On 2012/01/09 21:11, David Tennant wrote: > "The bond, sworn "by two sufficient witnesses", one of whom was usually > the groom, his father or a friend, pledged to forfeit a large sum of > money (ranging from £40 to £200), if there was any consanguinity (a > relationship within the prohibited degrees) between the parties or any > pre-contract to another person. The large sum of money to be forfeit was > intended to underline the serious nature of the oath, and it should not > be thought that the couple had these funds at their disposal. The second > bondsman soon became a formality, any convenient person acting. Later > the second bondsman was often completely fictitious, names like John Doe > and Richard Row being used" I have digital images of the Allegation & Bond sworn by one of my direct ancestors, for a marriage that took place on 7th May 1766. The bond was for 200GBP! An enormous sum of money for ordinary labourers. -- Regards, Mike Fry Johannesburg