Geoff, Thank you for posting the very informative piece on marriage bonds and allegations. Meg > > There was only a need to enter into a Marriage Bond if the wedding was to be by Licence. Most weddings were after the calling of Banns and therefore no Licence was necessary. The value of using the Marriage Bonds is therefore to see whether, knowing that the wedding was by Licence, there is anything extra to be gleaned from the Bond or from the Allegation which it was necessary to make before entering into the Bond.