How to explain the 500 to 1000 pound expense for a marriage license.

Question

Henry Castleberry married three times in North Carolina between 1830 and 1849.  He paid 500 pounds for two of the licenses and 1000 pounds for the third.  I feel like I am missing something.  I would appreciate an insight why that costly.

Answer 1

This question has shown up before and it appears that it was not the cost of the license, it was a kind of a monetary bond to be paid if there was a legal reason one of the involved members really couldn't get married.  Mostly it was promised by the groom or a father.  I wonder how many were, in reality,
required to be paid.  I may be wrong but I feel it was more often something done it the southern part of the United States.

Comments

I've seen it on some English marriages too.

Answer 2

He was committing to a "marriage bond " rather than securing a marriage licence. Perhaps the proposed spouses or their parents had some concerns about him as the amounts do seem to be a bit on the high side. They were usually $100. Marriage bonds were common practice in the 18th. and early 19th. century in English speaking countries.