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tom parker
10-10-2005, 08:30 PM
I know that this isn't strictly Church Register-related, but I didn't know where else to post it....
Can anyone help?
I've obtained the marriage licence bond for my ggggg-grandfather (issued in Chester in 1743) the marriage taking place in Gt Budworth, Cheshire and the value of the bond being £50.
Thereafter the church register trail for the family goes cold until a child is christened at Childwall, Liverpool in 1754.
In 1757 my ggggg-grandmother is widowed and remarries at Childwall - again I've obtained the marriage licence bond issued at Chester, but this time the value of the bond is £1000 - a huge sum in those days!
Does anyone have any idea why the 2nd Bond has such a high value? My only idea is that, given that I've not been able to find any record of my ggggg-grandfather's death/burial, perhaps he died and his body wasn't found, so the Bond value was set that high to ensure that there was no funny business going on!
As I say, can anyone help?
Tom

Guy Etchells
10-10-2005, 08:48 PM
Custom & use, the amount in the bond is simple a set amount set high enough to deter default. It is not paid unless there is some legal impediment to the marriage and is in no way tuned to the bondee's ability to pay.
Cheers
Guy

tom parker
10-10-2005, 09:36 PM
Guy:
Thanks for the response - it makes sense.... I just thought that £1000 seemed to be an enormous sum required to be Bonded if an "ordinary" marriage was found to be invalid.

Thanks
Tom