Marriage Bond 1805
David Coal/Cole & Sarah Ward
Fayette County, Kentucky


Know all men by these presents that said David Coal & Francis Aldridge are held and firmly bound unto Christopher Greenup Esq Governor of Kentucky in the just and full sum of fifty pounds to the payment of which well & truly to be made to him and his successors, we and each of us bind ourselves & every of our heirs exors [executors] & admons [administrators] jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed and dated this 29 day of May 1805.

The condition of this obligation is such that whereas a marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound David Coal & Sarah Ward – of the county of Fayette, now if it shall hereafter there is no just cause to obstruct the said marriage then this obligation to be void else to remain in full force and virtue.

David Coal (his mark)
Francis Aldridge (his mark

Teste. John Todd



Margaret Cole Aldridge may have had a brother named David. A David Cole is the bondsman with Francis Aldridge for Francis' marriage to Margaret Cole in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1789. A David Cole is in the 1790 census for Rutherford County as head of household. And in 1805, a David Cole has Francis Aldridge as his bondsman for his marriage to Sarah Ward in Fayette County, Kentucky. In 1810 there is a David Cole in the Montgomery County Census right next to a Robert Cole and John Ward, Sarah Ward's father. After 1810, David Cole seems to disappear from Kentucky.


The note below is from John Ward appearing to give permission for his daughter Sarah to wed David Coal/Cole. This document was in the microfilm next to the marriage bond document.



Sir – You will please to let David Coal of Shelby County have a lisance upon application…. Marry Sarah Ward Daughter to John Ward Near walnut hill Meeting house and I will keep you ??? for the same per Me.

John Ward

Francis Aldridge

May 29
Test. John Reilly
Tom Sharp


My sources and thoughts:

1789 Rutherford County NC
David Cole is a bondsman with Francis Aldridge for the license and upcoming marriage between Francis and Margaret Cole.
David must have been at least 18 I think, putting his birth at least at 1771

1790 Rutherford County NC
Census: 2 males over 16, 4 males under 16, 5 females, no slaves

1805 Fayette County KY
Francis Aldridge is a bondsman with David Cole for the license and marriage of Sarah Ward which took place on 29 May 1805. Sarah’s father, John Ward, also signs documents. Looks like the marriage might have taken place at the Walnut Hill Meeting House, a Presbyterian congregation. David seems to be in Shelby County, Kentucky about that time, but by 1810 he is in Montgomery County.

1810 Montgomery County KY
Census: Robert Cole, David Cole and John Ward are in the census together
David: 1 male under 10, 2 males 10-16, 1 male 26-45
2 females under 10, 1 female 16-26
Robert: 3 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45
1 female under 10, 1 female 16-26
John Ward: 2 males 10-16, 2 males 16-26, 1 male 45 and up
1 female under 10, 1 female 45 and up

David and Robert, as heads of household, appear to be 26-45. David has a wife 16-26. He married in 1805, so, presumably, the three children under 10 are very young. The two males 10-16 - ???? Was David married before? He was a bondsman for his sister’s marriage in 1789, so he could easily have been married to someone else before 1805.

There are other David Coles in Kentucky – one in Cumberland County, but this David is also in the 1810 census, so that would not be him as he was in Montgomery County living next to his father in law. There is another in Clinton County but the age is too young.
David Cole does not show up, that I can find, after 1810.

Chances are good that David is Margaret Cole’s brother since both he and Francis Aldridge were each others’ bondsmen. Robert could be a brother, living next door to David. And John Ward is Sarah’s father but no further information found for him.

1790 U.S. Census, Rutherford County, North Carolina, p.134

Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954, FamilySearch.org database with images. David Coal and Sarah Ward, 29 May 1805

1810 Census, Montgomery County, Kentucky, p.25




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