I have a question about early 19th century American marriage bonds. People on the Internet cite bonds as equivalent to a marriage certificate, in the sense that they assume the marriage actually did take place and on the date of the bond. However, if I understand correctly, a bond is no proof that a marriage did take place or that if it did, that it took place on that day. Could somebody please explain bonds to me clearly? Aside from being a general question (having noted many places where marriage dates are being justified by bonds rather than certificates), I have a specific instance that is bothering me. On this bond the sponsor was the bride's father, and the index notes that the groom-to- be never signed the bond personally. There is absolutely no trace of the groom after that day. I'm wondering if perhaps he had gotten the girl pregnant, the father made him promise to marry her, and he skipped town prior to the wedding. Is that a feasible scenario in light of whatever a marriage bond is supposed to signify? Thank you!!!