I believe this information is true of a lot of North Carolina marriage bonds, many of which are on microfiche [at least the indexes and the bond number] at most LDS family history centers. (I believe Granville Co. bonds are NOT included.) Most of the time, I find the bondsman on a marriage bond, however, had close ties to the bride or to the groom--or both!!! So check him out. Also, check out the person giving consent, if the bride, in particular, is underage. For example, my ancestor got married in Stokes Co. ca 1787, and it seems his bondsman, who had an unusual surname, not only probably migrated from Maryland along with the main family, but also, he seems to have later married the groom's probably sister--at least she had the same surname as the groom. Always collect the associates. If the marriage proved to be invalid [bigamy, for example], the bondsman had to forfeit a good deal of money. So check him out!!! One noted genealogist from Salt Lake City says, When studying your ancestor, do a mini-census--check out the neighborhood. These people frequently migrated together, intermarried, etc. (In Granville Co., I find the witness, however, is generally the county clerk. Check him out, too. He was literate, and may appear in a LOT of the county records. Also, he may have inherited his job from his father!!!!) All our questions keeps us educating ourselves because genealogy is mainly detective work!!! And do we hate burned courthouses! E.W.Wallace ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com