Why would someone in 1843 choose to marry via marriage bond and not by banns, especially if the young couple were probably poor people? How much did a marriage bond cost in 1843 My ABNER PACE (b. 1821-23) was an orphan in 1837 when he was apprenticed to saddlemakers Hiatt and Jean in Guilford Co. NC. He served that apprenticeship until of age, and in 1843 he married JULIA ANN REED (b.1823-25) in Guilford by marriage bond. The bondsman for this marriage was RICHARD MINER. The young couple moved almost immediately to Salisbury, Rowan Co., NC, where Abner Pace was a harness maker. I have been unable to find the parents' names for either of them, despite searching the court records at the time of Abner's apprentice bond hearing and for five years before--no mention of parents. Betty Pace - Norfolk, VA ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.