Terms used in family history research
Bondsman:
"Before a marriage could be issued by Church authorities, it was necessary for the couple to make an allegation, a declaration on oath of their freedom to marry, i.e. they were of full age or if not had parental consent and were single or widowed. Two or more bondsmen were required to witness this allegation. Bondsmen would be required to pay a fine if any part of the allegation proved to be false. The bondsmen were often relatives or friends of the couple.
Sometimes the bridegroom's employer or another respected person such as a vicar or local businessman would act as bondsman."
Yeomen:
"To understand what a yeoman was it is really necessary to understand the English feudal system. Nobody owned their own land outright in the Middle Ages except the King and a few of the Nobility and even they had to pay some sort of service in return for their land. Gradually the Nobility began to let some lesser people have their own land in return for service such as military service or providing other services.
By about the 14th century land could be awarded by the Lord of the local manor to local farmers. In a way they owned it but they still had to pay a token service to the Lord. It could be passed on to their heirs but only with the permission of the Manor Court. This was known as "copyhold." Very few farms were "freehold": these farmers were the original yeomen not aristocracy but they definitely considered themselves a cut above the ordinary manorial tenant.
Fortunately for us researchers, most of them left a will. If you know that you have a yeoman ancestor in England look for a will. As time went by the feudal system died out, people were able to buy land, and men who only rented large farms called themselves "yeomen."
Often the younger sons of the nobility were Yeomen where the eldest son took the title.
Ann Layton
Tasmania