MARRIAGE BOND - The regular form of a marriage bond was as follows: "Know all men by these presents, That we (usually filled in with name of groom and one other man), are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Virginia (bonds sometime given to the Governor) in the just and full sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, the true payment whereof, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this _____ day of _____. "The conditions of the above obligation is such, That whereas the above bound ___________, hath obtained from the Clerk of the County Court of ___________, a license for his intermarriage with ___________, of said county. Now if there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct said marriage, then the above obligation to be void, else to obtain in full force and virture. _________________________________ _________________________________ (Signature of Bondsmen) ============================================= At 11:15 AM 07/25/2000 -0400, you wrote: >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 >