Administration Bonds were records of money posted by the accountant(s) (i.e., executor(s) or administrator(s)) to ensure that they would faithfully carry out their duties. Usually two individuals, or sureties, would sign the bond as well. Note the names of the sureties because there is a possibility that one would be from the husband's side of the family, and the other would be from the wife's side of the family. Early bonds often carried additional notes. For instance, in one case a widow stated that she did not want to administer her husband's estate as she was too old and she would prefer that her oldest son administer his father's estate. If a widow did administer her husband's estate, and, if she remarried, she and her new husband would have to post a new bond.