Hi Folks, I’m an ancients collector, but I need help right now with a reference to early American money. My question is not necessarily about coinage per se, so please pardon the tangential query. But I figure this is probably an easy question for this board. I am transcribing a Kentucky marriage license from 1836 that refers to a “full sum of L 50, current money” to be put up as some kind of financial bond for the marriage. (Still not sure of the legalities here.) So what does the L mean? What denomination is that? What kind of money would circulate in 1836 in western Kentucky? Here’s the full license: KNOW all men by these presents, that we [?] Boucher & [?] Richardson are held & firmly bound, unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the just & full sum of L 50, current money, and for, the payment whereof we bind ourselves our heirs & c, jointly & severally, firmly by these presents, signed & delivered this 4th day of July, 1836. THE CONDITION of the above Obligation is such, that if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the marriage of the above bound [Jackson] Boucher & Miss Friday Richardson then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and virtue.
I was skeptical, but then I saw the 18 further down. I think you're right, and that sounds like a more reasonable amount than 50 pounds.
That suggestion makes a lot of sense, but in another document I find it handwritten. This time the symbol looks clearly like a British pound sign. And it's definitely 50. Seems like I've heard that "livres" could be traded in early America--presumably a French currency? Western Ky is right on the edge of the Louisiana Purchase area... Still thinking. Thanks for the input so far!
Here's the transcription of the above, FWIW: Know all men by [these] presents that we Silas Richardson & Martin Richardson are held definitely [?] bound unto the Commonwealth of of [sic] Ky in the ? sum of £50 and for the payment of which well and truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs &c. [etc.] jointly and severally firmly by these presents signed sealed & dated this 15th day of March 1832.
I know my great grandmothers father had to post a $200 bond for her in 1890 when she got married. This was also in Kentucky. I've got the document around here somewhere. $200 in 1890 was a lot of money.
The sums mentioned so far were quite a chunk of change in those days, so to us, who are unfamiliar with a marriage bond, would think it almost impossible for an average person in those times to have that sort of money. But I found this webpage that says no money was actually exchanged, or posted for the marriage bond. So, it's most likely 50 pounds. Learn something new everyday!
Thanks everybody. Beefer is right. And it was 50 English pounds--I thought that was too easy! According to Jeff Bremer, “Settlers often used English currency. In 1800, the English pound was worth $4.55.” A Store Almost in Sight: The Economic Transformation of Missouri from the Louisiana Purchase to the Civil War, p. 31. And indeed, this does not mean that it cost £50 to get married. Rather, this was a contract in which parties agree to pay a substantial fine (£50, or about $230) if it is later discovered that the marriage was somehow objectionable. That IS a lot of money! It could buy as many as 100 acres of land in frontier Kentucky. Thanks for helping me think through this.
Very interesting and informative indeed Q Edit to add : there is the word abonder in french, rather old now in that meaning of "crediting an account in prevision of some hypothetical future expense" which is close to what is discussed here
