I am back to my Surry County research after a year or so long break. I am inspired by a recent visit with my children's grandfather. He lived in Surry county almost continuously from his birth in 1925 to 1955. He is now 82 years old and very reminicent and sentimental about his days in Surry County. I have a question. I have been using the BMD records at Ancestry. Can someone explain the use of the marriage bond to me. I noticed some bonds were taken as early as 4-5 years before the marriage took place. I also wanted to let you know, the rootsweb quaker e-mail list is currently have a discussion that might be of interest: "Why Quakers left NC." Susan Petersen Sutter County, CA