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.

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