This is the beautiful Madison County Courthouse, located in Richmond, Kentucky.  This photo was taken on one of our tour dates to neighboring county courthouses.

Today I share with you the marriage bond of Thomas Anderson and Elizabeth Bailey from the ninth of June, 1796.  There is a signed parental consent by Elizabeth’s father, Thomas Bailey.  If you will notice, the clerk wrote Samuel Anderson within the marriage bond, but William Anderson actually signed – as well as witnessing the Baileys’ signatures on the parental consent.  Just a mistake on the clerk’s part, I would say.

Know all men by these presents that we, Thomas Anderson and Samuel Anderson, are held and firmly bound unto James Garrard, Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, in the just and full sum of fifty pounds, to which payment well and truly to be made to the said governor or his successors, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated this ninth day of June, 1796.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be had solemnized between the above bound Thomas Anderson and Elizabeth Bailey, and both of Madison County, if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the same then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force, power and virtue.

Thomas Anderson, William Anderson

We, Thomas Bailey and Mary Bailey, do give from under our hands that we are agreed that Thomas Anderson shall have our daughter Elizabeth.

Thomas Bailey, Mary Bailey

William Anderson, James Thomason