Replaced the index to marriage bonds 1590-1669 with full details, so those 961 records are now instantly available.

Marriage bonds often provide ages, occupations, and place of residence for the bride and groom during a period when marriage registers did not provide that information. Please read the Marriages Bonds section of the Transcription Samples page for a description of what information is found in bonds, allegations, and associated documents, and how we present that information. For example:

• 6 Dec 1598 Richard Lumley (gentleman), of Lambton, [Chester-le-Street] obtained a licence to marry Mary Fox
  [Note: married 6 Dec at Chester-le-Street]
• 1630 William Darcy (gentleman), of Hornby, [Yorkshire] obtained a licence to marry Dorothy Selby, of Workington, [Cumberland], obtained a licence at York
  [Note: year only given]
• 19 Mar 1669 Phines Nicholson (mariner), of Newcastle-upon-Tyne obtained a licence to marry Isabell Hudspeth (widow)
  Surety: John Bainbridge, yeoman, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  [Note: married 26 Mar at St.Andrew, Newcastle-upon-Tyne]

Marriage bonds cover the entire Diocese of Durham i.e. Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire. There are a few licences in our collection that were issued by York. Because bonds cover the whole diocese, there is no way to limit your search of bonds to a single district. If you select a district from the District menu, your selection will be ignored when the marriage bonds database is searched.