Hi Maisie £200 was a huge sum in those days as you rightly say It was a bond paid if the details were not as stated, not paid up front *However* I will be more than a little surprised if you can find any instance where the bond was ever paid Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 24/07/2013 18:55, Maisie Egger wrote: > Thanks to those of you who commented on the ‘archaic’ wording on the > Licence to Marry Obligation. It is still a little ‘over the top’ > even by modern legal parlance! I should run it by my son-in-law, an > attorney, for his opinion. > > Apart from all else, this Marry of Obligation Licence is something. > Some researcher friends and I have never heard of such. The ‘fine’ > of £200 seems like such an unbelievable amount for those times > (1762), and would certainly be an impediment to entering into a > marriage without being on the up and up. ‘Be sure your sins will > find you out!’ > > The Borthwick Institute (York, England) archivist quickly addressed > my enquiry in a very polite manner. I have had excellent response > from them, The Mitchell Library, Glasgow and the Maryland State > Archives (USA). As records cover 1762, 1860s and 1880s, I consider > myself fortunate to have made as much headway as I have...if only I > were a better “sleuth,” however. Much credit is due those who > unstintingly offer their time and talents to help me along. > > ‘The Borthwick Institute for Archives is one of the biggest archive > repositories outside London. During our 50 year history we have > collected archives from all around the world, from the 12th century > to the present day.’ ... for more information go to the links: > > http://www.york.ac.uk/library/borthwick/about-us/ > > http://www.origins.net/help/aboutNWI-ymed-bi.aspx > > Maisie