Know all men by these presents that we Ralph Stewart & Wm Tracy are held firmly bound to the Governor of Virginia for the time being and his successors in the just sum of £50: current money of Virginia to the which payment will and truly to be made we bind ourselves our Heirs &. jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals & dated the twenty fifth day of June one thousand seven hundred & eighty eight.The conditions of this obligation is such that where as the above Ralph Stewart hath this day obtained license for his marriage with Mary Clay. Now if there should be no just cause to obstruct this marriage, then this obligation to be void or else to remain in full force (Signed) Ralph Stewart (Seal)
Teste (Signed) William Tracy (Seal)A Copy Teste R. D. Montague C.
State of Virginia Montgomery County SS
I Rice D. Montague, above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of clerk of the county court of said county, and that the above is a true copy of the original marriage license bond of Ralph Stewart, on file in my said office, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the bond in fair legible figures, and in copying the same, I have inserted the date in writing. I do also further state upon oath, that I have examined the register of marriages in my office, and that I find amongst the list returned for the year one thousand and seven hundred and eighty eight, the names of Ralph Stewart & Mary Clay, as having been celebrated on the fifteenth day of June one thousand seven hundred & eighty eight by the Rev Edward Morgan.
(Signed) R. D. Montague Clerk of the
County court of Montgomery
Sworn before me Joseph S. Edie a Justice of the peace for said county on this 10th day of November 1846.
(Signed) Jos. S. Edie JP
State of Virginia Montgomery County SS
I Rice D. Montgaue clerk of the county court of said county do hereby certify that Joseph S. Edie is a magistrate as above and that his signature is genuine. I do also certify that the foregoing copy and extract from the records in my office, are correct. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 10th day of November 1846.
(Signed) R. D. Montague clerk of the
County court of Montgomery
There is a discrepancy between the date of the bond and of the certificate of marriage. I have examined the original certificate of the marriage and find that it states, the marriage was solemnized on the fifteenth of June, but I am of opinion that the error was submitted by the minister, as the certificate given by the father of Mary Clay to the clerk, authorizing him to issue the license is dated the twenty third of June 1788.
(Signed) R. D. Montague C.