Bill--
I'm sure someone will be able to provide a more legal definition --and I stand ready to learn more from them-- but for starters, here's what I think:
The bonds were signed by those who "guarenteed" the facts of the marriage to be true and that the both parties to be married would honor the commitment. They were often signed by siblings, uncles, friends, etc. if for whatever reason --death, infirmity, etc.-- the parent didn't come to the courthouse in person. The consent form was of course needed for those under age, but sometimes as a matter of respect, a bride would ask her father or guardian to sign a consent form. (I came across this in several bonds in Botetourt Co. VA.) Seeing a consent usually indicates a bride (or groom) was under age, but by no means proves that.
There are usually two dates on the bond. The first is the date the bond was taken out, and the second is the date the minister recorded the marriage. (This 2nd date is usually the marriage date, although I suppose it's possible to run into a case where the minister did not get to the county promptly.
Joanne
Bill Cross <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I have been researching marriages in Caroline Co. for a variety of families, mostly through the book "Marriage of Caroline Co., Virginia 1777-1853" by Therese Fisher, but also at the county archives when I was there last year. What I noticed is that when couples got married, someone signed a marriage "bond." In the case of underage couples, this would make sense and sometimes the bond says "consent." But in other cases, the couples were of an age of majority. So my questions are:
1.) What was the purpose of the bonds? In the case of Philip CHAPMAN, he signed at least six marriages between 1824-1848, though not his own. Some of them are for kin, others are apparently for families he was connected with. I know that he was a prosperous tobacco trader with up to 16 slaves in the early 1800s.
2.) Why would more than one person sign the bond? Sometimes the marriage is listed twice, sometimes with dates several days apart. Does this mean that the actual ceremony was not on that date?
3.) Why would someone sign for children who are not yours? As I mentioned in #1 above, my ancestor did this, but in looking through "The Marriages of Caroline County, Virginia, 1777-1853," it is not at all uncommon. Again, the father of the groom or bride was not always the one who signed, assumedly because of death, but I don't know. In the case of Philip CHAPMAN in #1 above, it has led to confusion as to whether Philip is my gr-gr-grandfather's father, uncle, older brother or what his relationship is.
All help is greatly appreciated.
Bill Cross
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
---------------------------------
Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
|
