Roy, I might get time to comment later but for now Robert Brooke was the Gov. of VA 1794-1796; per World Book Encyclopedia 1968, vol. UV, p. 328g. Do you think the bond document you have is, by any chance, a pre-printed form to be filled in as appropriate? Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roy Harris" <mrh3b@virginia.edu> To: <VAFRANKL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2000 11:15 AM Subject: [VAFRANKL] Problems in BOND/STARKEY bond > The current discussion on the list concerning the nature of marriage > bonds in Virginia has made me look again at my photocopy of the Franklin > Co., Virginia bond for the marriage of Robert Bond to Anny Starkey, > probably dated 15 OCT 1796. I cannot read some of the wording and > thought that since the language is mainly formulas someone might be able > to fill in the problem places for me. This is my best transcription. The > succession of xxxxx's are places where words have been stricken out. > ********** > Know all men by these presents that we xxxxxxx Robert > Bond & Samuel Ozburn are Held and firmly bound > unto Robert Brook Esquire Governor or(?) Chief Magistrate of > The State of Virginia in the sum of one Hundred dollars Current > money of Virginia to Which payment well and truly to be Made > We bind ourselves our Heirs &(?) fundy(?) by these presents sealed > with our Seale and Dated the 15th day of October 179? [last digit > unreadable] > > The CONDITION of the above obligation is such > that whereas there is a marriage Shortly Intended to be Had > & Solemnized betweeen the above Bound Robert Bond > & Anny Starkey > Now if there shall be no lawfull > Cause to obstruct the said Marriage xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx then the > above obligation to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > be Void else to remain in full force & Virtue > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Robert Bond > Joshua Starkey > ********** > > 1) When was Robert Brook governor of Virginia? Was the governor also the > chief magistrate of Virginia? Why the wording "Governor or Chief > Magistrate?" If one and the same, I would expect "Governor and Chief > Magistrate" but the word betweeen the two terms does not seem to be > "and." > > 2) The last digit of the date has unfortunately been lost in the fold of > the paper. The ascender of the number 6 may be present, but not the > bowl. That is the only number that I can think of that it might be. Was > Robert Brook still governor on Oct. 15, 1796? > > 3) I have found no word "fundy" in the dictionaries. Can anyone give me > a legal formula that would match "We bind ourselves our Heirs ++++++++ > by these presents, etc.?" > > 4) Finally, why would Samuel Ozburn and Robert Bond be sureties for the > bond and yet, it is not signed by Samuel Ozburn, but rather by Joshua > Starkey? > > > ==== VAFRANKL Mailing List ==== > The list administrator can be contacted at address: > VAFRANKL-admin@rootsweb.com OR fspradlin@earthlink.net > >