In the North Carolina Bastardy Bonds I found the following listed in Granville Co., NC 1748-1878. Elizabeth Green Sept. 1800 Bondsman Thomas Howell and John Howell. Elisabeth Lock Apr. 1805 Bondsman John Howell, William Brinkley and Archibald Gorden Elizabeth Lock May 1808 Bondsman John Howell, William Brinkley and Burton Jones. I have Thomas Howell married to Rebecca Lock. Forchin Howell (sister to John (Jack) Howell and dau. of Thomas Howell and Rebecca Lock) as being married to William Brinkley on Sept 11, 1793. John (Jack) Howell married (1) Ruth Clark on Aug. 21, 1807 in Wake Co., NC and (2) married Jun 3, 1822 to Elizabeth Valentine. Can anyone straighten me out on the above? Who is Elizabeth Lock?? Is she a sister to Rebecca Lock? Does the Bondsman being the first, second or third have a meaning? Does the first Bondsman mean that person is the Father? If the third bondsman is a blank--does thes mean that the Father is unknown or just not made known? Will reading the county court minutes tell the story? Barbara B. Elliott--Durham, NC