Marriage bond of Jesse Collins and Stephen Reed, for the marriage of Jesse Collins and Mary Reed, Clay County, Kentucky, Nov 1827

Seen 11 Oct 2026 as a screenshot of the image in the Ancestry viewer. The paper is stained; the day of the month is unclear.

“Know all men by these presents that we Jesse Collins [and] Stephen Reed acknowledge ourselves indebted to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the sum of £50 current money, which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves and each of our heirs jointly & firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals & dated this 2[7?]th day of November 1827.

“The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound Jesse Collins is about to obtain a license for a marriage intended between the said Jesse and Mary Reed [Reed written above the line]: now should there be no lawful cause to obstruct said marriage then the above obligation to be void, else to remain in full force.

“Test: [A.?] Baker.” Signed with marks: “Jesse (his mark) Collins [seal]”; “Stephen (his mark) Reed [seal].”

The bond goes with James Read’s consent note of 25 November (marriage-consent-james-read-1827), which Stephen Read witnessed, and the register’s entry of the marriage on 13 December (marriage-register-clay-county-kentucky). Abner Baker was the county clerk to whom the consent was addressed. Stephen Reed, Jesse’s surety, married Nancy Powell the same day as Jesse and Mary.