Marriage Application Signatures?

What perplexes me about Bridget Higgins Barry’s marriage application is the “applicant” signature line, which contains two signatures – that of Edward Barry, the groom, and one “Wm Whalen” -- who obviously is not Bridget [1].

The other applications that appear on the same page all have one signature – that of the groom.  Why would Edward’s and Bridget’s application need a second male signature?

I thought perhaps it might have something to do with the age of either the bride or groom, but Edward was 27 at the time and Bridget’s age was recorded as 26. 

I’ll need to follow up on this. 

“Wm Whalen” – William Whalen – just may be key to finding more information about Bridget.   

Notes:

 

[1] “Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988,” database, Ancestry.com, entry for Edward Barry and Bridget Higgins, 6 April 1866, Charlestown.