I think I posted before about the fact that when searching these, you should note that on the Bonds, they have usually transcribed the first male name at the top, the first name of which is in latin, instead of what they should have done, which is the couples' names, not in latin, which are in the centre of page
, sometimes the bondsman is not the groom.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/2056/Unfortunately, now I have discovered that the problem on older allegations is much worse, as the practice of having someone else, usually a vicar, parish clerk, sexton etc. present the couple seems to have been much more common, and unfortunately in a majority of cases, this name seems to have been transcribed as the groom's name
which probably means hundreds if not thousands of male entries are incorrect (both surname and first name), for example this page of allegations from September, 1685 there are four wrong entries
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2056/images/32515_1831101883_0035-00084The first entry is presented by William Smith of All Hallows, Barking, London, clarke, of the intended marriage of William Davis of St. Martin in the Fields, Middlesex, widower aged 48, and Mary Shipton of St. James in the Fields, widow aged 51. But the groom is transcribed as William Smith.
The second entry is presented by Ralph Wootton of St James Westminster, hackney coachman, of the intended marriage of Isaac Vardon of Chelsea, Middlesex, aged 30, and Margaret Leister of the same place, aged 30. Ralph's name is transcribed instead of Isaac.
Fourth entry, names are misread David Longward should be David Congnard, Jane Althans should be Jane Altham.
Fifth entry, James Hickes of St. Swithin, London, citizen and barber chirurgeon, presents the intended marriage of Robert Huckle of St. Peter Poer London, aged about 30, and Anne Hickes of St. Swithin, aged about 19. James is transcribed instead of Robert as the groom.
Sixth entry, Nicholas White, parish clerk of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London presents the intended marriage of Robert Buttler of Epping, Essex, aged about 26, and Elizabeth Viner of Whitechapel, Middlesex, aged about 21. Nicolas is transcribed instead of Robert, and Elizabeth's name is mistranscribed as Piner.
So it seems it is best to search by bride's name only for these records. Unfortunately, this may not be possible, if you only have a surname from baptisms of a couple's childen
. In which case, it might be worth searching out older indexes or transcripts, some of which may possibly have been published in historical or genealogical journals.
