All, With your indulgence, this is a re-post of an 1822 Delaware marriage bond transcription I posted first about two weeks ago. I wasn't happy with the formatting and readability of the first effort ... I haven't figured out yet how to dovetail my fairly recent Word 2007 set-up with my Outlook Express set-up and the list's formatting. I hope this attempt comes out looking better on the list. Dave K ________________ I've pasted below my transcription of the marriage bond between Googe [George] BENSTON [BENSON?] and Elisabeth [Elizabeth] FREEMAN, dated January 16, 1822. I transcribed the record from a collection entitled "Delaware Marriage Records, 1744-1912" provided by Ancestry.com. The underlying record is marked as Marriage Records, Vol. 41, p. 221. The Genealogy Trails website, genealogytrails.com/del/sussex/sussexmarriages-B.html, carries an index listing for what seems to be the same bond under the heading, "Sussex County, Delaware Marriages 1645-1899, FHL Film Number 0006416-0006422" (submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer). In the transcription, I've designated the handwritten entries on the bond form as **XX** (with XX as the handwritten entry). Bear in mind that what one sees in handwriting is in the eye of the beholder. Another reviewer might read the entries differently. I've marked one word that I think might be "and" in brackets, with a question mark, because I am less certain of my interpretation. The form includes a couple of "ink blots" - I've shown what I think I see underneath the blots as ^^XX^^ (with XX as what I think I see underneath the ink blots). At least one of the two ink blots appears to be intentional, blotting out "three" in the year 1823, with "two" written immediately afterwards. I'm not sure if the other blot is intentional, or simply a blot. The apparent change of the bond's date from January 16, 1823 to January 16, 1822 raises some questions. The bond was made out to "Calob Radney," as "Governor and Commander in chief of the State of Delaware." This would be Governor Caleb RODNEY. According to Russell Pickett's "Delaware Governors" website, Caleb Rodney assumed the governor's office on April 23, 1822 upon the death of Governor John COLLINS, and served until January 21, 1823. www.russpickett.com/history/delgov2.htm#crod2. Thus, Caleb Rodney was not yet governor on the "corrected date" of January 16, 1822 shown on the bond, but was (barely still so) governor on January 16, 1823 - the bond's "original date." I imagine various ideas could be considered to explain the two dates, and various methods explored to determine which date, if either, might be the bond's "correct" date. Caleb Rodney was Delaware's 24th governor. He was born in Lewes and was a merchant in private life. The Delaware Governors website indicates that Governor Rodney was a Federalist and an Episcopalian. He was the brother of Daniel Rodney who was Delaware's 20th governor, a relative of Caesar Rodney who was Delaware's 4th governor, and an uncle to Congressman George Brydges Rodney. Caleb Rodney married Elizabeth WEST. According to Pickett, the family names of Caleb and Elizabeth's sons-in-law include LYONS, HALL, LAYTON, and LANDRETH. The transcription follows. I would love feedback from anyone tracking any of the possible lines here. [I have Delaware Benson and Freeman ancestors.] Dave Kearney _______________ Know all Men by these Presents, That we, **Googe Benston and William Benston of Sussex county and state of Delaware** are firmly held and bound unto **Calob Radney** Governor and Commander in chief of the State of Delaware, in the sum of **five** hundred pounds, good and lawful money of America, to be paid to the said **Calob Radney** Esq. or his successors; to the which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves jointly and severally, for and in the whole, our heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals. Dated the **sixteenth** day of **January [and?]** in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-^^three^^ two The Condition of this Obligation is such, That if there shall not hereafter appear any lawful let or impediment, by reason of any pre-contract, consanguinity, affinity, or any other just cause whatsoever, but that the above mentioned **googe Benston and Elisabeth Freeman of the same place** may lawfully marry; and that there is not any suit depending before any judge, ecclesiastical or civil, for or concerning any such pre-contract; and also if the said parties, and each of them are of the ages following; to wit: female of eighteen, and male of twenty-one years; and are not under the tuition of his or her parents, or have the full consent of his ^^or her^^ parents or guardians respectively, to the said marriage, and if they or either of them are not indented servants; and do and shall save harmless and keep indemnified the above named **Calob Radney** Esq. and his successors, for and concerning the premises; and shall likewise save harmless and keep indemnified the clergyman or minister who shall join the said parties in matrimony, for or by reason of his so doing . then this obligation to be void, or else to stand and remain in full force and virtue. **Googe Benston** [sealed] **William Benston** [sealed] Sealed and delivered In the presence of: **William Freeman** **James Freeman**