For those who want to know: A BONDSMAN is 'a person, sometimes referred to as a surety, who pledges a sum of money as bond for another'. This is the definition in "A TO ZAX, A Comprehensive Dictionary for Genealogists & Historians" by Barbara Jean Evans, published 1995 by Hearthstone Press. As for marriage bondsman, it can be a family member (almost always male) or friend. It is not unlike a bail bondsman. In the case of marriage bondsman, the bondsman 'swears' on potential loss of bond money before the county court that the persons wanting to get married are indeed who they say they are and that they are legally able to be married. If the opposite is the case, the bondsman is to come forth with the bond money. If you have ever seen an original marriage bond, you will see that a sum of money is mentioned. Ben in Ft. Worth, TX