I don’t have pictures of too many ancestors. Signatures can be a good replacement. Trying to find them can be an “outside the box” problem-solving approach. Remember that record copies of deeds, wills, and some other records do not contain the actual signature. If the handwriting of the document matches the signature, it’s likely a record copy of the document and not the original. Hence that’s not a signature but instead the clerk’s handwritten copy of it.
Places to get signatures are: case packets of original papers from probate or court cases, some marriage records (if the couple had to sign), pension records, bounty land applications, some federal land records, and draft registrations, There are other records that may provide signatures as well.
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I have no pictures of a set of great grandparents, however, I do have their signatures on their divorce file that was posted to Virginia Chancery records. Their daughter, my maternal grandmother, I have plenty of pictures of, but I wept when I saw her signature at the age of 18 on her mother’s death certificate (TB) and her 14 year old brother (typhoid fever).
I’ve been wanting to gather up these signatures from various ancestors, put them in a graphic file, and put them on a mug.
Sometimes the reasons for the signature definitely is sad and does give one pause to think. But putting them on a mug is a really cool idea.
Sometimes the reasons for the signature definitely is sad and does give one pause to think. But putting them on a mug is a really cool idea.
Wedding and funeral books would be a good source. You might not have them, but chances are someone does in the family.
That’s a good suggestion as well.