. His work as a supervisor likely meant stability during an uncertain time.

The Draft and Family Loss

In 1942, at the age of 42, Thure registered for the military draft. His draft card shows that, by this point, he had been employed at Bethlehem Shipbuilding for years. It also shows that his wife, Hazel, was his next of kin.

Their lives took a somber turn with the passing of Hazel’s mother, Flora Pearl Sabean, on March 10, 1943. Hazel, now in her early 30s, had to navigate the grief of losing her mother while raising two young daughters in a nation that was in the throes of war.

What These Records Tells Us

The records from 1933 to 1943 offer us an intimate look into Hazel and Thure’s married life, full of family, work, and community. Here’s what we learn:

• Family Roots: Hazel and Thure’s home life was intertwined with family ties, as they lived with Thure’s mother, Louise. This extended family dynamic likely helped the young couple manage both raising children and maintaining a household.
• Stable Employment: Thure’s steady work in shipbuilding and the family’s financial situation provide a clear picture of how they made ends meet during the Depression and early war years.
• Community Involvement: Hazel stayed active in the community, showing that family and church played a significant role in their lives. Her involvement with the Junior Women’s Union and other local events gives us a sense of the social fabric of her world.
• The Impact of War: Thure’s military draft registration card signals how the war was beginning to affect families across America, even those not directly serving.

When Hazel Quinn and Thure Bergquist said “I do” on May 19, 1933, it was more than just a romantic moment—it was an official genealogical milestone. This marriage record gives us fascinating insights into both Hazel’s life and the intersection of record-keeping practices in early 20th-century Massachusetts.

Fun fact—Hazel was married on her 24th birthday! May 19, 1933, wasn’t just a big day in her life for obvious reasons, but it also meant she and Thure shared a significant moment on an already special occasion.

💡 Genealogy Tip! Marriage certificates can be treasure troves of information, not just about the couple, but also about their families and the communities they were part of. This record, for example, reveals family names (including the groom’s Swedish roots) and offers insight into local church connections.

The Record Itself

This particular certificate was filed in Quincy (where the groom lived), and provides a snapshot of the union between 23-year-old Hazel and 33-year-old Thure. Let’s break it down:

• Groom: Thure Emanuel Bergquist, 33, born in Sweden and working as a machinist, living on Cranch Street in Quincy.
  • The record notes his name was legally changed. On the surface this seems to reconcile the fact that his father is listed as Andrew Akerstrom. It’s apparent that Thure adopted his mother’s maiden name Bergquist. As any good detective or genealogist knows, there must be more to this story. Unfortunately, no leads in this record.
• Bride: Hazel Elizabeth Quinn, 23, from Brockton, residing on North Main Street in Randolph, where we know her parents had set up shop. Hazel’s occupation? “At home” (we can all relate to that).
  • Hazel was the daughter of Marshall G. Quinn and Flora P. Sabean.
  • Remember how I noted that Hazel was married on her 24th birthday? Why does this record give her age as 23? You may have guessed the answer already. This was because her age was given on May 10, the date the intention of marriage was filed.

The marriage ceremony took place at 528 North Main Street, Randolph, by Reverend Eugene S. Philbrook of the First Baptist Church. His connection to the family was more than just clerical—he had a history of involvement with the Quinns, appearing alongside them in local news articles. A sweet touch of community and family ties!

💡 Genealogy Tip! This marriage record doesn’t explicitly say the ceremony took place at the Baptist Church or that Rev. Philbrook was a Baptist minister. Some sleuthing was needed to confirm. It’s always helpful to learn more about the officiants and venues where our ancestors married. For instance, Google the Baptist Church in Randolph today, and you’ll find 518 N Main St. But look up 528 N Main St., and the church pops up again. In this instance, the church grounds includes multiple street addresses.

Record-Keeping Practices

The marriage certificate is from Quincy, but the ceremony was in Randolph. Why? Back then, marriage certificates were often filed in both towns where the bride and groom lived. So, in this case, a duplicate certificate was filed in Randolph—the town where the ceremony actually occurred.

What This Record Tells Us

This marriage certificate offers us a wealth of insight into Hazel and Thure’s union, along with a glimpse into their lives and the local practices of the time:

• Hazel’s Age and Birthplace: At 23, Hazel was at a typical marrying age for the time. Her birth in Brockton, Massachusetts, is confirmed, further solidifying her place in the local context.
• Thure’s Background: Thure’s Swedish roots and occupation as a machinist show us his immigrant background and steady work in a growing industrial society.
• Full Parents Names for Both: This tidbit is imperative for genealogists to connect one generation to the next.
• Family Connections Solidified: Reverend Eugene S. Philbrook, who officiated their wedding, had ties to the family through local community events, hinting at the close-knit nature of the Quinn family in Randolph.
• Record-Keeping: The marriage certificate was filed in Quincy, where the groom lived, but a duplicate was also filed in Randolph, where the ceremony occurred. This dual-record system was common at the time for couples living in different towns, and this record is a great example of that practice in action.

Together, these details piece together not just the specifics of Hazel and Thure’s marriage, but also provide a window into their lives, families, and the societal context they were part of. Plus, it’s a reminder that the best genealogical discoveries often come from the intersections of family, community, and historical paperwork.