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Attorney signing for marriage bond
Why would someone write a letter in 1843 authorizing an attorney to sign for a marriage bond? Does that mean that he probably wasn't in the area where the marriage was to take place? I'm trying to break down one of my brick walls and have a theory as to who the parents of an ancestor were, but need evidence. If the theory is correct, the man who wrote the letter was my ancestor's brother.
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Permalink Reply by Gus Marsh on
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In earlier times, a marriage bond was given to the court by the intended groom prior to his marriage. It affirmed that there was no moral or legal reason why the couple could not be married and it also affirmed that the groom would not change his mind. If he did, and did not marry the intended bride, he would forfeit the bond. The bondsman, or surety, was often a brother or uncle to the bride, not necessarily a parent. The bondsman could also be related to the groom, or even be a neighbor or friend, but those situations occurred less often.
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