I think we both meant to reply to the list rather than off list, so I'm posting this here. Bonnie -------- Original Message -------- Thanks very much, Michael, this is just what I was helpfully told by Jan off list, but you've provided a few more details! This is a great list. You'll probably be hearing a lot more from me. ;-) Bonnie Michael Sellers wrote: > I may be all wet on this, and, if so, I'm sure some nice folks will > correct me while helping you out at the same time. > > The Marriage Bond itself will most likely contain way more > genealogical type information than the Minister Return. > > Around 1660 or so Virginia enacted a law requiring the Marriage Bond. > The law required that all persons wishing to be married with a > Marriage License to go to their county clerk and to give Bond with > sufficient monetary security that essentially guaranteed or promised > that there wasn't a lawful cause or reason that could prevent the > marriage. The "bondsman" or person providing the "surety" was usually > related to the BRIDE, but it was quite possible for the bondsman to be > related to the groom. > > Once the Bond was monetarily secured, the license was prepared by the > county clerk and was given to the Minister who would perform the > ceremony. After performing such, the Minister would sign the > "Minister Return" stating that he had indeed married the individuals > on the license and would send that back to the clerk for recording. > Thus, the information contained in the initial Bond would have more > genealogical information because it also included the person or > persons who would be providing the bond or surety. The Minister > Return was simply the Minister's signature and "proof" that he had > indeed married the two individuals named on the license. No other > individuals needed to be mentioned or named on the Minister Return. > > Hope that helps. > > Michael Sellers > > --- On *Sat, 5/23/09, Bonnie Schrack /<bschrack1@comcast.net>/* wrote: > > > From: Bonnie Schrack <bschrack1@comcast.net> > Subject: Re: [VAROCKIN] Minister's Returns, Shenandoah Co., VA, > 1825-6, #2 (2167846) > To: varockin@rootsweb.com > Date: Saturday, May 23, 2009, 9:56 AM > > Hi Julie, > > Thanks very much for all you're posting. > > About Minister's Returns -- this term is new to me. I just found out > there's a record of a crucial marriage of one of my ancestors in the > Minister's Returns from Rockingham Co, and it's at HRHS. What is > this > record likely to contain? How are these different from Marriage > Bonds? Do they have more information, or less? > > The abstract of the marriage of Jacob Hoover and Elizabeth > Shoemaker has > been included in the books by Strickler and by Vogt, and they both > show > Peter Hoover having signed a consent note for this marriage. > Strickler > has him as the father. We need to see some original document stating > that Peter is the father of Jacob. This is the crucial link in the > chain that we need to connect us with Peter Hoover, the son of > Sebastian > Hoover (of Pendleton Co.) Any help will be greatly appreciated. > > Bonnie Schrack > >