A researcher contacted me and asked for an explanation of  a bondsman on a marriage application.  Patsy Bostick graciously sent the following explanation.  I sincerely hope that this explanation will help other researchers understand the significance of a bondsman on marriage applications.

 MARRIAGE BONDS:
        From THE SOURCE, by Eakles & Cerny . Marriage bond requirement was not uniform in all the colonial states, but are found extensively in the Southern & New England states. Bonds were posted before the issuing of the marriage license in some states and are the only required document in others. Bonds were posted, by the groom,  to defray the cost of litigation in the event the marriagewas nullified.
They are of value to genealogist because the person on bond with the groom was often the father or brother of the bride or related to the groom. The bonds were posted in the jurisdiction where the wedding was to take place; this was often the home county of the bride. The only legal record in some counties are these bonds. Most marriages took place within a few days of the bond. The date of the marriage was usually added to the bond record, but not always. If the marriage date is not on the bond it could indicate the marriage did not take place, but most often is missing due to poor record keeping or failure of the minister or authorized person to report the marriage.

 Email documented additions and corrections to Jackie Rhodes

1857 - 1858 Pre-Civil War Marriages	1859 Pre-Civil War Marriages	1860 Pre-Civil War Marriages
1861 Pre-Civil War Marriages

1861	1862	1863	1864	1866	1867	1868	1869	1870
1871	1872	1873	1874	1875	1876 NEW	1877	1878	1879
1880	1881	1882	1883	1884	1885	1886	1887	1888
1889	1890	1891	1892	1893	1894	1895	1896	1897
1898	1899	1900	1901	1902	1903	1904	1905	1906
1907	1908	1909	1910	1911	1912	1913	1914	1915
1916	1917	1918	1919	1920	1921	1922	1923	1924
1925	1926	1927	1928

1878 Okolona

1879 Okolona

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